Bartering With Shops

Sometimes you can always have a little bit of a haggle with LBS but I don't think you would get anywhere with Halfords to be honest... I may be wrong but those large chain stores are stringent on their prices... unfortunately!

I have found my 2 Lbs very good when it comes to a haggle/deal. 1 couldnt help on price of a cannondale but threw in a £45 helmet and a rear light. 2 couldnt match the accessories(£75worth) from Evans so gave me 5% off the price of a Gary Fisher and I still get the personal service, advice and friendly pi$$ take now and again. try your lbs, if its this ride to work scheme thingy you have in England, dont some of the tinternet retailers do this too? sure I have seen something advertised in the mags... bit ignorant on this one

I bought a new bike for my daughter at xmas.I checked the prices out online,I walked into the shop asked if they could match it and they said yes,straight away.
It probably helps that I buy,stuff from them time to time,but I think they are all willing to try to please.
As much as I use the likes of Wiggle and Merlin,it did feel quite nice to use a real bike shop too.

My lbs will match any offer you find on the net. If you are buyng parts then they will fit them aswell. Bonus.

My lbs will match any offer you find on the net. If you are buyng parts then they will fit them aswell. Bonus.


that's a good deal for you, but whoever is running that shop is stupid and won't be in business much longer

for LBS to go up against large on-line retailers (who buy in bulk and have lower overheads) is insane, and to then fit parts for "free" (which actually costs the LBS money in terms of workshop time i.e. mechanics don't work for free) is just a "slow financial death".....

Everybody will respond to a bit of haggling.

I know someone's said not to do so, but making a ridiculously low pitch first is the way to go. You WILL get laughed at to start with, but by doing this you give both yourself and the vendor room to manouver.

Say a bike is on sale at £1000, reduced from £1150. Immediately, I'd offer the salesman £750. He then laughs me out of town, so i say, well what's the best that you can do? To which he'll reply, "£1000, like it says." The I'll up the pitch and offer him £850.

Now if he's a good salesman, he'll meet me half-way - say £900 or £950. In which case result. If he won't I'll shake my head and say well, I'm sure I can get a better deal elsewhere and make to walk. He MIGHT try to call me back in which case I've got him and I'll possibly get a deal.

If he doesn't, well - I've not lost anything, the money's still in my pocket and he's lost a sale.

dave_hill wrote:

I know someone's said not to do so, but making a ridiculously low pitch first is the way to go

Not so sure about "ridiculous low" initial offers, yes you can wiggle afterwards. But ultimately you need to be taken seriously 1st..
Keep it sensible and friendly, and have a realistic figure in mind.

You can usually get some free stuff thrown in at Halfords.
Hell I even managed to get a pair of V8's for free at Je James ,when I bought my Unit.Sounds like nowt, but anyone who knows them knows this is an achievement.