Mountain Biking - bargaining

Whats do you all think the best way is to get a bike shop to throw in some extras when you buy a bike. It would be nice if I could get a helmet, a pump, water bottle... stuff like that. Any of you have luck with this?

nope never really had any luck

yeah I got a couple of water bottles once, but that was about it. I usually have a hard time dealing with lbs's because of attitude. Most local paces feel like they're too good for you, especially when you come in and ask about the cost of a 7sp cassette or how much for a steel wheelset.

When I was working at a shop, if someone asked, we'd throw in a water bottle and cage for nothing. If they want some accessories, we gave them a discount of 10%. If it was something that needed to be mounted, i.e. a computer we did that free at time of bike purchase.

We try hard not to give attitude, but remember, bike shop owners don't make a lot of money. I know, I've been looking into buying an existing or opening up my own. The take home pay is minimal compared to other retailers. Most bike shop owners do it because the love the sport and the lifestyle.

L8R

Hey guys I am on my way to Burger King, does anyone have any suggestions on how to get them to throw in some free fries or maybe one of those apple pies??

I worked in an IBS for 8 years. We offered a discount for accessories purchased on the same day. People would always get mad when we wouldn't throw things in for free. Here's what you have to understand. The margin on bicycle sales is considerably lower than the margin in other retail markets. (Margin is how much of the sale is profit.) So, bike shops make better margin on accessories than bikes, cutting into that by giving away free stuff every time you sell a bike is not good business sense. Bike shops make their money off of two things: Repairs and accessory sales. If they just sold bikes they'd never last a season.

I'm sorry that everyone seems to have bad experiences with attitudes at bike shops. I've never understood that. I even encountered it with the shop I worked at. Here we are all trying to love this sport, why would we treat others who either already love it or are trying to get into it as if they were beneath us somehow? I don't get it.

I've NEVER paid retail for ANY of my bike purchases! I guess that's the benefit of living in a prairie town with few all terain bikers.

IE:
2002 Rocky Mountain Trailhead - retail $1000, paid $800
Shimano SPD 515 - retail $65, paid $50
Shimano shoes - retail $150, paid $115
Bike shorts - 20% off
Wifey's 2003 Kona Lana'i - retail $450, got it for about $440 with a set of Acera shifters to replace the stock grip shifters and a Kona bottle and cage thrown in.

Worst rip off I saw - Bow's Cycle in Calgary they were saying the Lana'i retailed for $475, they had it on sale for $450 (price on Kona's web site). :rolleyes:

The only thing my LBS costs more for is Marz forks, the MX Comp ETA retails for about $550, they said they could do it for $470, which is still more than quoted on bikeroom.com ($400).

Edit - also forgot to mention my LBS does free tune ups on all bikes they sell for as long as the original owner owns it. If they replace parts they will charge for that. Compare that to the $70 bucks I overhead someone at The Bike Shop in Calgary pay to have his 02 Rocky tuned up. :rolleyes:

My LBS is offering 7% back off the purchase price of the bike that you can use towards accessories. I thought that was a really nice perk. Every little bit helps when you need to buy a helmet, lock, gloves, ect.

Originally posted by KevinG
Hey guys I am on my way to Burger King, does anyone have any suggestions on how to get them to throw in some free fries or maybe one of those apple pies??

I know regular begging doesnt do it :D

lots of shops offer free tune ups with the purchase of a new bike. the idea, I think is to 1) be able to tighten up/adjust what has come loose as a preventative measure and 2) get the rider to come back to their shop so they can build a good relationship with the new customer.

so by offering a few "freebies" upon the initial purchase of an expensive bike(expensive is relative remember) the new owner of said bike is more likely to come back to that store.

the LBS is all about repeat business. You want to build a lasting relationship with the customers. so they come back and bring their friends and family too.

the downside is, stuff cost money. so while a 30 dollar helmet doesn't sound like much, it can be to a shop.

If I was buying a new bike I would rather get a few free mechanical hours then some parts (helmet,water bottle etc). When I tell people that are going to purchase a new bike I tell them to ask for this. "do you offer tuneups if I purchase the bike?"

cables stretch, chains get dirty, rims/brake pads get worn and or slip and wear funny etc. lots can happen to a new bike in a short amount of time. if it's not fixed the rider, who is a newbie, just thinks the bikes sucks or the shop that sold it to them sucks for selling a "junk" bike. they end up going elsewhere for their next bike related purchase.....

