Do Dealers Discount?

[Diver4242]

I'm thinking about getting a Magnum at a local dealer. Do dealers discount or is it always MSRP, i.e. $1,999 for the Metro/Metro +? Any other buying tips?

 

[Va. Bch. Electric Bike Center]

Never hurts to ask. Smart of you to work with a reputable dealer.

 

[bob armani]

I'm thinking about getting a Magnum at a local dealer. Do dealers discount or is it always MSRP, i.e. $1,999 for the Metro/Metro +? Any other buying tips?

Very good question, especially for brands like Specialized and Trek. I usually see the Treks advertised at MSRP. Not sure if they have as much elbow room to discount as other bike mfgs do...

 

[rich c]

Some dealers discount in off season, but that usually ends around March 1. See if they have any 2017s left, that would be your best chance.

 

[Deleted member 803]

You can certainly ask for a better price. The bike business is hurting big time so be wary of dealers who constantly discount as it may be a sign of financial distress. A more important question to ask is how they handle warranty service and whether they cover labor. A few more questions would be: a) do they offer warranty pick up and delivery b) do they offer financial assistance (no interest pay over time e.g.), c) do they have a roadside assistance program in case you have problems on the road, d) are they any free maintenance programs for buying a bike, and e) do they offer special pricing on accessories (many stores will offer a discount on accessories for buying a bike from them)

 

[bob armani]

You can certainly ask for a better price. The bike business is hurting big time so be wary of dealers who constantly discount as it may be a sign of financial distress. A more important question to ask is how they handle warranty service and whether they cover labor. A few more questions would be: a) do they offer warranty pick up and delivery b) do they offer financial assistance (no interest pay over time e.g.), c) do they have a roadside assistance program in case you have problems on the road, d) are they any free maintenance programs for buying a bike, and e) do they offer special pricing on accessories (many stores will offer a discount on accessories for buying a bike from them)

Like to add my 2 cents-If they say YES to any of those questions during a potential sale, make sure you ask if they can 'put that in writing'. Verbal sometimes is used just to get the sale at hand.

 

[Leandro]

Theres certainly no fault in asking.

Asking about servicing, accessories, financing, time of delivery, etc are all good topics to gain clarity on.

 

[tomjasz]

Oddly we expect bike dealers with close margins to cut prices, but who amoung us is willing to take a pay cut on the job to make our customers happy? Expect a deal on a floor model/demo, or last years leftover stock. Otherwise pay up.

 

[BobG]

I received a 10% Black Friday discount at Ebikes of New England 1 1/2 years ago. $237.40 off of a $2374 purchase. The product was already marked down $100 or so making it a double discount.

 

[keithd]

My LBS I have dealt with for years has great prices on his Giant line of regular bikes but his E-bike prices are all MSRP. I know he stands behind everything he sells and would take good care of anyone who buys from him. I had not even considered a Giant E-bike until last week I did not even know he sold E-bikes. When I stopped in to see what he had for me to convert to electric. He told me he started selling Giant E-bikes as well as Bionx kits. He has only 2 a 2017 dirt-E pro and a 2018 dirt-e. Told me to take the Pro for couple days and try it out. I have not taken him up on his offer because I still do not know if I want to spend that much. I believe the Quick-E would suit me better. It would be nice to have a local guy.

 

[MisterM]

Oddly we expect bike dealers with close margins to cut prices, but who amoung us is willing to take a pay cut on the job to make our customers happy? Expect a deal on a floor model/demo, or last years leftover stock. Otherwise pay up.

It's a rare business that can charge full price for a commodity product and expect to survive. Ebikes still have a bit of novelty aspect to them, but as the market shakes out, there's sure to be rampant discounting considering the fat margins.

Most LBS near me are reluctantly stocking a few ebikes, but I'm hugely skeptical of value-for-money they offer. The things that go wrong (electronics) are things they aren't trained to handle properly. The few ebike-only stores are the only place I'd consider buying locally.

 

[tomjasz]

It's a rare business that can charge full price for a commodity product and expect to survive. Ebikes still have a bit of novelty aspect to them, but as the market shakes out, there's sure to be rampant discounting considering the fat margins.

Most LBS near me are reluctantly stocking a few ebikes, but I'm hugely skeptical of value-for-money they offer. The things that go wrong (electronics) are things they aren't trained to handle properly. The few ebike-only stores are the only place I'd consider buying locally.

Sadly for the little guy the margins are NOT fat.