Road Cycling - How Much Will the Shop Deal?

I'm getting back into riding and have been lurking here for a while and I have been able to find answers to most of my rookie questions by searching the threads. However, I have not been able to find much info on how much dickering takes place during a bike purchase. Based on a $800.00-$1,000.00 retail price, how much of a discount or extra goodies could I ask for and not be ran out of the LBS? :p If dickering is indeed done, what do people usually ask for? Bottles and mounts, tire pump, tool bag etc...?

Dont expect too much.

Does that mean don't expect too much of an answer, or that asking for a bottle and cage is too much? :)

Usually a bottle cage/bottle is good to go..especially on a first road bike. If they say no I'll send you one after you post pix of ur new bike :)

I'm getting back into riding and have been lurking here for a while and I have been able to find answers to most of my rookie questions by searching the threads. However, I have not been able to find much info on how much dickering takes place during a bike purchase. Based on a $800.00-$1,000.00 retail price, how much of a discount or extra goodies could I ask for and not be ran out of the LBS? :p If dickering is indeed done, what do people usually ask for? Bottles and mounts, tire pump, tool bag etc...?
You can usually get a couple of waterbottles and cages, but thats the most i have gotten, But then again i am not pretty to look at so i am sure they gave me the bottles and cages to get me out of the store :D
I did have one friend who managed to get a break on the look pedals, they took the stock pedals and applied them towards the look pedals, he also got a computer, but it was a cheapy...
Good luck :)

Waterbottles, spare tube, maybe some chain lube.

Thanks for the offer Arsbars! We'll see what happens.

djbowen1, your list IS more than I expected! Thanks for the replys.

I'll throw in a patch kit.

I think part of the answer depends on what price level you're buying at, how much the bike itself was discounted, etc. If you squeeze hard on the bike price, nothing else may be thrown in (or very little). But then, unless there's a clearance on last year's models, the LBS probably won't be your cheapest way to go anyway, but it may well be the best - depending on your need for service or upgrades to the bike afterwards (trading up/out the stock saddle, warranty repairs, etc.).

Usually you can work your deal on the accessories. While the bike is sold with 20-40% markup the accessories are maybe 100% markup. Therefore, you may be able to negotiate a good discount on accessories with the purchase of a bike... at least 25% off regular price.

When I worked at a LBS we always tried to stock up on accessories when they were blown out at end-of-year.

It helped make a sale when you threw in something like a pannier rack, water bottle and cage that retailed for say, $40 but we paid maybe $10 (that's an extreme example but you get the idea). Customer was usually happy and we were happy 'cause the customer wouldn't haggle on the price much after that.

The lesson here is it doesn't hurt to ask but do it before negotiating the price of the bike down. LBSes hate being ground on the price then being asked to throw in a freebie.

I'm getting back into riding and have been lurking here for a while and I have been able to find answers to most of my rookie questions by searching the threads. However, I have not been able to find much info on how much dickering takes place during a bike purchase. Based on a $800.00-$1,000.00 retail price, how much of a discount or extra goodies could I ask for and not be ran out of the LBS? :p If dickering is indeed done, what do people usually ask for? Bottles and mounts, tire pump, tool bag etc...?

When I bought my Lemond Tourmalet last week one shop quoted me $1189. I called up another shop who was a LeMond dealer and asked if he could beat it, he quoted $1049. If you have another dealer in your town that carries the same bike, get them to compete for your business.

I am just ready to buy now. I found that if the bike is in stock, they may drop the price a little. If you want one that they have to get in, they won't move much if at all.

I found a range of $1845 to $2323 on the same bike. This was involving a parts swap from double to triple. The real difference was who had it in stock. In stock, $1845 to $1999. Order, $1950 to $2323.

Bottles and cages. Service ranging from one (common) to three (rare) years.

When we sell a bike, we will give the buyer a 10% discount on all accessories they buy with the bike. Pedals, clothes, shoes, even a Cycleops. Also a bike rack, things like that.
We will also give a 20% discount on a helmet. Typically, I'll throw in a water cage if that helps, but the ones we put on as "stock" only cost about five dollars anyway...but ten bucks to some folks is a big deal.
They also get a free "tuneup" in 30 days...we'll reset the cables, check the shifting, retighten, relube, etc...

BTW, it seems that most folks just like to get a little off for ego purposes. So, I sell bikes sometimes by giving $10 off the bike. But that might cut out the freebie watercages/bottles, etc...the discounts work best, at least in my experience.

I got 10% off everything purchased with the bike, 20% off a few of the items, and a steel skewer to use in the trainer. i didnt know to ask for anything else. The bike was stickered at $1200 and i got it for $1050 so i felt like i was getting a deal anyway.

You'll get more off getting last years model.My 03 was 1999msrp and i got it for 1099 and a 2000 CD was 1399 and i got it for 999 so when the new years models are out,get last years at a better deal then trying to haggle over a new bike.

I'm getting back into riding and have been lurking here for a while and I have been able to find answers to most of my rookie questions by searching the threads. However, I have not been able to find much info on how much dickering takes place during a bike purchase. Based on a $800.00-$1,000.00 retail price, how much of a discount or extra goodies could I ask for and not be ran out of the LBS? :p If dickering is indeed done, what do people usually ask for? Bottles and mounts, tire pump, tool bag etc...?

