Just curious if anyone has any experience with whether shops typically price their bikes around the MSRP mark? I know if there are sales or clearance items the prices will obviously be less.

I'm looking around on bikes specs and reviews so I can learn as much as I can before I approach the shop, but wanna know if I'm looking in the right range based on the bikes' online msrp prices.

Also, when do new bikes come out? So I know when the best chances for a sale would be.

Gracias.

For the most part, they kind of have to. Unless there is a sale or it is a previous years leftover or any other special circumstance.

new bikes are out or just coming out (for example, the new ibis mojo hd is out, but difficult to come by. our shop has two i think). shops usually stay close to msrp, but often price a wee bit less, because they want to sell bikes, and showing the lower price helps that to happen.

Based on my 20 years in the industry, it all depends..at the end of the season (like now) many things can occur. Brand names (Specialized,Trek,etc) will discount the wholesale price of their slow movers to the dealers. The dealers, in turn pass on the savings.

Also, dealers take a look at what isn't moving on their floors. Generally, they don't want to be looking at leftovers through the winter. Some dealers started discounting 2010 models iin July & August.

Hot models from the previous year may be discounted very little if the new 2011 models are more expensive due to currency fluctuation (weaker dollar) and/or cost of production. Example: The 2006 Specialized Tarmac Expert I bought 4 years at a MSRP of $2499 is now $3599 (2011 model). Both are Ultegra equipped full carbon frame rigs.

New models are introduced in the June/July time frame. Therefore, most major brands already have shipped some 2011 models.

So, before you plunk your money down, check around and compare. For some bikes, MSRP may be a good deal...for some..not

I won't pay MSRP. A good shop worth their weight will be MSRP -10%.

When I bought my new bike, the shop I got it from sold it to me at a discount of 15 percent off list. Another shop was not so willing to discount. So it varies.

Check out the Bike Shop located in Enid, OK Bike Shop. Micah has several bikes marked down because it was a demo, has a scratch or a year or two old but brand new. Micah will deal with you and provide a more personal service than the LBS in Stillwater. He starts out using MSRP but markes them down quickly.

What brands does he typically carry, do you know?

I just bought a bike. I shopped around at about 10 different bike shops in my area. Almost everyone sold at MSRP. There were a few that sold at manufacturers minimum selling price all day every day. I bought a bike that was a brand new 2011. It was the only bike in my area that I wanted and that I didn't have to special order. The bike shop also offered a lifetime of free adjustments (brake, shifting, etc). I would have paid full price because I didn't have to wait several weeks to order a bike I never tested. I was lucky enough that the shop gave me about almost 10% off.

Specialized and Trek. Last week he had a 2009 Trek 6500 with several upgrades. The list price aroune 1200 currently marked down to 850 (I thnk).

Forgot to mention Brand new, never been out of the store.