Negotiation time - tips?
 

I've found 2 very good bike stores both with excellent deals on a different bike each and I'm now ready to buy one.

What are some good tips, tactics and best practices for negotating price for the bike and gear? Should I push for changes to the components if they aren't exactly what I would like? Can I negotiate on warranty, tune ups, etc.?

I'll need a pair of shoes (never used or had any), pedals, a small bike tire pump and a computer. I may also get full length tights as it's autumn here and cold in the mornings and possibly a jacket, preferrably with a stripe cars can see when it gets dark out. I have a helmet, gloves and cycling shorts already.

Any other things to cover?

after you've done a few test rides on their stock, tell them that you can find the same bike cheaper on the 'net.

Last time I heard that, I said, "Go for it. Good luck."

busted :D

Generally a stock bike is just that. It's not custom. If you are looking at a Trek 1000, probably not much dealing will take place. Higher end bike, maybe.

Warranty is not extended by the bike shop. The bike shop cannot extend warranty as they have no legal right to do so. And since most bikes come with a lifetime warranty on the frame against mfg defects, what's past a lifetime for the original owner? Components for a year, normal wear and tear. Again against mfg defects.

Probably, you'll get discounts on accessory items.

But it totally depends on what you want.

:D

Oh, and ten minutes later, I sold the bike to someone else. And the original customer was still there.

BTW...I teach negotiating. I thoroughly enjoy it when someone comes in and wants to "bargain and compromise" (which is not negotiating...not even close) and they figure that they are the last person on earth that will ever come into the shop and buy a bike or we'll go out of business.
Problem is that they don't realize that, while we'd like to sell them a bike, we don't have to sell them a bike. We'll try to sell them a bike. But it might not work out for both of us.

The vast majority of people fail to grasp that point.

Walk in with a performance catalog :)

You'll have as much success as Penn State did against Ohio State.

Hey, that was a low blow. Remember last year's OSU-PSU game in Happy Valley?!?

Do you not like to make money...why not just sell two bikes, you will get the different prices but make more money then selling one...

I guess you don't like to make money...oh well

Get the best price you can on your second choice. Then go to the LBS for your first choice, and tell them you want to buy their bike, but you got this other great deal that's too good to pass up, and ask them what they can do for you. Also, once you've got their price on the bike, you can condition your purchase on a discount on the accessories. Most LBS's have more margin on the accessories and are more likely to work with you on those. Personally, I wouldn't be adverse to trying to get a little discount, butI' also try to be reasonable, so its a win win deal. Hopefully your starting a long term relationship where the LBS will want to take care of you when you come in. That can be more valuable than squeezing out the last dollar.

So you're saying if he can just avoid throwing the ball away in the 4th quarter, he might be able to seal the deal.

I don't think bike shops make much on bikes, so just buy the one you like the most (or is the cheapest). Buy the accessories at pricepoint.

I called one LBS (NOT an Internet place) and got their price on the bike I wanted. Then I called the LBS where I wanted to buy and asked if they'd match it. They answered yes immediately, and the sale was done. $100 discount. Unless you're prepared to walk out, I wouldn't haggle too much because at some point the guy is just going to say no. And then you either capitulate or you stand your ground and leave. But maybe you have a higher tolerance for conflict than me. :)

I had a friend who used to walk into a bar, order a coffee, and then ask the bartender if he could slip a little something extra in it. "Yeah, for $4 I can" was the common response. Some things you just can't bargain for.

You can price match with local brick and mortar stores but that save you $40-$50 on most bikes (if that much) and it'll take you an hour and a phone book to do.

If I was buying a new bike, I would buy it with the understanding that we (me and the bike store) are forming a relationship and I expect to be treated as if we were in a relationship.

For example, I went in to my bike shop for a quick repair. The guy before me was told to leave his bike and it "should" be ready by the weekend. I was told "wait five minutes, I'll take care of it right now". What's that price of service like that???

The price for me was not haggling over the price of the bike (which after shopping around was a fair price) and a $10 tip to the mechanic whenever he takes care of my bike.

When I worked at a bike store, the margins were something like this: 50% on a lower end bike and 100% on accessories.

You might read that to say there is lots of room on the bikes, but in my experience there is not. There are a lot of costs associated with the bikes (having to have them there, lots of sizes, etc etc). The most I think I ever went down to for a customer was selling it at a 40% margin. However, I didn't work at the end of the year, so I don't know what they do then. But, assume that the regular price is at about 50% margin, and see how much the discount is already.

I'd totally give a customer deals on accessories if they bought a bike. Even at 40% off we're still making money.

Also, I will say that using a Visa costs the store something like 2% automatically. American Express might be more. Debit was like $0.30 a transaction, regardless of what the amount was. So if you bring cash or debit you might be able to get a few bucks off, but don't try and be cheap for $50. You'll make no friends at the store and having friends there saves you a lot more than that in the long run.

I did get a $1000 off the Giant Team Advanced I just ordered just by asking what was the best he could do for me. However, I've got a good relationship with the shop, its a special order so the LBS has no carrying cost, and I doubt many of them are going to actually get sold at MSRP anyway.

Buy last year's model.

I try to negotiate on the components: better seat, different pedals or tires, fenders, a kickstand, rack, and baskets on an errand bike, a squeezy horn, things like that.

As stated above, this is the time of year to buy. If you can get a 2006 bike, they will be willing to help and may already have them on sale. Everyone is correct in saying that the price on bikes is usually a pretty low markup, while accessories are the big one. Get some deals on shoes, pedals, service, etc. Build the relationship, and/or learn to do it all yourself. Good luck.

I asked my LBS if they would be willing to negotiate price, and they said absoloutly, how much more would you be willing to pay?

After about 45 minutes of negotiaiting I managed to get the bike I wanted for only $8.00 more than they were asking!

+1 to developing good relationships. All bikes are pretty evenly priced. The difference is in the family.

100% margin on accessories.:eek:

Oh we made lots of money. It's the level of bike that counts.

I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that the deal needs to be satisfactory for both parties. You need to give them something in return for what they give you. Maybe buy a few more accessories than you were planning on, or refer somebody there, or let them know you plan on getting another bike down the road and you'd like to buy it from them also. There are a lot of ways to do it, but I prefer to keep things friendly as opposed to trying to "hardball" them.


When I was looking at buying a mtb last year, I talked to one shop in November and asked what kind of deal they could give me on the 2006 models since the 2007 were coming out soon. They told me they couldn't move the price at all. I promptly left and went to another store. When I asked the same question, they gave me a couple of different offers about how to save a bit of money. For that reason alone I'll never go back to store #1. I only saved about 10% at the second store, but it wasn't about the money - it was about a show of goodwill.