Thread: Negotiating bike prices

Finally, I am in the market to get a new bike. I have been looking at a lot of different options and have decided on FS 29er. I am willing to purchased used if I can find the right bike but am also really considering going brand new.

Is there much room to negotiate sales floor sticker prices? Say the bike is listed for $5200. Is it reasonable to walk in the shop and ask for 10% off and be ready to pay cash? I am not sure what the margins are on bikes but in the ski industry there is definitely some room for negotiation.

Thoughts?

I did it last year paying for a current model year bike. I think I worked it out that I would pay cash for the listed price and no sales tax (6.25% in MA), and they threw in a chain guide, ring, and install with the purchase.

depends on the shop, depends on the salesperson, and depends on the bike.

Originally Posted by GoldenBear

Say the bike is listed for $5200. Is it reasonable to walk in the shop and ask for 10% off and be ready to pay cash?

toast has it right, and does not hurt to ask... but i wouldn't plan on it. at all. especially since 29'er FS are "the hot shit" right now for most folks, and margins are high end bikes are super thing since 10% off ~ 1/3 of the shops profit, in round numbers, give or take.

Originally Posted by GoldenBear

Finally, I am in the market to get a new bike. I have been looking at a lot of different options and have decided on FS 29er. I am willing to purchased used if I can find the right bike but am also really considering going brand new.

Is there much room to negotiate sales floor sticker prices? Say the bike is listed for $5200. Is it reasonable to walk in the shop and ask for 10% off and be ready to pay cash? I am not sure what the margins are on bikes but in the ski industry there is definitely some room for negotiation.

Thoughts?

I think this depends on the shop, sales person, day of the week.... etc. I just picked up a new bike the other day. We did all our negotiating over the phone (it was 300 miles away.) For my deal, it was a custom build, and we haggled on parts, he tracked down some stuff, I tracked down some stuff. I paid cash, which I could tell definitely made a difference, but at the end of the day I think it really depends on too many factors to say one way, or the other. At the end of the day, I feel like I got a good deal and will certainly use the shop again.

STOKE!

I am kind of in the same situation. What about a 2011 model that has been marked down a little already it is close to my price point but not quite there. Are they more likely to come down to bring in new models or less likely since they marked it down already. Sorry for any hijacking

Originally Posted by YourMomJustCalled

I think this depends on the shop, sales person, day of the week.... etc. I just picked up a new bike the other day. We did all our negotiating over the phone (it was 300 miles away.) For my deal, it was a custom build, and we haggled on parts, he tracked down some stuff, I tracked down some stuff. I paid cash, which I could tell definitely made a difference, but at the end of the day I think it really depends on too many factors to say one way, or the other. At the end of the day, I feel like I got a good deal and will certainly use the shop again.

STOKE!

Need moar pics of new ride!

Also, full suspension 29ers: SO HOT RIGHT NOW!!!!11

Time of year seems it would be the biggest factor or maybe weather too. A wet spring crushing sales could make a shop keener to move some stuff. August should be wheel and deal time. But as mentioned you're looking at the hottest stuff and lots of shops up here have been slow buying in to the 29er deal. Not sure you'll have much working in your favour.

Every Hot 29 bike I sell right is out of stock until june or so in small numbers. Doing really well. Shops that bought in big and committed to product may have a good supply, but don't expect too big a discount.

Shops that sell 2cd-tier bike designs that bought in big will be looking to move product when the bigger players show new model info in July.