KBentley57

So, I've been around the bike shops, ridden a few I liked, and I'm set on the Felt F95. I'm still up in the air about the garmin team kit or standard paint, but my question is, is buying a bike similar to buying a car? Do I haggle for the price? Ask for a discount on pedals and shoes? Throw in a free water bottle? ect.. I would like to obviously minimize any price paid, while at the same time not make myself look like an ass hat at a place I would like to go on group rides eventually.

Any tips for a first time road bike buyer?

Argon18DooD

I searched the net and called other bike shops in other cities (only another 20 mins from me) to see what prices they had on the exact same bike.

My LBS had a price match guarantee and they price matched for me.

When I was doing the deal they threw in a water bottle and offered me 25% off any accessory in the store for 1 month.

Other places i visited are willing to drop the price a little bit (around $75-$100).

JonnyV

As a shop salesman/mechanic I say it's fine to try to haggle but don't expect too much. The money's not in the bikes, it's in the little stuff. If they can't give you a discount on the bike ask if they can do better on the stuff you should have to get you on the road; helmet, gloves, pedals, shoes, seat bag, clothes. But again, don't expect too much. If they can't give you a discount, try to understand where the shop is coming from...we're still not moving a ton of bikes, people just aren't openning their wallets yet and times are still tough for most shops, the lights don't keep themselves on. If you stay loyal to this LBS (hopefully they treat you right and make you want to shop only with them) you'll get plenty of discounts in the future when they're in a better position to do so. I offer free tune ups for life as long as it's the original owner, but I don't discount the bikes too much because of that. You can easily exceed the discount by taking advantage of the free tune ups.

ThinLine

There is very low margins on new bikes and LBS make more on services and equipment. I have found great deals on leftovers.

johnny99

Ask your local bicycling clubs if local bike shops offer special discounts to club members. Many shops in my area give 10% discounts on new bikes (and sometimes 15% or 20% discounts on accessories) to members of local clubs. That's a better discount than you are likely to get from haggling and club membership is only $25.

SoreFeet

Felts are dime a dozen, you could probably find a near mint one at a discount on craigslist or ebay...buyer beware of course but if your trying to save a few bucks getting a lightly used road bike will give a lot less than list price. List price is hard to negotiate at my most bike shops.

John_V 

The LSB that I frequent very often doesn't turn over road bikes very much but does carry them. They always have some really good prices on new but older model bikes. If you don't mind getting an older model bike, that may be another approach to take.

MikeyBoyAz

i got free carbon cages with my felt... so yeah, they haggle in a way.

DropDeadFred

yeah you might get them to move a little but i think you have a better chance at having them throwing in extras with your purchase...don't be scared to ask for cages and bottles or maybe their shop jersey...who knows...

mpath

Most local (but competent) LBS' are not getting rich selling bikes. They make it up on accessories. If you plan on having the bike serviced there, I wouldn't nickel and dime them.

KBentley57

Thanks for th input guys.

I think I'll just go with the discount on some shoes and pedals. I'm not trying to break them - I know they have to make a profit to stay in business. And, to top it off, the tech I was talking to about the bike today was very patient with me as I had him adjust, and adjust, and adjust...

On another note, I did have my heart set on the F95. I rode the Z100 today just for giggles, and it turns out that I like that bike much more. The F95 stretched me out just a little tooo much for my liking; apparently I'm not as flexible yet as I thought I was on the first test ride. I know the Z100 is a little lesser of a bike: it has a sora rear derailleur vs the tiagra, and the front derailleur is one step below sora, but the frame is the same as the Z85 - carbon fork included. It's something I could upgrade as time goes on.

Anyone have experience or know someone who had ridden the Z series bikes? any further input is appreciated.

xxguitarist

I don't know the bike lineup, but if you claim the frame is the same, then what's different? I'm guessing the 100 is a shorter/higher stem?
May be better to buy the better groupo bike & try to get the bike shop to swap stems for you, for minimal cost.

mvnsnd

How much riding are you planning to do? You might feel a bit stretched out now, but in a couple of months you may not notice that. Buy the best frame and components you can afford.

phee

From Felt's geometry chart it looks like the z series has about a 10 to 20 mm longer headtube and has a longer wheelbase. That would put you in a more upright and relaxed position. It would be a better bike for someone not looking to race, but wants to be able to log some longer miles. I just picked up a leftover Look 566 as a back up bike. This has a longer headtube like the Z100 you are looking. I can definitely feel a difference coming from my BMC to the more forgiving Look. It all depends on where you want to take your riding. If you are looking to enter some races or do some crits, go with the f95 and work on getting lower and flatter. If you want to be able to do some group rides or charity events and still hang with the faster people out there pick up the z100 (and then upgrade the parts, but that is a never ending battle anyway). Either way they both look like pretty decent entry point bikes. Good luck.

bbattle

You've got to haggle.

https://youtu.be/3n3LL338aGA