Buying a new bicycle: can I bargain?

[paulney]

So I'm ready to spend about a grand on a new bike. I've never purchased new bikes before from bike shops - usually just second-hand on Craigslist. So, my question is: do they work like car dealerships/matresses where there's MSRP and then there's the sane price. Can I bargain with them?

Thanks.

Update: bought the bike. See bottom of thread.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

In my opinion it's a bit different than a car dealership, and you want to be on good personal terms with the shop. With a $1000 bike I would just make sure the price is fair compared to other places and leave it at that versus trying to get the absolute bottom dollar $900 price.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Didn't work for me. Even walking out only to go back and pay msrp. :/

 

[MiniDoom]

not likely. bike shops make very little profit from selling bikes. they rely on clothing, accessories and service to make money.
your best bet is to try to find a closeout model on sale from last year. good luck!

 

[Phanuel]

Not to be a complete snob (just kind of one) but a $1K bike is basically entry level for a serious bike. I wouldn't expect much wiggle at all. Once you start looking at $3-4K you might swing 5-10% total off that, but that's really about it.

And as others have said, shops don't make much profit on the bikes themselves, mainly the accessories like bottles, helmets, gloves, etc.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Any bike shop will be a mom/pop operation. They do not get a volume discount.
You should pay the retail price and get service in kind advice to make it worth your while. The ability to come in and ask questions/advice will be well worth the extra $50-100 that you might save. And trying to talk them down can sour a relationship.

Support them and do not worry about nickel/dime.

They operate on a shoe string and employ a couple of local kids to help. Support your home town and do not ship jobs out of the are.

 

[scott916]

If you want to bargain, buy all your accessories there, like helmet, shoes, jersey, lock, etc. They can usually work with you on the higher margin stuff to make a larger sale.

 

[Leymenaide]

Bought Last two family bikes at REI. They have some discounts and membership rebates. If you have a store near by check them out. The quality was right.

 

[Away]

At this time of the year, look at buying last seasons model. Most of the larger stores have stock left over and sell it for pretty good discounts.

 

[SandEagle]

you can get a nice bike for under $200 at walmart. i bought a mongoose for $199

 

[Dirigible]

I've never paid msrp. I don't go in negotiating as hard as I would for a car, but I ask very nicely if they can knock a little $$ off. I also call around looking for better prices.

Last bike I got was not in stock and they had to order it. I asked nicely if they could improve the price a bit. Their response was they'd knock off 10% if I paid in advance instead of waiting until the bike arrived. I trust the shop not to mess up on their end once they had my money, so I said thanks and took the deal.

 

[cyclistca]

If there is a big enough bike market you can usually buy last year’s model at a good discount.

Best time to buy is in the fall especially if you are in a cold weather climate. Shops would rather sell of a bike then keep it in inventory all winter.

The worst time to buy is in the spring. Demand is high. Usually there is no room to negotiate unless the shop still has stock from the previous year.

One way to get a better deal as someone already said is to also pick up accessories. They may be willing to negotiate on them. You might also get them to throw in some extras on the bike itself like water bottles, water bottle cages, cheap cycling computer, etc.

 

[Fausto]

not likely. bike shops make very little profit from selling bikes. they rely on clothing, accessories and service to make money.
your best bet is to try to find a closeout model on sale from last year. good luck!

Yep. I worked in a local shop for a few years and the margins on bikes are really slim. Your better bet is to work a deal on other stuff if/when you buy the bike. Margins on all the accessories are much larger than on the bike so the shop should be willing to hook you up.

 

[JulesMaximus]

not likely. bike shops make very little profit from selling bikes. they rely on clothing, accessories and service to make money.
your best bet is to try to find a closeout model on sale from last year. good luck!

Agreed. Plus when you buy your bike from them they usually give you discounts on everything in the store whenever you come in there anyway.