Originally posted by soc522
Whats do you all think the best way is to get a bike shop to throw in some extras when you buy a bike. It would be nice if I could get a helmet, a pump, water bottle... stuff like that. Any of you have luck with this?

I know this is going to sound like I'm taking the p**s, but the best way to get extras thrown in is to ask. I got a lock and bar-ends thrown in, but then again the owner treated me as if I was something on the bottom of his shoe when I first walked in, so maybe he was trying to make amends.

It didn't work, I've never been back.

Originally posted by KevinG
Hey guys I am on my way to Burger King, does anyone have any suggestions on how to get them to throw in some free fries or maybe one of those apple pies??

ar-15

Originally posted by The Toninator
ar-15

You mean one of these??

Oh yea and all of you folks that complain about people throwing things at you and makeing rude comments, ride with one of these strapped to your back. :D
People dont bother me any more.:beer:

Nice Flip-flops!! They go good with that weapon!

C'mon, tease me about my shoes!!!!! Bbbbrrrrrraaaaaappppppp!

L8R

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
Nice Flip-flops!! They go good with that weapon!

C'mon, tease me about my shoes!!!!! Bbbbrrrrrraaaaaappppppp!

L8R

:roflmao:
No really the flip flops belong to my wife.

Uh Huh, I believe you!!

You coming back to FL anytime soon?

L8R

I'm sure if you let the LBS guy jack his price up considerably he'll throw in all sorts of extras. In the end, you pay for what you get. If there are extras being thrown in, you'll pay for it in the purchase price of the bike.

The guy I deal with is very good on price and has done some incredible deals for me and some of the friends I've recommended. In the end though, he's still got to make a living and as a customer, you are helping him make his income. There's nothing sinister in there, it's just how the economy works.

We give 10% on accesories with purchase and a year of free adjustment. Plus you get to talk to me, if you are lucky.
Never hurts to ask.

^
Buying a bike from Chuck: $$$ Getting to talk to Chuck: Priceless.
15% off accessories at time of purchase. Whining/begging/complaining won't get free accessories from me. We also do free lifetime tuneups. No one's getting rich in the bike industry-don't haggle on the price of the bike, ask if he can help you out on the accessories you want.

i remember a few years ago people would toss in some freebies like water bottle cages, minipumps, etc. of course you wouldn't walk away with a trunkload of accessories, but it wasn't uncommon to go home with a free helmet at least. depends on the cost of the bike though, buying a $300 bike probably wouldn't score you a helmet, but what if it was a $3000 bike?

A free helmet seems sensible enough. Maybe not one of the $150 ones, but at least a plastic shell type skater helmet. I would think it would be in everyone's interests. You could even advertise your bike shop on the helmet!

probably the best way to get any kind of deal is to pay in cash. say you are about to buy a bike with an msrp of $1000. Go into the store with ten one hundred dollar bills and tell them that you will give them te c-notes if they will throw in this helmet, these shoes, etc, etc. i would also recommend trying to get only one accessory like this. remember, money talks and bulls**t walks.

You mean one of these??

NICE Armalite man, i take it that its real?

My LBS usually throws things in, but saying im buying with 0% credit they didnt, but they take me to cycles with the club,so im happy :D

Originally posted by Dazza
NICE Armalite man, i take it that its real?

:D

Its real, but it is an Oly Arms.

Well i just went with my dad bike shopping today, and i learned some stuff with him, because he's pretty good at bargaining. Well the bike was listed as$699 GIANT YUKON with Deore, and my dad eventually got it for $625 with a cage, and kickstand, and 15% off accessories. Well i first learned, NEVER to ask "how much would it cost for this?" My dad always starts off with, can you throw this in? can you throw that in? lol...and the guy will then make a price...cuz at this one store couple days ago, i said how much for this? and he said $40, but when my dad and i went today, he just said, can u throw that in? and then the guy's like we'll charge u $15 for that then extra....

sorry this may not sound too good, but it's kinda complicated and long :P You just have to work at it, and always ask to talk to the manager, because if it's a family owned store, they will most likely throw in stuff. Hope this helps!

Its real, but it is an Oly Arms.

And people wonder why i want to live in America!