|   LBS Won't Deal On Price Of Enduro. | Horse
Apr 2, 2002 9:22 PM | | I tried to get the LBS to take an offer of $1,500.00 for a Specialized Enduro the other day. The salesman told me that they were already at the lowest price that Specialized would allow them to go at $1,650.00. Does Specialized really set their prices this firmly or is the salesman just jacking me. I have read of MSRP at $1680.00 but I have found with other brands that you can usually get into a bike for considerably below MSRP. For example, my 13 year old boy got a
17" Kona Stinky for $999.00 last fall. The bike had an MSRP of over $1,500.00. Before he bought it, he was also looking at a Marin Alpine Ridge for $849.00. That bikes MSRP was around $1,300.00. I got my 11 year old a GT Rebound several years ago at $450.00 with a MSRP of around $580.00. Is Specialized really this rigid on their pricing, is the bike shop jacking me, or are my expectations of a deal unreasonable? |
| re: LBS Won't Deal On Price Of Enduro. | Yeti_Rider
Apr 2, 2002 9:33 PM | | It all depends. Most shops won't deal too much on a new (as in current model year early in the year) bike because they don't need to disciount it in order to sell it. Don't forget, they're in business to make money too so they have to get back enough profit on it to stay in business too. Although it's illegal for a company to say that you cannot sell it for less than X dollars, they can usually stipulate that it at least can't be advertised for less than X but if somebody offers or if the shop offers it at lower then it's simply money out of their own pocket anyway.
Usually shops don't start dealing on the prices until the new models are coming out and they're trying to get rid of the old stock to get the new stuff in. The shop knows what they paid, and the know what their overhead is so if they don't think they're making enough margin on your offer they'll turn you down. That's just business. It's your perogative to buy or not to buy. Instead of taking the discount off the frame, ask if they'll give you a discount on accessories at time of purchase such as a discount off of some clothing and hydration pack or something. it may not equal the same discount your seeking, but clothing has the highest mark up of anything int eh shop so they might be willing to take a little lower margin on the clothing rather than on the entire bike.
Michael |
| re: LBS Won't Deal On Price Of Enduro. | Dave Willison
Apr 2, 2002 9:36 PM | | The margin on bikes tends to be small so shops can't make money if they discount it much. Also consider the time of year that you are buying the bike. Right now in most areas is the prome time for bike sales. Late summer through winter are generally the best times to buy because the shop is trying to create room for the next years models. Also consider the salesperson if the person is new or low on the salesperson chain then maybe they aren't permitted to deal. Overall for the bike the price they are at seems fair. |
| TRY WHEELWORLD.COM... | Mountain Cycle Shawn
Apr 2, 2002 10:21 PM | | They have an Enduro FSR, $1499. Also take a look at www.cambriabike.com
www.pricepoint.com
www.supergo.com
www.jensonusa.com
www.aardvarkcycles.com
These are all good places to buy from! |
| must be an in store purchase tho.... | kaddylowrider
Apr 2, 2002 10:54 PM | | Specialized stipulates that their bikes not be sold via mail order and usually must be bought in store only.
alaskan assasin |
| re: LBS Won't Deal On Price Of Enduro. | CW
Apr 2, 2002 10:36 PM | | These guys are having 20% off all Specialized bikes right now. They're in the SF Bay Area. Not sure if they do mailorder.
http://www.tricitysportinggoods.com/ |
| You're trying to buy in spring, when stores don't need to... | DeeEight
Apr 2, 2002 11:07 PM | | bargain on price at all. If you don't pay the price, someone else will. Your son bought at end of season. There's a difference. |
| what do you do for a living, and will you always offer 30%off? | HMMMM...
Apr 2, 2002 11:24 PM | | Yes, you are out of line, in the fall, prices fall (on bikes) in the spring, they spring! Law of supply and demand! but seriously, what do you do for a living, and do you deeply discount when you can't begin to keep up the workload? What do you say when someone asks for a discount in your line of work, when the benefit only goes one way, against you? The Enduros are nice bikes, with no need to discount early.. (you do want your local shop and specialized to stay in business, don't you?) I don't mean to come off harsh, but the industry is in peril financially, and endorsing the wal-mart mentality will surely result in the closing of the core shops that I am sure that we all enjoy. If you demand a deal now, I GUARANTEE that small courtesy dicounts on tires, tubes, labor, etc, will disappear for you, and you will ultimately end up paying the same for the bike in the long run. PS, I don't sell Specialized, but I understand what we are all going through...Bikes Rule! (donning rant proof suit...) |
| I am doing my part to keep the bike industry alive. | Horse
Apr 3, 2002 4:50 AM | | I am a highschool history teacher and coach in Utah so your economics lesson doesn't compute in my world. I have a masters degree in exercise physiology and still have to run a part time business and work a midnight to 5am shift as a grocery store checker to make ends meet. I have five kids and right now I have eight bikes in the basement, all of which have been bought at an LBS rather than Wal-Mart etc. I believe I am doing more than my part to keep the bike industry alive. In the past five years I have bought a Giant, a Redline, a Haro, two Gt', two Gary Fishers, and a Kona. I have even bought my small childrens style bike and BMX bikes from a LBS. Right now, my four oldest children, ages 13, 11, 8, and 6 are all nuts about bikes. This shop knows me and that my purchases are usually multiplied X 5. I fully understand the spring vs. winter thing but I need an XL so availability becomes an issue. I was hoping for a little bit of consideration from the LBS as a frequent spender but maybe I will just have to bite the bullit(pun intended) and drop the $1,650.00. |
| You are of little help... | shiggy©®
Apr 3, 2002 7:51 PM | | ...when dealers barely break even on bikes a MSRP.
