New Bike Freebies
 

Gonna buy a new $800+ bike from the LBS soon, and was curious at what freebies can be expected? I've heard varying degrees of success with this. What should I ask for, and what can be expected? What have you guys gotten?

What do you want? More to the point, what do you need?

Some places will give a (relatively minor) store credit which can be used for bottle cages or a bell. More likely will be something like a year worth of tune ups.

HA! Having just recently gotten back into riding, pretty much everything but a helmet and water bottle.

Well, since the bike shops make more money off accessories than they do on bikes, don't expect them to load up a bag full of goodies for you gratis. What is reasonable is a discount on accessories and clothing, free labor and a discount on parts for any upgrades to bike components (say upgrading a wheelset, tires, brake pads, etc), and free service for between one and two years.

FREEBIES?
I must have gone to the wrong LBS! I was told I would get 10% off any accessories purchased the day I bought my bike.
Checked the receipt when I got home. No discount. Bastards.

$800 bike is at the low end, so the shop will not be making much money. Can't expect them to give away their profit.

They do not make a great deal of profit on bikes....especially an $800 one.

Yes you should ask for the moon, you might get what you want.

Two Bottle Cages

Two Water Bottles

Mileage Gizo (El Cheap)

Under Saddle Bag filled with extra tube, patch kit, tire levers, co2 iflator, two co2 cartridges.

Also ask for their BEST PRICE.

Trust me if were making a sales call on the LBS selling cleaning products, or office supplies, I am sur they would grind you.

I like your style. :thumb:

don't forget to ask about warranty,that's more important

I bought an $800 bike back in the early days ...

I got a waterbottle. That's pretty much what you can expect.


Hence the waterbottle. :D

As mentioned, not a lot of profit in an $800 bike. I expect you could get a couple of "tune ups" and maybe a water bottle. Probably 10% off on other accessories.

I think the posters have it about right. You might get a free tune-up and a free water bottle. But other things you might want to think about are the tires and seat. Perhaps you prefer a different set of tires and often the shop with swap those out for you. Maybe a different seat? If your preferences are about the same value as what is on the bike, then you might get what you prefer. Another thing to think about on a road bike is the handlebar tape. Maybe the shop will swap out a different color. I think the way to approach is by saying something like: "I'd like this bike if it had 23mm tires instead of 25mm." Or, "I'm really concerned about the white handlebar tape. I know it's a popular color, but I would prefer something different." Then if the bike shop can swap out these items without costing them anything, they'll probably offer to do it.

I was with a friend of mine last month who got a new $600 Breezer hybrid that the LBS discounted $50 and gave him a free set of pedal extenders and swapped out a stem.
Along with the free tune up within 12 months and lifetime adjustments.
Pretty cool little shop that has been in the area for quite some time.

And I'm betting not just any water bottle. It will be the water bottle with the LBS's logo on it. Free advertising for them!

I assume a bottle with the store logo...
Might as well get some cheap advertising.

Did they also give you a cage, or were just expected to ride with one hand?

On a $800.00 bike you can expect to get lots of free advice but not much more.

Good guess!! :D And close ... but no, not with the store logo. The bottle had the brand of the bicycle ... GIANT! They probably got a batch of free bottles with the bicycle shipment that year. :rolleyes:

Cages ... hmmm ... I think they installed cages. That was a long time ago so I don't remember. I do know that if they did install some, I changed them.

Nothing is actually free it is all figured into the final sale price. It may look free on paper but that is not the case.

No charge for the test rides , and staff time, trying to help you pick the right size and model of bikes ..

Here We have some Free Maps of the Oregon Coast Cycling .. Those maps, published by the State DOT.

No Sales Tax in Oregon..

Agreed.
I like to get a good deal just as much as the next guy and will always try to haggle but that being said I will always buy locally as the level of customer service I have experienced in my LBS has been outstanding. And I have visited quite a few as I am lucky enough to live in an area where there are a lot of them within 20 miles of my home.
Try hanging around any one of your local car dealerships pretty much as often as you want just to shoot the breeze about their products and get valuable advice regularly. It won't happen :(
Local bike shops spread the culture and that is invaluable imo

In my experience, you'll be able to get a discount on accessories.

Last bike I bought in a LBS I asked about water bottles, and they gave me their store branded one for free. That's about as much as I'd guess you'd get for free. I had to pay for the cage of course. ;)

The shop I just bought my frame from gave me a water bottle and a free tuneup adjustment coupon with a one year expiration. Pretty good in my book since they would have to fix what I built. Only spent 500 bucks! But I will be buying what I need from them again in the future!

If you ask for nothing you get ZERO in most cases.