Miller2

Im feeling guilty about doing this even though I've bought 2 bikes from this shop as well as many other items such as handlebars, chains, clothing, bottle cages etc. I have a good repoire with the shop but I dont want to push my luck. I guess I've spent over 5k with them.

I can get this item at a killer price online, likely $60-$90 cheaper than the LBS can sell it to me. Thats a huge difference. I'd rather give my business to them if they can match it.

What do you guys think?

dcbikeguy

Buy it online. You do plenty for them.

snoboard2

lol.

if it's $60-90 less online, I'm sure they'd hardly call it business. Hell they might even take a loss.

Don't even think about it.

Red Rider

Can't hurt to ask, can it?

At what point will you buy from the LBS? If they're anything like one of my LBSs, the overhead makes aggressive discounts unrealistic.

Good luck.

CastIron

My LBS and I have sort of an un-spoken detente on this. It is just business. I buy what I can from them and source parts/bits on the cheap elsewhere when it's unreasonably cheap. There's no guilt to be had. And the $5k bike/bits? It's peanuts to the LBS. There's no entitlement or obligation with it.

softlysoftly

I've done that a couple of times, very reluctantly...not a good response.
Can't blame them though, it must pretty tough competing with ebay and pbk on everything other than complete bikes/frames.

botto 

You do realize that the prices for things like Vittoria Open Corsas (for example) at PBK are almost the same as the wholesale price a LBS pays, right?

Grumpy McTrumpy

Your results may vary:

I have found it best to pretend the internet doesn't exist when going to the local bike shop. They don't want to hear about it.

I spend a fair amount of cash there on an annual basis, but they know the score. I build my own bikes and I am sure they can figure out that I get a lot of stuff from online or ebay. Still, they are always cool when I go there to buy tools or parts or various things. Money is money, and when they see me in there almost weekly, buying little stuff, they can figure out that they will eventually make more profits from me than they will on a person who buys a bike there and comes back once a year.

banerjek

I think this is poor form even if you have spent a lot at this shop. I would never consider asking for a price match even though I also have bought 2 bikes and thousands of dollars worth of stuff from my favorite shop.

When you buy from the LBS, you are paying a different level of service. You are paying for the convenience of being able to walk in, get intelligent answers to questions, and much faster resolution of any issues that pop up. In short, the extra money goes to pay them to be there for you.

If you want your killer deal, just quietly buy online this time. Better to go that route than get the wrong kind of vibe going with your shop.

roadiejorge 

An LBS is going to have a hard time matching online prices given their overhead so while it can't hurt to ask, I'm sure they're well aware they probably can't match it and still make a profit. I would rely on a for parts LBS if the price difference were close to what I'd pay online but in some cases what you save online is substantial to what you pay at LBS especially in NYC where prices are pretty high.

mustang1

If you need some kind of service before buying a component, then buy from LBS at LBS price. Otherwise give LBS the chance to match the price. It's unlikely they will, they may go down which will put you in an awkward possition where they've reduced the price, but not enough for you, and to keep relationship, you may feel obliged to buy from them. Therefore, just buy online.

Miller2

Thanks for the feedback. I realize I dont owe them anything but they have been good to me in the past and I'd like to give them whatever business I can.

I'll go the online route.

Miller2

Yea this is the scenario I didnt want to get involved with.

roadwarrior

Thanks for, yet again, making an excellent point.

roadwarrior

Great post.

alanthealan

I would ask, no reason not to, either they will say yes or that's a great deal get it online. No reason to feel guilty.

BikeWise1

As a shop owner, I will say that in nearly all cases, there is no way to effectively compete with internet sales on a dollar-to-dollar basis without losing money on the deal. The playing field is simply not level.

I am always up front with my customers when I know a product can be had much lower online.

erliuic

Seriously, don't do it. If you can stomach the LBS price, buy it from the LBS. If not, buy it online or elsewhere.

My LBS refuses to sell any components under MSRP so it's understandable that I've never bought anything there. I don't mind and neither do they. I get stuff for silly cheap and they continue selling with big margins. They're obviously fine as they're one of the biggest LBS's in the state. You don't have to feel like you have an obligation to buy from them.

Regardless, I still go there all the time because they have an awesome service department. For me, that's where their value lies. For others, it's going in and having someone help you choose what to buy. I already know what I want so I buy it online at a discount. They're a business, not a family friend. Pretty simple.

erliuic

+1

softlysoftly

Well obviously you would compare prices before buying. Hell, compcyclist might even have some stuff cheaper than pbk...

Daytrip

If you accept the reality that most shoppers are price sensitive, then the LBS is basically for beginners who don't know exactly what they want and benefit from the advice and service they receive from their LBS. So, most new cyclists will shop more at the LBS, doing less and less as they gain more knowledge and ability.

That's not to say that experienced cyclists don't frequent their local shop and benefit from its existence. They do it for a variety of reasons, including being able to discuss the sport intelligently. But I'm guessing that most people who know what they want will shop around and try to find the best price.

BTW, I live in a county with a 9% sales tax. That really hurts the LBS--part of the unlevel playing field that they have no control over.

MKahrl

If he matches your price would you be cool with the LBS shipping the bike to you, with it's risk of damage, charge you for the shipping, and you get to put the bike together yourself? And if there is anything wrong with the bike, you have to contact the LBS by email and ship the bike back to him, and wait until it gets fixed and shipped back to you.

If you want the bike shop to receive the bike, pay for shipping, inspect it, assemble it, have it ready at their shop ready for your pick up; then you can't expect it to match an online price.

dje31

Do you go to Home Depot and haggle over the price of a faucet? Do you go to the national/regional chain grocery store and see if the produce manager will lower the price of that head of lettuce? I mean, I go to the grocery store every week...often multiple times during the week...they never seem to want to give a stroke on the price. I'd be willing to say I spend thousands at the grocery store per year.

Weird how folks say they want to pull for the underdog and "stick it to the man"...but have no problem beating down the LBS over a part, yet have no problem paying full price on stuff from the national chains. Hint: chains don't haggle because a) they won't, and b) they don't have to.

Miller2

ummmmm...it isnt a bike......I never said it was..

Miller2

Which is why you'd be a fool to haggle at a grocery store. An LBS, while still in business to make a profit, is an entirely different animal. Most small business (LBS) get alot of their repeat business from personal service and building relationships which in many cases includes price matching. A big box store like Home Depot or a major grocery chain doesnt operate that way. You cant compare the two.