Are they insane (rant)

[alphabet man]

I happened to be in Blackfoot MotorSports picking up an oil filter for my Sprint St. While waiting around I was looking at an R1200GS 2004 10,000km. no farkles other than BMW side cases. The kind salesmen approached me so out of curiousity I gave him my email address so he could forward me a quote. My sprint has heated grips, corbin saddle factory hard bags, SW motech rear plate and Givi top box. The kind man can get me into the 1200GS for a mere $10,600.00 and my Sprint on trade, a little infuriating when I can buy a brand new 2007 R1200GS in Missoula MT. for $14,500.00. I think it's the same guy who offered me $3500.00 to $4000.00 for a trade invalue on my 05 VStrom when I bought my sprint, which I bought else where for less money and twice the trade in valus   Blackfoot can bite me I will never set foot in there again, oh and they also charged me $18.00 for an oil filter grrrrrrrrrr    

 I should thank them I guess cause it put all ideas of a 1200 GS out of my head until I can afford the Sprint and the 1200GS  

 Rant off
 David

[Against The Wind]

So buy a business and sell stuff marked up 100%. Then you can buy Blackfoot and sell stuff marked up 100%.

[ZED]

Sorry A-man.  The answer is simple.  You went to the wrong shop.  If you're talking the one in Calgary, they're the only Guzzi dealer here, and that alone prevented me from seriously looking at the Guzzi.  BTW, they're the only BMW dealer in Calgary too.

I wouldn't do business with them.  I won't, but I bet I can even say the "salesman's" name.

As for buying in the US, yeah, the way our dollar is, we are getting so screwed on MC stuff up here.  It's about time the middle men start passing on some of the savings.  They must be making a killing these days.

[Flyer]

Dear A-Man,
Please remit CDN $7.93, payment in full including tax, for using our new online quotation service.
If you choose, this amount can be debited to your bike's purchase price.
We await your call, and are anxious to be of service to you.

 

[ToadRide]

Waddya want? A rrrrubber biscuit?

[Kootenanny]

...If you're talking the one in Calgary, they're the only Guzzi dealer here, and that alone prevented me from seriously looking at the Guzzi.

Hmmm...before I bought my Buell, the Triumph Speed Four was on my shortlist...the only one I ever saw was in Blackfoot in Calgary...and, strangely enough, after that visit, the Triumph was no longer under consideration.

That said, don't think the good dollar is helping Canadian retailers much.  Most of 'em buy from wholesalers like Parts Canada, often at wholesale prices higher than US retail prices.  AFAIK the higher prices we pay has more to do with the size of our market than the strength of our dollar...none the less, I still buy most of my stuff south of the line because I don't really care why the prices are so high (sorry, local retailers!)

[Kool shades]

Is it a big deal to slip across the border and purchase a new or used bike?  The way the pricing is its worth looking into...maybe

[alphabet man]

Is it a big deal to slip across the border and purchase a new or used bike?  The way the pricing is its worth looking into...maybe

 No it's not, most importantly you need to check for any manufacture's recall that need to be done and make sure they have been completed, then I believe the border needs a VIN and reciept 72 hours before you import the bike, there is a web site
http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_to_import.html

[Against The Wind]

This is a tough call. It's great in the short term to save dough by buying south. But if in a few years we lose a bunch of dealers and have nothing local for parts/service/sales then what?

[ZED]

I generally like supporting local dealers, and still will support the good ones, but I don't see that much would change.  The dealers here are already stocking so little that I end up mail ordering just about everything.  The selection in Calgary is very poor for a city of 1million people.

[Corbeau]

Silly A-man, it's Cowtown's booming economy that's driving up the price of used GS's!    

[alphabet man]

Silly A-man, it's Cowtown's booming economy that's driving up the price of used GS's!    

 I guess, but I never thought that the GS was the bike of choice for red necks    

[faststage1]

Above all rants this is my personal favorite.
Consumers force the hand of retailers. Business changes to capture the flow of cash. If the cash flows south, then our local retailers need to scream long and loud to their wholesalers.
I bought my Tiger their, I've sold vehicles for profit into the states and I buy 90% of my parts there. I will continue to do so until they get the message.

[RedNeil]

I try to give the dealers a chance at meeting the price difference.  I won't let a little profit mongering get in the way of doing business, but most of the time they can't come close to the U.S. pricing.  Then I tell them that their pricing is fooked and order out of the states for most stuff.  If they don't realize they've lost the sale, they don't know what they're missing.  

[alphabet man]

I try to give the dealers a chance at meeting the price difference.  I won't let a little profit mongering get in the way of doing business, but most of the time they can't come close to the U.S. pricing.  Then I tell them that their pricing is fooked and order out of the states for most stuff.  If they don't realize they've lost the sale, they don't know what they're missing.  

 I always look local first I don't even mind a little mark up but when it's 10% to 50% more forget it I go where the deal is

[Kootenanny]

OK, heard on CBC yesterday that at least one manufacturer has decided to lower prices in Canada due to the stronger loonie:  Porsche.  Apparently, they have dropped the price of a 911 from $175K to $152K, or something like that (however, the same car is "only" US$125K in the States...)

[alphabet man]

OK, heard on CBC yesterday that at least one manufacturer has decided to lower prices in Canada due to the stronger loonie:  Porsche.  Apparently, they have dropped the price of a 911 from $175K to $152K, or something like that (however, the same car is "only" US$125K in the States...)

 Well that's the deal breaker then I am NOT ordering my new Porsche until it $125,000.00  

[ZED]

Funny that.  For years and years I told myself that I'd have a 911 one day.  Then I woke up and realized that for a savings of about $140k I could have a motorcycle that could out accelerate and out handle any Porsche (or other super car) on the market.  

I still really like Porsches, but I don't think I'll have one now.