They wonder why they can't sell bikes

[black hills]

So what I'm reading here is you asked the dealer to set the terms of the sale and you just paid it without question?

Wow. Did you attempt to deal at all?

Anyway, I know this doesn't have anything to do with your story but I found it more fascinating than shitty dealers.

Carry on.

LOL.... no, not quite that easy, I did my research and found what they were going for elsewhere, added shippng and compared. I'm relaitvely sure the price paid was fair enough.  I could have saved $900 if I wanted to buy one in Texas? this just works out better for me

[Jet Jock]

You should let dealers #1, 2 and 3 know of your new purchase so they can share your joy.

Actually, you should contact the OWNERS or general managers of the first 3 dealers and tell them of your experience. They care.

[lharrell79]

Definitly email 1, 2, and 3, and let them know.  Let them know that you never heard back from them, but now there is no need, because you've already purchased.

Lucas

[falconati]

Congrats on your new bike - nice decision!  

It's really too bad about your dealer experience though - I agree with the others, a nicely worded email with dealer names might go a long way.  I'd really like to see KTM do well, but they won't unless they have a good dealership to back up their good name.  The easiest detail for a vehicle manufacturer to forget is the network that helps support and maintain their brand.

[kevin_stevens]

I would bet good money they are not aware of how you were treated.  If they knew things would change and it would either be the personel or the personels attitude.

If they were good managers they *would* know how their sales staff was behaving.

KeS

[Redbandit14]

I was in a local Ducati/triumph/KTM/Used  dealer yesterday picking up parts for the Bandit and said hello to the head sales guy like always . within 15 seconds he says if you want to ride anything call me and we'll set something up. He meant just about everything they sell.

That's how you Sell Bikes.

[JSharp]

Ya mean, like any sales job?
How do you decide who is worthy in getting a price?
 

As someone who sold motorcycles the answer of course is - you can't. So you have to treat everyone as if they were a serious buyer.

I worked with guys that claimed they could tell just by looking at someone, talking to them on the phone etc. if a person was serious.  But they often whined about no customers.  I never thought I was that perceptive. I worked less hours than them but typically sold as many or more units.

My boss used to say 'People come in here to buy motorcycles. Help them do that.' That means any contact you have with someone you get a name and phone number so you can get them in the shop. Then you keep calling them until they either buy or die.

[Poustman]

I'll say this for whatever it's worth, As someone who has worked in a bike dealership, often people call in to get prices, and quotes, and 99 times out of 100, they never show. So, time and resources are wasted on a sale that will never happen, as far as why no response from the website, I can't answer for you. But, I'm glad you got it sorted out...

Retail can be a brutal business.  For buyers and sellers both.  I've developed the philosophy that your first priority as a buyer should probably be to establish _where_ you want to buy, rather than _what_.  A good dealer that gives good service and who is clearly invested in making the process successful for them and you is, I suggest, valuable enough to justify the possible premium you'd pay rather than going through the hard-buy process (see http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,62560.0.html)  For what it is worth I've been impressed by a local dealer, where I get good attention, all the care I want, etc.  This is their website:  Link.  (Keeping it discrete, this isn't an ad!)

Thing is, for a seller to deal with false customers is part of the cost/risk of business.  For a customer to deal with 'false sellers'?!  

[scottzilla]

I went looking for KTMs today.  I didn't find any. The first dealer didn't have any bikes and did not know when they would be getting more.  The 2nd dealer told me the last super duke in the world is available for $12500 and if I wanted a 990smt they would charge me msrp and have to special order it. Sight unseen.
The 3rd dealer (I'm no longer in New York) was quite polite but sold his only two 990's and is pretty sure he won't be getting more.
So based on the info obtained from 2 lower NYS KTM dealers two 990smt's were made available to a buying public exceeding 5 million people.  

I'm going to dealers to spend money and they don't have any bikes to sell me.

[mugwump58]

There are some brand new '07's up in Fulton. I'm pretty sure they'll let you ride 'em.

[garry]

Scottzilla, my local KTM dealer (Bentley Motorcycles, Murrysville, PA) has two leftover 2008 Super Dukes on the floor. They just picked up the KTM street line last year and I think these leftovers came along for the ride. One is black/orange, the other is all black. I don't know what kind of deal they would offer, but they do have them available... There is a 990 SMR, four flavors of RC8/R, a couple 690 Dukes and an Adventure too. I know they had some SMTs last year, but I don't recall seeing them on the floor this afternoon.