Scooter buyers clamoring for the last of the available models

Mon, Jul 14, 2008

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(“Dude! Did they say they have any Buddy’s left?” – “No! They just sold out of Keeways and they are down to Tank or Rocketta, I can’t tell which.”)

Well, this is something that nearly no one could have predicted just a few months ago. Can you believe that there were distributors with HUNDREDS of 2007 models left over in their warehouses back in April? Today, some of these distributors have to wait until September or October before their 2009′s start rolling in. “It’s madness” I say! Here’s what NBC11 in San Jose had to say about it:

Biafore said the bikes are so popular, some people are willing to take whatever is available. He remembers one weekend last month he called a “feeding frenzy.” Half a dozen people were on the showroom floor asking for bikes.

“It was to a point where it didn’t matter what the bike was, the size or what the capability was,” he said. “They knew they wanted a scooter. They knew it was hot. They knew if they didn’t buy it right then it would go away.”

Biafore said the manufacturer Piaggio has done a good job supplying Vespas during the recent spike in demand, but that it is still a struggle to get bikes. The dealership started slapping signs on its Vespas that said “available” or “sold.”

“I feel like I’m so lucky,” Anna says of buying her Vespa when she did. “Not only did I get the color I wanted, the seat I wanted, I got the style I wanted. And I would imagine that prices might go up.”

4 Responses to “Scooter buyers clamoring for the last of the available models”

  1. Tim Says:

    Our local Yamaha and Vespa dealerships still have models in stock!

    Reply

  2. Steve Says:

    Further discussions with Tim show that IF you want a scooter, you have to go to the dealership “out in the sticks”.

    His local tractor dealer has ‘em in stock!

    Yamaha, Vespa, Piaggio! You can find them all at Eastex Tractor and Lufkin Power Equipment! I thought that was a pretty funny image… especially since it’s TRUE!

    Reply

  3. Just Plane Jayne Says:

    Love the running commentary. Thanks for keeping it current!

    http://www.noton95.blogspot.com

    Reply

  4. Steve Says:

    w00t! Thanks for dropping by Jayne. I dig yer Metro. I’ve got some info I’m gonna post in a bit on a custom Vino. The Taxi Vino… looks fun.

    Reply

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