08 ZX10R - Don't buy one until you read this.

[Flywheels MC]

The biggest problem we have here in Sydney is having dealers who drop their pants on price just to get a sale. This damages the reputation of other dealerships and destroys the resale value of late model, low km motorcycles. If you can't sell the greatest sportsbike ever bought to Australia without prostituting yourself to the public, you need to find a new line of work. The bike hasn't even got to the country yet and dealerships are advertising 'Red hot deals!' Why? Everybody wants to feel like they got a great deal which is only human. The problem lies in people bragging about how they 'Haggled their local dealer down to $2000 off retail' . Nice work, now your trade in, and everybody else's, is worth bugger all next year. Also, people who lie about the price they paid purely to 'big themselves up' to whoever will listen. I've already encountered an example of this on this site and that is all I'm going to say about it. This is a rant yes, but salesmen are people too, and it does hurt when other people treat you like a prick because you won't give them what they want. Thanks to everyone who has made the journey so far a pleasurable experience, I feel better now.
Have a good weekend
Nick

[rooster]

Everyone has had good and bad dealings with dealers. My approach is I know what I want and I realise that the guygil selling to me is trying to make a buck, if the guy/girl is listening then more than likely I will do the deal if they are off with the fairies like some then forget it it. Unfortunately I am finding a lot of bike shops are being run like new car sales and they have no idea of what you are asking when you want details of a new machine,accessories,helmets,gloves,leathers,boots,etc, they just spew the company line, they have no idea and I just walk away. People who take the time will in the end always get the deal, IMHO. End of rant/sermon/philosphising.

[MadKaw]

I can't disagree too much. It all depends on the side of the fence you are on as a private buyer / seller.
Everyone wants the latest greatest bike and to get that when it comes out its gunna cost you $20,000+.
For those that wait till the end of the year or even longer, to the end of model sale, you can get the same bike for $4000 to $5000 less.
When you go to sell that latest and greatest bike to get the next one, you only want to drop a few thou as you looked after it, didn't put a lot of K's on it and added some tasty, exxie extras. Unfortunately with the run outs on new bikes going cheap you have to sell for much less than those, so you loose out big time..

The 06 and 07 zx10r was $20500 (or similar) when it came out, Brian just bought a brand new one for $15700 otr (or similar)....

Hence why ppl want cheap deals right from the get go...
or don't drop the prices on run outs at the end of the year...
and I don't just mean the shops, Kawasaki are advertising it too..

Me, I'm patient... and tight....

I will say that Nick and Flywheels are supporting KSRC and are one of the only dealers to post regularly to the site and to actually be involved. They have a good rep with the ppl that have dealt with them, have offered all members a discount at there shop and supplied prizes for the photo comp.
These are the ppl that I like to support as they support us...
Yes, they still have to keep there pencil sharp and they are not beyond criticism or fault, but we should give em a go.

[jewjew]

I don't want to be rude Nick, but are you suggesting we should pay more for new bikes so that we can also pay more for second hand bikes, Sorry but as a consumer i want to pay as little for a product as i can.

I get what you are saying as a supplier, you need to keep prices up in order to keep your business running but why not take a hit on the bike price if you know your deal will get you some servicing, most dealers i have spoken to are doing this anyway. I don't know what markup is on a bike, but a know it is smaller than just about any other product in general, actually i don't think i would like to be in bikesales really...

i guess when you look at it there won't be a real winner

just read the last line of kaws post....

Also Nick, i have spoken to someone at your store (sorry can't remember who) and found them to be very polite and easy going, also they were quite free to help me with a decision on my new tyres (getting in a couple of weeks). I will be purchasing products from you in the near future honesty is the main thing i look for in a store relashionship.

[Flywheels MC]

I don't want to be rude Nick, but are you suggesting we should pay more for new bikes so that we can also pay more for second hand bikes, Sorry but as a consumer i want to pay as little for a product as i can.

