The Only Reason You Should Pay More Than You Have To...

[calamarichris_imp]

I think you're way out of line and to me it sounds like you want special treatment because you're a serviceman...

All dealerships charge freight and set-up fees and in my state they all charge a Doc fee too.
Once in a while you get some of the fees knocked off on models that are sitting the floor for awhile or bikes that aren't hot sellers but in the beginning of spring on a bike that's new this year I think you're expecting too much.

Stop trying to play the troops/ veteran card and just go make the best deal you can.

Not true at all. Perhaps you didn't read the part about me traveling 150 miles to pay MSRP + TTL only in my initial post?


And while I am an honorably discharged Army veteran, I didn't mention this to the dealership at all. Santa Barbara is not a big military town anyway, so it's not like it would have mattered. I don't believe I even mentioned it in my initial post...

But down here in San Diego County on the doorstep of Camp Pendleton, Miramar Air base, and Coronado where the Seals train, the demand for new motorcycles is apparently high enough that these dealerships are brazen enough to demand extra. I mention the military only because of the smarmy "We support our troops" broadcasting, even as they are screwing them over.

I hope I'm not making the same error you did and jumping to conclusions, but it sounds like you have a earnest chip on your shoulder against military personnel. We're not all war-hungry extremist rightwing fanatics looking for a handout. Some of us did it for the same reason we pay taxes, vote, and pay for the parking when we get called for jury duty.

If you want to pay those extra charges, be my guest. But if you're willing to shop around (especially away from major military installations), you'll very likely find an MSRP + TTL deal like I did. Maybe even better.

Erm... you're not employed by or affiliated with a dealership are you? Because that would be pretty awesome if you were. (And by "awesome" I mean completely hypocritical & self-serving.)