Online Scooter Deals?

This press release just came through the wire:

Portland Based Group Buying Site to Offer Historic Group Buy
First Group Buying Site in United States to Sell Vespas

PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Portland based Group Buying site www.suchthedeal.com is making history by offering what is believed to be the first ever Scooter/Vespa "Group Buy" in the United States

Starting Monday, January 24, 2011 www.suchthedeal.com in conjunction with Vespa Milwaukie (Oregon) will offer five LX 150cc Piaggio Vespas for sale at 40% off the regular price. The deal will last for two weeks or until all the Vespas are sold.

"We're thrilled with this opportunity," says www.suchthedeal.com founder Ron Pivo. "Oregonians are very creative by nature and I think they will be proud knowing that an Oregon-based company is the first to do something like this."

Vespa Milwaukie opened in 2008 and is one of the west coast's leading retailers for Piaggio Vespas.

"We couldn't think of a better way to make people aware of our store and our product than doing a Group Buy with www.suchthedeal.com. When you combine the fact that gas prices are climbing and sunny weather is on the horizon we feel this is the perfect time to do something like this," said Vespa Milwaukie owner Bill Place. "We had no idea this has never been done in the U.S. until Ron told us. When we heard that we jumped at the chance to make a little business history."

The bikes are offered at $3,581 versus  a supposed retail of $5,969 (includes freight, taxes & PDI). Vespa USA lists the base price of that model at $4,599 (sans freight, PDI, taxes). This seems to be a reflection of two things going on in the marketplace: 1) the sluggish sales of scooters 2) the growing popularity of "Deal" web properties like Groupon, LivingSocial, and GiltGroup which offer limited-time deep discount sales.

As I recall, this isn't the first time that scooters have been offered through such a group. In December, GILT Group offered 2009 Vespa GTV 250s at $5,520 versus a $7,236 retail price, and 2010 LX 150 at $3,740 versus $4,736.

Would you consider buying a scooter through a deals site?