I know that on several occasions that we have from time-to-time bashed motorcycle dealers. Is there reputation well-deserved or are their some truly honest dealers out there?
Sound off, because I am real curious about this one.
My case: My local dealer charges exhorbitant amounts of money for similar parts found on the internet. I can see a slight mark mark-up, but damn, some of this poop is ridiculous. Case in point. A few months ago I went to my local dealer to get a price on a set of Metzeler Sportec M1's. The lady opened her book (of tricks...) and told me that the tires would sell for $225 a piece. O.K. now, do the math. That's $450 for a front and rear tire. But that's not all. She also told me that they WOULD NOT mount and balance my tires if I didn't purchase the tires from them.
The local Yamaha shop and Harley shop gladly mounts and balances wheels for you. I purchased both tires from Parts411.com and got them both for $250 including shipping. I was also quoted a price for a D.I.D. x-ring chain of $200+. I purchased the same chain at Newportcycleparts.com for $135. What gives?
It almost seems illegal, but I guess it's not. Just Saturday, I witnessed this guy at the Yamaha shop purchasing a Dunlop D208 for his son's R1. He paid $218 dollars for that tire. I really hated to do it, but I caught the guy outside and told him that I purchased the same tire for a friend of mine at Parts411.com for $150 including shipping. I was really doing it as a "head's up" type thing, but the look he gave me when I told him that was "PRICELESS..." My rant is temporarily done...
Brian
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My case: My local dealer charges exhorbitant amounts of money for similar parts found on the internet. I can see a slight mark mark-up, but damn, some of this poop is ridiculous. Case in point. A few months ago I went to my local dealer to get a price on a set of Metzeler Sportec M1's. The lady opened her book (of tricks...) and told me that the tires would sell for $225 a piece. O.K. now, do the math. That's $450 for a front and rear tire. But that's not all. She also told me that they WOULD NOT mount and balance my tires if I didn't purchase the tires from them.
Brian
<!--EDIT|bacharles
Reason for Edit: None given...|1084213803 -->