dealer charging for a test ride...
Discussion
It's simple. Dealers will do it if they notice they have a high amount of test rides without any return.
Contractors will charge to make a quote, people who sell wedding dresses will charge for an afternoon of trying on dresses.
If you don't like it you should take your money elsewhere but I find it very reasonable.
Contractors will charge to make a quote, people who sell wedding dresses will charge for an afternoon of trying on dresses.
If you don't like it you should take your money elsewhere but I find it very reasonable.
theshrew said:
I wouldn't pay for one. When I was looking I rang a BM dealer for a ride on a R1 they told me I couldn't ride it but I could have a test ride on there demo 1000rr - that's was a lot of use to me 
Possibly to do with insurance restrictions (ie onlycover on their registered demo bikes)? Otherwise seems odd.
Oh well, totally disagree. Cost of doing business, dealer expects me to pay them to sell me a bike, WTF? As for test pilots, perhaps they need to chat with people & qualify that way.
Frankly, I'd find somewhere else (as a matter of principle if nothing else
)
I have found that unlike car dealers, bike dealers don't tend to do test rides on the spot, always worth calling ahead and making an appointment, or you'll likely need to book and go back another time.
Frankly, I'd find somewhere else (as a matter of principle if nothing else
) I have found that unlike car dealers, bike dealers don't tend to do test rides on the spot, always worth calling ahead and making an appointment, or you'll likely need to book and go back another time.
Esceptico said:
Possibly to do with insurance restrictions (ie only cover on their registered demo bikes)? Otherwise seems odd.
More than likely this, or VED.I can't see the big issue with it, it's not their fault that you want to go through every manufacturer's catalog top-to-bottom before picking. Having said that, I've never been charged for one - but I wouldn't object to paying a reasonable sum like that if I needed to to be sure of what I was spending money on.
I've never ever paid to test ride anything - the one time I was asked to was by BMW Park Lane to test ride their S1000RR so I didn't bother.
Should have known not to make the effort to revisit because I was signed up for a K1200S demo ride when they first came out and the dealer never called me back either - clearly not interested in sales. Top job! lol
Sure I've added fuel on longer test rides and most dealers are only too happy to let you test ride.
Personally turning up un-announced on spec isn't the best approach, I always call up and chat to them on the phone and arrange first.
Should have known not to make the effort to revisit because I was signed up for a K1200S demo ride when they first came out and the dealer never called me back either - clearly not interested in sales. Top job! lol
Sure I've added fuel on longer test rides and most dealers are only too happy to let you test ride.
Personally turning up un-announced on spec isn't the best approach, I always call up and chat to them on the phone and arrange first.
upsidedownmark said:
Oh well, totally disagree. Cost of doing business, dealer expects me to pay them to sell me a bike, WTF? As for test pilots, perhaps they need to chat with people & qualify that way.
Maybe the dealer did just that and decided to scare the OP away by asking for £25.
I've never had any issues test riding here in Holland. Even when I just got my license (picked up the day before), I went out on a GSX-R600, a Daytona and a 749. I only had to hand over my license and sign the testriding form.
I test rode my 848 for a whole 10 minutes... The week before I had an 848 to break in for the same dealer. A customer wanted to take it racing, but didn't want the hassle of breaking it in
I test rode my 848 for a whole 10 minutes... The week before I had an 848 to break in for the same dealer. A customer wanted to take it racing, but didn't want the hassle of breaking it in
Seems reasonable to me,if the OP is concerned about a refundable £25 for the use of a spanking new £10k+ bike then he's probably wasting everyones time..even on all 4 demos that's only £75 as he'll be buying one of them surely,assuming all the dealers have the same policy..if you're serious you'd pay it and get on with it.
That^^.
I've test ridden a Suzuki, a Yamaha, two Triumphs and several Hondas and never been asked to pay or been turned down.
That said, I'm a respectable middle aged, middle class bloke and usually turn up on a bike that's roughly equalivalent to what I want to test ride.
These days I'd never buy a bike without test riding it first. I don't care how good it's reviews are, I need to make sure that it's comfortable for me and that it suits my riding style.
I've test ridden a Suzuki, a Yamaha, two Triumphs and several Hondas and never been asked to pay or been turned down.
That said, I'm a respectable middle aged, middle class bloke and usually turn up on a bike that's roughly equalivalent to what I want to test ride.
These days I'd never buy a bike without test riding it first. I don't care how good it's reviews are, I need to make sure that it's comfortable for me and that it suits my riding style.
Esceptico said:
Possibly to do with insurance restrictions (ie only
cover on their registered demo bikes)? Otherwise seems odd.
If anything, I'd think the insurance problem'd be the other way around.cover on their registered demo bikes)? Otherwise seems odd.
Test drive? No problem - that's normal trade insurance.
