drews409

Hello,
I havent bought a new bike in about 15 years. I think tomorrow will be the day. im looking at a 2003 specialized P.2 it has a string tag price of $580. This is a small independent bike store with a great repair shop as well as very knowlegable sales people. Its not one of those snobby shops like some ive been in. Is it ok to ask for a cash discount 10-20% or is it something of the past? Is the dealer suppose to offer a cash discount? How much is the mark up? I really like the bike and have the cash but its always nice to get a better deal. Thanks for any advise! Drew in South Carolina.:confused:

stinkyonions

i have usually never been able to get discounts on full bikes at stores, although i haven't tried to hard. when i got my rode bike the guy gave me a free speedometer, water bottle, bottle holder and knocked $20 off my shoes i bought. so in the end i still received a sweet deal on everything. i don't think there is really any good way to go about getting a discount. at $580, that is still a sweet deal on the p2 since the msrp is $710. if i owned the store, i would want to get a new customer but would probably hook you up with other items you'd need to ride with. i know some members on here work at/manage stores so they might be able to offer you a better viewpoint.

Raiyn

I work at a shop and at my we don't give discounts on bikes as the profit margin on them when sold at a competitve prices is diddly squat. However, we do give a years worth of free tune-ups (as many as you need before I shoot you for being an idiot) and a 10% cut on any accessories you need up to a week from date of purchase (w / free installation). The value of the free tune-ups @ $42.95 a pop more than compensates for paying MSRP for the bike.

roadfix

Support your LBS.......pay the sticker price, receive a free water bottle and continued excellent service from them.

drews409

Thanks for the input. After reading this I feel good about buying this from the store. I always hate it when you hear a buddy t work say .....oh I got a 20% discount from the meg mega chain store on my new................ whatever it is. I was offered 10% discount on any item in the store ,other than bikes untill 2004 as well as free tune ups for a year.
My wife bought a bike last week at this store, thats what sold me on the service! They spent 1 1/2 hours explaning the differences of the 2 bikes she liked. Affter them narrowing it down she bought a very nice giant sedona.
Counting my $ and hours before we ride!
Thanks again. Drew.

Encrypted

my shop does 2 years free tune up and 15% off anything you buy for two years.

Hunter

Is bike shop prices really this high? There are alot of threads here speaking of trying to get whatever discount they can from a LBS. WHy not just ask for a discount everywhere else? Try that in a grogery, clothing, stereo, hardware etc store. Peopel need to understand that we LBS owners need to make a living as well.

Kev

I agree you have to make a living, and you and the salesman depend on those sales of the bikes accessories etc to do that. I believe it is valid to ask for a discount if the LBS down the street has it for 10% less etc.. since you would do the same thing at stereo shop.. car dealer any place that sells more expensive items. Of course you should also take in consideration what they give you with that bike, let's say store A gives you one free tune up while store B with bike let's say 5% higher gives you a year free tuneups it's definately a better deal. It's not fair to say to the LBS you can get it for 10% less on-line, but comparing it to other LBS in you're area I believe is.

drews409

My new P.2 is home. I didnt even ask for a discount! The dealer was such a great help in finding the right bike I felt it unnessary to do so. Just got in from my first neighborhood spin and its a great bike! Thanks again everyone. drew.

Kev

If you got it for the $580 sounds like you got a good deal as is. Enjoy youre new bike

a2psyklnut

Little Reminder, New Bike necessitates posting a photo of it! Unwritten rule!

L8R

stinkyonions

accessories are the most in markup i believe. it was the same when i worked at compusa in high school. computers had a small markup ($100-$200), but roll into the accessories section and you had a 300% markup on items. but it's good to support your lbs. there was a recent thread on RM about shopping at your lbs vs. online.

Raiyn

300% markup on accessories LOL I wish It is a larger percentage than the bikes that's for sure.

jcivic00

There's a guy here in town who is going to open up a shop, he'snot selling any bikes, just service and TONS of accesories. He will build a custom bike to your specs, but he won't really have any inventory. This may or may not be a good thing. But the idea sounds cool, and he's a really good guy, really knows his ish. We'll see what happens, besides I really like the accesories more anyway

ImprezaDrvr

Good for you, heeding this advice and not asking for a markdown. We never gave discounts on full bikes, unless it was to match a competitor's price. But we did move on accessories, like others have said. My boss, the shop owner, always told customers the same thing that Hunter said: ever get a discount at a grocery store? I know that bikes are different, but they're not like cars where the price is guarenteed to the dealer from the manufacturer. You've got a good shop to stand behind the bike, and that's great. You can learn a lot from them, too, and you'll end up doing a lot of the stuff that they give you free in the first year or two on your own.

corndogggy

Personally I think it's dumb to not at least feel out a seller and see if any discount is available. However I also feel that discounts are a two way street. That's the art of negotiation - it has to be a win/win situation. What do they owe you? Nothing if you're just some Joe Schmoe off the street with a wad of cash. So you're saving them credit card processing money by offering cash? That's nowhere near 10-20%. If you are a returning customer, they will hook you up, all you have to do is ask and let them know that you plan to keep coming back there if they keep you happy. If this is a one time purchase and they barely know who you are, then it's kind of insulting to mention a discount. You would be surprised at what is negotiable as long as the seller is getting something from the relationship. Places are more willing to negotiate with return customers, and with items that have sat on the shelf for a long time and are hard to get rid of. Hot items that move quickly are not likely to be significantly negotiated. The places mentioned are not out of the question. For example, I recently negotiated $65 off of my cell phone bill, I get 10% off every time I go to the local Subway, my uncle paid $75 for a $115 kerosene heater at Wal-Mart without it being on sale, I can buy bike parts barely above dealer cost, etc. Everything is negotiable. I just wish I had figured that out earlier.