Well, I will point out something that is not generally known to the buying public. This is 24 year old information however, and things may have changed. In 1986 I was a motorcycle\snowmobile dealer in B.C. Both the motorcycles, (dirt and street) as well as the sleds were all priced from wholesale (my cost) to MSRP (the manufacturers suggested and advertised retail price) was exactly 20%. Yamaha, Suzuki, and Honda were just starting to really pound the outboard sales with Honda leading the pack. Now, 20% on a $4,000. item is $800. bucks. Not bad at all....except that 20% was based on the unit in the crate on the loading dock in Vancouver, B.C. Not in Kelowna, B.C. where I happened to have my shop. We were very big in dirt bike sales and the average dirt bike was a little less than $2,000. $400. profit....just a sec.....$120. freight bill. Crate is now in back-yard. 2 hr. for mechanic to uncrate and assemble. Another hour for fluids, fuel, and start, run, and adjust for ease of operation. Parts cost $25. ?? I always figured just under $100. in those costs. So now I got $180. to play with. Wanna free helmet thrown it? A fancy coat? How about motorcross boots? There was just nothing left. Now if the item didn't sell within 30 days I had an interest payment to make on the unit. Remember 1986 try 14.75% wholesale fianance fees. I had +$400,000. in inventory in those days. STOOPID ME...Yes, but I was playing the game along with all the other dealers. I was out of the business by 1988 along with every one of my competitors. Yes, the brands and the dealers are still there but everyone that was in the business with in the '80s has left and a whole bunch of new suckers (retailers) are now in the game. Has it changed?? I would certainly hope so. I had always wanted a motorcycle shop as I love bikes and I thought what better way to enjoy life would be to live and work in a giant toy store for adults. It got pretty hard to keep a smile on my face and an upbeat attitude towards my customers when I was going broke. I sure hope things have changed for Canadian dealers of Japanese leisure products. i.e. bikes, sleds, outboards, generators, etc.
