[Closed] Haggling when buying a bike

I haggle over everything. Dont see why people wouldnt.

The accepted tradition is:

take a big cake in with you, dress in nothing but a bin bag and lock the door as you enter the shop, throw £800.00 in your own face then go down onto one knee holding out the cake to everyone in the bike shop.

😀 lol

I'm rubbish at haggling. I can bake a mean apple cake though, must stop off on the way home and get some bin bags.

That is why I only buy second hand...

Never really haggled for a bike but have for lots of other things, but an offer of cash payment should get a few % deduction straight off as they wouldn't have to pay credit card fees.

Most websites over free stuff, generally 10% to spend on accessories.

I got 10% off a £1175 road bike in Evans. I asked him if he'd do it for a grand (because they didn't have the £999 model I wanted in my size). He reckoned the manager probably would have done it if they hadn't already met their sales targets for the week.
It never hurts to ask!

[i]Never hurts to ask[/i]
^^

Haggling is fine - it's not 'expected', but it's just negotiation - you're not try to shaft the shop, just trying to get more for yer money, anyone should respect that, however you have to know how far you're prepared to go, what you're willing to accept (discount or extra parts) so if you're made an offer you know if you want to take it or not. It's unlikely anything you're offered will be offered twice if you can't make your mind up on the spot!

And yep, cash [i]is[/i] king - if you pay by card the shop gets charged for processing by the bank. In my experience it can be pretty convincing if you go in with the readies in a nice fat roll to wave in their face 🙂

Funnily enough when I worked in a bike shop, I was amazed that every fourth person seemed to ask for a discount - all sorts of folk. The bike trade seems to attract the haggler! So, yeah, get stuck in and let us know how you get on.

10% on accessories sounds high, anyone managed that before? Took all my courage to ask for a free bottle holder with mine, wish I'd held out for a decent bike computer instead.

I haggle over everything. Dont see why people wouldnt.

you haggle at the petrol station?

I've done it a couple of times - rarely get what I want, usually get something worthwhile. With bikes, most shops will either knock of 10% or offer 10% of the value in accessories.

I once really wanted to buy a bike from my LBS who were always very helpful with repairs and small bits I'd bought. A mate of mine up north had done a deal with his LBS who could give me 20%. I asked my LBS if they could match it or make it worthwhile for me to do the deal with them, and they admitted they couldn't knock that much off and I should get the bike from up north. But they knew me well enough by then to know I'd break something fairly quickly and they'd be picking up business that way!

20% 😯

mark up in the trade used to average 30-35% - you got a deal there!

I think you'll find banks charge businesses to take cash too, so it's not the 'saving' over cards many people think it is.
Esp. if you compare to paying by electron debit card 😉

Depends how you do it, there's no harm in asking but if people start taking the piss the usual response is simply to f*** them off.

We had some bloke in once buying a bike for his kid, it was only about £150 and straight away he said "well obviously you'll be doing it for £120", we said no. He started haggling and asking for percentages and it came down to him asking for 2% off! WTF?! That's the price of a coffee on the high street!
It was just his manner, had he actually been a bit more polite we'd probably have sorted him out with something. And he still bought the bike anyway...

Paying cash is no help in asking for money off - someone needs to count it all up and take it down to the bank which will charge for the privilege of banking it so it's much easier (and cheaper) for the shop if you pay by debit card.

cr: good point!

c-l: that reminds me of the just riding along types that would bring in a two year old bike that looked like it's been ridden off the top of a bus [i]'oh yeah, it happened as I was jra'[/i], we told them to eff off as the that's exactly what would have happened if we'd tried to warranty the machine. I really do think that lbs's get the poopy end of the stick at times, glad it's not how I make a living.

I think you'll find banks charge businesses to take cash too, so it's not the 'saving' over cards many people think it is.

Spot on! "How much for cash" just makes me think you're a pikey and I won't give a discount on principal, I don't care if you don't buy the bike! Debit card is the cheapest, as it's a flat fee, as opposed to percentage for banking cash or on credit cards.

