These books may be OK for selling consumer to consumer......... As far as
dealers are concerned, they are a starting point only. Dealers will refer to
what the book says then set their trade in prices based on their experience
with similar bike sales in their area. What this means is don't necessarily
expect to get those trade in numbers on your bike because most dealers don't
expect to be able to get those retail numbers out of reselling your bike.
Understand too that dealers want to be able to price a bike to move quickly,
so they are going to trade bikes at prices that allow them to do just that.
If they don't believe they can retail a bike for $6700 anytime in the near
future, they aren't going to trade it for an amount that would force them to
put that retail price tag on it. The $2100 difference between trade and
retail in that one case of the Kelly blue book isn't real world either. To be
able to retail a bike at almost 50% more than they traded it for are deals
dealers only dream about. The other factor to consider is what you are
trading your bike in on. This has a factor on the trade figure as well, This
isn't new information. It is the same as the automotive industry. If you are
wanting to purchase the latest and greatest ride that is in short supply and
high demand, you are going to pay dearly for the honor of purchasing it. That
usually translates to low trade figures and retail sales figures. If you
refuse to accept that..... step aside, the guy behind you has cash and no
trade. It boils down to what is meaningful to you. Do you want a discount on
the new bike? See a high trade figure on the bike you are trading in? If you
are financing, do you want a low or no down payment? Or are low monthly
payments important to you? Ultimately, you try to negotiate only the
difference figure between your trade and the new bike, because that is hard
dollars you will have to cough up. If you are in a position where you have to
finance, you do give up some leverage if you need special concerns such as
the no money down or low monthly payments. It all costs, you just decide the
value to you,
Good luck,
RSRBOB
