Hi. I've read these forums for years, but never posted. So thanks for the wealth of information that you have provided over the years.

Here is my question: I was at my LBS looking for a comfortable road bike for commuting and fun, and I came across the salsa caseroll. I really like the bike, it fits me perfectly, and I like the fact that it has a rear derailleur hanger so I can turn it into a 9 speed with old parts for next to nothing.

Problem is, they are charging 1050 for the bike. I'd never heard of salsa bikes, so I went home to read some reviews and go to the website, etc. Here I find that the casseroll ss bikes are being sold practically everywhere else for less than 700.

The bike shop was very helpful, but if I buy from another shop or online, I can get the bike, fenders, rack, new rear derailleur, shifter, a built up wheel, etc for less than just the stock bike from lbs.

The lbs has been more than helpful and I don't want to be rude. I'm more than willing to pay a premium to buy there, as they have been extremely helpful and spent an hour or so going over options, changing out stems, etc.

Would it be rude to lay it out and ask for a steep discount? id buy it today if they sold it for like 800 or 850, plus id be buying a bunch of accessories.

Any advice?

You're always going to pay a premium to buy from a LBS, but that much of a markup is a bit absurd, IMO. I know that my LBS sells that same bike in SS mode for around the $700 mark.

Just go in there and lay it out for them. Tell them you understand the advantages of buying from a LBS blah blah blah, but that it isn't worth THAT much extra money to you. They might work with you, they might not, I don't know. But if you're that into supporting your LBS, then you should at least try to work it out w/ them.

If it were me, I'd order that shiz off the internetz.

same

That bike cost about $480 out of QBP if im not mistaken. Asking over $1K is absurd. I would talk to them about lowering the price if at all possible. If they are not willing to work with you, consider a different shop or the web.

I just called. They checked the price list and changed it to 699. I'm gonna go get it this afternoon.

And they lived happily ever after!

And buy some tubes while you're at it. Maybe some Phil grease too.

Wow, that's a huge discount. Post pictures when you're done building it up.

Every ******bag wants to pay online prices for a product that you can see, touch, feel, get fit on and get serviced, warranty and refund. Asking for a discount nearly matching an online price means your LBS LOSES money on their sale. The margins on complete new bikes are the lowest of anything the store sells.

This guy wasn't asking for online price. He even stated he'd be willing to pay a $100-$150 markup for the convenience of getting it from the B&M.

That's not a discount. That's a pricing error. Big difference.

Wow $100-$150. Jesus christ that's a huge markup. Do you know what at 1.5 hour fit costs in addition to 1/2 free tune-ups at shop rate? Did that online price include shipping? Assembly of the bike?

Still want to make that comment?

Considering that the LBS in question undercut my ridiculously insufficient markup by $150, I'd say they agree with me.

He also mentioned he could buy it from another shop for less.. not just the internet. So you would've just paid nearly 400 bucks markup and considered it a 'assembly/tune-up fee'?

Well there's also probably the 1/2 price labor on bikes you purchase in the store, so if you get 50 flats fixed then you're already breaking even.

Believe me, I wasn't trying to be a deuche. I've worked in boutique audio retail for years, which is a very similar business to bikes. I was very willing to pay more...I was pretty sure that it was a pricing error on their part. When I asked, he checked an updated price list and priced the bike exactly where every other shop had it.

I'll do a lot of things for good service, including paying considerably more money. But I'm also not an idiot. A grocery clerk last week rung up a few oz of mushrooms at 12.00. I'm not going to stand by and say that that's the cost for good service.

Anyway, I'm glad it worked out. They're selling at the correct price and I'm getting the bike I want. No need to label me as trying to take advantage of the lbs. That's why I asked th question here first before calling the store.

Why be so nasty about it? Instead of simply buying online (as most people would have done), the OP gave the shop a chance. They came to the table and offered to mark it down substantially, to a price offered by other brick-and-mortar shops, not just online retailers, btw. If the shop didn't want to deal, they didn't have to. Everybody walks away happy. Except you, apparently.

Bike shops don't make a lot of money one new bikes as I'm sure you are aware of. Trick is to use bikes to get people in the store to buy accessories, gear, service, parts.

It's HIS MONEY, if he wants to spend it online or in a bike shop he's entitled to. I would love to take you to my LBS where parts are insanely priced. $2.00 per SPD bolt. $69.96 for some cheap Taiwan bolt on tri bars that EVERY OTHER lbs else sells for $39.99.

A shop is not there to gouge you, it's there to EARN your business. If they can't earn it then they die. This is the new economy. Be flexible or be unemployed.

I feel the exact same way about the LBS around here.

really?! My my bolts fell off while riding and a shop I had never been to gave me replacements for free.

Just to update, the dude at the lbs said that salsa updated their price of the bikes about a week ago in order to make room for next years model. There was another local store that offered it for 100 dollars cheaper, but I went with this place because I really like them. If your ever in salt lake hit up cyclesmith. Great shop.

Btw. This frame is fantastic. I've never ridden a bike so comfortable, and I've test ridden like 10 in the last week, some over twice the price.

Ha SLC crew represent. I have been there before and bought quite a few things, guys there are very helpful, and have helped me out quite a bit. Not to mention we dont have many decent bike shops in SLC. This seems to be the only one that knows a little about fixies.

PS, check out the Bike Collective. Its on like 300 West

I've bought/built two bikes at the bike collective, but I haven't been in the last year or so. They never had any decent road frames every time I looked there. I might need to go over there and see if they have any decent down tube shifters they don't cost 80 bucks.

I feel like its really hit or miss a lot of the times you go in there. Still a great environment.

Built Casseroll is also sold in geared configuration, the Casseroll Double. Probably just a shop employee looking at pricing for the wrong bike. If they have the SS at $699, could very well be that they sell the geared bike for $1050.

I'm leaning toward understandable shop pricing error and am glad the OP got a decent deal on the bike.