General Cycling Discussion - Haggle with LBS?

I want to purchase a Kona bike from a LBS. It's model Jake the Snake and I was quoted $929 + tax. Someone on this board mentioned that it was a "fair" price.

You can check it out here:

http://www.konaworld.com/2k3/2k3_jake_the_snake.cfm

The problem is that they are the only Kona dealer within several hundred miles (so they have a monopoly) and I'm moving far far away in about 3 months.

So basically I won't be able to take advantage of "free" service that would come with buying a bike at the LBS once I move.

I would also like to get a slightly better deal than "fair".

Do people ever haggle with the LBS in a case like this? Could I offer $899 and promise to never take the bike back to them after 3 months?

Could I ask for a couple extra accessories like a speedometer/odometer?

Thanks,
CranialCrusader

I have no idea what a fair price is on the Jake. But you should find out. Kona lists it on the website as $1050 but that doesnt mean stores are charging that much. I would call around to different Kona dealers in larger markets and see what they charge. While it doesnt hurt to ask, I would doubt you could get much off the sticker. Since you are moving, repeat business from you is slim. Shops probably figure most people don't take advantage of the free after sale service anyway, so the store probably wont discount if you promise not to go back for tune ups.

You should be able to get discounted or free accessories though. I would shoot for that instead of a few bucks off the price. I assume this is a 2003, if it is last year's model, then you probably can get more of a discount off the sticker.

I'd say if you walked in there with $900 and threw it on their counter, they'd take that for the bike....or atleast i would if i was that shop:)

Originally posted by CranialCrusader
Could I offer $899 and promise to never take the bike back to them after 3 months?



But they want you to come back, your in their store, your looking at stuff and you buy from them. So that wouldent work....

Well I do need to buy a few more things from them:

Bike rack for car
Helmet
Lock
Speedometer

Maybe more I haven't thought of yet.

All of this I plan to buy over the summer, so I will be buying other stuff form them.

I just called a large bike shop in IL. They quoted me list price over the phone, $1050. So maybe $930 isn't so bad.

Is it reasonable to ask for a discount on these items?

CranialCrusader

yessss
We always discounted purchases on top of the bike.... as much as 50% on some things :p

Brendon
:beer:

You can try to haggle, can't hurt, but recognize that the mechanics at the shop are being paid whether they're working on your bike or not. So you not coming in for service doesn't really reduce the shop's operating costs.

The LBS makes its money on profits from accessory sales and paid repairs, more than from new bike sales, on which margins are generally quite low.

If you know where you're moving to in three months, maybe your local shop can put you in touch with a Kona dealer in your new neighborhood and work out some sort of warranty transfer so you can continue to get your free service there.

RichC

Originally posted by Rich Clark

If you know where you're moving to in three months, maybe your local shop can put you in touch with a Kona dealer in your new neighborhood and work out some sort of warranty transfer so you can continue to get your free service there.

RichC

Yes I know I'm moving! I'm starting graduate school.

That is an awesome idea though about transfering service. I hope he will be able to work something like that out!

Now, should I walk in there with cash? Would that "speak more" than coming in with good ol' plastic money?

CranialCrusader

Sure, shops pay for you to use a credit card, so it should be worth something.

If you are planning to purchase items like a bike rack that are not typically part of the initial bke sale, you could ask for a package deal on the lot. The LBS might be willing to cut a package deal at a better discount. The markup on accessories is higher than the bike so the more you can add on to the initial purchase, the more negotiating room the LBS has. Also, since you would be offering to buy a bunch of items from the LBS that you could just as easily get elsewhere, they should start salivating when you suggest you might just get it all now if they can get the price down below the amount of cash money you brought with you.

So then what would be a fair price for all of that stuff?

Speedometer (already looked at a $30 one at the LBS so maybe $20 with discount?)

Brain bucket (friend of mine he got a nice one online for $30 while on sale, so I assume that would be reasonable)

Bike rack (I have no idea but I would guess a trunk one wouldn't cost more than $50 right?) I don't give a flip about scratching my car. It's already almost 13 years old. I just need a basic mode of transport for the bike.

Bike lock (Should be able to easily get one for $20, saw online Specialized cable locks for $20. That was from the Specialized web site.)

So that makes the total $1050 + tax = $1050 + $63 = $1110

If I bring $1110 in cash to the LBS are they going to talk to me?

I would hope so!

Thanks again,
CranialCrusader

Give it a go and make sure you let us know how you do.

I will.. I just need to get my tax refund. :D :crash:


I'll even post pics unless I chicken out and don't buy it.

But I really want it!

CranialCrusader

Ask them to work with you on the accessories-that's where they make a little money. Our shop usually does 15% off accessories with a bike purchase. If you can, I'd try to spend a little more money on the helmet (little more ventillation and better fit) and on the trunk rack as well (haven't had much luck with less expensive ones-the Saris bones is great). Just my pair of pennies.

Hell yes haggle.Just like a car.If the new model year is coming out,they need that space.My cannondale was $1199 and i said,when will the new ones be out and he said we are waiting.I said how much can you take off.I figured he would come back with,maybe 75 bucks of and he says,$899 and i took it.

Originally posted by shokhead
Hell yes haggle.Just like a car.If the new model year is coming out,they need that space.

Not going to happen, they don't stock the bike I am looking at. It has to be ordered.

In fact, I serously doubt ANYONE would stock the bike I want because I need the largest frame size. This is also why used is pretty much out of the question.

CranialCrusader

It doesn't matter that they have to get it in. A friend of mine, who needed an unusually small frame, got a very good deal from my LBS. The guy from the LBS knew that the wholesaler needed to clear older stock and go it from them at a great price.

I just got a felt.I got the price down $100 bucks and the bike was in,in a week.