Why won't motorcycle dealers bring in certain models?

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Jinxy - 16 Mar 2005 17:41 GMT

This just pees me off as a potential buyer. I phoned the three dealers in my
city way back in Jan asking when the new models would arrive. I was told by
all three check back in Feb as that is when they will arrive. I wanted to
check out the the Yamaha XT 225 and the Suzuki DR 200. I have seen pictures
and all the info on them doing searches on the net, but now before I make my
decision I want to see them in real life.

So Feb comes I phone and only one dealer says they had two XT 225's but one
is sold and they have the other one sitting there and if that sells they
will try and track down another for me ( so they bring in only two for the
whole season?). As for the DR they don't bring those in, but we can order
one for you. I phoned the other dealers and it was the same thing except
they don't have any of those models sitting there you have to order them.

Supposedly they are not big sellers (those models) and I suspect they wanna
keep more showroom floorspace for bigger, more expensive bikes? Funny though
there are tons of dirtbikes on the floor..so I don't know? It really bugs me
that I can't sit on a bike first to see if I like it, or if a person can
even touch the floor with their feet first before I order it. Should I
complain to Yamaha and Suzuki? After all these dealers are representing
their companies and their products. Or would this be a waste of time?

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doc - 16 Mar 2005 23:15 GMT

> This just pees me off as a potential buyer. I phoned the three dealers in
> my city way back in Jan asking when the new models would arrive. I was
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> are representing their companies and their products. Or would this be a
> waste of time?

Probably a waste of time, but do it anyway. What do you have to lose
(besides time)?

Keep in mind that American companies get taxed on their inventory at the
end of the year, so they're not likely to stock anything that doesn't sell.
A lot of European countries don't do that, so they may have a better
selection; not that it helps you if you're in the US.

The American inventory tax keeps many companies from stocking parts, too,
unless they're big sellers. Maybe a few complaints to your
congress-critters about tax laws would help.

Best,
doc

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Bruno - 17 Mar 2005 00:07 GMT

>Keep in mind that American companies get taxed on their inventory at the
>end of the year, so they're not likely to stock anything that doesn't sell.

That's a totally stupid tax. This from a Canadian.

--
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me
than a frontal lobotomy.

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doc - 17 Mar 2005 01:20 GMT

> >Keep in mind that American companies get taxed on their inventory at the
> >end of the year, so they're not likely to stock anything that doesn't
> >sell.
>
> That's a totally stupid tax. This from a Canadian.

O Canada!

Couldn't agree with you more. US tax laws see it as your total wealth: the
more you have at the end of the year, the more you owe, less depreciation.

Jeez, tax laws.

Best,
doc

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Khutter - 17 Mar 2005 20:50 GMT

>> >Keep in mind that American companies get taxed on their inventory at the
>> >end of the year, so they're not likely to stock anything that doesn't
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> Best,
> doc

Funny, this came up when I was talking to a friend who used to work in the
office at a Suzuki car dealership a while back. Certain classes of vehicles
are exempt from the inventory tax and if the stealer gets them in 'under
consignment' then no inventory tax is due. I understand that is because of
sweetheart deals with some of the manufacturers but am not sure. I think to
qualify as inventory it has to be either paid for or under a lend/sales
agreement.
There is no excuse for someone to NOT have a model they want to sell on the
floor. A friend had saved up for a lot of years so he could buy his dream
car but had to drive almost 150 miles to a dealer in another town if he
wanted to test drive it. I could possibly understand it if he would have
been in some small town but this was while he lived in Dade County, FL.
[outside Miami]

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Jinxy - 17 Mar 2005 22:11 GMT

>>> >Keep in mind that American companies get taxed on their inventory at
>>> >the
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> have been in some small town but this was while he lived in Dade County,
> FL. [outside Miami]

Yup it's stupid. The next nearest large city close to me is 3hrs away. I'm
going to email their dealerships and see if they do the same thing..if not
they will get my business.

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e - 17 Mar 2005 00:44 GMT

>This just pees me off as a potential buyer. I phoned the three dealers in my
>city way back in Jan asking when the new models would arrive. I was told by
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>complain to Yamaha and Suzuki? After all these dealers are representing
>their companies and their products. Or would this be a waste of time?

waste of time.
buy a nice xt 600. you'll be happier.

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Motorcycle Forum / General / Yamaha / March 2005

Why won't motorcycle dealers bring in certain models?