This is both an ON and an OFF TOPIC (Sorry, I got carried away):
NOTE: Long Post to Follow..Proceed at your own risk!
I've shopped the online discount motorcycle clothing sites and have found some great bargains. After all, what do I care if it's this year's or last year's model? (Nobody has every accused this blue jean wearing rider of being a fashion statement!).
I've been wearing a mesh jacket with a removable waterproof liner and armor in all the right places. It was a $300 jacket that was in the "closeout bin" for $99 when I purchased it last year. I then got an (overpriced) Victory iron-on patch and voila...a great jacket at a bargain price. Will it last for many years? Probably not, but it should last a few seasons and that's good enough for me.
If you call these online merchants, (most have a toll free number) the operators will tell you about their closeouts. You can also click on their Closeout/Discontinued Products links. While it's against the rules for me, as the operator of this site to click on the ads that appear here (so that I don't accumulate artificial clicks - and I do live by the rules) or to encourage or reward others to do the same, you'll find on many of the pages on this site some banner ads for discount motorcycle apparel stores.. Feel free to check them out to see if they have a great deal on a product you're looking for. Saving money in this economy and supporting retailers is our own way of providing an economic stimulus package for the retailers.
Also, since I live in a warm weather climate, my riding season is opposite the majority of the country. So, in the middle of the Summer when jacket sales are slow, the bargains are abundant. Or, in January when few bike owners around the country are riding is also a great time to find bargains. In this case, just wait for after the holidays to do your shopping to find the best prices. Also, some States have inventory taxes, so some additional discounts can sometimes be found the last week of the year.
This also works when buying helmets and other accessories online as we all know, business is slow and supporting them is a good thing...good Karma.
I like to call it "buying against the grain." I've been known to do this with stocks and cars. For example, during the tech boom, I looked at the financial stocks when others were trying to find the next Microsoft. For cars, buying when the economy is slow can lead to bargains. For example, buying an SUV today will cost much less than the same model just a few years ago. I've found comfort in the mantra, "Never be in a rush to spend money."
Whether it's buying a car or a bike, or even a house, many of us get excited and sometimes rush into a purchase. Sometimes we feel pressured that the car we want at the price we want may not be there tomorrow. C'mon, we're smarter than that...after all, when was the last time you saw a car or bike go UP in price? Not often, huh?
There's nothing like letting the salesperson knowing that you're not in a rush to make this purchase fairly soon in the buying process. Also, treating the salesperson with dignity and respect (and not being a time waster or an A$$) seems to work wonders these days. My habit is to do 99% of my research on a car or bike BEFORE I enter the store so that I know which car/bike I want. The test drive/ride will help you make the final decision.
Sometimes, especially with car salespeople, I open with a question that I already know the answer to, just to see if they will be providing honest answers to future questions. If they reply with an incorrect answer, instead of correcting them, I feel like I have the upper hand as I know that if their lips are moving, they are probably doing nothing more than trying to earn a commission and not listening to my buying needs.
A few years back where was a bike dealer (owner) who was a great salesman. But like a poker player, he had a "tell" that would let me know that the words that followed were most likely B.S. His tell was, "Well Andy (while looking at this shoes)..." That's when I knew that for whatever reason that he didn't want to answer my question as he felt that I would walk away when hearing the answer.
Finally, I don't even attempt to negotiate price until I'm positive I want the car or bike. One plan I tried when buying a very nice car was to go in with a pre-printed check (they always look more official than a hand written check), for the price I was willing to pay. When he brought up price, I listened with interest to his pricing and salesman telling me how lucky I was to get this deal as the Manager couldn't get this price for this Wife. Yeah, right! After hearing his near full price offer, I'd slowly and deliberately pull the pre-printed check from the wallet, place it on the desk, rotate it 180-degrees so that it's facing the salesperson and say something like thie:
"I only brought one check with me and I'm ready to buy right now. Here's a check that is less than you offered and if my calculations are correct, it should be the out the door price. If you and your manager accept my deal, I'll sign the check right now and you can start prepping the car.
More times than not, this works.
But, for some odd reason, unlike buying a car, sometimes we (as riders) feel that we cannot negotiate on bike purchases. While no one has every called me "cheap," maybe frugal might be a better word, like you, I would like to get the best deal possible. While buying a bike to us is an emotional purchase, and a purchase that will provide many years of enjoyment, take your time and show your poker face...give them the feeling that you'll have to think about it.
Since I've hijacked this thread a bit (it was about buying jackets and I've somehow jumped to buying bikes), allow me to bring up one more point. If you are financing a new or used bike, make sure to read all the fine print on the financing agreement. Take your time when going through the agreement and if you have any questions, be sure to address them to your satisfaction. See what happens if you're late on a payment or miss one entirely. Check the full interest rate for the full term of the contract, not just the first 12 months. You may be surprised at some of the details of the agreement. After all, the bikes we enjoy are not inexpensive to purchase.
Sorry for being so long winded...but you guys know me by now!
