I want to support my local dealer, but.......

I want to support my local dealer, but I was just able to get a part shipped to my door from Motobins for about $60 (29.50 British Pounds plus delivery). The same part in the US is $125. It took less than a week to get here. I wonder why there's such a large differences in the prices. I will always try to support the local dealers, but sometimes it's just not financial sound.

Looking forward to hearing from our Canadian friends!

Seems like they are even more taken advantage of than we in the US.

Why?

Can you mention the part?

I don't support my local dealer because he's Lord Farquaad. If he lost the imperious attitude I might think about buying a light bulb from him, but the arrogance drove me south to Max BMW and I've been happy ever since.

20774 said:

Can you mention the part?

Click to expand...

If you insist.


It's part 11221337284, which is the "guide ring" at the end of the crankshaft that the rear main seal rides on for an Airhead.

From what I understand Motobins buys direct from the same suppliers the BMW gets them.

Take out the middleman making a buck (BMW) and you get cheaper costs.

Are you listening BMW?

Strange that such an important part has that great of a cost discrepancy. It has to be more than just the "middle man", unless there are multiple people in the loop.

I buy parts from one of two dealers in the area, when convenient and parts are in stock, you know, I'm passing by, give it try, save gas and postage. However, the cost can be crazy high. 45 bucks for a couple oil filters? Thanx, I think!

Being dealer is very tough these days. We're all a bit cheap especially when we remember a condenser being a buck and half, new rear tire fifty bucks and an air filter five bucks. Today a dealer needs twenty-two bucks for a condenser just to keep one on the shelf, a guy to sell it and a team of compliance lawyers, business consultants and accountants on the hook, a banker, not to mention tons of insurance and license-sure experts, backed by liability field experts. It's tough out there in a business. IIRC, to pay a full time employee ten bucks an hour the business has to generate somewhere north fifty to sixty grand gross.

The condenser is still probably worth about nine cents.

When I walk into a dealership today the first thought is, "How can these people possibly stay in this business?" I actually feel much empathy for these businesses scrambling today. And I also know that a lousy forty-bucks isn't going run that business for even forty-five seconds. Change is great when the future outcome can be predicted.

I'd suggest that comparing parts prices for Airhead parts is a separate category and is likely not applicable to newer bikes. For the part in question, I'd venture it's no longer in production by anybody.