Dealer Markup
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Dealer Markup
So the dealer says my Falco will be passed straight on to a non mainstream dealer because of it's age and high mileage. All our bikes have a warranty and it's just not worth my while for a £400 markup, he says.
I do the trade in thinking it's an ok deal and I was planning on spending a few hundred fettling the Falco this year and that wouldn't increase it's value much. Better go for a bike that is worth a lot more that holds it's value.
Imagine my surprise to see it on their website today with a £1200 markup. I'm sure it must be mine though there isn't a photo yet. There can't be many red Falcos been traded in this week at that dealer.
I do the trade in thinking it's an ok deal and I was planning on spending a few hundred fettling the Falco this year and that wouldn't increase it's value much. Better go for a bike that is worth a lot more that holds it's value.
Imagine my surprise to see it on their website today with a £1200 markup. I'm sure it must be mine though there isn't a photo yet. There can't be many red Falcos been traded in this week at that dealer.
It probably is yours.
I've seen some pretty inflated figures from dealers recently.
From their viewpoint they have to run their premises with all associated costs, pay staff etc etc and will need a certain amount of income for each bike sold .... and in this day and age when things aren't selling so well, they'll need the same income from fewer bikes.
Trouble is that fewer sales mean they'll need more per bike.
Trouble with that is they'll sell even less of them.
From our point of view, Falcos (or any bike) cost what they cost and how much is the benefit of buying from a dealer worth. If you buy a bad one and there is a problem, you can go back and argue the toss. You may or may not get somewhere - but within a month or two of purchase you probably will.
If you're offering as a part-ex, your view will be that the dealer makes his money in the sale of the new bike and there should be little or no mark up on the one you traded in.
I've seen some pretty inflated figures from dealers recently.
From their viewpoint they have to run their premises with all associated costs, pay staff etc etc and will need a certain amount of income for each bike sold .... and in this day and age when things aren't selling so well, they'll need the same income from fewer bikes.
Trouble is that fewer sales mean they'll need more per bike.
Trouble with that is they'll sell even less of them.
From our point of view, Falcos (or any bike) cost what they cost and how much is the benefit of buying from a dealer worth. If you buy a bad one and there is a problem, you can go back and argue the toss. You may or may not get somewhere - but within a month or two of purchase you probably will.
If you're offering as a part-ex, your view will be that the dealer makes his money in the sale of the new bike and there should be little or no mark up on the one you traded in.
Last edited by D-Rider on Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
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I think that in the current climate we will see prices of clean secondhand bikes firm up, if only because most new bikes are priced out of people's price range. I hate to say it, but I think your dealer has pulled the wool over your eyes to a degree, and got you to take less than the bike's real value.
I know it's notoriously difficult to establish what is a 'fair' price, but it sounds like his markup is cheekily high. But of course he could always be putting it up at that price as a 'straw man' in the expectation that he'll have to drop his price to get a sale. If he stuck it up at a markup of only £400 he'd have no margin for bargaining. And they do have to make money to stay in business.
I know it's notoriously difficult to establish what is a 'fair' price, but it sounds like his markup is cheekily high. But of course he could always be putting it up at that price as a 'straw man' in the expectation that he'll have to drop his price to get a sale. If he stuck it up at a markup of only £400 he'd have no margin for bargaining. And they do have to make money to stay in business.
My Falco didn't hang about long in the dealers. I'm pleased about that. It was like seeing an old girlfriend in my local but knowing she wouldn't speak to me again. Now it has gone, it's out of sight and out of mind.
The BMW R1200S is a great bike to ride and feels very sure footed. My riding buddy says I'm carrying a lot more speed through bends and I feel happier with big (for me) lean angles. Even with the big sticking out cylinders, they claim 52 degrees of lean before anything touches down. The new tyres are getting scrubbed close to the edge. It also sounds brilliant with Akropovic cans.
The downside is that the finish is not nearly up to Aprilia standards. The panels are thin and feel flimsy and though it looks great from a few feet away, it doesn't stand close inspection. There are scuff marks that won't polish out. The Falco shone with just a wipe over.
I have front and rear paddock stands for the Falco if anyone is looking for a set. I also found a new oil tank mount in a drawer. Both mine broke on the Falco and I ended up with a spare in case it happened again.
The BMW R1200S is a great bike to ride and feels very sure footed. My riding buddy says I'm carrying a lot more speed through bends and I feel happier with big (for me) lean angles. Even with the big sticking out cylinders, they claim 52 degrees of lean before anything touches down. The new tyres are getting scrubbed close to the edge. It also sounds brilliant with Akropovic cans.
The downside is that the finish is not nearly up to Aprilia standards. The panels are thin and feel flimsy and though it looks great from a few feet away, it doesn't stand close inspection. There are scuff marks that won't polish out. The Falco shone with just a wipe over.
I have front and rear paddock stands for the Falco if anyone is looking for a set. I also found a new oil tank mount in a drawer. Both mine broke on the Falco and I ended up with a spare in case it happened again.
avuss superbikes up here in scotland have got a 2000 red falco with if i can remember right 29000 on the clocks and the want £3200, it is a clean bike well looked after , thats why i showed interest on it ,
mine is the same year with 22000 and they offered me £1000 to take it off my hands as part exchange ,
i paid £1300 for mine 4 1/2 years ago with 12500 miles on it private sale , still think i got a bargain ,
mine is the same year with 22000 and they offered me £1000 to take it off my hands as part exchange ,

I started looking for a bike in August and all of the prices of Falcos seemed to be between £1750 - £2900 (decent examples) but since I got mine I have noticed there are still a lot of the same bikes still around but the prices have all gone up.
Seing lots of bikes for sale at £3200
Seing lots of bikes for sale at £3200
Speed Blue SL 1000 Falco
Harley Davidson....the most efficient way to turn petrol into noise without the embarrassing by-product of horsepower..
Harley Davidson....the most efficient way to turn petrol into noise without the embarrassing by-product of horsepower..
Have they opened up again? Thought they had closed the doors for good! They were always good to deal with and carried a good selection of parts in stock.joecrx wrote:avuss superbikes up here in scotland have got a 2000 red falco with if i can remember right 29000 on the clocks and the want £3200, it is a clean bike well looked after , thats why i showed interest on it ,
mine is the same year with 22000 and they offered me £1000 to take it off my hands as part exchange ,i paid £1300 for mine 4 1/2 years ago with 12500 miles on it private sale , still think i got a bargain ,
they only moved round the corner to a bigger unit , as far as i know they are still therephilgro64 wrote:Have they opened up again? Thought they had closed the doors for good! They were always good to deal with and carried a good selection of parts in stock.joecrx wrote:avuss superbikes up here in scotland have got a 2000 red falco with if i can remember right 29000 on the clocks and the want £3200, it is a clean bike well looked after , thats why i showed interest on it ,
mine is the same year with 22000 and they offered me £1000 to take it off my hands as part exchange ,i paid £1300 for mine 4 1/2 years ago with 12500 miles on it private sale , still think i got a bargain ,