Well, you got some decent replys and their info was more specific then mine anyway. Bike shops don't have much mark up on bikes, they really make their money on repairs and on accessories. You will probably have to buy quite a bit in the way of accessories so arranging a discount on the helmet, gloves, shoes, jersey, shorts, frame pump, floor pump, bike bag, tire irons, tube, chain lube, etc etc when you buy the bike could save you far more then they could knock off the price of the bike anyway.

But here are my major suggestions. The important thing to do is make sure the bike fits you. The time to arrange for this is when you purchase the bike. So if you need a longer or shorter stem, now is the time to get it. There are several other things you might think of arranging for also. Often the stock rear cluster is a bit overgeared for most people. You can get them to swap that one out for one with lower gears for hills. I have them swap out the wheels (I break up light weight wheels so this is an important concession for me, I don't need a wheel set that will last me 4 months). Another thing, you might arrange to get is a different saddle. Almost everyone ends up getting a different saddle.

For the stem swap, that should be no cost. The rear cluster swap should be no cost. The wheel swap is more complex. If the wheels on the bike are popular, they will give you full credit for them, and if they can not move them, you get little of no credit. Makes sense. Generally the saddles with the bike are not ones that are sold aftermarket. The bike shop often has a box of these things out back and they will even give them away because no one wants them. So you will get no credit for the stock saddle. Of course, they will probably let you rumage around through their saddle box for one to try out if you like it. Here the best you can expect is to get a discount on one of the saddles they sell for aftermarket.

Good luck.

I am just ready to buy now. I found that if the bike is in stock, they may drop the price a little. If you want one that they have to get in, they won't move much if at all.

I found a range of $1845 to $2323 on the same bike. This was involving a parts swap from double to triple. The real difference was who had it in stock. In stock, $1845 to $1999. Order, $1950 to $2323.

Bottles and cages. Service ranging from one (common) to three (rare) years.

Both of the shops I got my quotes from were LeMond dealers but had none in stock, they both were going to have to special order, and when I went to the second shop I told him "shop A quoted me this, I'll buy from you if you can beat this price." Shop B was lower by $140, both had no LeMonds in stock.

Recently I've been looking into the bike shop biz. According to the National Bicycle Dealers Association the average markup on a bicycle is 36%. That's across all product lines and price points. Coincidentally, the cost of operating a shop is 36%. If a dealer sells all his bikes at full list he still only breaks even. Luckily for the dealer there are much better margins in merchandise, accessories, and service. A dealer may be willing to discount a bike to create a buying unit for his higher profit goodies. Every buying unit created increases the turn rate for his store. His profit is totally dependant on how many times he can turn over the store's inventory. Higher turn rate equals higher profit. So the dealer has an incentive beyond a one time sale of a bike to make you a customer.
As for negotiation, go for it. If you don't ask you don't get. No cost items like bottles and cages cost the dealer a whole lot less than knocking money off the bike. I'd use freebies only as a sqeeze the last dime out of the deal tactic. Ask for a discount on everything you are buying. Some of the merchandise may have a 100% or more markup. The more you buy the better deal you are likely to receive. And remember, nobodies getting rich running a bike shop, so don't get too obnoxious in the negotiations. Take it easy and just ask if that's the best they can do. Afterall, not only do we want them to be there when we need them, it would be nice if they were glad to see us and offer us the help that we need.

One quick thing when looking at bike sales..

There are two numbers.. One is the MSRP that everyone advertises.. the other is the LOWEST we can go with out breaking agreement with dealers.

I hate to push that but.. there is only so much we can do with price. Maybe if its a left over stock from 03 or 02 but new bikes are harder to move the dollar sign around.

Thanks for all the replies so far. I agree that I don't want to push a deal so far as to alienate myself from the store people or even feel odd walking back in for additional help. With that in mind, do most people go back to the store where they purchased or to the nearest store even if they couldn't sell you the bike?

Thanks for all the replies so far. I agree that I don't want to push a deal so far as to alienate myself from the store people or even feel odd walking back in for additional help. With that in mind, do most people go back to the store where they purchased or to the nearest store even if they couldn't sell you the bike?

Most people go to the store that offers them the best service. And by service I mean with everything from working on the bike to answering questions and treating you fairly. The fact that you didn't buy a bike from a store is no impediment to doing business. A salesman's attitude is that the sale they didn't get is gone forever so let's go after the the sale we can get. If a shop can make you a client through merchandise sales or service maybe they can win your next bicycle purchase. If not, one or two years of clothing and equipment sales will more than make up the profit they didn't make on the bike. A smart shop ower will make you feel welcome everytime you step thru the door.
To find a bike store that you like get out the phone book or go online to the bike manufacturers websites. The websites list dealers for their brand. Then go out and check out the stores. Another way to find stores is to search the web for bicycle clubs in your area. The club websites usually contain links to local shops. Good luck and have fun!

i know that bike shops don't make much on bikes and agree that you shouldn't push your luck, esp if you're a new customer, but when a shop sells a bike, they're (hopefully) gaining a customer who is going to return to them for accessories, repairs and other more profitable items, so if a shop isn't willing to close the deal by throwing in two cheapy cages and bottles (probably a total cost of $6 or $7 bucks to them), then it's not the kind of shop i'd want to deal with.