Comments on: Another Harley-Davidson Auction At Rossmeyer’s. No Reserve!

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:59:57 +0000

I wonder how many they actually sell with these tired old dealer tricks.

If you wait long enough they’ll be selling them at the price people will pay during their closing down sale.

HD’s are way over priced everywhere in the world. Here in Sydney Australia I can get a new custom made chopper with a 127 Cu In Ultima engine & 6 speed etc for AUD $22000 for the kit or AUD 26000 built and painted in one colour. A stock HD softtail costs AUD 35000.

The new Honday Fury has just been released here for AUD 19000. I don’t know about you but I think the HD people are not in the real world….

By: mikydwarf

mikydwarf — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:29:58 +0000

another one, huh what a joke i have attended thelast two, and let me fill u in the week before i had been in looking at new hds and their used invintory had a list of prices and went home to wonder so the next sunday the big slashing of all bikes new and used . ‘well alright so off i go, get there and its the old switch and bait the same bikes i had looked at now were all from 5 to 10 thousand more . wat wat i say. and in asking how much well not to my surprise they knock them down to the price i had on my list when it was inside . so i say buyer beware and yo ross every body is not stupid i bought a” bmw.”

By: Christopher McMinn

Christopher McMinn — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:16:11 +0000

If you are looking to buy a used H-D , I think it would be foolish to go this route . If you are green to H-D this is perfect

By: BikerMarc

BikerMarc — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:15:20 +0000

There has never been a better time to get “like-new” Harleys. You can easily get a low mileage, 2-year old bike for $10,000 cash or less from a motivated seller. They are available all over the Internet and thru word-of-mouth from Biker friends.

Dealers are not yet motivated enough to cut their losses. Clearly, Rossmeyer’s banks don’t understand the business of auctioning in a saturated market. This said, I wish the Rossmeyer familly all the best in moving the excess inventory.

BikerMarc

By: fuji

fuji — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:55:49 +0000

Yes, Bigalyts it is about getting more Liquid, cutting overhead.

Yes, Bigalyts the MoCo is watching with much interest. You assume they are not?

Yes, Bigalyts when you operate under a banner [ trade name ] be it Ford, GM or even Dominos a franchised dealer operates within guidelines. If there are discrepancies, then corrective measures must be taken to maintain a franchise. Note, I did not say all. Financial reports disclose all aspects of the business.

Yes, Bigalyts, I have past experience with the Ford Motor Co. so I understand how it works.

So to speak, you are under their thumb. Quite common to have someone dropping in the door on a regular basis checking on inventory, sales, service, financials, condition/upkeep of buildings, etc., and, no, not all used inventory was floor planned.

Yes, Bigalyts, the company is very concerned over the value of used Harley’s just as any builder on this site is concerned about the value of used bikes they have built.

By: Alan

Alan — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:31:53 +0000

“This will be a no reserve auction, they will start the minimum bids higher to reflect the true value of each motorcycle”

That’s a silly statement, both here and on eBay. The “minimum bid” is the reserve in that case.

Rossmeyer, like most big Taj Mahal Harley dealers, overprices their used bikes as compared to an individual selling. There are several reasons: 1) overhead is tremendous in a dealership that size; 2) floor plan costs mount up each month a bike sits on the floor; 3) If they refurbish a bike when it’s traded in, they have the costs of that; they have to pay sales commisssions.

By: Dr Robert Harms

Dr Robert Harms — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:54:32 +0000

“reserve price” is meaningless if it is at or near normal street selling price. If its $1000.00, then its a real auction with bidders truly bidding to buy. Any experianced auction buyer or auctioneer will confirm this. The “dirty secret” is that “no reserve” or essentially no reserve bikes bring good prices but it takes balls for the seller to do so. Ask Jerry Wood or similar sources .

By: Tweets that mention Another Harley-Davidson Auction At Rossmeyer’s. No Reserve! at Cyril Huze Blog -- Topsy.com

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:14:49 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Michael Davies, Todd johnstone. Todd johnstone said: Another Harley-Davidson Auction At Rossmeyer's. No Reserve! at … http://bit.ly/5n39PN [...]

By: MC

MC — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:31:41 +0000

Bigalyst

If you were to go to Rossmeyer’s web site right now you will find 3 2001-2003 Softail Standard models with a price range of $9995.00 – $11995.00.

Now go to any other web source, Cycle Trader, Craiglist, etc. I just did. Results were a 2009 Softail Standard, 5xxx miles. $9995.00 (St. Louis Craiglist)

Florida Craiglist, 2000 Softail Standard $6200.00. (South Florida Craiglist)

This is not an isolated thing. You can find low cost Harleys all day long!

Are we to believe that a dealer would have more money into a trade in or repo than it is worth? Who knows, maybe that is what they had to do to move new units?

By: Patrick R.

Patrick R. — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:15:35 +0000

Bigalyts. You didn’t read correctly. Cyril wrote that there will be a minimum price for each bike at the auction start, but after there is no reserve.. I agree that Rossmeyer’s needs urgently to raise the money to service its debts. Or I think they will go to Chapter 11.

By: Bigalyts

Bigalyts — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:20:17 +0000

You Guyz keep taliking about ‘true value” and “MotorCo’s watching” and “if there isn’t coaching going on” and “Harley Frenzy over” ! You Guys are MORONS ! We all know that Harleys and Every other brand of Bike and Car and Rolex Watch and Artwork and Realestate is taking it in the ASS! Rossmeyers Auction is about getting more Liquid and Floating some DoReMi ! They can only Sell these Bikes for as they are on their Floor Plan for ! Yes, Used Bikes are Floor Planned as well. If they don’t meet the Reserve they can’t be sold. DON’T YOU WANT A TITLE ?????

By: fuji

fuji — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:39:54 +0000

I would believe that the MotorCo is watching all of this unfold and taking notes on what the true value of used hardleys are / was.
If there isn’t coaching going on from the MoCo board room to their largest dealer I would be suprised. Something like don’t sale short for it will deflate the price of new.

By: fuji

fuji — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:30:24 +0000

This continues to be a litness test for survival.
How many times does one cry wolf before no one listens ?

By: MC

MC — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:22:26 +0000

The Harley feeding frenzy is over. There are a lot of people out there that are selling their motorcycles because they need the money. Now that winter is just around the corner prices have dropped as well as demand.

If they have a bottom dollar for the motorcycle they want to liquidate they should post those prices and sell to the first guy that puts up the cash and thank him while he’s doing it!

Hope they get some interest, but if I were looking for a bike there are enough out there to be patient and you will get a great deal.