Consignment Sales?

[dt]

Anyone know how consignment sales work from a buyer’s perspective?

I found a little used dual sport on a local dealer’s website (Zephyrhills, actually) that I want to make a run at sometime this week and when I was looking at the listing, I noted that it said it was a consignment sale. I know what that is, but decided I’m not sure how it works exactly. So let’s say I go up there, check out the bike and make an offer…does the dealer then go back to the seller with the offer, who then counters and we get into an annoying back-n-forth through the dealer? That’s kind of what I’m worried about. I really don’t have a lot of time for that right now.

[Zarticus]

Hey Bill,
Usually the seller tells the consignment place their bottom dollar amount, Then the consignment place can make the deal from that point & up. If you make an offer that is lower than the sellers bottom price but it's close they may contact the seller to see if it's acceptable.

[mrbones]

That sound correct to me. 

[dt]

I shouldn't have farted around...nice little Yamaha XT from what I could see in the photos and listing...sold before I could get over there and take a peek. I haven't been really paying attention, but I'm hearing small dual sports are going like crazy 'cuz of the crazy gas prices, better summer weather upon us. Anyway, until something else pops up...

[mrbones]

No kiddin'? That's good to know. What year was it?

[dt]

No kiddin'? That's good to know. What year was it?

2007...225cc. It was priced right at top KBB/Nada retail fwii. Also, I noted a few others. The biggest surprise was a 2005 DR-Z400 (sweet bike, but too big for what I wanted) also up in z-hills that sold for $3,800...KBB top retail is $3,100. That's a hell of a premium for whatever the private sale price would be.

Don't tell me you're now interested in selling your KLX...I'm picking up a 2009 KL250 down at Barney's Saturday morning. 

[mrbones]

Nope. I think I should hold onto that KLX. Interesting to know it's value is staying high.

When did they start remaking that Super Sherpa? The 2009 appears the same as an older model I almost bought over the KLX. I notice it's air cooled.

[dt]

Looks like it was back for one year stint in 2009. I think it looks retro, or maybe like something the military would make…square headlight, low front fender, olive drab.

I’ll post some pics this weekend. I might have this one off. 

[mrbones]

The Sherpa looks nice.

Did they kill the KLX250S? None of those around for sale?

[dt]

Did they kill the KLX250S? None of those around for sale?

I can see that’s not in the 2011 line up, but I wouldn’t assume that they’ve killed it. Cool bike, it would seem to be a hot seller. Over this ongoing recession I think that the big 4 brands have been suspending production on various models so they can sell off some backlog. The KL that I just bought is brand new. It hasn’t been sitting on Barney’s showroom floor all this time. It’s been in some glutted warehouse someplace waiting all that time for its spot on a showroom floor. Finally got its turn.

Now look for the glut to flip into a shortage because of the quake/tsunami last month. Rightfully so, the people in Japan have much bigger things to worry about than motorcycle production. The enormity of that disaster just seems to get worse and worse with all the reports that keep coming out. Dang, I was reading that employees at that damaged nuclear power plant were going in there to do the repairs knowing that they're getting exposed to radiation...dang! Anyway, as an indication of supply problems to come, the reason I’d been scoping a little dualie is because I got word that my 2012 Tenere, which was due for delivery next month, won’t be coming until November…best guess I suppose. While the Yamaha plants weren't hit, many suppliers were (their own plants, homes of their employees, etc.); it's going to be awhile before they can dig out. Yamaha offered to cancel the pre-order and return my deposit, but I’m sticking this out with ‘em. The KL isn’t a replacement for that monster…just a convenient little dirt toy while I wait.