Buying in italy

ButlerG

Any advice on good bike shops in central Rome? Has anyone got any experience on buying out there-are Colnago etc frame prices favourable in Italy?

mercsport

Well , nobody seems to have replied yet about this .
I can only relate that , six or seven years ago , after an excursion into Hungary and Croatia , upon my return to Italy I got it into my head that I fancied a new frame and running gear for tooling about the hills at home , and thereupon called into most of the bike shops that I came across by the sides of the Via Emilia , along from Ancona to Milan . Surprisingly , perhaps , was my conclusion at the time that Italian made stuff within Italy was often enough no cheaper than at home , occasionally a little cheaper if I could be fagged to work out the pennies a little more accurately , and quite a lot of stuff dearer .
It could've been that they could see a 'mark' coming when they saw me approach , gap-toothed and sun scorched, with my overladen , panniered , bike and bow-legged flat footed gait asking in beat up Italian about a ' super leggero telaio ' and put up the price accordingly . I don't know . But it dawned on me eventually that within Italy there's a price to be paid for the sumptuos , mirrored and marbled bike shops that are to be found there . The customer pays for it .
I don't suppose that helped much did it ? :P

taffyscouser

After two weeks in Riccione recently I saw a number of the Belgiums in the group buying frames to take back with them as they were 20-25% cheaper than they were paying at home. They were Colnagos, Williers and Pinarellos. We also had some deals with local shops cos of the bike weeks we had booked but I can send you deatils of the shops if you need to check prices with those in Rome. Can also also get them sent back if you need to but not sure of the import etc on these if there is any in EU countries.

Monty Dog

Vat in Italy is 19% so make sure it's included in your quote - but you don't have to pay anything here as its an EU import. Worth checking out something like www.Comobike.it to get a price comparison though they don't do Colnagos.

ButlerG

Thanks. No doubt I'll do what I always do-wander round for ages looking at expensive frames and then buy some socks.