We'd much rather throw bits in than a straight discount, costs us less, but in some circumstances would do a discount on the bike, personally I never do it 'just because', you've gotta earn that discount!

got 15% when i bought a mountain and road bike from MTS in Durham back in 2003 - very happy and they offered that when i would have taken their hand off for 10%!
Anyone from The Bike Chain in Ed reading...because I'm ready for a new bike...

When I worked in retail it was the manner of folk haggling that made me say no.

When I worked in retail it was the manner of folk haggling that made me say no.

That's what I mean, totally agree! People seem to think they're entitled to a discount, and often seem surprised if you refuse it. Nowt more satisfying than calling someones bluff, they either end up paying full price, or coming back to find the bike's sold, particularly at this time of year when stuff's discounted anyway!

they either end up paying full price, or coming back to find the bike's sold,

..........or buying elsewhere 🙄

EDIT: .......or not buying at all v v v

Mmm will have to ask I guess just to see. I have to say I found the staff in both shops a bit apathetic. I thought they might have been more eager of a sale on a Monday morning.

Have got slight doubt in my mind on the choice of bike now so will keep my readies in my pocket just now.

Do some research on what prices you can get the bike elsewhere use it as a bench mark on what to pay - money off bike or accessories, helmet, bike lock etc

Also suggest that you will be back for servicing etc

If you don't ask you won't get

I'm a mug....clearly. I tend to just pay people what I think it's worth. 🙄

Fatmax... come talk to me. In everyday but Monday and Sunday.

My LBS gives you £15 voucher for every £100 you spend, which sounds generous. I think this neatly side-steps the haggling issue, for large purchases at least.

On the other hand, the shop I'm currently getting a build from is quite candid that they can match prices within reason, but they simply don't have the same buying power as the large shops. I respect that.

Pray tell, how is the best way to open a dialogue on getting a discount?

I normally start with, if I pay cash what sort of discount can you do for me?

Didn't realise offering cash appeared to be 'pikey' I just thought it saved some money for the shop (has worked fine when buying electrical goods and cars in the past...like I said not done with a bike as I get then second hand / C2W)

when i spent 1700 on a bike from leisure lakes they threw me in some new pedals i couldn't argue with that one 🙂

I always haggle when I buy car tyres and I always get a discount, on a pair of £200ish tyres I generally get £30 - £50 off.

Never tried it on bike stuff though, then again I haven't bought an entire bike from a shop for years.

Pray tell, how is the best way to open a dialogue on getting a discount?

Something like ............

"I've decided that this is the bike I want & I'm buying one today, what's the best price you can do it for?"

Pray tell, how is the best way to open a dialogue on getting a discount?

"the lord has sent me to do his work, I choose THIS steed to be my carriage, this will become the vehicle for the ultimate truth, would you knock £150 off the RRP?"

Pray tell, how is the best way to open a dialogue on getting a discount?

"Do you like biscuits?"

"I've decided that this is the bike I want & I'm buying one today, what's the best price you can do it for?"

no,no,no,no,no!

Go back to Yorkshire school.

You get them to commit first, then you haggle.

You could always fashion your own discount voucher, complete with clip art. I reckon if you made it out to be 10%, they'd knock it off for the sheer hilarity of it. 😐

I hate people who just come in and ask "what's the lowest price you'll do it for". That's just rude and not trying. They never get the best deals.

Bear in mind that if the profit margin is 30%, asking for 10% off is asking the retailer to lose 33% of their profit on the deal.

Fatmax... come talk to me. In everyday but Monday and Sunday.

Umm.. were you talking to me? Fatmax.. wtf! 😀

Look up the page maxray, you'll see Fatmax 😉

ah 😀

I hate people who just come in and ask "what's the lowest price you'll do it for". That's just rude and not trying. They never get the best deals.

It's hardly rude, more likely they don't like haggling so hope you'll just tell them a slightly lower price and they'll probably accept that price without wanting to haggle further (unless they have Internet prices to work with)

I hate people who just come in and ask "what's the lowest price you'll do it for". That's just rude and not trying. They never get the best deals.

