The Price You See Is the Price You Pay

A recent RideApart article, “Powersport Dealerships Are Getting Nervous About Possible FTC Deceptive Price Fines.” In response, Janus Motorcycles COO Mark Zweig offers his thoughts on transparent pricing, direct sales, and why buying a motorcycle shouldn’t feel like negotiating a hostage release.

One of the nice things about buying a Janus Motorcycle is that none of this applies. We don’t charge assembly fees, destination fees, documentation fees, dealer prep fees, or dealer add-ons. In fact, we don’t have dealers. We sell directly to the people who ride our motorcycles, so the price you see is the price of the motorcycle.

The Price You See Is the Price You Pay

No dealer prep. No assembly fees. No documentation charges. Just honest pricing.

Surprise! Your Motorcycle Costs More Than the Price Tag. Ever notice how some motorcycles seem to gain weight before you buy them? Not physical weight—financial weight.

You spot the bike online. “$8,995!” Great! You tell your spouse. You rearrange the garage. You start shopping for a new helmet. Then you get to the dealership, where your motorcycle has somehow picked up an assembly fee, a destination fee, a documentation fee, a setup fee, a processing fee, and a handful of other charges that weren’t on the original price tag. If they could figure out how to charge you a “looked at the motorcycle too long” fee, some probably would.

The folks at the FTC have apparently noticed this, too. According to a recent RideApart article, many powersports dealers are concerned that regulators may start taking a much harder look at deceptive pricing practices and hidden fees. Good. Consumers deserve to know what something actually costs before they decide to buy it.

One of the nice things about buying a Janus Motorcycle is that none of this applies. We don’t charge assembly fees, destination fees, documentation fees, dealer prep fees, or dealer add-ons. In fact, we don’t have dealers. We sell directly to the people who ride our motorcycles, so the price you see is the price of the motorcycle. You’ll still pay whatever taxes, title, registration, or licensing fees your state requires because, let’s face it, the government has never been accused of leaving money on the table. But we don’t invent extra charges after you’ve already decided you want the bike.

That approach fits with everything else we believe. We spend an enormous amount of time trying to make our motorcycles simpler, lighter, easier to understand, and more enjoyable to ride. We eliminate unnecessary technology whenever we can. We focus on craftsmanship instead of complexity. Why would we make the buying experience more complicated than the motorcycle itself?

Buying a motorcycle shouldn’t feel like buying cable television service, where the advertised price bears only a passing resemblance to reality. Nor should it require the negotiating skills of a hostage negotiator. We think honesty is actually good business. Imagine that.

Selling direct also allows us to have a genuine relationship with every customer. We answer the phone. We answer emails. We build your motorcycle. We know who you are, and you know who we are. There isn’t a layer of middlemen standing between the people who build the motorcycle and the people who ride it. That’s not only more enjoyable—it also eliminates the need for pricing games designed to squeeze a few more dollars out of someone who’s already emotionally committed.

Maybe we’re old-fashioned. We certainly build motorcycles that way, with spoked wheels, analog gauges, and an emphasis on mechanical simplicity over electronic wizardry. It probably shouldn’t surprise anyone that we think pricing ought to follow the same philosophy. Honest motorcycles deserve honest pricing.

Imagine buying a motorcycle where the price tag isn’t the opening bid. That’s how we think it ought to be, and we suspect if that idea appeals to you, you’ll probably like everything else about Janus, too.

-Mark Zweig

Ready to Talk Motorcycles?

Whether you’re just beginning your research or you’re ready to start a build, we’d be happy to help.

Browse our current inventory, configure your own Janus, or explore financing options. If you’d rather have a conversation, give us a call at (574) 538-1350. One of our sales consultants can answer your questions, help you compare models, and guide you through the build process.

After all, buying a motorcycle should be every bit as enjoyable as riding one.