This Friday I was looking for a new bike. I looked at several bikes in my price range of a thousand. I described what I wanted from a bike to the owner of my LBS, and he showed me few models. After looking at several bikes, he calls me up to one bike; the tag said $1.030 on it. What follows was really strange or at least I thought it was. So, he takes off the bike from the wrack and says that he’ll drop the price to $950(without me even asking for the price or even asking him to lower it!) and that the original price was $1.300. Waaaa? Better yet, he said that he’d throw a carbon seat post for absolutely no charge! Is that too good to be true? I think he just wants to get rid of this particular bike for an unknown to me reason. What do you guys think?

He may have new models coming in soon and wants to clear current stock. Have you checked the rrp on this model and what other stores are selling it at?

what's the bike? make, model, year, components? anything not stock on it?

I'm a small business owner; if I made an offer like that, all it'd definitely mean is that I really wanted to move the item. doesn't necessarily mean something's too good to be true, but you never know.

btw, you said you described what you wanted. what's that?

cheers,

alex.

my shop doesnt even make that good deals, we dropped a 2002 litespeed hyperion by only 200 dollars!

You really need to post the year, make & model before anyone can tell you how good a deal that is.

And of course no bike is a good deal, especially a road bike, if it's not a perfect fit for you.

But yeah, it just sounds like leftover stock that he's trying to move so he can put a better-selling model on the floor. Very standard practice.

RichC

The bike is Specialized. I don't know the model, but I do know that it's not a 2003 model (I checked it on their website). The components are 105 and Ultegra-rear derailleur.
Looks something like an 02 Allez A1 SE from 2002. The one on the site has a diffirent CF fork from the one in my store. (sorry, I couldn’t give the link, because it doesn’t work for some reason)

They also had this model https://www.specialized.com/SBCBkMode...pCrMo&bl=road, for around $1.200

what do you think?

At face value it sounds good, but there is some reason he wants to get rid of it. Talk to him again and find out the year, model, if it has any special accessories. Find out what other shops charge for it and make sure it is your size or find out if he can order you size in for the same price. Also, is it used?

I would have rather paid the Dollar and three cents for the bike.

I wish

In all likelyhood, he just wants to get rid of an '02 as '04 bikes will be in in just a few short months. He's getting a little crazier than we would at our shop (we have the same bike not marked down nearly that much yet).

Specialized really blows out their bikes when their ready to start moving in new stock as far as i've seen. The stumpjumper i bought had a sticker of 1400 and i got it for 1099 on sale at the end of june.
if it's new then their probably just trying to move stock.
t

O.K. I'm off to the shop to get my bike. After that, I'm of for a couple hour ride. When I come back I'll post some pictures of my new rig. Wish me luck!

Specialized Allez A1 SE

FRAME A1 - XX Premium Aluminum, fully double butted, compact geometry

FORK Specialized C-2 bonded high modulus carbon fiber, with 1-1/8" 7075 alloy threadless steerer

HEADSET Ritchey Logic Comp AheadSet, 1-1/8" with alloy cups and cap

STEM Specialized/ black

HANDLEBARS Ritchey Logic Comp

TAPE / GRIPS 3T Cork Ribbon

FRONT BRAKE Shimano 105 with MC shoes

REAR BRAKE Shimano 105 with MC shoes

BRAKE LEVERS Shimano 105 STI

FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano 105, 31.8mm band type

REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano Ultegra

SHIFT LEVERS Shimano 105 STI (Flight Deck Compatible)

CASSETTE Shimano HG50, 12 x 25, 9-speed

CHAIN Shimano HG72, 9-speed

CRANKSET Shimano 105, Hollow Tech (splined)

CHAINRINGS 52 alloy, 42 alloy, 30 alloy

BOTTOM BRACKET Shimano 105, splined Octalink, pipe billet, 68 x 118.5 triple


RIMS Ritchey Pro Aero, 28-hole, with CNC sidewalls

FRONT HUB Ritchey Comp, 28-hole, sealed, with alloy quick release

REAR HUB Ritchey Comp, 28-hole, sealed, with alloy quick release

SPOKES Ritchey 14GA, stainless bladed, with brass nipples, radial front / 2x rear

FRONT TIRE Specialized Turbo Pro, 700 x 23C, 127TPI, Kevlar bead, with Flak Jacket

REAR TIRE Specialized Turbo Pro, 700 x 23C, 127TPI, Kevlar bead, with Flak Jacket

TUBES Specialized light, presta valve

SADDLE Specialized Body Geometry Pro with tubular Cr-Mo rails (OEM spec)

SEAT POST Bontrager Carbon Fiber 27.2x350mm

SEAT BINDER Cr-Mo binder bolt, forged alloy collar, 31.8 ID, black


SIZE 56

COLOR Dark Blue

COMPUTER Cat Eye Enduro2

I'll try to get a digital camera, if not I'll try to take some pics with my web cam

Congratulations on the new bike.

We're looking forward to the pictures.

These are taken by my web cam. Sorry for the quality.

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nice bike! congrats!!

This one is from Specialized website.

Nice bike, hope you enjoy riding the bike

As always, a picture speaks for itself. Great looking scoot! You're going to have much fun with him/her.

Good buy dude! Specialized kicks ass!