Re: Benelli Imperiale 400 launched at INR 1.69 lakh (Ex-Showroom, India)

Hi fellow xbhpians,

After being a silent reader for a couple of years, I have registered myself as I will be getting a new bike soon and will be sharing my experiences here.
Had booked an Imperiale 400 on Nov 19th, and was told by benelli CC that delivery will be in Jan 2020, but when last month I went to the dealership in Noida, I was told delivery might be in Feb 20, which I am ok with.

Took the TD and was really impressed by the engine, and the way the bike behaved it was so easy to ride that it felt like a big bike but rode like any other normal bike (ease-wise). Took u-turns on 3rd gear and it was picking up easily. The quality of parts is better then RE or Jawa (no offense).

Now for the bad part (for which I need your advice):

I got the attached qoute from Noida Showroom, which as per my calculation is easily 20,000 above what it should be, here is what my thoughts are:

Insurance 21,000 ( I am getting quotes online for 15-16k)
Life tax & RTO - 16,900 ( however it is only 6-8% which comes out to be 13k)
RTO charges - 5,000 (wef august last year it is 1000 INR)
RSA - 4,000 ( I dont need it)
Logistic & warehouse - 4,000 ( As per supreme court order, these charges are illegal and can be reported)

Your comments would be really helpful. Have mailed Benelli regarding this, awaiting their response.

EDIT: have attached a jpg of the quotation for easier view.

Re: Benelli Imperiale 400 launched at INR 1.69 lakh (Ex-Showroom, India)

Insurance - I would suggest go with the showroom provided insurance for the first year at least. Yes, you can opt for insurance from outside, but do you really want to risk upsetting the showroom guys? I know, this isn't correct but i am assuming there's only one Benelli showroom in your city.

Registeration amount - I don't know what that is. Is it for "helping" you register the bike using an agent or something? If so, then you should consider registering the bike your self at the RTO. I registered my car and bike on my own (in Hyderabad) and was done in about half a day.

Of course, you should also consider if the process to register a vehicle is easy at your city or not. If it is too much trouble, 5000 may be worth the hassle.

Warehouse charge - 100% illegal. Don't pay this charge. Unfortunately, escalation to Benelli may not help much - they're much likely to side with the dealer that helps them rake in lakhs of rupees every month. Sad but true.

If they don't agree to waive off these charges you can try to politely ask them for some freebies, etc to offet some of the cost you're paying as handling and other charges.

EDIT:
This should give you an Idea about the life tax due for your new bike (it seems to be 10%):

Re: Benelli Imperiale 400 launched at INR 1.69 lakh (Ex-Showroom, India)

The RSA, Registration and Logistics cost is extra amounting to 13K, you should get it to below 5K.

Re: Benelli Imperiale 400 launched at INR 1.69 lakh (Ex-Showroom, India)

Thanks for reply Ashish & Sparky. I checked your link, its funny how they have written, but seems to be 10% (understandable) but various sites state below 2 lakhs it is 8%.
Also, I will be buying it from Noida as there is no showroom in my city or nearby, so have no other option. So, dont know how to go about the registration part by myself.

But the last 3 are completely not acceptable. Dont know why the makers dont take the responsibilty about this.

Re: Benelli Imperiale 400 launched at INR 1.69 lakh (Ex-Showroom, India)

To Check I asked the RE showroom in Noida, and for the same price the RE Classic 350 Gunmetal Grey (1,69,761 ex showroom), they are quoting 1.95k on road. Ok, in that first party is not included, but thats a small amount which can be added, but there is nothing like Registration charges, Handling. And RSA is included in the otr of classic. Still it is 25k cheaper than Imperiale, although both are same ex showroom.

How come Benelli loot us of 25k? I so like the bike but if they dont mend their ways I will not buy this bike.

Re: Benelli Imperiale 400 launched at INR 1.69 lakh (Ex-Showroom, India)

I think Benelli is taking full advantage of the fact that they're considered "exotic". [emoji846]

3 years back when I purchased the Bullet 500, I also paid just ex showroom+insurance+life tax. Nothing else - no handling or PDI charges, etc.

I think it all comes down to the fact whether you want the Benelli bad enough to pay 25k extra. I'm sure there are a lot of people who wouldn't mind and that is what Benelli is counting on.

Re: Benelli Imperiale 400 launched at INR 1.69 lakh (Ex-Showroom, India)

In that case, they should have the guts to add that 'exotic' tax on their ex showroom and not go through the bad ways. They have such a good product, which might get ruined coz of these idiotic showroom owners. There is no way I am paying that hard earned money of mine which will go indirectly into the pocket of these guys.

As per the RE otr, they have calculated TAX+RTO+all govt formalities in a 10% of the ex-showroom. And regarding insurance, I have a friend who does insurance says, 2 wheelers costing this amount should have 10k (1+5) & 14k (5+5) and he is willing to give me the insurance at that quote and these silly benelli guys are asking 21k.

When I mailed Benelli, the CC replied back that shortly the Zonal Sales Rep will call you, and after a week what I get is a call from the showroom guy not from anyone from benelli. When I told him, why your charges exaggerted while Classic gun grey which has same ex showroom is 25k cheaper on road, he said I dont care.
As If I care what he sells/ and what he cares about or not. Planning to drop the plan to buy the bike.