How would you spin it?

FoldingJoe

Right,

I need some help, probably from the more Sales orientated amongst us, as I need to pitch this to my wife as best as I can, otherwise a lifetimes opportunity will be lost.

A friend of mine has some good contacts at Quick-Step and last year he managed to get hold of one of the old teams bikes (a Merckx EMX-7 with FFWD wheels, Record groupset, the whole shabang) for £2000.

He'd mentioned in passing that he might be able to get me some VIP tickets for the stages I was watching at the TdF this year, which would have been cool.

Unfortunately got an email from him this week saying his contact could get me tickets, but would cost EUR550. the good news was he could also get me one of the bikes at the end of this season, for EUR3000. :twisted:

Now, for a £7000 bike that is a great deal, ,but how do I sell this to my wife, who baulked at me paying £60 per month to get my £1000 Ribble on the CTW scheme!!! :?

If there weren't kids involved I'd be filing for divorce!!

Any good advice appreciated.

Cheers,
FJ

kelsen

You have 2 kidneys right? They're yours so you can do whatever you want with them.

rjsterry

Careful step-by-step demonstration that it is affordable is the first step. Added benefits to the rest of the family would help (not sure what these might be other than dad/husband is happy => family is happy).

I don't work in Sales, can you tell?

optimisticbiker

FoldingJoe wrote:

Right,

I need some help, probably from the more Sales orientated amongst us, as I need to pitch this to my wife as best as I can, otherwise a lifetimes opportunity will be lost.

A friend of mine has some good contacts at Quick-Step and last year he managed to get hold of one of the old teams bikes (a Merckx EMX-7 with FFWD wheels, Record groupset, the whole shabang) for £2000.

He'd mentioned in passing that he might be able to get me some VIP tickets for the stages I was watching at the TdF this year, which would have been cool.

Unfortunately got an email from him this week saying his contact could get me tickets, but would cost EUR550. the good news was he could also get me one of the bikes at the end of this season, for EUR3000. :twisted:

Now, for a £7000 bike that is a great deal, ,but how do I sell this to my wife, who baulked at me paying £60 per month to get my £1000 Ribble on the CTW scheme!!! :?

If there weren't kids involved I'd be filing for divorce!!

Any good advice appreciated.

Cheers
FJ

It's an investment, you'll run it for 'a year' and then sell it for closer to its true value!

asprilla

It is easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

This has served me well over the years, as has outright lying about the cost of things.

UndercoverElephant

How would I spin it? I'd say that the wheels alone are worth nearly that on eBay: flog the wheels, replace them with something more suitable for crap British roads and have a very cheap bike.

jonny_trousers

UndercoverElephant wrote:

How would I spin it? I'd say that the wheels alone are worth nearly that on eBay: flog the wheels, replace them with something more suitable for crap British roads and have a very cheap bike.

Yeah, that's always been my tack too. I tell her what things are really worth and what a bargain I've found, sell a few bits and bobs here and there and tell her the profit I've made (which usually ends up being spent on more bike gear) and don't let her know about the many foolish purchases.

Something else to consider - and sorry to be a killjoy - but even if it's a great buy, do you really want a pro road bike? It might be pretty uncomfortable if you don't race.

spen666

Asprilla wrote:

It is easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

This has served me well over the years, as has outright lying about the cost of things.

+1


Oh and I'm divorced- is there a correlation I wonder?

FoldingJoe

Well, the thing I'm hoping is that It'll be one of the S-Works Roubaix SL3's which should be fine.

It'll either be that or a Tarmac, and if it is no good then, as suggested, I sell it for more than I paid, hopefully.

daviesee

Is your current bike in matching team colours?
If yes, she won't notice - if you can hide the financial part.

If not, it's time for a re-spray You should be able to get away with that.

Aidy

I'd just buy it

In fact, y'know, if you're going to pass it up...

I normally find that the hardest person to justify large purchases to is myself.

FoldingJoe

Hhhmm, current bike is white and these are black. She'd notice, she's observant like that, plus the 2k bill on the credit card would be a bit of a giveaway.

daviesee

FoldingJoe wrote:

Hhhmm, current bike is white and these are black. She'd notice, she's observant like that, plus the 2k bill on the credit card would be a bit of a giveaway.

That's wht your white bike needs a re-spray to black. To hide the oil marks obviously
And why you need your own personal credit card.

