Haggling on a used bike from a dealer?

Haggling on a used bike from a dealer?

Author
Discussion

D1on

Original Poster:

804 posts

192 months

Tuesday 1st March 2022
quotequote all
Looking at buying a bike from a rather large independent bike dealer.
The bike is £3800...
Would you haggle on the price or pay what it is?...

Jazoli

9,199 posts

256 months

Tuesday 1st March 2022
quotequote all
You can only ask, if no discount offered see if they'll replace the tyres or give a free service or something, none of us can answer your question, it depends on the dealer and his margin and a million other variables.

trickywoo

12,218 posts

236 months

Tuesday 1st March 2022
quotequote all
Jazoli said:
You can only ask, if no discount offered see if they'll replace the tyres or give a free service or something, none of us can answer your question, it depends on the dealer and his margin and a million other variables.
Exactly what I would say.

Unless it’s got some sketchy history you can pick up on.

airsafari87

2,816 posts

188 months

Tuesday 1st March 2022
quotequote all
What's the bike?
What are bikes of the same age, mileage, condition etc going for?
Is there anything in particular about this bike that makes it stand out from the rest?

All of those things and plenty more will determine whether or not the dealer will be open to an offer.

Show genuine interest in buying the bike, engage with the salesman and ask if they have any moment on price.

MrGman

1,609 posts

212 months

Tuesday 1st March 2022
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Unless you can find good reason to knock the price down I’ll be surprised, all my local dealers have hardly any stock of new/used bikes and bikes are selling well so it really is a sellers market, there will be exceptions though so no harm in asking, rather than money off try and get a deal on some accessories or clothing if they sell either.

Biker 1

7,859 posts

125 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2022
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I suppose there is customer loyalty on occasion.
My local multi-franchise have always been very good at nurturing relationships with 'regulars'. They know me as being polite & willing to be very flexible with booking services etc & I always pay up on time!
I have traded in many bikes with them over the years - I possibly could have saved a few quid by haggling very hard, but in the grand scheme of things, I think it's a fair deal.

blade7

11,311 posts

222 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2022
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I haggled hard on a new BMW a few years back, walked away a couple of times before buying it. Their attitude was crap when I enquired about another new bike 5 years later. I thought that was short sighted considering I still had the bike serviced every year by them.

Eatpies99

157 posts

60 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2022
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I bought a used RSV4 at the weekend for a dealer. All I managed was a new set of tyres (I didn't want Supercorsa) and delivery. Price wouldn't move.

spoodler

2,185 posts

161 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2022
quotequote all
About a year ago, I bought from a dealer for the first time. I was surprised how little they would move on price (£3000 bike), as I've always haggled on private sales and tend to look at a listed price as a start point. We settled on "free" delivery - presumably it owes them very little, but was convenient for me. (And, to be honest, I was perfectly happy with that.)
Recently I accompanied a friend to a Mercedes dealer to buy a used top of the range E Class, far more serious money and the dealer would not budge a penny...
Having said that, if you don't ask...

8IKERDAVE

2,406 posts

219 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2022
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Good luck! I love a good haggle but when I bought my bike in December they wouldn't budge. It was up for £7250 and that's exactly what I paid. I managed more for my part ex so effectively lowered the price but I had to push hard just to get them to MOT it. I wouldn't mind but it had a month remaining! It seems demand has overtaken supply.

Waynester

6,418 posts

256 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2022
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My last bike I purchased recently was up for £5k.. I simply asked if they would take £4.5k for it? The sales guy said he’d need to check with his manager. They called back 10 minutes later accepting my offer.. I didn’t set out to make an offer, I kind of did it on the spur of the moment.

Again, if you don’t ask…

shurm

329 posts

254 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2022
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I sell cars for a living our lot won't budge on any price especially at the minute with stock being precious, by the time you've had a think and tried to haggle someone else has bought it. Had 2 customers today on cars and they wanted something off my colleagues sold them both a few hours later its frustrating for us sales people as well believe it or not. At that price if you like it ask but then just buy it if they don't budge.

LosingGrip

7,932 posts

165 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2022
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I didn't attempt to when getting my GS last year. Although it was a massive impulse buy and didn't want a reason to not buy it! I was happy with the price though and I would go back again when I'm looking at a newer model.

PIGINAWIG

2,339 posts

171 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2022
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I’m also in the trade. Remember that the bikes/cars all have to be prepped, mot’d if required and will owe the dealer X amount. They all have their margins. If I’ve bought a car in well below market value and it’s prep,is minimal then we will discount accordingly. If the dealer knows you’re a serious buyer and not just there to drink free coffee then make an offer……

Max5476

1,000 posts

120 months

Thursday 3rd March 2022
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I'm not very good at haggling, when I got my 1290 super adventure, I paid asking price but did get a pair of genuine ktm heated grips fitted and the service that was due - to me that was worth a few hundred pounds.

Cakey_

186 posts

32 months

Thursday 3rd March 2022
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I think the issue at the moment is the lack of new stock is keeping used prices high, supply and demand really.
I just bought a 4yr old cb1000 last week from a Honda dealer, they didn't even have any news ones in, the showroom was practically empty. Needless to ssh they weren't budging on price as anyone walking through the door to buy a cb had only 1 to chose from.

A year or 2 ago when the showroom was full of new bikes and used stock was moving abit slower they would have an incentive to try and sell one to you, now that incentives long gone. If you dont buy it the next guy through the door will

Jag_NE

3,073 posts

106 months

Thursday 3rd March 2022
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I will always attempt a haggle but if you are smart enough to be already looking at stuff that is priced fairly to begin with, discounts are usually zero or pretty token.


stu67

836 posts

194 months

Thursday 3rd March 2022
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Pretty much what others have been saying really, if the dealer has the bike that you want then I'd grab it.

Not a bike story but my wife's PCP Focus is coming up for renewal, I went to our local very large Ford dealer to talk about a replacement and they had nothing so didn't even get to the point of haggling over price. The only cars they could get hold of at the moment were a few models of Puma and the Mustang electric "because no one wants them" (hardly a ringing endorsement). Anyway decided just to purchase it given that the monies in the bank aren't earning any interest anyway.

RazerSauber

2,466 posts

66 months

Thursday 3rd March 2022
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Absolutely depends on a number of factors. Popularity of that bike, how long it's been there, margin, going rate, service history, condition, all sorts. I managed to get more off a £1500 bike than I did a £5500 car. I bought the car for £5125 and the bike for £1100 and the bike was bought in the early days of the pandemic. I think just before prices started getting silly. I did have to bolt the battery in properly and service it (£9 oil change, bargain!) but it's been solid and reliable, even after some bell end knocked it over and twisted the front.

darkyoung1000

2,146 posts

202 months

Thursday 3rd March 2022
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Always worth asking, even if you end up getting nothing. When I was shopping for an SV1000, I paid £20 for a test ride, liked it, and pointed out that it needed a new back tyre and chain and sprockets.

They wouldn't budge, so I cut my losses and went elsewhere to look at the (cheaper) bike I ended up getting. If it's rare though, and you really want it, you may not have that choice!