35% is a common margin on bikes and out of that the dealer still needs to pay for shipping, assembly, follow up service plus normal business overhead.
A shop makes their money on parts, accessories and repairs.
No the mention that the Enduro is a hot model that sells without a discount. |
| The industry is in peril because... | Mountain Cycle Shawn
Apr 3, 2002 10:52 AM | | people are not willing to pay outrageous LBS prices and it will stay in peril until someone comes along and opens a nation wide franchise of bike shops, enabling them to buy in huge quantities which will allow them to offer prices competitive with the internet mail order companies.
And as far as you asking what we do for a living and if we are willing to give customers a certain percentage off, all I have to say to that is, if I am selling something at a certain price I don't expect people to buy from me if they can get the same thing somewhere else at a much cheaper price. |
| Man, are you angry ! | Frone
Apr 3, 2002 8:35 PM | | Shawn,
What happened at the LBS to get you so ticked at them? You rant about the "outrageously" expensive shops. Do you have ANY idea about the costs of doing business? And bike shops in particular? Obviously not!
As far as the "national chain" of shops go, which in the past have tried to compete on price as thier #1 draw, they have either gone belly up or dwindled away. Bikes USA left some big companies holding the bag. Metropolis in the east had the same thing happen. (Go ask those consumers who got the "great deals" and lifetime service plans how they feel about the "deal".)Bike Line went from over 50 stores a few years ago, to about a dozen now, mostly company owned.
MO can compete since they have little to no overhead, small staffs, and do little to nothing to support local markets. If you are looking for price only, and do your own work, they would be great for you. But fact is shops offer a larger selection,higher level of service, community based programs,...the list goes on. They are serving a larger section of the market, and quite frankly, those are the people they want...not the discounter/whining/gimme a deal consumer.
By the way, you have not answered the question...what do you do for a living? What do you base your wages/prices on? And do you discount those prices for your services? Simple question...are you willing to answer it? |
| MY LBS $1529.99 FOR 2002 ENDURO FSR candy blue | PK RIPPER
Apr 2, 2002 11:58 PM | | $1529.00 before taxes. It's in So Cal and I won't say where bacause I don't want other bike shops bitching. |
| re: LBS Won't Deal On Price Of Enduro. | specialized
Apr 3, 2002 3:29 AM | | Check with other dealers in your area. It's the shops right to deal or not deal. The part about them "not being allowed" is bullcrap. I'm amazed at shops that try to claim they just aren't making any money. |
| The enduros are selling really well, so there really is no | arch
Apr 3, 2002 5:14 AM | | reason for the LBS to give you a deal. As far as I know, that is BS with regard to what the dealer told you. They can sell the bikes for whatever they want about their invoice price and below the MSRP.
-arch |
| I got a discount on an Enduro Expert... | mummer43
Apr 3, 2002 6:46 AM | | I just called around to a bunch of different shops to get the lowest price. The guy at the shop I ended up ordering it from said "what do I have to do to sell you a bike?" I ended up getting it for $2100 with a 20% discount on any accessories I buy. the MSRP on the Expert is $2380... not a bad deal! |
| So the answer is, they can deal if they want to. | Horse
Apr 3, 2002 7:42 AM | | All of the economic lesson aside, the basic answer to my question seems to be that the LBS is perfectly capable of selling me the bike for $1,500.00 if they want to and the line about Specialized fixing prices is BS. That is mainly what I wanted to know. I don't expect an unreasonable deal, and I'm not trying to put shops out of business but I do alot of business and plan to do alot more in the future. Nearly all of my childrens birthday, Christmas, Easter, etc. presents are bike related items such as protective gear, videos (four this year),books etc. I don't expect the shop to lose money on me, I just want the best deal they can swing me. |
| That's exactly right , and ... | Philber
Apr 3, 2002 9:55 AM | | The thing that would piss me off the most is that you were lied to. Sure, they can dicker on price, or not, at their option. But when they try to negotiate by lying, that to me is an entirely different matter. They were doing that because they figured that you couldn't possibly find out that they were lying and, therefore, there's no downside to them.
