Purchase from one dealer, maintain at another?

Jenetic · Post by **Jenetic** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:18 pm

Hi,

I'm wondering what people's opinions & experiences have been when they've purchased from one dealer but for whatever reason chosen to do their maintenance & have a relationship with another. My scenario is an authorized Genuine dealer who is far away is offering me an incredible deal on a new Buddy. A deal I'm pretty sure the dealer near me will not be able to even come close to, although I will ask. This dealer is so far away that there is no practical way I would be having any maintenance or warranty service done there. It would just be totally impractical/impossible especially considering I have a well regarded dealer within a mile from my house. But for a one or two time trip to complete a purchase, that's fine. They know this and are not making a killer deal thinking they'll make it up in service. They're mostly a mc & off-road dealer and I think they just really need to get these out.

What do people think? Should I expect to then get bad service from the dealer near me because I didn't purchase from them?

Any opinions appreciated. It is of course not the ideal situation but I'm talking several hundred $$ difference. If it was just a $100 difference or less, I would suck it up for the sake of having someone close to deal with in the event things are not what they're supposed to be with the bike.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:37 pm

Are you sure both dealer prices include prep, fees, tax etc? The price difference sounds like exactly the amount the additional costs beyond MSRP come to.

If the one deal is really that much better, I would simply present the price to the other dealer and ask if they will match it. If no, just say OK thanks, I'll see you for my first service. But first I would question if their scooters are that much more expensive, will their service also be that much more expensive? Check prices.

If you want some unsolicited local knowledge... if you are comparing Rt 66 and NoHo Scooters, in my experience, Rt66's prices are much more expensive than NoHo's and I have also heard a few unfavorable reports about Rt66's service. That's just my experience. NoHo Scooters is my shop of choice.

Jenetic · Post by **Jenetic** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:40 pm

Yes, I'm comparing otd to otd. The base price is where they're killing it. The other charges are about the same. NoHo is my dealership of choice too, I just don't think they'll be able to come close to this deal but I will ask of course.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:47 pm

If a dealer treats a customer poorly because they bring in a vehicle for service that was purchased elsewhere, he needs to bring his brain in for service.

Seriously, that'd be no way to run a business. Especially if you offer him a chance to match the price (whether he's able to or not), he has no right be upset... and even if he is, he'd be a fool to hold it against you. After all, it's not as if he tried to sell you a Buddy, but you went online and had a $300 Dear-Leader 150 drop-shipped from North Korea which he can't get parts for. Odds are he's happy to service whatever scooters people bring in, whether he sold them or not.

Jenetic · Post by **Jenetic** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:51 pm

TVB wrote:If a dealer treats a customer poorly because they bring in a vehicle for service that was purchased elsewhere, he needs to bring his brain in for service. Seriously, that'd be no way to run a business. Especially if you offer him a chance to match the price (whether he's able to or not), he has no right be upset... and even if he is, he'd be a fool to hold it against you. After all, it's not as if he tried to sell you a Buddy, but you went online and had a $300 Dear-Leader 150 drop-shipped from North Korea which he can't get parts for. Odds are he's happy to service whatever scooters people bring in, whether he sold them or not.

Under "normal" circumstances I would agree completely, but this is L.A.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 10:09 pm

Jenetic wrote:Yes, I'm comparing otd to otd. The base price is where they're killing it. The other charges are about the same. NoHo is my dealership of choice too, I just don't think they'll be able to come close to this deal but I will ask of course.

Definitely ask Mike at NoHo. He is really flexible and my guess is he'll work something out with you. And I know for certain that even if you buy a scooter elsewhere he'd be happy to take care of your service needs and any warrantee work that may come up. They're good people there.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 10:43 pm

Dealers make decent money off parts, accessories, and service. There is no reason to think they would treat you poorly unless they are just plain a lousy place to do business for anyone.

laxer · Post by **laxer** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 10:47 pm

My local shop didn't have the Rattler in stock when I was ready to pull the trigger, so I bought from a shop across town. I wish I would have waited, because my local shop gives discounts for life on maintenance and parts of scooters purchased there. Anyway, they're just great about doing everything even though I bought it somewhere else, but that may be simply because they're the best scooter store in the universe.

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 11:04 pm

yeah, the down side might be what you save upfront you lose because you can't buy the service agreement, if you wanted one. I wish I had one for my scooter but I bought it used. Oh well.

There's NO WAY noho would do you wrong regardless where you bought it - they are a great shop.

heatherkay · Post by **heatherkay** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 11:24 pm

My understanding is that dealers (of any vehicle) don't really make that much money on sale of new vehicles. They really make bank on service and sale of used vehicles. If you bought it somewhere else, they don't have to take the loss-leader hit of selling you the new vehicle. Seems like a win for NoHo.

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 11:44 pm

As long as you give the local guys a shot at it, I see no problem.

Edwub · Post by **Edwub** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 12:43 am

My last scoot, I used to go to Rt66 for maintainence and repairs. I bought my Blur from TO, and for first service I went to NoHo (first time I went there).

I live right where 405 hits 10. I don't regret my decision at all. In my case, Blur was new and not in stock everywhere. Rt66 couldn't match the OTD price and called me several times trying to give me other incentives/options, but TO was able to give far more.

Call all the options and lay it on the table, but not in a jerky way with the local dealers. I'm confident I made the best choice for me.

Edwub · Post by **Edwub** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 12:57 am

Regarding dealers with small margins - they don't ALL care. my place treated scooters as a side thing, almost an accessory themselves compared to the big bikes and toys that their real focus is. They'd sell scooters at a loss. Their goal is to make sales period. In fact, they offered me 40% off accessories within 2 weeks and 25% for the next three months just when Rt66 tried to price match at $200 more but "free first service".

They're trying to build a rep by getting as many Genuine scooters onto the street and people singing their praises. In my opinion, they can outcompete the scootershops on scooter sales, but I'm trying to support scooter-orientated shops with gear/accessories and especially maintainence!!
Absolutely no problem or issue. I went to NoHo cause it was cheaper for servicing. They did ask if they could swapthe license frame plate to one that says NoHo and that was the only thing at all different than I I had purhases from them. I'm sure next time I go backto Rt66, they wouldn't care either.

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 1:10 am

Jenetic was discrete enough not to name names here so let's not all jump in and try to guess which shops she's referring to!

ANYWAYS, if you ask the closer dealer to match the deal and they can't of course it makes sense to go with the better deal for you if the price difference is that significant. The closer dealer will do what they can but for various reasons, some can offer better discounts. (Lower sales volume, more old models still on the floor, selling a lot of something else, whatever.) The closer dealer will be glad to have you as a service customer.

izark47 · Post by **izark47** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:58 am

All a local shop asks for is an opportunity to get your business. If you give them the chance to match or beat the offer then they should be fine with doing the service, I don't know and am not a dealer but i suspect the real money maker is not what you make on the sale but more on the maintenance, so it could actually be a win for the local guy.

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 3:21 am

ericalm wrote:
Jenetic was discrete enough not to name names here so let's not all jump in and try to guess which shops she's referring to!

she/he did say NoHo was the closer shop

Jenetic · Post by **Jenetic** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:27 am

Thanks for all the input.

We'll see what transpires this week.

BTW - NoHo doesn't have the scoot so they're out of the equation anyway.