Leftovers anyone?
If you don't want to go the used route with all the hunting, maybe look for a shop with a good deal on a leftover model, old stock, or the like.
I got my bike as a leftover, it'd been assembled, maybe tried out, but not much. It's an SnS coupler equipped bike that I got for quite a bit less than MSRP, with rack, panniers, bells, whistles, computer, kickstand, bottle holders, bottles, pedals, some apparel, and rack topper bag all tossed in. I reckon that I must have saved over $1500. Sure, if your flexible about model, brand, and other stuff I guess you could hover over the market and wait for something to drop. Not me... I'm an instant gratification type of guy, and had my eye on this very specific bike, one that is not really all that popular amongst tandem riders. I must have the only one in the whole state, if not the entire east coast. I don't regret it at all.
Eric