 

[stinkycheese]

You might check with your local cycling club to see if they have any deals with local bike shops. Members of the club in my town get 10% off everything at one of the bike shops.

 

[TridenT]

I'd just get one off of craigslist... It's much cheaper.

 

[FleshLight]

Depends on the bike, its popularity, and how desperate the shop is. Generally a good time to buy would be after October. That's when race season ends and the LBS's will want to clear out old inventory for the 2013 models that cost $200 more but weigh 50 grams less.

At an LBS for a 2012/2013 bike, $1k will not go very "far". $1k is probably an aluminum frame with Tiagra/105/apex at best.

Personally I'd buy used or online like something like this:
http://www.jensonusa.com/Road-Bikes/Marin-Argenta-Road-Bike-10

I've picked this up for $800 a few years ago:

 

[TridenT]

Depends on the bike, its popularity, and how desperate the shop is. Generally a good time to buy would be after October. That's when race season ends and the LBS's will want to clear out old inventory for the 2013 models that cost $200 more but weigh 50 grams less.

At an LBS for a 2012/2013 bike, $1k will not go very "far". $1k is probably an aluminum frame with Tiagra/105/apex at best.

Personally I'd buy used or online like something like this:
http://www.jensonusa.com/Road-Bikes/Marin-Argenta-Road-Bike-10

I've picked this up for $800 a few years ago:

Was that used? It's a pretty 'intense' bike. I've never heard of that brand though. It might just be that I am not very familiar with all the bike brands out there... There are a lot...

I mean, I have an Iron Horse... most people are like, "wtf lol?" http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/5535/ironhorsey.jpg I've had it for a few years now.

 

[nsafreak]

you can get a nice bike for under $200 at walmart. i bought a mongoose for $199

I'm sure it's a nice bike and it works well for you but the Mongoose that you bought is nothing like the Mongoose that used to be made and only sold in bike shops. I like the Specialized Hard Rock that I purchased a couple years ago and has served me well. As others have stated though I doubt you'll get much in the way of wiggle room on bike prices since they really don't have much of a margin on them. I had a manager once that was seriously into biking and invested a good chunk of cash into a Lightspeed Titanium and he didn't get any wiggle room at all even though it was somewhere north of $10K IIRC.

 

[herm0016]

like all the others have said. and mongoose is junk now.

I really enjoy my trek that i picked up last fall. rode to the bar for dinner and back tonight!

 

[Bignate603]

The only time I got a discount on a bike was when I was a student, a shop offered 10% off for the local college kids for non-sale items.

 

[paulney]

Thanks guys, appreciate all the input.

I am looking at Specialized Rockhopper with 29" wheels:
http://mikesbikes.com/product/12specialized-rockhopper-comp-29er-105444-1.htm

 

[dawp]

you can get a nice bike for under $200 at walmart. i bought a mongoose for $199

pretty nice and walmart does not compute.

 

[paulney]

Update: bought the bike:

Specialized Carve Comp 29er
http://mikesbikes.com/product/12specialized-carve-comp-29er-6465.htm

They did not have my size frame at the local store, so delivery will be on Tuesday when they move it from the warehouse. I test-rode the Carve Pro, which was $1799, and more than I was willing to spend as a first serious bike.

Can't wait!

Now I just have to pick up click-in pedals and shoes - and I'm all set.

 

[Joseph F]

I'm sure it's a nice bike and it works well for you but the Mongoose that you bought is nothing like the Mongoose that used to be made and only sold in bike shops. I like the Specialized Hard Rock that I purchased a couple years ago and has served me well. As others have stated though I doubt you'll get much in the way of wiggle room on bike prices since they really don't have much of a margin on them. I had a manager once that was seriously into biking and invested a good chunk of cash into a Lightspeed Titanium and he didn't get any wiggle room at all even though it was somewhere north of $10K IIRC.

Fucking hell, the bike cost >$10K, and it wasn't even made of carbon fibre?
FFS...