[Closed] Bike shops that offer 0%- is it reasonable to ask for discount if not using it?

I think the fee would be less than £450 or 16%.

The fee depends on the length of time and amount the loan is being offered for, but iirc its between 8 and 15%. It's always worth asking but don't go in saying 'what's your best price, to me?' etc

What option were you going to use? Remember there are often fees for them if you use a CC or PP too.

Ring around. This thread will descend into arguments and counter arguments about bike shop margins and negotiating in Tesco but plenty of shops offer periodic, published discounts that aren't applicable when taking finance and if you don't ask you won't get. Just remember the difference between price and value though - particularly relevant if you buy local and want or expect to interact with that retailer on an on-going basis - if so they might also value your custom and offer incentives but that invariably needs to be earned by you.

It's always reasonable to ask for a discount. The advertised price is an offer, its not legally binding, only the price agreed by the seller and customer is legally binding, so you can always counter offer. They don't need to accept your counter offer, but if you don't ask you don't get. I think if you were to ask for discounts then you'd be surprised at how often you get one.. might not be a lot, but something is better than nothing.

Just phone and ask, you'll quickly get their stance one way or the other (bear in mind that very few shops will also have physical stock that they want rid of)

P.S. dont mention the 0% stuff, thats not really got anything to do with anything

I would suggest that quite often it’s not what you ask for but how you ask for it that decides any offer of discount.
A polite phone call to a senior member of staff and explain that while you are interested in a purchase could they offer any discount for cash to secure the sale.
Even better would be to call in and talk face to face .
But
If it’s an item likely to sell out or be hard to source be prepared for no discount to be available at all.
Oh, and even less chance of a discount if you are offering to pay on plastic,

In the past I've been told they couldn't offer a discount if i wanted to use 0% finance, and the shop sugested i took out a 0% credit card and then they could give me a discount, so I imagine using 0% does have a bearing in many cases

It’s always reasonable to ask for a discount. The advertised price is an offer, its not legally binding, only the price agreed by the seller and customer is legally binding, so you can always counter offer. They don’t need to accept your counter offer, but if you don’t ask you don’t get. I think if you were to ask for discounts then you’d be surprised at how often you get one.. might not be a lot, but something is better than nothing.

This kind of attitude really gets my goat. Yes if something is full RRP and you're a regular customer to your LBS, heck your might even be on first name terms with staff, then its alright to tentatively ask the question, but for **** sake if somethings already 50%+ off don't be a dick and ask for more discount. People just strolling in and asking for money off is one way surefire way to piss off a sales assistant. Even better, don't do it when the sales guy has spent an hour with you talking you through the options if required and helped inform your decision, only to ask for discount for the sake of a couple of quid. Just pay the labelled price, thank them for their time and don't be a cock.

I say it depends on year of frame/bike and if it is stock in you size.

If it is a 2019 frame/bike be very unlikely to get 15% off (they might offer you some sort of deal)
If it is 2018 frame/bike that they had for a while then they prob be very open to have a chat.

Was about to say I was amazed that nobody was outraged yet...

Bingo.

Budgets are made to be broken.

By all means ask but don't expect that much off.

don’t go in saying ‘what’s your best price

And that!

PS. Do you really want an Evil? Really? Plenty of better ways to spend that kind of dosh IMO.

The advertised price is an offer, its not legally binding, only the price agreed by the seller and customer is legally binding

Anyone else reading this in Alan Partridge's voice? Cashback!

Took 29 minutes, standards are slipping.

Seriously, the answer to "can you give me a discount" can be as simple as "no (for x reason)"..."possibly, what price is it elsewhere?", no one HAS to be offended.

I think it also depends what else you're going to buy from them.
My mate has just been and ordered a frame, forks and a few other bits from his LBS and managed to get a decent discount on it all.
He's also getting them to invisiframe it and install the headset.

most bike shops will offer a discount to staff memebers so it isn't unreasonable to ask for one. When I bought Samuel's riprock I asked for a discount and got 10% off.

I recently walked into a shop and out with a bike in under an hour!

I just asked them what the cheapest they could offer it for, They obliged and i got it. If theres umming and arring then im not buying from them.