Ben6899

Who earns the bread?

If it's you, then just buy the friggin bike.

FoldingJoe

daviesee wrote:

FoldingJoe wrote:

Hhhmm, current bike is white and these are black. She'd notice, she's observant like that, plus the 2k bill on the credit card would be a bit of a giveaway.

That's wht your white bike needs a re-spray to black. To hide the oil marks obviously
And why you need your own personal credit card.

Which would have to be paid off out of our joint bank acc. :evil:

merkin

Ben6899 wrote:

Who earns the bread?

If it's you, then just buy the friggin bike.

Hmm. I am guessing your not married. :?

CiB

This is what ferreting dosh away into a spare a/c is for, so that when something like this comes up it's a done deal without the hassle of getting it past OH. Bit late for you OP but for the rest of of us, only good things can come of it.

cyclingprop

FoldingJoe wrote:

daviesee wrote:

FoldingJoe wrote:

Hhhmm, current bike is white and these are black. She'd notice, she's observant like that, plus the 2k bill on the credit card would be a bit of a giveaway.

That's wht your white bike needs a re-spray to black. To hide the oil marks obviously
And why you need your own personal credit card.

Which would have to be paid off out of our joint bank acc. :evil:

Have you learned the error of your (joint) ways yet?

daviesee

FoldingJoe wrote:

Which would have to be paid off out of our joint bank acc. :evil:

Schoolboy error.........

Joint account for direct debits/living expenses which is payed into from your personal account.

kelsen

daviesee wrote:

FoldingJoe wrote:

Which would have to be paid off out of our joint bank acc. :evil:

Schoolboy error.........

Joint account for direct debits/living expenses which is payed into from your personal account.

opened at an offshore bank under your dog's name

CiB

Surely one thing that's guaranteed during your adult life is that sooner or later you'll be offered a fantastic deal on something or other. The day to start planning for that is not the day the offer lands at your feet surely.

bobtbuilder

If you can afford it without missing mortgage payments and still be able to put food on the table, then just buy it. What's the point of being a wage-slave if you can't treat yourself occasionally? :?:

jonny_trousers

FoldingJoe wrote:

Well, the thing I'm hoping is that It'll be one of the S-Works Roubaix SL3's which should be fine.

It'll either be that or a Tarmac, and if it is no good then, as suggested, I sell it for more than I paid, hopefully.

In that case can you get me one too?

You say you can buy the bike at the "end of the season": when exactly is that? A man can do an awful lot of eBaying in across a few months. Secret Paypal account, bish, bash, bosh!

London_Falcon

Tell her you've had a great offer for a £7k bike for just £2.5k and gauge the reaction. Wait. Then tell her you've negotiated a further 20% off but you need to jump to secure it. If you sell it right it's the 20% discount you've negotiated on an already great offer that will stick.

kelsen

Tell your wife you've been having an affair with another woman and she's now pregnant with your baby so you want a divorce because you want to go live with her. Then tell her not really but you've just dropped two and a half G on a bike. That should put it into perspective.

jonomc4

Asprilla wrote:

It is easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

This has served me well over the years, as has outright lying about the cost of things.

+1

Ben6899

merkin wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

Who earns the bread?

If it's you, then just buy the friggin bike.

Hmm. I am guessing your not married. :?

Not married, no. However, my partner doesn't mind what I spend my cash on.

FoldingJoe

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

FoldingJoe wrote:

Well, the thing I'm hoping is that It'll be one of the S-Works Roubaix SL3's which should be fine.

It'll either be that or a Tarmac, and if it is no good then, as suggested, I sell it for more than I paid, hopefully.

In that case can you get me one too?

You say you can buy the bike at the "end of the season": when exactly is that? A man can do an awful lot of eBaying in across a few months. Secret Paypal account, bish, bash, bosh!

November, by which time I'm hoping there is still a Euro left, but it worth diddley squat, so I get the bike for the equivalent of £800!!

FoldingJoe

I think I'll mention it on Friday when we are out with friends.

Hopefully she'll have had a few drinks and the presence of others means she won't throttle me...

Gizmo_

Tell her that you think it's time you started being more cultural and you've been offered a piece of kinetic art.

At the end of the day... if she doesn't like it, you sell it, you've made the profit, so it's all good.