Modern Vespa

OK
I've been thinking about getting a new scooter. I'm not too sure at the moment which one. I am leaning towards a yourban, as my leg is playing up again.

Now, I belong to a VW campervan club, and a few years ago I needed a new exhaust for the van, so I posted up a thread and asked if anyone else needed a new exhaust system and to my surprise 10 members were in the process of buying a new complete system.

So, I rang around a few STAINLESS STEEL exhaust companies and got a quote for one system...£600. I then asked how much for 10 or more £400.

The Idea
If and its a big if, there are members of this forum who is living in this country and are thinking of buying a new scooter, why don't we get together walk into a scooter shop Piaggio, honda, or whatever the choice would be and talk to the owner and see if we can get a big discount for a bulk order.

If, Its a piaggio dealer then it would have to be piaggio scooters. so 10 scooters all from the same manufacturers,,,be it yourban, vespa 250, vespa 300, BV350 etc.

I don't think the dealer could give the same discount as we got for the Exhaust's as they were all identical..but if he was to offer a percentage across the board we could get a real good deal and the dealer would sell 10, 20 or 30 scooters and the bigger the order the bigger the discount.

I will, be buying a scooter soon with or without a group buy,,,but its just an idea if anyone wants to get in touch with me feel free.

Or, if any dealers who come on here and are interested and would like to make a comment as to whether or not this is feasible, please let us know

Well that Idea went down well

The fatal flaw is that it depends on everyone needing a new scooter at the same time either that or having space to keep more than one.

it works with exhausts (all the same), but if you can find 10 people (say) on here that are looking for a new bike, they're going to want different types, come from different areas of the country (believe it or not, there is an 'outside of the M25'), have part ex bikes involved (or not), have dealer preferences (or grievancies), need finance (or not) and i really doubt if dealers work on 50% mark up (£600 to £400).

But i could be wrong..

I doubt you are wrong, maybe I didn't think it through.

I suppose it would only work if all the members were cash buyers without part exchange and all want a scooter from say, a main piaggio dealer selling all models made by piaggio.
I don't think it would be a problem with what the dealer is like or his service, because you don't have to take the scooter back the the selling dealer for warranty work.
I think if the discount is big enough it would pay the buyer living a distance away, to travel to collect, or alternatively pay separately for delivery..

surely there must be a dealer that would love to have a deal where he gets to sell 10 or more scooter in one go.
I will spend a little time ringing around just to see if anyone wants to do some kind of deal....
More anon

Money Talks!
Even close-close friends will promise to go in on a great deal....Then 'back out at the last moment". Be ready for that possibility.

And here I thought that the Jersey Shore folks were showing their ignorance by using "Dramatical" and "Romantical"... I looked this up and I've got egg on my face. You learn something new every day.

However, "lesbihonest"?

I think it's a good idea, Terry.

There must be dozens of people buying, say, a GTS every month within 20 miles of you. If you could find a way to put them together, you'd be onto a winner.

When we bought the X10 and the BV350, they were both brand new models. Our bikes had to be pre-ordered from Italy. There weren't any sitting around for sale in showrooms.

Given all that, I'd not have necessarily have expected any discount. It was a case of there not being enough of those new scooters to go around. It was a seller's market. But in the end, after a bit of ringing around, we found a dealer who would give us (IIRC) 8% off the list price for buying two scoots at the same time. The other dealer we approached was going to give us a discount, but (IIRC) it was only 6%. We were cash buyers, and we sold our old bikes privately (which, basically, anyone would do unless they're happy to get quite a bit less by trading it in with the dealer they buy their new bike from).


I think a dealer would be crazy to not give you a discount if you come to him to buy 10 bikes. I think the difficulty would be finding the other buyers, but it shouldn't be impossible.

The biggest problem you have is trying to get a big discount on something with a very small mark up in price

Well I did a bit of ringing around, and to be honest the most I think I could get for 10 scooters would be around 9-10%,,,a little more if all the scooters were the same model, well it was worth a try

So I'm off tomorrow to Chelsea scooters to place an order for a new Yourban, they are giving me a great price for my SH300 and throwing in a top box free.. 8) 8)

Way back when, the US Marines had what they called the "Buddy Program". Talk a buddy into enlisting with you, and you would be guaranteed to be assigned together for your three year enlistment.

It was not unusual for the guy who talked his buddy into enlisting to wash out in Boot Camp, leaving the "Buddy" to serve his three years while the guy who talked him into enlisting went home.

Thus, it became know as the "F**k your Buddy Program" in some circles.

Something like that RangerAJ?

It's not a bad idea I just think it's too big of a purchase. If it was a group buy for tires or helmets you might have better results. Like you did with the exhausts.

Ever done Jury Service Terry ?

Bill X

No Why?

How many of us have to sign up to get a 946 for 5k?

they haven't manufactured that many to get it down to, or anywhere near that figure, you could probably get a bunch of mates together to buy a 946 seat for around 5K