roval

looking at getting a mtb. i noted a deep scratch that went to the primer on the downtube.its aluminium so it shouldnt rust but it takes the bloom of it being brand new. its cosmetic and not structural. for a 3500 dollar bike would you have them order another one or get $200 off. my 29er that has 1200 miles has had superficial scratches but nothing as deep as that.

Ilbiker

Doesn't hurt to ask. Is it visible? Bottom line is would you rather have the scratch and get a discount if the shop will do so or get a new bike with no scratches. For me, I wouldn't take a deep scratch like that without some compensation, otherwise it's a new bike.

roval

they are giving me $200 off but the scratch is deep and on the rear of the seattube and 3 inches long and visible .
for all i know i might end up with a scratch like that first time on the trail but a big part of me wants things perfect for a new expensive bike. if there's going to be any scratches i'd like them to be my scratches.

fietsbob

Can It Be touched Up with Paint Or is this Carbon Fiber , You will be getting a New frame in a couple years Any how.

They are not made to be Heirlooms.. ride-race-replace.


Once You Buy It You may Have a Warrantee claim and then the Shop can get the needed qualifying status for a Replacement?..




'/,

jon c. 

If the scratch is as severe as it sounds, I'd want at least $350 off on a machine at that price. Especially at this time of year.

roval

maybe for $300 to $350 as you said i'd jump on it. a pinstriper could cover it up nicely or just live with it. i'll try for 300 off.

Retro Grouch 

Since you're asking here I'm thinking that it's a big deal to you so you should ask for an unblemished one.

It does, however, remind me of a story: My son got a brand new Gary Fisher Joshua. Before he even got a chance to ride it he offered to let me take it on my regular Saturday ride with my buddies. I told him that I couldn't do that before he had a chance to ride it. "What happens if I wipe out and bugger it up?" "Dad" he said, "it's a mountain bike. You're supposed to wipe out and bugger it up."

It's a $3,500 mountain bike. If you use it as intended, it's going to get scratched up anyway. If it was me, I'd take the money off deal.

TenSpeedV2

Unless it is a garage queen, it will get scratched. I remember getting the first scratch on my Stumpjumper FSR that I paid more money than I had ever combined in my life on bikes. Third ride out I think it was. Rock garden. I went down. Bike took a huge scratch on the chain stay. Oh well. Would I have taken $300 off when I bought it because it is scratched? Knowing what I know now, hell yes LOL.

Phil_gretz

Take the cash and the scratched bike.


Then, go for your first ride and ram that thing into a few trees, careen wildly through rock gardens, and fall off a mountain side. See if you can discern where the scratch was...

Paul Barnard

Get exactly what you want. For that much money, you deserve it.

TKJava

I purchased a bike at a "scratch and dent" sale in the spring. I was looking at the bike and talking to the sales person, not being sure etc. they dropped the price twice. After sitting in my car with a smartphone and doing a bit of research on the bike I could not pass up the deal. Just prior to handing over payment I asked so where's the scratch / dent. The person looked up on a spreadsheet of the inventory and then showed me a small chip in the paint near where the rear wheel attaches to the bike. I really did not notice it at all until they showed me and I saved quite a lot of cash. Based on my initial budget I would not have purchased it at the original price as it was out of range for sure. IMHO if you can afford the $3500 I would take the discount and apply it to pedals, helmet etc. etc. Also on a $3500 dollar bike they can do way better than $200 off. Again IMHO someone who's looking at bikes in that $$ range wants a perfect bike, so that bike is a real burden to the store for sure. I would go for $500 - $700 off, it's got to be at least a 20% discount.

bmthom.gis

I'd take that $200 with a big ole scratch every day, especially on a mountain bike. use that money on a dropper post, or helmet, lights, tires, whatever. See if the shop has some cool industry stickers hanging around and if you could have a few and cover the scratch up. It's gonna gt tossed around and scratched anyway. May as well get a bit of a discount on it and then not be heartbroken when you scratch it for the first time,

Sy Reene

Seems simple. Tell them you ideally want a fresh unscratched bike and you'll likely then find out how much they'll discount their floor model.

jefnvk

If they're willing to take a couple hundred off for a scratch, I might wear my keys outside of my pocket next time I was looking at a new bike...

But seriously, the bike is going to get scratched. I'd take the cash, and not have to feel the guilt myself the first time it got dinged because of my own doing.

Jadesfire 

If the $200 was their first suggestion, they could be willing to go a little lower. If y'all have already negotiated up to that, then take it and enjoy the new bike. It doesn't hurt anything to ask for a little more off and, as another poster mentioned above, put that extra cash you have now into fun/necessary accessories.

SpeshulEd 

I'd take $200 off for a scratch. It's a mountain bike, if you're not scratching it, you're not riding it.

Just throw some touchup paint on it.

memebag

I'd take the money + scratch, unless it was crabon, then the scratch will make it assplode.

Abe_Froman

Buy a $1500 bike?

Barring that....scratch + $200.

BenPS

Maybe I'll just be the first to say, if you can afford that bike, and were going to buy it at full price anyway, and the shop has helped you out and/or is your current local bike shop -- then I would mention the scratch, say it's no big deal, it's a mountain bike, and then pay for the bike.

You will be a fantastic customer, and get great service at that shop for the rest of the time you have the bike, and that will be worth a lot more than the $200 you will save

roval

went back and got the bike for $200 off this am.that scratch seemed deep and rough 2 days ago with a white base but it may have been some dried up glue. just kept smoothing it out with my thumb at home and it cleared up. No scratch. go figure. took off the reflectors and for now kept the dork disc and took it for a shakedown ride. as expected the rims got the expected scratches from the rocks.

shafter

Well cool!

roval

took it for the second ride today after fitting an edge 500 with the speed and cadence sensor last night and noticed on the video i made that the rear tire was low. turns out i had my first puncture.

RALPHFELT

Who makes it? 3,500 I would expect carbon.