Modern Vespa

Damn right! So do the purchasers of course, which is why the best dealers try to attract cash buyers who can afford their purchases[1] and not the finance brigade[2] - who might earn the dealer some paltry extra commission, but good dealers will advise against any sort of finance deal except one made with the purchaser's own bank. Protects all parties from disappointment.

[1] These will make a value judgement on the dealer. If that value is delivered, smiles all round. If the subsequent service is pants, all forums will get told. Seems reasonable to me, and there are many dealers here wilth glowing testimonials, and some who have withered at the roadside.

[2] By all means buy a sofa on finance. You won't lose. They won't lose. Don't ever buy something that needs servicing on 'finance' (credit to a third party).
Thus Spake The Curmudgeon.

The car sales industry is all about trying to bargain for a good deal. If car dealerships didn't want people to come in and haggle about the price, they would sell every identical car for the same identical price. But they don't. So to call the customers that come in trying to get the best deal for themselves "maggots" is ridiculous. Car dealers don't do anything to make shopping for a car easy on their customers. You walk in the door knowing that you will have to fight like a dog just to get back out the door without paying a thousand bucks for "upholstery conditioning."

Go into any dealership and tell them you will pay $500 over dealer invoice and any smart dealer will take that. But will you do $500 over invoice, I bet not, because everyone tells you you should be able to get it for invoice which is BS.

Would you pay $500 over invoice if you could walk in sign the paper work and leave???? That's what I do for ever new car I have ever bought. Never had to haggle. I understand the dealer has to make money

Wayne B

All over the world there is a 'sticker' priice for any item. Haggling room is always there. No-one should be ever be offended by the refusal of either party to come to an agreement - smile and walk away.

Some folk in the UK think the 'sticker price' is the price THAT MUST BE PAID. Untrue. It is an 'offer to treat'. The seller can't refuse to sell if that price is paid in legal tender (another subject) - but is perfectly entitled to accept a lower offer. Don't try this in Tesco's though, it confuses them.

It all depends on the product. I have purchased 2 new cars in the last 30 days, one for me, one for my daughter.

I suspect I paid $5K over invoice for my new 2010 Grabber Blue Roush 427R Mustang, didn't ask, only 2 in California and I wanted one.

I know I paid $1200 below dealer invoice for a 2009 Honda CRV-Nav for my daughter because that's what I paid. They clearly have an under the table incentive on that one.

Point is that's a roughly $6200 difference on 2 cars so the $500 over thing won't work. Oh and BTW, love both cars and would do it again today.

SDG

One thing I loved about buying my Stella was, the Out-The-Door price was the price. No haggling, no hassle. It was refreshingly unlike every new car deal I ever bargained for, where no matter what the outcome, I always walked out the door feeling like I'd been gang-raped in prison.

I agree, Wayne, and whenever I shop for a car, I know what I will pay before I ever walk in the door. It is trying to leave that is the problem. Once I am trapped in that "paper signing" room, they inevitably try to sell me a bunch of other crap that I don't want and don't need. I'm fairly certain that selling cars is no walk in the park, but buying one is a nightmare.

Some people are intimidated by haggling. HONDA NZ have a new car policy, sticker price is what you get it for, no haggling, no dealer is allowed to give deals, written in stone. I had never heard of such a thing and assume that it is unique. Often we are used as a trial market so this may be coming to you soon depending on it's success. I am sure that it would apeal to some people. Personnaly I enjoy haggling,I haggle for almost everything I buy, just for the hell of it. The way I figure it I got nothing to loose by asking and everything to gain. While haggling you find out a lot about the people you are dealing with. It is fun and you have all the power as the deal is not done until they get your money so you can change you mind and extend the pleasure. You can walk away anytime and you can come back as well, you are in control what is there not to love about it.

That is when you say, I am buying a car and that is it, lets get this done or I walk. It's people who don't know the word "NO" and do no research that get taken.

Wayne B

I believe that "no haggle, sticker price is selling price" was part of the advertising for the GM Saturn when it was first introduced. The idea was there was no fat in an already fair sticker price. I don't know if the practice continued.

Gotta say that if my dealer took this approach, he wouldn't be my dealer. I'm very happy to accept that the dealer knows more about buying and selling scoots than I'll ever do, or want to do, but I'd be very unhappy if my knowledgeable dealer basically told me to mind my own business and pay what he's asking without question.

It may well be vanity on my part, but I really appreciate someone humouring me with at least a simple explanation.

Respectfully where did I say to "mind my own business"? My point was that some people speculate as to the how's and why's and are simply wrong while as a dealer doing this daily we have the real facts real time.

To repeat as it has been stated 1000 times over the years scooters have a very small margin, its about a long term relationship that will keep a dealer in business for their family and your scooters future service needs.

It kind of all comes out in the wash for me. Different buyers have different needs and at the end of each month it all works out. I have no problem meeting unique needs and honoring request's on a daily basis, its all in the flow.

Best,
SDG

SDG, How the heck did you buy a Honda for $1200 under invoice?

Oh, sorry, but that's how I read your comment: "riders should do their thing and dealers do their thing" (excuse my paraphrasing). Apologies if I misunderstood you.

All good. Did anyone ever consider that those that just come in and purchase something in a retail store make it a little easier for those behind them that want a little bit of a deal? like I said, it all comes out in the wash.

Cheerio,
SDG

Well it was kind of weird simple actually. I got a quote from my local dealer by just simply asking and he said "$1000 below invoice" so since I had just purchased the new Mustang from a dealer I really like I proposed that to him and he said "no problem, we will do $1200 below" so I wrote a check. They clearly have money in the trunk, great car btw.

Best,
SDG

$500+ for dealer prep?????

Is the dealer disassembling the Vespa, then reassembling it?

Here's something that might help -- ask to see the dealer's Service record for the bike (there should be only ONE internal invoice for service -- that would be the dealer prep) . If the mechanic is going to get paid, then there has to be an invoice!

According to the $500 "dealer prep", the mechanic should have worked approx. 5.5 to 6 hours on that "INSPECTION".