LBS Bargaining Techniques?
04-11-07 | 03:24 PM
#26
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by hal
^tell them that you have less money than you actually do, so you can move up a bit and be seen to be compromising
04-11-07 | 03:24 PM
#27
But on the road more
Joined: Jun 2006
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Bikes: Bianchi Volpe '07
Originally Posted by Namenda
As far as technique, I've always found honesty to be the best policy. Something along the lines of "Gee, I really like this bike, but it costs more than I'm able to spend. I'd really like to give you my business. Can you work with me on the price a bit?" If they answer with a flat "no", they usually mean it. Any waffling on their part indicates a willingness to make a deal.
Just remember...bargaining is all about compromise. Plan on paying a bit more than you want, if you expect them to sell for less than they want.
Just remember...bargaining is all about compromise. Plan on paying a bit more than you want, if you expect them to sell for less than they want.
04-11-07 | 03:27 PM
#28
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Originally Posted by intence
Kergin, I can understand your pain purchasing a bike in Canada. It appears that the Canadian distributors are doing a great job of gouging consumers now that the Canadian dollar has strengthened against the US dollar. It's not only bikes, but electronics, most cars, and numerous other products. I suppose that if they got away adding 50% to the US price a few years ago when that was the exchange rate, they see no reason to adjust prices downwards. I wonder if enough people complained to the US manufacturer (in this case Cannondale) if they would pressure the distributor to price the products more fairly, or if they might simply drop the distributor and find a new one.
04-11-07 | 03:45 PM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
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Originally Posted by roadwarrior
Excellent advice.
One other piece of advice. Don't drive to the LBS in an $80,000 Beemer, look at $1,000 bike and try to haggle. That really happened.
Honest.
It still makes me chuckle.
One other piece of advice. Don't drive to the LBS in an $80,000 Beemer, look at $1,000 bike and try to haggle. That really happened.
Honest.
It still makes me chuckle.
04-11-07 | 05:11 PM
#31
hehe... member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 665
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Maybe they'll price match, but I don't see why any bike shop should come off its price until you're offering them something. You're a repeat customer, you're buying a ton of extra stuff, you're buying a pair of bikes, etc. You're more likely to get them to throw in a jersey or something than move off the price. From what I understand, shops make most of their money on accessories and not bikes. There's not very much wiggle room on popular models.
04-12-07 | 07:05 AM
#32
You blink and it's gone.
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Dundas, Ontario
Bikes: Race bike, training bike, go fast bike and a trainer slave.
Originally Posted by kergin
What about price matching? For example: a shop in downtown Toronto has a CAAD9 Optimo 3 for $1799. A shop in Streetsville, Mississauga, which is about an hour's drive, has the same bike for $1719. Do you think it's reasonable for the Toronto store to match the other shop?