I get what you are saying as a supplier, you need to keep prices up in order to keep your business running but why not take a hit on the bike price if you know your deal will get you some servicing, most dealers i have spoken to are doing this anyway. I don't know what markup is on a bike, but a know it is smaller than just about any other product in general, actually i don't think i would like to be in bikesales really...

i guess when you look at it there won't be a real winner

just read the last line of kaws post....

Also Nick, i have spoken to someone at your store (sorry can't remember who) and found them to be very polite and easy going, also they were quite free to help me with a decision on my new tyres (getting in a couple of weeks). I will be purchasing products from you in the near future honesty is the main thing i look for in a store relashionship.

Thanks for your comments and I don't think you are being rude. I wasn't suggesting that everyone should pay exorbitant prices for new or used bikes, I wouldn't myself, and it really isn't the price someone pays either, more how they ask for a discount. What I would like is for people to talk TO me instead of AT me! As the old adage goes: 'It's not what you say, it's how you say it.' I think we can all relate to that. A lot of people have unrealistic ideas about how much margin is in a new bike and also how much they think their trade-in is worth. If we reduce the price of a new bike then the amount of money we can offer for a trade drops accordingly, we work the prices against each other and try to split the difference between the two bikes. i.e. We make less money on the new one but we counter that by bringing the traded bike in at a price where we can make some of it back. FYI, the maximum margin on any new Kawasaki is $3,271 and that is on a new Vulcan VN2000 which retails for $25,762 on road. A GPX250 on the other hand has a paltry margin of $544.95 when sold at $5,990. Motorcycle dealerships (On the sales side, not workshop or spares and accessories) make money purely through selling numbers of units not through big margins on each unit. I also don't remember the last time I ever sold a bike for its listed retail price, there is always some form of negotiation even if only through goodwill from our side. The person you spoke to about tyres was probably Craig in the spares department and I think he is brilliant at his job. I will pass your comments on to him. Thanks also Dave for your support in the previous post, it is appreciated and won't be forgotten.
Cheers
Nick

[Strika]

[
Thanks for your comments and I don't think you are being rude. I wasn't suggesting that everyone should pay exorbitant prices for new or used bikes, I wouldn't myself, and it really isn't the price someone pays either, more how they ask for a discount. What I would like is for people to talk TO me instead of AT me! As the old adage goes: 'It's not what you say, it's how you say it.' I think we can all relate to that. A lot of people have unrealistic ideas about how much margin is in a new bike and also how much they think their trade-in is worth. If we reduce the price of a new bike then the amount of money we can offer for a trade drops accordingly, we work the prices against each other and try to split the difference between the two bikes. i.e. We make less money on the new one but we counter that by bringing the traded bike in at a price where we can make some of it back. FYI, the maximum margin on any new Kawasaki is $3,271 and that is on a new Vulcan VN2000 which retails for $25,762 on road. A GPX250 on the other hand has a paltry margin of $544.95 when sold at $5,990. Motorcycle dealerships (On the sales side, not workshop or spares and accessories) make money purely through selling numbers of units not through big margins on each unit. I also don't remember the last time I ever sold a bike for its listed retail price, there is always some form of negotiation even if only through goodwill from our side. The person you spoke to about tyres was probably Craig in the spares department and I think he is brilliant at his job. I will pass your comments on to him. Thanks also Dave for your support in the previous post, it is appreciated and won't be forgotten.
Cheers
Nick

Fuck Nick, I know exactly how you feel in regards to the way people speak to automotive retail staff. I have managed both Motor vehicle and Motorcycle Franchises and it takes thick skin to remain positive under the barrage of rudeness and ignorance from some clients. It appears that buyers regard their ability to purchase a motorcycle as Carte Blanche to be rude! The door swings both ways in my opinion and as Nick so rightly says, a polite request is often met with a positive response. Perhaps some people should be schooled in basic courtesy prior to being allowed to interact with the general population!!!

