Multistrada "Assembly charge"?

[David Shapiro]

Just got a quote on a Multistrada Pikes Peak. There was an assembly charge of $900 on top of the cost. Dealer greed?

David

[Dave.0]

yes,

or they are going to get as much as they can get, its a business after all

I bought my 2010 multistrada before they were released - pre-ordered with a deposit and all that, I think I paid 400 dollar dealer prep fee

[JTucker]

Not sure what is involved in prepping a Duc, the street bikes we get need the bars attached and a few accessories. Hook up battery gas and start. I can't believe they can sell the bikes they have at retail let alone add ridiculous fees, but maybe there's money where you live.

[andoulli]

Originally Posted by David Shapiro

Just got a quote on a Multistrada Pikes Peak. There was an assembly charge of $900 on top of the cost. Dealer greed?

David

Offer what you want, he takes it or not, got nothing to do with greed.

[JustKip]

There's a dealer here in Fresno that adds that to the price of all thier bikes. There's another dealer in town that sells some of the same brands with no assembly fee. The one who asks the fee says it costs them that much in labor to set the bikes up. They just lost Ducati to the BMW dealer, who says the mfg includes set up costs in the MSRP, and also doesn't ask for extra beyond msrp.

My boss bought a Bonneville from the "assembly fee" guy and refused to pay the extra.

[Yossarian™]

If you want the bike bad enough that you will pay the charge, then the dealer is going to charge it.

Tell the dealer that you won't pay it. If it queers the deal then the dealer is betting on getting it from some other sucker customer. If the dealer drops the charge, then he was just trying to gauge how much over MSRP you would pay.

[Grainbelt]

Just the starting point of a negotiation.

[David Shapiro]

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

Just the starting point of a negotiation.

Yeah, well, he negotiated me to another dealer.

David

[DOGSROOT]

Originally Posted by David Shapiro

Yeah, well, he negotiated me to another dealer.

David

Be sure to send him a link to this thread.
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[corndog67]

There are dealers who will work with, and those that won't. I stopped at a dealer in the LA area a while back, and their setup/freight was $1200 . Fuuuuuuuuuccccccccckkkkk that.

[JerryH]

Not into Ducatis, but dealers of all brands play that game, and it is indeed GREED. They are also counting on your stupidity. Freight and setup, and a fair profit, are already covered in the MSRP, minus what the dealer paid for the bike, plus dealer overhead. Only fees should be around $75 for a "doc" fee, and the reason it can be so much is there is more to it than sitting at the table for 10 minutes signing things. They really do spend a couple of hours doing paperwork, and paying a couple of minor fees themselves, before all is said and done.

I will not negotiate with a dealer in person anymore. It wastes my time and puts me at a disadvantage. I usually decide I want to buy a bike because of an ad the dealer has put somewhere, on Cycle Trader, Craigslist, or on their own site. I call them up, ask for the sales manager (NOT some commissioned salesperson) tell them about the ad, and that I am ready to buy on the spot, IF the OTD price is right. I will not discuss anything but the OTD price, because that is all that matters. In order to remain in business a dealer has to move bikes, and while the would love to make a $2000 profit on every one, they know that is not going to happen. Most will accept a FAIR profit, if it is guaranteed. If they meet my bottom line, I have them fax me the numbers, if they are correct, I put a credit card deposit on the bike, and sign and fax back to them a purchase order for the bike. I show up to get the bike with a cashiers check in the correct amount, to protect myself from any last minute scams. This has worked 3 out of 4 times.

For decades car buyers have had access to all kinds of information when it comes to getting the best deal. The well informed car buyer who has done their homework usually knows more than the salesperson about what they have to work with. CASH TALKS Very few dealers will turndown a cash sale with a fair profit. But most don't want to spend hours arguing over small amounts of money with a customer who does not have any cash and may not have any credit either. "Cash" and "right now" speaks loudly.

Fortunately, it looks like some of the dealers dirty little secrets may be leaking out. I wondered why it was taking so long, as someone spilled the beans in the car business a long time ago. But when I saw this, it occurred me that their just might finally be hope for powersports customers after all. I have not read this book, nor am I recommending it in any way, but I have ordered a copy to see how correct it is. (I also have a lot of knowledge from a long time friendship with a Kawasaki sales manager who got me 4 new Kawasakis at rock bottom prices)

http://www.motorcyclesalessecrets.com/

[oalvarez]

Freight and setup are not typically included in Ducati dealer msrp figures, at least I don't think they are.

David, I've never seen a "prep/setup" fee to be that high, even for a Pikes Peak model, $500 is a much more standard number (that figure does not include freight).

Best success with the negotiations should you decide on one.

[GB]

How about "admin fee"? Around here, they charge a $300 "admin fee"

On the pre-printed sales contract, you just cross out all those fees and make a bottom dollar offer... they don't take it, you walk. But when Ducati / BMW / Triumph dealers are few and far between, and you want that bike, they got you.

[Josephvman]

Tell the dealer to sell you the bike in a crate, and you'll put it together yourself!

[rocker59]

Originally Posted by JerryH

Freight and setup, and a fair profit, are already covered in the MSRP, minus what the dealer paid for the bike, plus dealer overhead.

Then why are motorcycles from a whole list of OEMs advertised as:

"MSRP (plus delivery and setup)"

???


I do agree with you about the OTD, out the door buying strategy, though. Only way to do it. Let them fill in those blanks however they see fit. Makes me no difference until it gets to the last one!