Bike Shop Question

Don't count on large stores giving good discount. I have found there's a paucity of discounting across the board in all the larger stores. It's as if there's a conspiracy. However, they do throw in a water bottle, a small tool, a small pump bits and pieces. Or they'll give you some decent discount on some accessories. Obviously it depends on the price of the bike you are getting.

I am somewhat surprised that a town of 75,000 has only one bike shop. My town of 100,000 has three very good independent bike shops and three chains (Performance, REI, and Inside-Out Sports). Out of the six, there are two that carry Trek, two that carry Specialized, and one each that carry Bianchi, Cervelo, Co-Motion, Felt, Fuji, Giant, Iron Horse, Klein, Lemond, Lightspeed, Scott, Seven Cycles, Serotta, and Schwinn, plus the Preformance and REI house brands, and those are just the road bikes. They carry additional brands that specialize in mountain bikes, tri, BMX, cruisers, tandems, and recumbents.

Despite the competition, most of these shops get very close to the MSRP. I recently bought a 2007 Specialized Roubaix Elite for $1850, and the MSRP is $1900. At the time, they had only one 2006 Roubaix Elite in my size in stock and would only discount it another $50. That is less than 3% off the MSRP. None of the shops in my area will dicker on prices. What it is marked is what they sell it for.

What the shop I bought from does not give in discounts off the MSRP they make up for in service and other perks - free custom fitting, free tuneups for a year, 10% off on apparrel, accessories, and upgrades, a saddle loan program where you can try different saddles for several hundred miles before you decide on the one you want to purchase, maintenance classes, and generous support to local cycling clubs and event rides.

There are five version of the 2007 Hardrock, with MSRPs ranging from $390 to $820. A $200 discount on even the top model (Hardrock Pro Disc) is much more than I would expect around here. I would expect the base model (Hardrock Sport) to be between $375 and $380 - not much of a discount off the MSRP ($390). If you were quoted $400 for the 2006 Hardrock Sport Disc (MSRP for the 2007 is $500), then that is a good price. On the other hand, if you were quoted $400 for the Hardrock Sport, then drive the 50 miles to check out other shops.

As far as the bikes all coming from the same place, it is somewhat true. In that price range, all of the frames come from Asia (usually Taiwan), and the components are all made by Shimano or SRAM. There is no difference in quality between Trek and Specialized.

I was quoted $400 for the Basic Hardrock version; no disc, '06 model and another $10 to replace the saddle with a larger one, but I think it would be wise to just try the one that comes standard to see how it works.

eplanalp said:

I was quoted $400 for the Basic Hardrock version; no disc, '06 model and another $10 to replace the saddle with a larger one, but I think it would be wise to just try the one that comes standard to see how it works.

The way I basically look at these high tech equipments like shocks and disc brakes is that they are mostly useless unless you have a specific need for them. For most recreational city riders riding on paved or small non-technical tracks, they are dead weights. Further, servicing those equipments properly requires some knowledge more than just one simple spanner and screwdriver. By putting those equipments, irrespective of quality, on as many low end bikes as possible, LBS will gain extra in terms of repair and service revenue. So take a hard think of what you really need and shop accordingly. The V-brakes these, or even caliper brakes are more than good enough for most unless you have a dear love for riding in the rain and mud everyday. :p

eplanalp said:

I was quoted $400 for the Basic Hardrock version; no disc, '06 model and another $10 to replace the saddle with a larger one, but I think it would be wise to just try the one that comes standard to see how it works.

You do not have your location listed in your profile. What currency are you talking about? $400 US is a rip off. $400 AU might not be bad.

$10 to replace the saddle is not bad.

Not having a Trek dealer is weird in a city of 75,000. The Trek rep that came to the LBS I used to work for said that one of the things Trek looks for in a city to put a dealership is a Taco Bell. I guess the marketing gurus in Wisconsin figured out that if a city can support a Taco Bell, it can support a Trek dealer.

RickF said:

You do not have your location listed in your profile. What currency are you talking about? $400 US is a rip off. $400 AU might not be bad.

$10 to replace the saddle is not bad.

I live near St. Joseph, Missouri so it's $400 U.S.

Just as a starting point in case I decide it's worth it to visit some other shops farther away, what is the Trek "equivalent" of the Specialized Hardrock base version? The other shop I have in mind doesn't carry Specialized bikes.

None of the Trek models match exactly to the base Hardrock. As you go up in price, the two companies chose to upgrade components in a different order. For example, you would have to go to the Trek 6000 (MSRP $660) to get a fork that approximates that on the Hardrock Sport, but the Trek models upgrade the derailleurs at lower price points. The Trek 3700 (MSRP $310) has the same rear derailleur as the Hardrock Sport, but a lower level front derailleur (and lower level fork). There is no Trek model that has the same front and rear derailleur as the Hardrock Sport. The Trek 4500 (MSRP $520) is the lowest level Trek that has the same front derailleur as the Hardrock Sport, but the 4500 has a higher level rear derailleur than the Hardrock Sport (but still with a lighter fork than the Hardrock Sport).

Bottom line is that Trek has more hardtail mountain bike models to choose from than does Specialized, but none matches the Hardrock Sport exactly. The Trek prices for aluminum frame, hardtail mountain bikes (the same family of bikes that the Hardrock series would fall in) range in price from $310 to $2200

Trek also owns the Gary Fisher brand, which has many more mountain bike models to choose from.

eplanalp said:

The "all from the same place" remark didn't sit well with me, although I suppose in a way it's true since no one bike company makes all its own parts (except maybe the frame?). Any comments on that one?

He's more or less right, and wrong. Every bike in your price range is made in the Far East. Some bits will be different between manufacturers, geometries my vary, and companies my be more or less easy to deal with. Look at the features, not the logo on the frame.

Quoted post said:

Also, is it legit to try to bargain a price at a bike shop? Was that just his high-end starting bargaining point? Even though there are much larger, long-lived and reputable shops another 50 miles down the road, I would like to give this guy a chance, especially for the convenience of regular maintenance like adjustments, etc.

I don't see why not. I probe for a discount all the time. Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't. That said, buying a bike is not like buying a car. It will be a lot easier to get your discount in kind rather than cash, though. Try to get a year or so of free tune-ups for the bike.

If you really want to give the guy a chance, give him enough profit to pay his rent. If the $50 bothers you, consider how much it will cost if you have drive 2 hours every time you need to go to the bike shop.