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Bike Shop Perks AFTER Buying a Bike

Old 06-08-13, 10:25 AM
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Bike Shop Perks AFTER Buying a Bike

I bought my first new bike from my LBS back in late April, they mentioned I could get one free tune up within a year of purchase. They also offered me a discount on accessories at the time of purchase, but at the time I wasn't prepared so I didn't think I needed more than a bottle holder. Now that I find myself biking to the grocery/hardware store I'm considering a rear rack. Would it be wise to ask for the discount AFTER the purchase of the bike?

I've always prefer to support local small businesses, but truth be told I can get a rear rack much cheaper on Amazon.com
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Old 06-08-13, 10:43 AM
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Old 06-08-13, 10:49 AM
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It's largely Up to the Mgr or Owner of that individual business ..

OUT here , Buying a rear rack is often getting it installed , too, if the Summer traffic is not nuts all Day.
it ebbs and swells at times .
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Old 06-08-13, 11:31 AM
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Never hurts to ask. I'd try ande negotiate a discount even if I didn't buy the bike there! Always haggle. All they can say is "No".
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Old 06-08-13, 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by MikeRides
I bought my first new bike from my LBS back in late April, they mentioned I could get one free tune up within a year of purchase. They also offered me a discount on accessories at the time of purchase, but at the time I wasn't prepared so I didn't think I needed more than a bottle holder. Now that I find myself biking to the grocery/hardware store I'm considering a rear rack. Would it be wise to ask for the discount AFTER the purchase of the bike?

I've always prefer to support local small businesses, but truth be told I can get a rear rack much cheaper on Amazon.com
Other than getting a fair price for a bike don't look for basement pricing on any extras bought from a bike shop.

Why??

Every bike shop (except mega shops) operates on a razor thin profit margin that barely pays the help.

That said, If you really do want to support the local shops then buy from them to keep them in business so they will be there when you need them and don't fuss over a slightly higher price.
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Old 06-09-13, 07:03 AM
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Perks and after sales service comes in many forms. Price discounts are only one of them. How warranty issues and those 'full year of service and tune-ups' are handled is another. Here in Montreal, BBS's fully warranty theirbikes - except that the waiting time is usually about a month. Turn around time for a tune-up or adjustment at out two biggest competators runs between two and three weeks. Ours is next-day service - although for a week this year we actually did run a four day backlog and apologized for it.

With exceptions. Last week a young lady came in with a bike that had been slightly vandalized and figured that scrapped her plans to ride in the Toup de L'Ile the next day. She's been a regular customer and I told her the bike would be ready for five oclock when she finished work that afternoon. Two of us skipped lunch to get it done.

Our prices on some stuff may not be quite as low as the Internet but you can actually see the stuff before you buy it, get some professional input, and return it with less hassle if you make a mistake. And did I mention the service is pretty good too?
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Old 06-09-13, 08:20 AM
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The two shops I worked in provided a 30 day "adjustment/tune up"...the 30 days was honored through the riding season if the bike was purchased off season, ie winter, etc. We also provided minor adjustments for the first year and a 10% discount off of accessories usually with or right after the sale but would usually honor the discount for several weeks...well worth it to make a customer happy and keep them coming back.
We also provided basic fitting and minor adjustments...we always made it clear that coming in mid day on a super busy saturday for adjustments and fit adjustments could not be done...just too busy...

Didn't matter the cost of the bike because really the average shop sells far more $350.00 bikes than $5000.00 bikes on the average Saturday. And a customer is a customer deserving the same service.
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Old 06-09-13, 08:28 AM
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You got a free water bottle with LBS logo, what else do you want?
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Old 06-09-13, 08:31 AM
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I visit two. One gives nothing and the other gives 10% forever on accessories.
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Old 06-09-13, 09:30 AM
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Originally Posted by MikeRides
I've always prefer to support local small businesses, but truth be told I can get a rear rack much cheaper on Amazon.com
There's your answer. What are you trying to accomplish?

Everything in the world is tit-for-tat. If you're looking for benefits of shopping locally, you simply have to shop locally. If you're looking for the cheapest possible price, the internet is your friend.

Buying a rack locally lets you see it before you commit your money. Often local shops will have experience to help guide your selection and may even install it for you. Shopping the internet, if you know exactly what you want, is more convenient and often quicker.
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Old 06-09-13, 09:36 AM
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Mike, where in upstate are you from? I'm from Syracuse originally, born and raised for 26 years before moving south for work.

I prefer a mix of shopping local and online as well. My wife and I have bought many accessories from the local shops, but have also bought a bunch of stuff from Amazon because she's a grad student and my teaching paycheck sucks so we are on a tight budget.

Support your LBS with what you can, and keep going back.
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Old 06-09-13, 07:48 PM
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See if you can get a discount when you are getting the free tune-up. It can be installed at the same time.
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Old 06-10-13, 01:16 AM
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The worst that anyone is going go say is "no". Though as pointed out above, you may be able to get a deal if you have it installed with your free service. Then again it's also good to buy gear from your LBS, rather than online. A lot of the time if they're more expensive than online, they'll match the price if you hint that they even include shipping (as most sites do now), though they will likely ask you to provide a printout or show them on your smartphone.

Personally, I don't mind spending a couple extra dollars at my LBS, as they offer discounts to repeat customers. If you provide for the LBS they will provide for you. Our local LBS offers a lot of gear way cheaper than any website, and they also provide two free services when you purchase a new bike from them.

So, simply ask.
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