Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Does this sound like a dealer in trouble?

Take the hassle out of selling your used bike, and place it on consignment at Alamo BMW - Triumph.

We will advertise your motorcycle, talk to the strangers, take all the phone calls, and answer all the emails.

We also offer financing, and extended service contracts for the buyers.

Call us today to place your motorcycle on consignment.

Alamo BMW - Triumph 210.828.5511
==========================

I am thinking if they are selling product and taking trades they would have their own used bikes to be selling.

How much of a percentage do they get or is it a flat fee? If so do you pay it up front? Do you get to set the minimum? And do you actually get to know what they sold it for?
Lets say you have to get 4k and they sell it for 6k do they get the other 2k?

I know we had a member on here (tomv) that just recently sold his at the dealership. Not sure if it was consignment or not, but I believe he said it sold within a few hours of being there.

I think dealers are going to this more because they don't have anything invested in inventory.

I sold a Gold Wing on consignment once - or I should say I TRIED to sell it on consignment. It was with the local Honda dealer. It was priced well (and was really a nice looking bike), so I really couldn't understand why it was taking so long. Each time I stopped by, I got the usual blah, blah, blah. Finally, I had a friend go by and it turns out the dealer was tacking on about $4,000 over what we had agreed on. He had priced it so high, that financing would be the only option and of course, he'd make a profit on that too. You know the ones; "I don't care how much it costs - how much are the payments?"

I went back to pick it up and they hit me with over $300 in "necessary repairs". It got messy, but I prevailed and took it home, ran an ad in Wing World and kept riding it. About 3 months later, I got a call and sold it.

Bottom line; I don't know that I'd do it again unless I was good friends with the dealer!

There's a bike shop near me that sells new bikes and used ones as well on consignment. Thay do all the work and it's a 500.00 flat fee. It's good for them. It's been working great so far.

The Triumph dealer here in KC has always sold bikes on consignment, at least for old repeat clientele.

Ok, just seemed strange for them to do a CL add like that. I always figured if you are selling new bikes you naturally have an inventory of used bikes you took in trade.

Or they have trouble keeping used stock.

It's win win, the dealer gets an opportunity to make a buck selling product the bankster doesn't own. Trade-ins have carrying cost, interest, a consignment doesn't.
Most dealers don't keep trade-ins, unless it's pristine or a marque they sell, they shop them to appropriate dealers or it's the auction, just like auto dealers.

I see it now. they have 7 BMW, 3 Triumph and 1 Suzuki bike used. Thats not very many. I guess the person picks the bike they want to buy in many cases then consign theirs first to get better money on it.

So, whos insurance in that case covers the test ride? Thinking you better have good limits and collision coverage before letting the masses out riding your bike.

Alamo has been around for a long time. I agreawith everyone else. It keeps down inventory + by putting the ad in craig list, they may hit a person who would normaly drive by and say "OH not going there, BMW, it must be expensive" Now they are on the street level. I remember when they were on Bradway. the shop is still for sale.

They are not allowed to touch anything I own. They fix cars for the most part and anything Triumph goes behind all BMW repairs.

I gave one of my Triumphs for something minor as I was leaving town. 9 days later I came back. Bike was filthy from sitting outside and had not been touched. 5 lifts inside all with BMW bikes on them.

Not everyone that buys a bike has one to trade in. Of the ones that do, probobaly some are too effed up to sell in the dealership and get auctioned for parts. Many riders probobly sell their bikes outright on CL or Ebay , Classsifieds or beside the road with a for sale sign so they make more money on the sale. Whenever I sold a bike, I didn't HAVE to sell it, so I didn'T HAVE to take the first offer I got. I could wait for somebody to pay me my price, which I know was a lot more than trade in.
It might be the next thing beyond Ebay , having the dealership take the phone calls and show the bike. It keeps the seller from having to have strangers come to your home and frees up their time . Not a bad concept.