Have you run into this?

[PEKAY]

I'd really like to rid myself of my Metz tires. I'm a big fan of Avons and after reading everyone's satisfaction with the 240 Bridgestones for the rear I would like to give it a go. The local Triumph dealer tells me that installation is $40 per wheel, the catch is I have to buy the tires from THEM. I ran Avons on my Harley and loved them and my Harley dealer never had a problem with me bringing them the Avons for mounting. (Dunlop tires are OEM for Harley like Metz is for Triumph and I thought they were garbage after going with Avons.) I had another Harley dealer give me the same(you have to buy the tires from us) story.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but selling me the tires and making a profit and then charging me to install them seems like double dipping the customer. So my question is, should I look for a good price on the tires and then try to find a different dealer to work with, or should I bite the bullet and let the Triumph dealer have it his way? I also have a Honda dealer very close to where I live. I thought since they work on shaft drive Hondas working on a Rocket wouldn't be too much of a stretch for them mechanically. (I don't have the equipment or tools to remove/install the tires myself or I would take the wheels off and try to find a place that would mount the new tires for me).

Have you guys run into the "You have to buy them from us" story before?

 

[MickyB]

I'm about to go down the same road. The Triumph dealer is miles away so option one is to check out if the Honda dealer will supply and install. I doubt if the HD dealer will. So might have to travel to get it done. At least I get a ride out of it.

 

[PEKAY]

I should have mentioned that the Triumph dealer quoted me full bore retail prices and above for the 2 tires I asked for.

 

[cootertwo]

The dealership I bought my Rocket from, (Gulfcoast Motorcycles) has dropped the Triumph brand, and replaced it with KTM. However, they mounted my last tire, that I bought from Motorcycle Superstore, for $20. The trick is, take the wheel off yourself, and just bring in the wheel, and tire. Find another dealer, and tell that one to stick it where the sun don't shine! How do these idiots think they will stay in business, treating customers that way? I'd post their name, and quoted prices for the tires and labor. Let the world know they are crooks!

 

[idk]

I tend to not go to dealers with that attitude. However, I will often ask the dealer if they can match, or come close to, an internet price that I can show them on my phone. If they can come reasonably close to the price then I will buy it from them, to support local business and the local dealer. If they are not even interested in discounting then I ask them why I should buy from them and not from the opposition.

You may find that if you take the wheel and tyre to a regular tyre store then they will change it for you for about $20. However, they may not be able to balance it. You can get a motorcycle wheel balancer from HF for about $40 and do that easily yourself.

 

[R3Rider]

I tend to not go to dealers with that attitude. However, I will often ask the dealer if they can match, or come close to, an internet price that I can show them on my phone. If they can come reasonably close to the price then I will buy it from them, to support local business and the local dealer. If they are not even interested in discounting then I ask them why I should buy from them and not from the opposition.

You may find that if you take the wheel and tyre to a regular tyre store then they will change it for you for about $20. However, they may not be able to balance it. You can get a motorcycle wheel balancer from HF for about $40 and do that easily yourself.

I agree with idk, if they won't match the price or come close, take your business elsewhere. I did that with my dealer and they matched the price, they weren't happy with it but they did it. FYI, I also just put the Avon Cobra on the front and Bridgestone Exedra Max on the rear and I'm really happy with the result so far...

 

[cardinal93]

Like the last two said give them the business option end of it straightforward!
Here's what the tires cost (online) and I'm willing to pay that plus install. Period. Don't mess with it or sweat it. They'll either say yes or no and keep your business or not.
If you take the wheels off yourself you can go do any tire shop (balancing is a question worth asking). Even if you leave them on, see if there are any tire shops where the owner or workers ride bikes. If so, I can guarantee they're familiar with changing/balancing bike tires. You're not stuck with having this done at a "motorcycle" shop!

 

[mjackson1000]

I'd really like to rid myself of my Metz tires. I'm a big fan of Avons and after reading everyone's satisfaction with the 240 Bridgestones for the rear I would like to give it a go. The local Triumph dealer tells me that installation is $40 per wheel, the catch is I have to buy the tires from THEM. I ran Avons on my Harley and loved them and my Harley dealer never had a problem with me bringing them the Avons for mounting. (Dunlop tires are OEM for Harley like Metz is for Triumph and I thought they were garbage after going with Avons.) I had another Harley dealer give me the same(you have to buy the tires from us) story.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but selling me the tires and making a profit and then charging me to install them seems like double dipping the customer. So my question is, should I look for a good price on the tires and then try to find a different dealer to work with, or should I bite the bullet and let the Triumph dealer have it his way? I also have a Honda dealer very close to where I live. I thought since they work on shaft drive Hondas working on a Rocket wouldn't be too much of a stretch for them mechanically. (I don't have the equipment or tools to remove/install the tires myself or I would take the wheels off and try to find a place that would mount the new tires for me).

Have you guys run into the "You have to buy them from us" story before?

i order my tires online, and have them sent to my dealer...(was Lone Star BMW-Triumph, until they sold out to Woods Fun Center)...have not changed tires since the new owners took over....used to be $30/wheel....

 

[PEKAY]

Thank-you gentlemen for your replies.

I don't begrudge any business for making a "fair" profit, but the key word here is "fair". I didn't have a problem with the labor charge (which I felt was reasonable), and I wouldn't even care if they charged me full retail for the tires as long as that included installation. I just feel that charging for both is unethical and short-sighted, especially if you have any interest in obtaining future business with your customers. I guess the term "repeat business" has become a thing of the past replaced by the term "quick profit".

P.S. The Triumph dealer I speak of is a locally owned family business around for decades, and I'm a firm believer in supporting local businesses. I also believe that a customer's repeat patronage is something that's earned and respected.

 

[jpool]

I'd really like to rid myself of my Metz tires. I'm a big fan of Avons and after reading everyone's satisfaction with the 240 Bridgestones for the rear I would like to give it a go. The local Triumph dealer tells me that installation is $40 per wheel, ...

To me it sounds like they're subsidizing the labor cost if you buy the tires from them with some markup. I'm usually paying $30 per wheel to have my tires mounted and balanced, and that's with the wheels off the bike. I don't think it would be profitable for most shops to put a bike on the lift, R&R both wheels and mount and balance two tires, all for $80.