December 4, 2010  about Uncategorized

LookAtVietnam – The
prices of motorbikes are rising nationwide with retailers ramping up their
profit margins to take advantage of end-of-the-year.

Shops in Ha Noi have
reported an influx of buyers, with motorbikes, especially scooters, being sold
as soon as they land on the shop floor.

Staff at a Honda agent
in Xuan Thuy street said each day they sold 20-30 bikes, double the number of
the same period last year.

The price of a Honda
AirBlade F1 in some stores is about VND41 million (US$2,000), roughly VND6
million ($300) more than Honda’s recommended retail price.

The price of a Honda
Lead is VND5 million, ($250) higher than the recommended price.

The Honda PXC has been
sold out by almost all retailers, despite being over-priced by VND10 million
($500).

One Yamaha model was
selling for VND4 million ($200), above the recommended retail price.

Customer Duong Van
Quang, of Cau Giay District, said he had visited many stores to choose a bike
and each one had given him a different price, all higher than that recommended
by the manufacturer.

Nevertheless, he had
still bought one because he was afraid the prices would continue to increase.

High demand at the end
of the year was cited as the main reason for the increase, said a Honda
spokesperson.

Almost all customers
were anxious to drive the bikes away immediately and retailers were capitalising
on their eagerness to increase the prices, she said.

While her company,
Honda, recommended a price retailers were not bound by it, she said.

A Yamaha spokesperson
agreed. Retailers set their own prices, he said.

Import motorbike
prices were also on the rise because of the demand, plus the effect of
devaluation.

An Airblade from
Thailand was VND7 million ($350) more expensive than two months ago at VND65
million ($3,200) including tax and registration.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News

Article source: http://www.lookatvietnam.com/2010/12/bike-prices-rev-up-on-high-demand.html