Hints on getting discount from LBS?

[Davidc]

Been looking for 6 months for a tourer on the 2nd hand market.

Trouble is that decent ones, whether on ebay, local paper, or anywhere I've looked, are, by my reckoning, too much for 2nd hand.

I could buy new. At the level I'm looking there's the Dawes Horizon, but no-one, online or otherwise, seems to discount them, and they seem very expensive (2009 list) for what they are.

The Ridgeback Voyage is very similar, better specified, and cheaper. it's also available online with £50 off from a number of places, and £110 off from one.

With a new bike I'd rather get it from an LBS, but in the past I've been totally unsucessful at getting them to cut prices. If one of them would knock the £50 off I'd buy from them.

Any tips from you lovely people on how to get them to play? (Surely it's in their interests to make me happy!)

Might still find one 2nd hand ..............

 

[HelenD123]

Have to tried just asking for £50 off rather than an open-ended 'what's your best price' type approach? I don't think LBSs make much money on the bikes so they are often more willing to throw in some accessories to sweeten the deal.

 

[Davidc]

Wot Helen says. And will you get a free service from the online shop? That's one of the things that I would ask for from an LBS.

The shop I got the Ridgeback mtb from (great little round town bike with slicks on) included lifetime free servicing with it. They don't normally do the Ridgeback tourers, but I have thought of asking if they'd like to get one and give me the same deal.

If they would then it would be worth £50 (or even £100) partly because STI shifters go out of adjustment so often and they drive me nuts getting them right again.

 

[simon_brooke]

With a new bike I'd rather get it from an LBS, but in the past I've been totally unsucessful at getting them to cut prices. If one of them would knock the £50 off I'd buy from them.

Join your local cycling club? Many shops give discounts to their local clubs.

 

[Will1985]

If they would then it would be worth £50 (or even £100) partly because STI shifters go out of adjustment so often and they drive me nuts getting them right again.

Try a different shifting system if you aren't happy.

 

[Davidc]

Try a different shifting system if you aren't happy.

I've never had STI - I'm not sure what the system on the mtb is called with in effect the rapid fire type shifters on the same mounting as the brake levers, but it's been adjusted for me (see above!)

The STI I used to adjust belonged to one of my children. To be fair it was one of the first to appear and they've certainly been improved on.

I did ride a bike for a few weeks in The Netherlands with them, and liked the system. Having front and back brakes the other way round took longer to adjust to, but that's another (painful) story!

 

[jnb]

Not tried with bike shops but for other things I tend to use non chain local stores where possible and I do not ask for a discount, but I will ask for extras to be added into the package.

 

[yorkshiregoth]

Spend loads of money and often.

 

[ianrauk]

yep, that's what I got off my Spesh Roubaix. Also 2 spesh bottle cages and a small saddle bag.. don't ask, ya don't get.. Does no harm to ask.

Just ask for 10%. They've never said no when I've done it.

 

[Llama]

yeah just ask for the 10% or ask for extras thrown in, focuses the LBS mind if you take cash with you!

 

[Davidc]

Thanks all.

In the past I've tried the "give me your best price" line. On your experience I'll give the 10% line a try.

I'd be happy doing business with 3 of the 4 LBS in Taunton. If I do go for the Ridgeback there should be 2 I can try, if I try it on with the Dawes a different 2.

Or they could throw in a front wheel with a dynamo hub .......

 

[ASC1951]

Put yourself in their shoes - what would persuade you to drop the price on something you sold for a living? To me, it would be "This is my budget [£50 less]. If you can sell it me for that, I'll buy it now. I'm local so I'll be using you for accessories and spares as well."

What does piss an LBS off are people who come in and haggle over stuff they have to try before buying, then get everything else from Wiggle. LBS staff can spot them.

I use my LBS for everything unless they haven't got it in stock and can't get it in a reasonable time, so they always give me 10% off without me ever asking.

 

[Davidc]

Put yourself in their shoes - what would persuade you to drop the price on something you sold for a living? To me, it would be "This is my budget [£50 less]. If you can sell it me for that, I'll buy it now. I'm local so I'll be using you for accessories and spares as well."

What does piss an LBS off are people who come in and haggle over stuff they have to try before buying, then get everything else from Wiggle. LBS staff can spot them.

I use my LBS for everything unless they haven't got it in stock and can't get it in a reasonable time, so they always give me 10% off without me ever asking.

Agree with what you're saying.

I haven't started this time, but the last couple of times when I've been buying bikes for family I've been told, at LBSs where I do buy stuff, that they won't give any discount. (That's why I asked the question!)

Still not completely sure I'll buy a brand new bike this time, but if I do I'll try putting some of these suggestions into practice.

 

[yashicamat]

I think it's no different than to buying a car. I haggled a decent deal on a new tourer recently and it was just the case of saying "well could you throw that Brooks in for previous price+£10?". If they say no, then say "well how about, the Brooks and a £15 saddle bag for previous price+£25". Sounds slightly cryptic as you're not actually offering any more for the saddle, but without knowing what their profit margins are on different items, I found that I managed the best deal by mixing up the extras.