The shop said i could get 0% and no deal on price or a substantial discount and get it on traditional finance. this worked out at many many times cheaper than getting it on 0%

Forgetting completely about the finance angle, just ask nicely in a way that makes it clear you have no sense of entitlement, and with no agro.

I phoned a shop about a Giant Anthem that was already 900 quid off and politely asked if there was anything in the offing.
I was gobsmacked when he said " yes sure, just use the xmas10 code that we are planning on rolling out next week"

Profuse thanks, order placed.

If you don't ask you don't get. As above, the way you ask is important.

Anyway, let the outraged be outraged 🙂

You can ask, yet if they do, then they could breach the Consumer Credit Act as the 0% is no longer 0% is it. Say the bike is £4k at 0%, and a cash buyer can have it for £3,600. So the cost of credit is really £400, not 0%. I think the shop would rather keep their credit licence than routinely engage in discounting against 0% offers.

on a bike that we've had in stock a while, maybe last years model there's always possible discounts to loyal customers. on a current model to a new customer who googles prices on their phone in front of you maybe less so

most bike shops will offer a discount to staff memebers so it isn’t unreasonable to ask for one.

Why should a customer be entitled to the same perks as the staff ?

Just ask the question if they can do anything, not sure why you have to start a thread for this its a simple question. Lawman91 what is that all about so you have to be a regular customer to ask for discount.

Personally I hate all the price matching bike retailers do, I am not aware of any business that operates this way and yes I price match most things.

Lawman91 what is that all about so you have to be a regular customer to ask for discount.

No, but a good, regular customer might get a better answer.

chakaping

Subscriber
Budgets are made to be broken.

By all means ask but don’t expect that much off.

don’t go in saying ‘what’s your best price

And that!

PS. Do you really want an Evil? Really? Plenty of better ways to spend that kind of dosh IMO

I'm all ears for an alternative?

Similair geometry, work around about a 150mm 29er Lyric. Boost, threaded BB. Low standover for length. Carbon £2.4k budget MAX, that's stretching my actual £2k budget.

Not aluminium unless it's VERY light.

You can ask, yet if they do, then they could breach the Consumer Credit Act as the 0% is no longer 0% is it. Say the bike is £4k at 0%, and a cash buyer can have it for £3,600. So the cost of credit is really £400, not 0%. I think the shop would rather keep their credit licence than routinely engage in discounting against 0% offers.

Is a pertinent point. We pay about 11.5% I think all told on a 0% finance deal. 1.5% card fees so the net cost to us is about 10% - which id more than happily give to the customer rather than the finance house.

However, I can’t word it like that or offer the option as it’s a big no no to offer a different price for a cash purchase to 0% finance and risks breaking the FCA rules for the reasons outlined above.

So just ask them for the best price.

Not aluminium unless it’s VERY light.

Don't know about the offering but my following isn't [that] light to the extent an alu frame couldn't easily be found to similar numbers.

It is great fun to ride though.

As regards the original point. Nothing wrong with asking but don't expect and don't be offended if the answer is no.

I've been offered 10% off if paying in full by debit card instead of finance or cycle to work vouchers as that is what it will cost the bike shop anyways if I took either of them up.

Don’t know about the offering but my following isn’t [that] light to the extent an alu frame couldn’t easily be found to similar numbers.

There are a weights out there minus the shock. Large frame with shock (DPX2) was ~3.3kg

It's not light. Going to be a heavy 'trail' bike with that as a starting point.

Weight aside, the numbers look good on it, could almost be the one bike solution. No idea what they ride like though. I still have sour grapes about my old Revolt so might not be best to have an opinion 🙂

Alternatives? Personal choice innit, but I'd consider sacrificing the threaded BB, flogging your parts and getting the new Jeffsy.

Or if you're set on frame only, demo the Orange Stage 5 (and 6) - I bet they will not be heavier.

sacrificing the threaded BB,

This is good point, on a carbon frame why not a PF BB. I wouldn't touch pf on a metal frame where there is very little reason not to thread but on carbon PF does make sense (at least in theory).

Agreed, the latter smaller diameter (PF92 I think they are) have been a total non issue for me. My old Reign (albeit 2 different frames) and Fuels have had a BB in this format & they have been just as good as a good old fashioned screw in BB.

When you do get round to changing them, they are even quicker to do too 🙂