Comments on: Motorcycle Buying Groups

By: budlight

budlight — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:20:21 +0000

What Alex is saying makes sense. If you take “dislike” out of the picture and simply think about which customers a dealership is likely to give preferential treatment to? It’s always going to be their loyal customers. Some dealerships may be “less friendly” to customers who bought a bike elsewhere, but it’s human nature to be “more friendly” to the one who bought it from your own dealership.

Also this depends on which bike it is. Not many dealerships sell bikes above suggested retail, and for some models such as the Ninja 250, the suggested retail is only $2,999. Now invoice amounts for this bike normally run around ~$2850-$2900. So there’s not that much direct profit involved. This bike is mainly to get people into the sport.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 03:25:40 +0000

One reason might be, that bargaining is very very uncommon here. You pay what is written on the price tag – discussion finished.
Sometimes you can discuss about free extras for a car (not bike), like floor mats for example.

In general I like your idea and would like to see it happening, too!

By: kneeslider

kneeslider — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 11:59:52 +0000

Jeff – I would think any group of bikes would work, multiple sales are multiple sales. If a dealer sells a group 5 or 10 bikes, a mix and match selection would make him smile as much as 5 or 10 of any one model.

Alex – That’s surprising. In the U.S., selling more bikes means the company looks at the dealer as a higher volume or more successful dealer and it opens the door to better pricing and other benefits. Also, service work is profitable no matter where the customer bought the bike and if done well the customer keeps coming back and they make more overall. Everyone wins. If dealers think that way, they are hurting themselves and their customers.

As the other comments above suggest, group buys can work. The organization beforehand takes a little effort but the benefits can be worth it.

By: Alex

Alex — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 07:05:56 +0000

I do not know about the US and other places than Germany, but here it would mean that all people would have to be from the very same part of the city. That is, because dealers would dislike very much if the buyers will go elsewhere for maintenance.

Also workshops do not like customers very much who bought a brand-new bike elsewhere. Used ones, after e.g. having moved is a different topic, of course.

“Dislike / Not like” means bad service, takes long time, “special prices” for oil etc…

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 06:06:22 +0000

Would it necessarilly have to be the same bike for all buyers? What if, instead you got 10 people together that just wanted various Suzukis? It’d be like bulk buying a box of gum from Costco or Sam’s Club, but instead of getting all spearmint, you get the variety pack.

Anyone think this would work, or would everyone have to buy the same model?