What do you want? - a formal introduction? or a bit of foreplay maybe? 🙄

Keep it simple.
What would be your best price today, let them open.
Any bits you need - shoes etc

LBS gives 15% off if you've bought a bike there. He's a good mate so I'm happy to pay what he asks.

"It's really nice, I'd love to buy it but it's right at the top of my budget and I've got to get a new helmet out of that too, the misses would kill me! If you could do it for £xxxx I'll take it?"

Bear in mind that if the profit margin is 30%, asking for 10% off is asking the retailer to lose 33% of their profit on the deal.

Dealing in % is risky and can lead to dodgy assumptions. What is actually happening is if you ask for 10% off a 1K bike you are asking the the seller if he is happy making £200 not £300. Whether he is happy to do that will depend on many things.

-If he says no will you still buy at full price
-If he sells to you for £200 will that prevent him selling to someone else for £300 as the stock is gone
- Will he set a precedent and will have to sell all bikes at 20% not 30% margin.

If the answer to all 3 is no then there is no reason at all for the seller not to agree to the deal

So view it like you are asking the seller if he wants to make £200 or nothing today and you may feel better at asking for a discount.

Last bike I bought (Diamondback Mojito) was ticketed at £369 and I paid £245....my advice, buy something that the shop is keen to shift!!

uplink - Member

I hate people who just come in and ask "what's the lowest price you'll do it for". That's just rude and not trying. They never get the best deals.

What do you want? - a formal introduction? or a bit of foreplay maybe?

If when you arrived at work every morning your boss took you aside and asked you "what's the lowest you'll work for today" how enthusiastic would you be in your job and how much respect would you have for him?

Profit margins are set to allow retailers to make an honest living not to rip people off or get rich quick. Specialist retail such as cycles, cars or any area where there may be ongoing maintenance or upgrades is all about developing a relationship with the customer.

If you took the time to stop and fix a mechanical for a fellow rider and he left without bothering to thank you would you stop for him a second time?

andrewh - Member
"It's really nice, I'd love to buy it but it's right at the top of my budget and I've got to get a new helmet out of that too, the misses would kill me! If you could do it for £xxxx I'll take it?"

That's the kind of attitude that would probably sway me.

If when you arrived at work every morning your boss took you aside and asked you "what's the lowest you'll work for today" how enthusiastic would you be in your job and how much respect would you have for him?

I don't do much sales because I don't like it but when I am roped in to help, the client often starts by saying they won't pay what I'm asking - I don't take it personally, it's business

At it's very basic level they're trying to get it as cheap as they can & we're trying to sell it for as much as we can

my LBS don't actually want cash as the bank charges them to count and process it.

andrewh - Member
"It's really nice, I'd love to buy it but it's right at the top of my budget and I've got to get a new helmet out of that too, the misses would kill me! If you could do it for £xxxx I'll take it?"

That's the kind of attitude that would probably sway me.

It works too.
Bought a car last year, advertised at £2995.
Paid £2850, got new rear tyres, a service, 12month tax and warrenty upped from 3 to 12 months. Smile nicely and sometimes haggle for stuff rather than a discount.

I bought a new bike last week (Franchise Shop). I asked about a discount although I'd already decided I was prepared to pay their asking price (I'm aware of quite small margins made on stuff in bike shops and often wonder how they can [b]make[/b] any money at all after paying staff etc) I'm not wealthy but I have a good job and earn pretty reasonable money when compared with national averages (New Zealand). I know the shop and they've looked after my other bikes as I'm not really mechanically minded (inspite of the books & attempts at DIY). I didn't really need another saddle or the pedals so whilst they didn't discount they took money off for those and they put on my choice of tyres, not the ones it came with which saved me money too. I was quite happy with that.

apparently im quite good at haggling, but i wont do it really.

Is the bike a fair price?

If no just say (in more words) "i dont think thats a fair price for that item, i would suggest a fair price is £XX.XX. Diuscuss."

If yes, pay the man.

I dont get why everyone feels the need to maximise on what they "get"

its like overtaking 1 single car in a line of 40 cars stuck behind a tractor.