---how are businesses able to do it for cars so cheaply?

Economy of scale?

Gonna go out on a limb here and guess that more car/truck tires are sold in the U.S. than motorcycle tires. The local Walmart tire center is ALWAYS packed. The local motorcycle dealership garage...not so much.

Quote from: tripleb on April 13, 2009, 12:23:49 PM
with the way they rip off new buyers

If you have the sense to walk away and NOT pay them the money they cant rip you off. My point being........if a dealer rips you off, its YOUR fault and no one elses. See the link....

http://www.bartleby.com/59/3/foolandhismo.html

I think certain services you get a dealerships should be priced according to skill level needed to do the job.  Like I don't want to pay $100 p/hr to do an oil change. Pay the big $$ for diagnostics and skillful stuff.  Same for tires, not the most skilled type of labor.

QuoteI think certain services you get a dealerships should be priced according to skill level needed to do the job.  Like I don't want to pay $100 p/hr to do an oil change. Pay the big $$ for diagnostics and skillful stuff.  Same for tires, not the most skilled type of labor.

that's an excellent point.  I completely agree.

and sledge, I do recognize that I can walk away and in fact, I won't pay those prices.  I'm just asking how they think they can justify asking that much and why people are willing to pay it.

Quote from: ATLRIDER on April 13, 2009, 12:46:09 PM
I think certain services you get a dealerships should be priced according to skill level needed to do the job.  Like I don't want to pay $100 p/hr to do an oil change. Pay the big $$ for diagnostics and skillful stuff.  Same for tires, not the most skilled type of labor.

If they did that, you'd be pissed off next time you tried to go there and the tire guy wasn't in that day and no one else was willing to do the work for that price. Same would go for the people who wanted other service and nobody but the tire changing guy was there. You can't pay an expert variable rates based on the work they're doing because then they'll refuse specific, low paying jobs or just go work somewhere else that is willing to pay them.

Quote from: tripleb on April 13, 2009, 12:51:08 PM

Quote

and sledge, I do recognize that I can walk away and in fact, I won't pay those prices.  I'm just asking how they think they can justify asking that much and why people are willing to pay it.

Perhaps you had better direct the question towards a dealer rather than an owner. Personaly I think the answer has been covered............. but thats up to you.

I agree with Fred. (again)  Don't be a socialist and decide how much people can make or should make.  Next thing you know they'll be deciding what YOU will make.  Find a mechanic who will do it for a price you're comfortable with or get some dynabeads and do the damn job yourself.  I don't like stealership prices either but I combat it by going elsewhere or doing it myself.

Do you know why they can get $80 + tax to mount two tires on your bike?  Most of their customers are 55-year-old accountants and physical therapists who don't want to get their hands dirty.

Go ahead, get your hands dirty.  Be a man!

As for mounting car tires, it's cheaper because it's faster and easier to mount and dismount car wheels than your bike, especially the rear.

Tripleb,

you forgot to mention what all the local shops are charging.  Main line and independent alike.
when all charge about the same.....it is what the market will tolerate.
if one is significantly cheaper.....go there

or buy 2 tire spoons and a c clamp and skip the balance   if you want to be a super cheep a$$

Fred,

Most dealerships probably feel that way & that's exactly the reason I don't take my cars, bikes to dealerships.  99% of the time I do it myself or would be looking elsewhere to get it done for what I consider a reasonable price. Back in the day I was a svc advisor in a car dealership and we did drop prices down on oil changes so we could keep customers happy and coming back.  I'd be just as pissed off if I had to pay through the nose for these simpler services.  Just my .02

I think at this point we can all agree that there's no one forcing us to pay these rates so let's forget about that.  I'm not paying $80 to have someone put tires on 2 wheels when they're off the bike.  you can talk all you want about why you think it's a good price but you will never convince me it's a fair or reasonable one.

The way I see it, once a person has a bike the way you continue to make money off of them is to encourage them to come back to you again and again.  Price gouging them is only going to piss the customer off and drive them away.  but if you offer them good prices and decent service than you will customers for life.  I personally will never buy anything through this dealer again because of their ridiculous prices and that's a customer they lost because they want to charge out of the a@@ for a simple service that I'm happy to pay for at a decent rate. just my $.02

I live in Ocala Fl. and we have a little hole in the wall bike shop that installs bike tires for 25 dollars each, the only catch is they only install what they sell-----the good news is they sell quality name brand tires much cheaper than the dealer. I have been dealing with them for years and never had a problem.

I need to find someone like that here.  What's the name of the place?  I'm up in gainesville every so often and might stop by there on the way.

Quote from: tripleb on April 13, 2009, 03:18:30 PM
I think at this point we can all agree that there's no one forcing us to pay these rates so let's forget about that.  I'm not paying $80 to have someone put tires on 2 wheels when they're off the bike.  you can talk all you want about why you think it's a good price but you will never convince me it's a fair or reasonable one.

Thats a fair comment, so.....why all the pointless ranting  Plenty of people are prepared to pay dealer prices and will do......leave them to it.

Quote from: tripleb on April 13, 2009, 03:26:31 PM
I need to find someone like that here.  What's the name of the place?  I'm up in gainesville every so often and might stop by there on the way.

I've yet to put tires on my bike but my dealer has been quite reasonable with everything else. who did ya use? Central Florida Powersports is where I get most stuff. But, the motorcycle Clinic may have better prices and they are really good guys they help me out all the time!

If my shoulder allows there are Two dealers  and Motorcycle Clinic is less than five miles I can get a base price. Unfortunately, I think I'm getting close to tires too! Well, not for a couple of weeks dang road debris!

Mary

I tried Fun Bike Center here in Lakeland.  They've been condescending towards me before because of my "little" bike so I should've expected as much.  I priced out the Avon Roadrider AM26's and they quoted $99 for the front and $115 for the rear which is about $5 better than Bikebandit overall. 

Maybe I can come thru O-town and we can do that ride around Disney when your arm is better and then go check out those places.

accwhse.com usually has better tar prices than biker bandit. They dont call him biker bandit for nothing.
Cool.
Buddha.

Here is Cental Florida Powersports number 407-847-2453. I bought the bike from them they in no way wanted to push a big bike on me. Actually, one of the service guys have one! I like walking in and they know me by name never have to tell 'em what I got. They usually don't sell me what I don't need with the exception of a screw that was already in the trip meter knob I bought from there.

Motorcycle clinic's number is:407-846-7508. They have been awesome with me esp with the LED debacle they walked me through everything and encouraged me that I could do it! Again, never pushing stuff on me I don't need. They have also let me borrow tools to do quick fixes in the parking lot!

The Kawi dealership has been great too. Where I got the awesome tank bag! Also, when needing a bolt to hold my rear brake resevoir they gave me a whole handful of bolts! There number is 407-847-6686

I look forward to riding. Are you in Lakeland? I grew up in Auburndale. I know down in the back woods of Lake Wales is some good riding!

Mary

yeah, I live in south lakeland.  I don't really know of any good roads around here so I'm always looking for good ones.

you could alway run time trials around the lake....lol