Is this normal LBS behavior on pricing? - Page 7 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

04-27-2004, 07:55 AM

"Jacque_Strapp" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...

> The implication being they are open to haggling. That kind of makes
> comparison shopping impossible, even between different models in that
> store. Is this acceptable behavior, or should I look for another shop?
> I realize I should support a small bike shop, but there are a couple
> other small shops within driving distance (but this one is in riding
> distance).

No-haggle pricing does exist, but most shops aren't willing to lose a sale
over a small amount of money. If the bike is already on sale, then I don't
think you will normally be able to haggle. Also, some shops prefer to throw
in some accessories instead of haggling on the base price, since the margins
on accessories are very good, but the margins on bikes are not.

Some shops won't haggle at all. I.e., as Mike J. stated, his shop doesn't do
this, and I have found his prices to already be lower than other stores.
I.e., I ended up paying $100 more than his price on one Trek bike that I
bought ($1100 versus $1000), plus I had to drive 60 miles each way to get
it, because I needed a size that he didn't have and couldn't obtain because
it was a end-of-the-year close-out.

I wouldn't let a $50 difference on an $500 bicycle be the factor in
determining where to buy. But similarly, the most expensive shop is not
necessarily the best shop. I tend to wait for sales, i.e. one good shop near
me periodically mails out 10% off sale notices, once they were up to 15% (in
January, during a "Super Bowl" sale where they took another 5% off during
the game).

Saturn gave no-haggle pricing a bad name, with mediocre products at high
prices (compared to products from Toyota and Honda dealers at least). But a
fair no-haggle price is fine. I think that with haggling the norm on so many
higher priced products (cars, houses, furniture, appliances, etc.) that it's
sometimes hard to believe that a store can actually price items fairly.

04-30-2004, 10:43 PM

> Saturn gave no-haggle pricing a bad name, with mediocre products at high
> prices (compared to products from Toyota and Honda dealers at least).

Maybe, but Saturn's dent-resistant side panel ads are still pretty funny.
Obviously I'd feel differently if it appeared the car was at fault when the
bike runs into it, but heck, could be those flexible panels absorb some of
the impact and save cyclists!

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

04-30-2004, 10:43 PM

> Saturn gave no-haggle pricing a bad name, with mediocre products at high
> prices (compared to products from Toyota and Honda dealers at least).

Maybe, but Saturn's dent-resistant side panel ads are still pretty funny.
Obviously I'd feel differently if it appeared the car was at fault when the
bike runs into it, but heck, could be those flexible panels absorb some of
the impact and save cyclists!

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

04-30-2004, 10:43 PM

> Saturn gave no-haggle pricing a bad name, with mediocre products at high
> prices (compared to products from Toyota and Honda dealers at least).

Maybe, but Saturn's dent-resistant side panel ads are still pretty funny.
Obviously I'd feel differently if it appeared the car was at fault when the
bike runs into it, but heck, could be those flexible panels absorb some of
the impact and save cyclists!

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

04-30-2004, 10:43 PM

> Saturn gave no-haggle pricing a bad name, with mediocre products at high
> prices (compared to products from Toyota and Honda dealers at least).

Maybe, but Saturn's dent-resistant side panel ads are still pretty funny.
Obviously I'd feel differently if it appeared the car was at fault when the
bike runs into it, but heck, could be those flexible panels absorb some of
the impact and save cyclists!

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

04-30-2004, 10:43 PM

> Saturn gave no-haggle pricing a bad name, with mediocre products at high
> prices (compared to products from Toyota and Honda dealers at least).

Maybe, but Saturn's dent-resistant side panel ads are still pretty funny.
Obviously I'd feel differently if it appeared the car was at fault when the
bike runs into it, but heck, could be those flexible panels absorb some of
the impact and save cyclists!

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]