It's time!

[suzuki joe]

Okay,

I gave the dealer my credit card to show I am serious, and hold a black C50 until I get into town on Monday. I figure I am in a good place since he can now smell that the sale is within reach, but I have actually not authorized an amount on the card and can pretty much walk away at any time.

Accessories I am needing and/or thinking about are:

Helmet (full face)
Jacket w/armour
saddle bags
Headlight & tailight modulator

I have spoken to a different dealer in town and he gave me an OTD price (bike only) of about $6,900 (he doesn't have a C50 in stock and doesn't know when he will, otherwise he might have my business).

So here is my question: How do I negotiate this?

What is reasonable to ask for? What is dealer cost on the bike?

I am looking for as much detail as possible here so don't hold back. And I thank everyone in advance for your helpful advice!

[Gixxerdale]

Offer the asking MSRP as the out the door price and go from there. They might bite and surprise you. Riding season is slowing down every where and they will want to move inventory. If not start adding in gear and extras everytime they up what they want. If your're not happy tell them, and leave your phone number. Tell them you're checking some other dealers. You'll probably have a better offer on your answering machine before you get home!

[blackie1491]

Go to Cycletrader.com
Search thru the prices, then use them to bargain.

[suzuki joe]

Many thanks!

Keep it coming please!

[slayer]

Good Morning Joe,

Bought my C50 back in june,gave $6295.00, after sales tax, and prep fee, and also frieght charge the total was $7069.65.Our sales tax is 9.5 percent,
yours may not be so high.Gixxerdale is on to something,try M.S.R.P. OTD,
(M.S.R.P on mine was $6795.00)if they bite take it and run.

Slayer

[Pirate Morgan]

Bought mine first week of August 2005 for $6,197, then add tax and tags for a total of $6,876. Remember, that's for a 2005. The 2006 bikes are trickling into showrooms. Appears that color onthe C50 is the only change, but stating that you want black, it won't matter to you.But it matters if a dealer has both years sitting on the floor. I think geographics play a big role. Demand in "year 'round" riding places would, in my opinion, be greater than here in the Northeast, and other "salt belt" regions, increasing price. But you would think Suzuki would supply more bikes to those regions, cancelling my theory. Then again, why flood those markets and make less revenue per bike.

On a side note, Slayer must be in the same county as I ....ONEIDA. With what I believe is the highest sales tax rate in the nation at 9.5%. Down from a high of 9.75% ... the state removed .25% a few months ago ... YIPPIE !!!

[suzuki joe]

Well, the dealer won't budge.

I showed him 3 printed OTD quotes:

#1 from CA for $6299 (thanks Gunslinger92557)
#2 from a dealer in Ellis County (one next to Dallas) for $6980
#3 from a different dealer in Ellis County for $7178.00

He must be awful proud of that black C50, since he won't budge off of $7383.

The bad news is that at the moment, he is the only one who has one in stock. So here is my question:

Are these in short supply, or can I get closer to MSRP OTD by just waiting a couple of weeks?

Thanks!

Joe

[blackie1491]

Clycletrader.com is showing C50t for $7,199 otd. C50 Black for as low as $5,699 plus and these are 06's. I would look further away, there is no shortage. I spent over a month looking and the personal satisfication of not
paying the rip off artists MSRP plus fees, means a lot to me.

[tlwisner]

Don't worry about out the door price. You can't negotiate sales tax or registration fees. What the dealer charges for the bike before tax and license is the price. Some dealers add on fees for setup, freight, etc, some dealers add on nothing. Whatever they add on is just padding the price - do not assume another dealer will charge any fees or the same fees.

I bought my '05 Blue/Black C50 the last week of July in '04 - it was the first C50 in the area. The dealer charged me $6099 for the bike, about $700 off MSRP. No add on fees, just $15 for my license plate/reg. and 5% KY sales tax. I thought that was a very nice deal - and I'm a cheapa$$.

If you're buying a new '05 now it is a leftover and any dealer in their rightmind will give you a good price to move it out. Don't forget to mention how nice the '06 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 looks!

[suzuki joe]

Well, I have found 6 bikes in about a 75 mile radius. Each dealer I speak to is sticking to their guns and holding out for MSRP (+TTL Assem. and freight). I even found an '05 and the dealer still wanted over 8k.

What's the deal here?

I have spoken to the dealer closest to me (who does not have one in stock) and he tells me that when he does (he estimates 2-4 weeks) he will sell it to me for about 7K OTD...IF he ends up paying what he thinks he should be paying Suzuki for the bike


Thought, suggestions? Anyone? Anyone?

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by suzuki joe

Well, I have found 6 bikes in about a 75 mile radius. Each dealer I speak to is sticking to their guns and holding out for MSRP (+TTL Assem. and freight). I even found an '05 and the dealer still wanted over 8k.

What's the deal here?

Do these people think they're selling Harleys?

Have you made any dealers offers and been refused?

What part of Earth do you call home?

[suzuki joe]

I work in north Dallas, TX (Carrollton) and live about 45 miles south in Waxahachie, so that gives me a pretty wide range that I can pull from, and have in fact, widened my initial seach to about a 75 mile radius.

My normal plan is to go in and say I have selected a bike, and ask what the best they can do (OTD) is. They give me an astronomical price, and then I pull out the 3 offers mentioned above, and ask if they can come in somewhere in that range. They say "No way man. The reason they can offer those prices is because they don't have the bike. If they did, they would be charging what we are charging. Don't worry, it'll sell at this price.".

The way I see it, the dealers will be receiving deliveries of the '06's in about now-3 weeks. That should coincide with the weather turning cooler, and I should be able to increase my bargining power if I am just patient

Would appreciate some advice/encouragement here.

Thanks!

joe

[axel_2078]

Originally Posted by suzuki joe

Well, I have found 6 bikes in about a 75 mile radius. Each dealer I speak to is sticking to their guns and holding out for MSRP (+TTL Assem. and freight). I even found an '05 and the dealer still wanted over 8k.

What's the deal here?

I have spoken to the dealer closest to me (who does not have one in stock) and he tells me that when he does (he estimates 2-4 weeks) he will sell it to me for about 7K OTD...IF he ends up paying what he thinks he should be paying Suzuki for the bike


Thought, suggestions? Anyone? Anyone?

This doesn't really surprise me. The only dealer around here was asking MSRP for a gixxer on the floor that was over 2 years old.

[blackie1491]

I went thru the same stuff, everybody wanted MSRP plus F, Prep. The freight and prep at each dealer ranged from $278 to $639 for the same model. I spent a month looking. The dealer I ended up with did not have one in stock, he found another dealer who wanted a sports model that he had in stock, traded, I got the C50SE I wanted, for less than MSRP no other costs other than Battery levy and tire levy plus taxes, which were reduced as I had a trade in.
They shipped my bike, but left the accessories behind, that took another 3 days, but I got what I wanted. Even if you buy 200 miles away, you can still have a local dealer service it. If they give you problems, just phone Suzuki.
I am happy, both with the bike and the price. There was more room, but the idea that I got a fair price is enough for me.
You are the customer.
Good luck.

[Pirate Morgan]

Damn ... I'm gonna ride my bike to one of you guys and sell it to you for $500 more than I paid for it !!! First service, and broken in nicely!!