Mikes Famous : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

concourde98 · 06-13-2005, 03:15 PM

Has about 15 low mileage FLHPI's from 02-03. HAs anyone done business with this dealership and is there good negotiating room on this type of motocycle? i.e. used police mount

Thx in advance

road_king · 06-13-2005, 03:29 PM

Purchased a 1998 FLHRCI from them new. Was well over MSRP and would not go lower. Had the money and wanted the bike.
The market is a bit different now, maybe they do negotiate more now.
I was at the New Castle dealership this past Sat...lots of bikes, all new ones were listed over MSRP.
Used ones were, IMHO, too high as well.

FLHT-Steve · 06-13-2005, 03:36 PM

Mike's famous around here (South Jersey) for charging a lot more than msrp. I bought my bike from Barb's Camden County
HD http://www.harleydavidsoncc.com/
..they have low mileage police bikes too. You could probably buy a 2005 FLHTi from Barbs for what a used police bike from Mike's cost..

Haremscarem · 06-13-2005, 03:52 PM

I was shopping for a new Wide Glide in January. I went into Mike's and almost fell over when I saw his prices. They wanted 2 1/2 to 3 grand over MSRP. A young sales girl came over and asked " Can I help you?" I said " Sure, can you tell me why your prices are almost 3 grand more than anybody else. Her reply was " We are a premium dealership". I asked "What the hell does that mean?. What do I get for the premium service, you on the back for 1 year."
I wasn't in there for more than 4 minutes. I bought the Bike from Smultz's. they treated me great and charged MSRP with 299.00 for prep. Best deal in town.
Go to Smultz's Harley in Eagle PA, Barbs in Camden, hannums in Media.

Hammy71 · 06-13-2005, 04:13 PM

Mike's is too much like a car dealership with the "if we make a deal will you buy it today" bull crap. My 05 Road King Custom (which I paid MSRP at Ramses)...was marked up about 5 grand. When asked what the 'real' price is I was told that it is supply and demand....If you don't buy it at the price...somebody else will. That's not what I learned supply and demand meant...but then again I don't get the new math either....LOL...Now their parts and service are in line with Harley pricing..but the bikes....Maybe back when there was a two year waiting list this crap worked...but now...EVERYBODY has bikes on the floor (at least the local shops...Hannums, Ramses, etc.). While I was in there a couple of weeks ago getting my sissy bar (no sales tax in DE) I heard the damn bell being rang at least twice...meaning someone had bought a bike. I guess some people don't want to wait for a certain color, don't shop around, or just have more money than brains........Well....there's my rant on MIKE' S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Archon · 06-13-2005, 04:41 PM

I've seen ads for that dealership in American Iron and elsewhere and I always ask myself what psychological insecurity requires a dealership to refer to itself as "famous." That boast sounds empty and even foolish. Around here there are famous dealerships like Deeley's in B.C. which has an awesome display of historical bikes. There are plenty of others around the country. From what I've read in this thread it might be that Mike's is famous for ripping people off and not much else.

skraft82 · 06-13-2005, 04:46 PM

I think they are famous for putting high price tags on their bikes, but I don't know if they rip people off. They would have to actually sell bikes for that to happen.

I stopped there once on my way between Ft Bragg and NY, and was shocked by the prices, but also by the sheer volume of bikes on the floor.

Do they ever sell anything? Or does the owner of the business just like having a full showroom floor?

Lunker · 06-13-2005, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by concourde98

Has about 15 low mileage FLHPI's from 02-03. HAs anyone done business with this dealership and is there good negotiating room on this type of motocycle? i.e. used police mount

Thx in advance

I don't know where in Jersey you're from, but near me (central Jersey Coast) there are two dealerships that charge MSRP. Harley of Edison (where I bought my bike) and Harley of Long Branch (where I buy parts now). The Long Branch dealership was known for having low (MSRP) prices and prep fees even when bikes were a little harder to come by a few years ago.

Michrider · 06-13-2005, 05:37 PM

Don't even think about paying over MSRP plus reasonable prep (maybe 300 - 500). Anything more is an absolute screw job.

There is no shortage, there are tons of inventory all over the country. Dealers may try to create a false sense of shortage by only putting a couple on the floor, but behind the back door is a shitload of bikes.

The service deals packed into the price is another ripoff. The service is so simple on these bikes, invest $60 in a service manual and do it all yourself.

SkullyMike · 06-13-2005, 05:39 PM

I've heard Blockers HD in Pennsylvania is also very reasonable.

wyodude · 06-13-2005, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by concourde98

Has about 15 low mileage FLHPI's from 02-03. HAs anyone done business with this dealership and is there good negotiating room on this type of motocycle? i.e. used police mount

Thx in advance

concourde,

used police bikes have generally been seriously abused, i.e., extended idle, parade duty, etc.

If you're buying low with the plan of going through the motor, then maybe, but caveat emptor.

regards,

wyo

tlewis · 06-13-2005, 06:29 PM

I wouldn't buy a bike from them now, regardless of the price, because of their history of ripping people off.

They have to jack their prices up to cover their unnecessary nationwide advertising. I've seen their ads everywhere.

machinist · 06-13-2005, 08:47 PM

They were 6K over on a Train this time last year. PREMIUM price on accessory installation too. I think most of the dealers in SE Pa are at MSRP on the popular stuff. Just see which shop suits you. Mine came from Schaeffers.

SFTL-1 · 06-13-2005, 11:36 PM

I bought my Deuce at Mike's in New Castle. The fact is Mike's is not an MSRP dealer, this is both good and bad. The bad is obvious, their bikes are listed WELL over msrp, but they have inventory. I live in SE PA right in the middle of Smaltz and Hannum's HD. I would have preferred to buy from either one of these dealers, but at the time Smaltz did not have one Deuce and Hannum's only had one, but not a color I was willing to buy. I bought the end of July and many most dealers were in the same situation, low inventory with the next model year just about to arrive. I did not want to wait another month or two for one to come in. Mike's had about 8 Deuce's and in a color that was not only acceptable, but preferred. It took an hour or so negotiating, but I did end up getting the bike at $1,000 under msrp. They do hit you for $700 -750. dealer prep/delivery charge.

Bottom line is that Mike's can be good if you're willing and able to negotiate. It took me about 3 or 4 rounds and I needed a cut man in the ring with me, but it payed off in the end.

PS, I've already had performance work done on my engine and I store it in the winter, all at Smaltz's HD, their great people.

empireghost · 06-14-2005, 07:18 AM

I bought an '04 FLHTCUI P.O.S. about a year and a half ago. It was strictly MSRP + reg. The whole deal was done over the internet with zero stress and they threw in a ton of free stuff including two meals that day. I'm in NY, they handled all the DMV issues flawlessly. That, however, was a deal with the Police Fleet Sales Dept, which you would think is an entirely different dealership. Otherwise, the concensus here is correct. When I was there everything on the floor was at least 2K over.