Originally Posted by
kleon
Hi. I've read these forums for years, but never posted. So thanks for the wealth of information that you have provided over the years.
Here is my question: I was at my LBS looking for a comfortable road bike for commuting and fun, and I came across the salsa caseroll. I really like the bike, it fits me perfectly, and I like the fact that it has a rear derailleur hanger so I can turn it into a 9 speed with old parts for next to nothing.
Problem is, they are charging 1050 for the bike. I'd never heard of salsa bikes, so I went home to read some reviews and go to the website, etc. Here I find that the casseroll ss bikes are being sold practically everywhere else for less than 700.
The bike shop was very helpful, but if I buy from another shop or online, I can get the bike, fenders, rack, new rear derailleur, shifter, a built up wheel, etc for less than just the stock bike from lbs.
The lbs has been more than helpful and I don't want to be rude. I'm more than willing to pay a premium to buy there, as they have been extremely helpful and spent an hour or so going over options, changing out stems, etc.
Would it be rude to lay it out and ask for a steep discount? id buy it today if they sold it for like 800 or 850, plus id be buying a bunch of accessories.
Any advice?
You're always going to pay a premium to buy from a LBS, but that much of a markup is a bit absurd, IMO. I know that my LBS sells that same bike in SS mode for around the $700 mark.
Just go in there and lay it out for them. Tell them you understand the advantages of buying from a LBS blah blah blah, but that it isn't worth THAT much extra money to you. They might work with you, they might not, I don't know. But if you're that into supporting your LBS, then you should at least try to work it out w/ them.
If it were me, I'd order that shiz off the internetz.