After lots of lurking, and occasional questions, and thinking about steel vs. aluminum, drops vs. bullhorns, complete bike vs. a build-up, etc., I finally decided on a Jamis Sputnik. Thought I'd try to find an '08 model on sale, before '09 price increases. An '08 for $775-10%, or about $700 at one shop, plus another $60 to switch to bullhorns and add brakes. $760 total, not too bad; the '09 is listed at $900 MSRP (include brakes) and they're not in stock at shops yet. Next shop I called said they had no '08's in my size, but would order me an '09 at '08 price of $700, and switch drops to bullhorns for $50 more, so $750 total. $10 better, and an '09. Thought I'd call one more shop. He said he had no '08's, but would order an '09...for $580, and add $25 to switch out the drops to bullhorns. $605 total for a 2009. SO...is the owner a smart shop owner who figures get me to agree an dbuy at a smaller profit before I walk out the door to see if I can find one in stock somewhere else? Or does Jamis allow dealers to order the '09 at an '08 price since they hadn't delivered the '09's yet, (to theoretically keep me from buying some other brand I can get my hands on quicker)?

I pulled the trigger on the '09 for $605 total, and I'm drooling just thinking about it!

It's to much effort to read this. You need a paragraph.

I lost him after the "lurking" part...

Translation:

After lots of lurking, and occasional questions, and thinking about steel vs. aluminum, drops vs. bullhorns, complete bike vs. a build-up, etc., I finally decided on a Jamis Sputnik. Thought I'd try to find an '08 model on sale, before '09 price increases.

[I found] An '08 for $775-10%, or about $700 at one shop, plus another $60 to switch to bullhorns and add brakes. $760 total, not too bad; the '09 is listed at $900 MSRP (include brakes) and they're not in stock at shops yet.

Next shop I called said they had no '08's in my size, but would order me an '09 at '08 price of $700, and switch drops to bullhorns for $50 more, so $750 total. $10 better, and an '09.

Thought I'd call one more shop. He said he had no '08's, but would order an '09...for $580, and add $25 to switch out the drops to bullhorns. $605 total for a 2009.

SO...is the owner a smart shop owner who figures get me to agree an dbuy at a smaller profit before I walk out the door to see if I can find one in stock somewhere else? Or does Jamis allow dealers to order the '09 at an '08 price since they hadn't delivered the '09's yet, (to theoretically keep me from buying some other brand I can get my hands on quicker)?

I pulled the trigger on the '09 for $605 total, and I'm drooling just thinking about it!

This really isn't that bad. And it reads the same with paragraph breaks or not ......


No back to the topic. Sounds like the last guy you called either gets good deals from jamis because he moves alot of their bikes, or he is just hurting for business that bad.

Just sounds like good business to me

Lucky you

Never got the hang of Sesame Street, huh guys? It was clear enough to me, and not hard to read.

My guess is that they're getting some kind of a pre-release incentive/rebate from the factory on the '09s.

Yeah, you guys are right. Paragraphs are just old-fashioned, they serve no purpose.

i agree. we should completely eliminate capitalization at the same time. maybewecouldgetridofspacestoo.

Congrats on your new bike.

And, I had no problems following your thoughts.

But, it would have been easier with more paragraphs.

Thanks for the post.

A paragraph at the SO could have helped, but if you can't read past three sentences you are an unfortunate victim of powerpoint and instant messaging. I agree with those who are just saying good business practice. Assuming the shop got your money up front, the owner guaranteed herself/himself a profit on a shipment which was going to be placed either way without risking the need to store it long.

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You also need to realize that dealers and retailers have a harder time moving bikes in the winter even in the best of economies. All in all, you shopped well and hopefully you enjoy the ride.

i work at a shop and this is what i think happened.

When you call and are ready to buy, and we know your serious, we go that extra little bit as it's now really worth our time. you knew your prices which means you had already phoned other stores, so we may as well place the order, make a crap margin on the bike, but have a happy customer who will be (we hope) back for more stuff.

Take it from someone me. work a a report with your LBS it's worth you time in many many ways. People who come in with walmart bikes and BD bikes and expect us to bend over backwards for them do not win points.