My advice: go back, ask to talk to the manager, tell him that you were lied to by the salesperson, tell him that you don't mind them being firm about the price but that the least they could do for a good loyal customer is to be honest. Tell him that one of the reasons you have dealt with him in the past is that they have a reputation for honesty, integrity, etc. (i.e. butter him up a bit). Then tell him that, as a loyal customer, you feel you should give him a chance to rectify this wrong before you and your five kids buy their bikes and supplies elsewhere. Now ask him what the price for the enduro is. I'll bet his pencil just got a whole lot sharper! |
| I got a discount on an Enduro Expert... | specialized
Apr 3, 2002 8:34 AM | | My local shop list the bike for $2199.99 (the low advertised retail). |
| Which shop is it? | greg1
Apr 3, 2002 7:33 AM | | I too live in beautiful Utah and as with all cities there are good shops who work with you and those whom don't. Anyway which shop or shops are you dealing with?
greg |
| Which shop is it? | Horse
Apr 3, 2002 7:48 AM | | The shop I was at was the Ogden Bingham. They also stuck me for $37.00 for two replacement derailer hangers for my kids GT Rebound. Not sure, but I think they reamed me on that one. I haven't had a chance to dicker with the Sunset or Layton Binghams. I know at least one of the stores in Salt Lake carries Specialized. Do you know who and if they are good to deal with? Thanks for any info.
Horse |
| Here you go | Russ
Apr 3, 2002 8:47 AM | | Move on over to Bountiful Bicycle....they will treat you right. I am a previous employee of this shop, and may be somewhat biased, but they will treat you right. |
| Here you go | Horse
Apr 3, 2002 9:28 AM | | Thanks. For some reason I completely forgot about them, and I am in their shop all the time. I work in Bountiful so I am going to visit them today on my lunch. |
| Here you go | Russ
Apr 3, 2002 10:02 AM | | Talk to Brady and tell him that Russ sent you in.... |
| welcome to capitalism and market demands. nm | TC
Apr 3, 2002 7:53 AM | | |
| hey at least the didn't | anony
Apr 3, 2002 8:27 AM | | quote MSRP+10% like my friggin' LBS does- bahstids |
| so try another Special Ed dealer... besides... | gonzostrike
Apr 3, 2002 9:25 AM | | the Enduros are selling really well, and you have to remember that bike shops make very little on bikes - most of their profit comes from accessories and service.
why would you want to take money out of your LBS's pocket? |
| so try another Special Ed dealer... besides... | specialized
Apr 3, 2002 9:47 AM | | Why take money out of your local car dealer's pocket? It's the same argument. Except the LBS has a higher profit margin than the car dealer. How many of us pay, or expect to pay full sticker price for a new car? |
| duh! autos are the only consumer item left where you can... | gonzostrike
Apr 3, 2002 11:46 AM | | "horse trade" because they auto dealer's profit margin is astronomical at list price.
I can't believe you are dumb enough to compare an auto dealer to an LBS. |
| duh! autos are the only consumer item left where you can... | The Weasel
Apr 3, 2002 1:31 PM | | not that dumb if you consider that both auto and bike prices are usually higher in the spring. reason being is that that's exactly when most people buy them. |
| If you want to call people dumb.. | specialized
Apr 3, 2002 3:55 PM | | You must be stupid. Bikes have a profit margin of 30% to 50%, dending upon the brand and model. NO new auto has that much profit margin. |
| re: LBS Won't Deal On Price Of Enduro. | ToddM
Apr 3, 2002 10:00 AM | | Well since you already know the sales guy lied to you telling you that specialized does not allow them to sell bike under X price. That alone would be enough to make me shop somewhere else reguardless of price. If the guy lies to you about that, what next?
As to the markup of bikes, yeah shops can make more markup on clothing and accessories (pretty much 100%, sometimes more). However a lot of shops try to tell customers they are only making a couple hundred dollars over their cost on a $2500 bike which is total BS.
I've seen the invoices for bikes, and while the price you see on the floor is not double what the shop pays for that bike, it's not nearly as far from it as the shop would have you believe. |
| re: LBS Won't Deal On Price Of Enduro. | Nug
Apr 3, 2002 9:00 PM | | Not to drag this out too far, but you're all bent out of shape about a salesman giving you a line, and you're telling us you work more jobs than there are hours in a day. So your 13 year old can ride a $1000 bike?! Sounds rough... |
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