Shoud I buy a bike now or in the spring?
#1
Trekkie
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Shoud I buy a bike now or in the spring?
Are the deals usually way better now or do you only save a little bit?
I am trying to figure out if I should get a bike now .. and get a 2011 or would I be better off waiting for the 12's
How much does a shop usually take off from MSRP? I assume there is room for negotiation?
I am trying to figure out if I should get a bike now .. and get a 2011 or would I be better off waiting for the 12's
How much does a shop usually take off from MSRP? I assume there is room for negotiation?
Last edited by MuddKatt; 11-27-11 at 09:01 AM.
#2
Senior Member
Do you have a bike now? If not then yes, buy now and train for the spring. If yes than now is probably a good time to get deals.
#3
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"Shoud I buy a bike now or in the spring?"
Yes. In fact buy one now and in the spring.
Yes. In fact buy one now and in the spring.
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"When I hear another express an opinion, which is not mine, I say to myself, He has a right to his opinion, as I to mine; why should I question it. His error does me no injury, and shall I become a Don Quixot to bring all men by force of argument, to one opinion? If a fact be misstated, it is probable he is gratified by a belief of it, and I have no right to deprive him of the gratification."
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Hmmm....
Uh, let me think.
Hold on I'm thinking. (It's a slow process, please bear with me)
Uh..., uh..., I think you should have already bought a bike.
So hurry up and remedy the situation.
No time like the present.
Prices will never be this good again.
Beat the rush.
Buy early and buy often.
It's the early customer that gets the deal.
No time like the present.
Post a picture when you bring it home.
Uh, let me think.
Hold on I'm thinking. (It's a slow process, please bear with me)
Uh..., uh..., I think you should have already bought a bike.
So hurry up and remedy the situation.
No time like the present.
Prices will never be this good again.
Beat the rush.
Buy early and buy often.
It's the early customer that gets the deal.
No time like the present.
Post a picture when you bring it home.
#5
Uber Goober
You should buy it when you need it. If you're ready to ride it now, buy it now. If you pay an extra $300, that's okay, because you'll get to ride it for an extra 6 months, too.
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I know a lot of the bike shops in my area become ski shops in the winter, so now is the time that they’re desperate to get their 2011 inventory off the floor to make room for the snow-sport equipment. This desperation often leads to 40% discounts in some cases, so you should buy now. I don’t think they are as desperate to clear inventory at shops that stay bike shops year round, but if there aren’t any of these kinds of bike/ski shops in your area, you probably don’t see much snow. If that is the case, then you could be riding your new bike through the winter, and you should also buy now.
#8
Senior Member
Even if you assume you can save money in the spring, you still have the opportunity cost of having the bike to ride for the next 6 months.
I did this calculus last spring actually: "well, I could save a couple hundred in a few months, but then I would miss riding the new bike all summer". And sure enough, if I had waited until now instead of buying in join, I could've saved a couple of hundred dollars, but I would've missed out on riding all summer on a new bike.
It's always worth it to shop around and make an educated purchase and to save money, but life's too short to sit around waiting for the perfect deal.
And right now is probably the best time for deals anyway.
I did this calculus last spring actually: "well, I could save a couple hundred in a few months, but then I would miss riding the new bike all summer". And sure enough, if I had waited until now instead of buying in join, I could've saved a couple of hundred dollars, but I would've missed out on riding all summer on a new bike.
It's always worth it to shop around and make an educated purchase and to save money, but life's too short to sit around waiting for the perfect deal.
And right now is probably the best time for deals anyway.
#9
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
The shops in my area are all hoping to clear out old stock. It's the best time to buy, at least as long as they have what you want in your size -- which is a risk that you take if you wait too long.
It's like buying winter gear in the spring, or summer gear in the fall. You'll get a deal as long as you find something that fits. As an example of an online retailer that behaves like a local shop, Competitive Cyclist is selling some summer bib shorts at really good prices -- but only if you're a size XXL.
It's like buying winter gear in the spring, or summer gear in the fall. You'll get a deal as long as you find something that fits. As an example of an online retailer that behaves like a local shop, Competitive Cyclist is selling some summer bib shorts at really good prices -- but only if you're a size XXL.
![Wink](https://www.bikeforums.net/images/smilies/wink.gif)
#10
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
#11
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buy now. They will be more liekly to make a deal now when they are hurting for sales. My LBS says they do $12-$22,000 a day in the summer. Right now they are lucky to get $5k a day. when rent is due and wages have to be paid, they need to make sales even if they are making less margin.
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Notice a pattern?
#14
Senior Member
Many LBS are keen to reduce inventory by the end of the year to avoid paying tax on their inventory as of 1 Jan, much like car dealers. If you've got the cash (not using credit), you can haggle hard as that 3% fee the merchant is charged on card sales can add up to serious money in 4 figure deals.
B
B
#15
Trekkie
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Thanks. I have a bike to ride although not a road bike. We get around 80 inches of snow a year.
I may ride the old bike anyway as the salt they put down does a number on anything mechanical. I had to replace the augur shaft on the snowblower after 5 years.. the salt ( from clearing out the plow snow at the base of the driveway ) destroyed several of the bearings.
The shop I was looking at is a smaller, year round, bike only shop. They may even have a couple of 2010's left.
We have a couple of ski/bike shops and some larger shops around but I figure I'd be better off with the smaller shop and get better service. I have dealt with one of the larger ones and they don't care if you come or go after they sell you a bike.
I may ride the old bike anyway as the salt they put down does a number on anything mechanical. I had to replace the augur shaft on the snowblower after 5 years.. the salt ( from clearing out the plow snow at the base of the driveway ) destroyed several of the bearings.
The shop I was looking at is a smaller, year round, bike only shop. They may even have a couple of 2010's left.
We have a couple of ski/bike shops and some larger shops around but I figure I'd be better off with the smaller shop and get better service. I have dealt with one of the larger ones and they don't care if you come or go after they sell you a bike.
Last edited by MuddKatt; 11-27-11 at 05:43 PM.
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By the time I finished upgrading it in my mind,
it would've cost me as much as an EVO.
Damn it was hard "not" buying that rig though!
Just the frameset ALONE was worth it.
#20
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#21
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Seriously....this is a bike forum....not a financial advice forum....
buy a bike. ride it.
lather.
rinse.
repeat.
buy a bike. ride it.
lather.
rinse.
repeat.
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#22
Peloton Shelter Dog
What kind of imbecile would drop thousands of dollars on a bicycle for crissake?
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Buy it now! The future is undetermined.
#25
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Resistance is futile.
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