Charge for a test drive...? At what point does that become a rental, not covered by your normal trade policy...?
sradmarty said:
There's a local dealer to me that's been on the go for years and they don't do test rides on anything, new or used. I don't know how they sell bikes because I wouldn't buy a bike I hadn't ridden. I find the whole set up bizarre. Horrible atmosphere in the shop as if you're taking up their valuable time by even speaking to them. Shame as I've had a few bikes serviced there and the service has been second to none, the mechanics always take you into the workshop and have a chat when you pick the bike up, telling you what they've done and what needs kept an eye on.
The shop where I've bought the majority of my bikes is the polar opposite, glance at a bike in the showroom and they're like here's the keys, bring it back whenever, bend it you mend it. Yet I've nothing nice to say about their service department whatsoever. Think the two shops should merge!
Fast forward to after the merger. The shop where I've bought the majority of my bikes is the polar opposite, glance at a bike in the showroom and they're like here's the keys, bring it back whenever, bend it you mend it. Yet I've nothing nice to say about their service department whatsoever. Think the two shops should merge!
sradmarty said:
The bike shop I no longer use has a s
t sales department and st attitude, and in their service dept they haven't got a mechanic who knows what a spanner is. Apparently the synergy from Merging 2 shops went out the window. Pit Pony said:
sradmarty said:
There's a local dealer to me that's been on the go for years and they don't do test rides on anything, new or used. I don't know how they sell bikes because I wouldn't buy a bike I hadn't ridden. I find the whole set up bizarre. Horrible atmosphere in the shop as if you're taking up their valuable time by even speaking to them. Shame as I've had a few bikes serviced there and the service has been second to none, the mechanics always take you into the workshop and have a chat when you pick the bike up, telling you what they've done and what needs kept an eye on.
The shop where I've bought the majority of my bikes is the polar opposite, glance at a bike in the showroom and they're like here's the keys, bring it back whenever, bend it you mend it. Yet I've nothing nice to say about their service department whatsoever. Think the two shops should merge!
Fast forward to after the merger. The shop where I've bought the majority of my bikes is the polar opposite, glance at a bike in the showroom and they're like here's the keys, bring it back whenever, bend it you mend it. Yet I've nothing nice to say about their service department whatsoever. Think the two shops should merge!
sradmarty said:
The bike shop I no longer use has a s
t sales department and st attitude, and in their service dept they haven't got a mechanic who knows what a spanner is. Apparently the synergy from Merging 2 shops went out the window. I'm surprised anyone would pay for a test ride.
For everyone defending the dealer: the defence is always "oh, they have costs, weed out test pilots, cost of a nice showroom etc etc" which is fine, but what then exactly, am I paying a premium to buy from a dealer for?
It seems we are being unreasonable to expect a dealer to provide test drives, to warrant the bike, to provide a no-quibble repair and all the rest of it. If that's the case, then we may as well take our chances on the ebay lottery, no?
Seems to me the exact reason you pay a premium to buy from a dealer is so you can test ride, so you have peace of mind, so you have a knowledgeable expert you can go to. Otherwise, why bother?
For everyone defending the dealer: the defence is always "oh, they have costs, weed out test pilots, cost of a nice showroom etc etc" which is fine, but what then exactly, am I paying a premium to buy from a dealer for?
It seems we are being unreasonable to expect a dealer to provide test drives, to warrant the bike, to provide a no-quibble repair and all the rest of it. If that's the case, then we may as well take our chances on the ebay lottery, no?
Seems to me the exact reason you pay a premium to buy from a dealer is so you can test ride, so you have peace of mind, so you have a knowledgeable expert you can go to. Otherwise, why bother?
As I said before. Maybe the dealer has plenty of business and that way he doesn't get bothered by unnecessary test rides it's his business, nobody is forcing you to take it.
I know plenty of contractors who charge for making a quote, which is very similar. They have enough business and are tired of spending a day a week making unnecessary quotes.
I know plenty of contractors who charge for making a quote, which is very similar. They have enough business and are tired of spending a day a week making unnecessary quotes.
ZesPak said:
As I said before. Maybe the dealer has plenty of business and that way he doesn't get bothered by unnecessary test rides it's his business, nobody is forcing you to take it.
I know plenty of contractors who charge for making a quote, which is very similar. They have enough business and are tired of spending a day a week making unnecessary quotes.
That's very nice for them, but it could be a short sighted strategy. Whilst you might have enough business one year, the next year might not be so good and those potential customers you aggravated for no particularly good a reason suddenly are missed.I know plenty of contractors who charge for making a quote, which is very similar. They have enough business and are tired of spending a day a week making unnecessary quotes.
A dealer once tried to charge me for a test ride. I simply said "are you serious?" and got up to walk away. At which point they changed their mind and "did me a favour" by waiving the fee.
Oddly enough I bought a bike from them.
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