05-06-2014, 04:56 PM
(05-06-2014, 04:24 PM)evanworld_imp Wrote: I found the motorcycle for me - it's the one you all know and love. Next step, go buy it and share great stories with you all. Getting to a purchase is pretty straight forward - or so I thought. Last week I emailed RFQ to 5 Puget Sound dealers and received a quote back in a couple cases and a few rubber stamp "c'mon in and talk to us. We'll beat any deal and we wanna earn your..." You know the rest.
Here's my reply:
"Thank you for reaching out DEALER X. While I appreciate the owners interest in making a deal, my request is pretty simple - a line item quote on the motorcycle. I'm not going to have a conversation with any dealership that does not give me the quote that I requested. Every dealership has unique inventory and risks and sales targets. I work long hours and just don't have time to visit 5 dealerships to deal. If you have the inventory for the CB1100 and want to sell me a motorcycle, please submit me a competitive quote per my original request. Also I am not pitting dealer against dealer by sharing quotes.
If you do not want to provide a quote, I will consider a dealership who will - and I have 2 quotes in hand; one competitive, one not. Toss your hat in the ring your chances are good."
He didn't respond.
I understand market/demand and sometimes you gotta pony up MSRP if you want the bike - and I know the CB1100 is fantastic. Yet there are CBs on showroom floors today and it's fair to ask for a quote. The Honda site prompts you to ask for a friggin quote, yet most dealers ice you when you submit the request.
For those in the market, hold steady and get the deal you deserve. For those with a CB1100 in your garage or on your street, God speed. Hope to join you soon.
Sounds like a frustrating process!
I worked in the motor trade some years back and I think a lot of this behaviour is conditioned from industry training techniques which are geared towards getting face to face with 'prospects'.
We were discouraged from giving prices over the phone (pre email) and were told if the guy was sat in front of you, you had a MUCH better chance of selling to them than anyone else...go figure.
I reserve the same contempt for this attitude as you do. I absolutely hate shops where nothing has a price on the shelf or the item and one has to ask the man behind the counter every single time. I went into an automotive spares shop that used to have the old fashioned paper price stickers on all their tools, oil etc. I used to spend a lot in there on impulse, because the price looked good.
Now they have nothing, so you either have to ask, or take it up to the counter and hope for the best. When I asked the guy in there why this was, he explained 'we get new ranges in all the time, so it'd be impossible to keep track of prices' yeah right ..
I walked out, and won't go back.