I have mentioned this previously, but a mate of mine's business runs at about 30% Nett bottom line after costs pre-tax. A well run automotive franchise, will run at about 3-5% bottom line pre tax! Even my business runs at about 30% nett!! I wouldn't put my money into a dealership unless it was for another reason! It certainly wouldn't be for the money!!! And bikes are worse than cars due to the lower RRP of the products!

I am not suggesting for a minute that we run out and pay RRP for everything, but a relationship with one shop can reap rewards.

[Tinman]

Dear Nick I would like to ask you if your getting any of the new 250's in and how much will they be?
Cause my friend might be getting his licence an di thought that would be a great bike to get for him

[SoundGuy]

Dear Nick I would like to ask you if your getting any of the new 250's in and how much will they be?
Cause my friend might be getting his licence an di thought that would be a great bike to get for him

Tinman,

I think they're 6990 + orc !!!

[Tinman]

Thanks Sound Guy your a champion! and thats not because your have a head like a sparking plug either

[SoundGuy]

Thanks Sound Guy your a champion! and thats not because your have a head like a sparking plug either

[z900/zx9]

You think people are hard in motorcycle industry well i think you are all blessed,the bicycle industry has all the same problems but with a lot lower retail price and therefore a lot lower $$ profit line but has to deal with hippies,and other assorted idiots and generally a lot more tight asses.Considering bicycle technology has far outstripped any other industry as far as what you get for your money (27 gears at the touch of a finger,lock out forks etc etc)they still whine and bitch about everything Ok rant over resume normal transmission

[Flywheels MC]

Dear Nick I would like to ask you if your getting any of the new 250's in and how much will they be?
Cause my friend might be getting his licence an di thought that would be a great bike to get for him

The Ninja 250 will retail for $6490 + ORC, I think Soundguy is trying to get a spotters fee out of us by the look of it!
Bikes are due Jan'Feb and will equate to around/just under $7,500 on the road

[Flywheels MC]

You think people are hard in motorcycle industry well i think you are all blessed,the bicycle industry has all the same problems but with a lot lower retail price and therefore a lot lower $$ profit line but has to deal with hippies,and other assorted idiots and generally a lot more tight asses.Considering bicycle technology has far outstripped any other industry as far as what you get for your money (27 gears at the touch of a finger,lock out forks etc etc)they still whine and bitch about everything Ok rant over resume normal transmission

Q. Whats red and orange and looks good on a hippie?
A. Fire

I feel your pain. Maybe if you tell them they have to have a bath and use soap to get a discount you won't have to deal with as many of the tree hugging, kaftan wearimg , vegetarian, bleeding heart, do-gooder, soap dodging, dole bludging, stinky bastards!

[Benno]

Just like to mention that this place has a lot of sway when it comes to where I shop. I value a few people's opinions on here, and whilst I may not always be posting, I read most of what's written here daily. The fact that you're involved Nick, is a very big tick for me. So much so, that if I purchase a new bike, I'll more than likely look at you over say, a RR or a BK, even though you're interstate.

Just remember, you can't make everyone happy. There will always be a few who end up having a gripe. But I think you're going about it the right way, and it will work out in the end.

Best of luck mate!

[Flywheels MC]

Just like to mention that this place has a lot of sway when it comes to where I shop. I value a few people's opinions on here, and whilst I may not always be posting, I read most of what's written here daily. The fact that you're involved Nick, is a very big tick for me. So much so, that if I purchase a new bike, I'll more than likely look at you over say, a RR or a BK, even though you're interstate.

Just remember, you can't make everyone happy. There will always be a few who end up having a gripe. But I think you're going about it the right way, and it will work out in the end.

Best of luck mate!

Wow. Thanks for the positive comments, I hope we have the opportunity to help you in the near future. We have sent several bikes out of Sydney in the past few weeks from Sunshine Coast to Perth to ACT and we will do our best to look after all out-of-state customers. Have a great weekend
Nick