Help Please on a Trek 7500

What are you looking for as a "decent deal"? Remember, these guys are
in business to make money; you're not going to find huge discounts on
bikes mail order, and a good relationship with a LBS is a wonderful
thing to have. Sure, saving money is always good, but don't
shortchange yourself by saving a few bucks mail order and not
establishing a relationship with a LBS.

And BTW, at the LBS, often times they can throw in some things for you
that mail order won't - like perhaps cages, bottles, some other
discounts on other items like shoes or pedals if you buy packages, and
of course, if you walk in unknown to them, you're just another person
rather than a loyal customer where say, if you need the bike back
tomorrow for a race or something, they'll squeeze you in...

Don't be penny wise and pound foolish Support your local LBS....

Dave

Quoted message said:

What are you looking for as a "decent deal"? Remember, these guys are
in business to make money; you're not going to find huge discounts on
bikes mail order, and a good relationship with a LBS is a wonderful
thing to have. Sure, saving money is always good, but don't
shortchange yourself by saving a few bucks mail order and not
establishing a relationship with a LBS.

And BTW, at the LBS, often times they can throw in some things for you
that mail order won't - like perhaps cages, bottles, some other
discounts on other items like shoes or pedals if you buy packages, and
of course, if you walk in unknown to them, you're just another person
rather than a loyal customer where say, if you need the bike back
tomorrow for a race or something, they'll squeeze you in...

Don't be penny wise and pound foolish Support your local LBS....

Dave

Wow I didn't think this reply would be the first one although I expected
it. I understand how bike shops work as well as any other small
business. Quite frankly I enjoy supporting them whether its my local
drug store or a music store that is around down.

I do not however like to purchase large ticket items at sticker price. I
do not care if its a car or a washing machine or a large screen
television. Prices are asking prices with built in profit and usually a
rather large mark up at that. I would imagine that like most large
ticket retail places the money being made is on service and the high
volume items, say for example in a bike shop inner tubes patch kits
energy bars sunglasses plastic water bottles, you get my point.

Although I do appreciate your point.

Well, I recall from a while ago, not from firsthand knowledge, that I
was told that the bikes are not the items in the LBS that have the
(bigger) margins in them. I have heard that the margins on the bikes
are really slim, which is why you don't see many steep discounts on
them (other than older merchandise they need to clear out) and that
most of the $ is made on repairs, accessories etc. So it's not hard to
understand why you don't get "good deals" on "just" a bike purchase.

Dave

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I need help. I want to buy a new trek 7500. I can not seem to find a
place with a decent deal. They are all at the manufacturers "suggested"
price. I am in northern California. Can any one reccomend a mail order
place I can buy this bicycle from. I actually need two of them.

That you can't find the bike at less than MSRP tells you that MSRP is a
decent deal. Trek's can't be sold mail order, so don't expect to get a
better deal that way. You may have to settle for a different bike if you
don't want to pay the going price for that bike. You may try finding a LBS
that you like and see if they would give you a discount if you buy two. Just
don't expect a major price break.
------------------
Alex

The reality is this:

Trek sells bicycles to dealers.

For a dealer to remain in good graces, to be an "authorized" dealer, the
dealer HAS to sell the bicycle in a certain price range.

There is generally a range > High Retail versus Low Retail.

Both are actual terms.

MOST Trek dealers sell at High Retail, because Trek does a good job at not
overlapping dealers territories.

If dealers are close, then the dealers "agree" amongst themselves to sell
............ You get the point.

There is no such thing as a discounted Trek, Specialized, Cannondale........

The pricing structure FROM THE MANUFACTURER does not allow it.

Occasionally (RARELY) a dealer will have left over inventory from the
previous year, or will purchase discounted bicycles from the manufacturer.
On these you MAY find a discounted price. Remember in the bicycle business,
dealers make money based not on the sales price, but generally as a formula
based on the purchase price. They have no reason to pass the better deal on
to you.

BOTTOM LINE

If you want a Trek, you are going to have to pay the price. Ask nicely and
the dealer may toss in a few trinkets.

But the price is the price, because Father Trek said so.....

Allan
20 years in the business
15 as a shop owner................

"Sponk" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I need help. I want to buy a new trek 7500. I can not seem to find a
place with a decent deal. They are all at the manufacturers "suggested"
price. I am in northern California. Can any one reccomend a mail order
place I can buy this bicycle from. I actually need two of them.

Good replies.I like my Trek and I bought 1 new and 1 that was a year old
still sitting in the show room got the better deal on that one.
But they have good warranties and aren't that bad on pricing.
So good luck .

--
J/O TrailBlazer At Large!!

Quoted message said:

Well, I recall from a while ago, not from firsthand knowledge, that I
was told that the bikes are not the items in the LBS that have the
(bigger) margins in them. I have heard that the margins on the bikes
are really slim, which is why you don't see many steep discounts on
them (other than older merchandise they need to clear out) and that
most of the $ is made on repairs, accessories etc. So it's not hard to
understand why you don't get "good deals" on "just" a bike purchase.

You aren't buying 'at sticker' but at market. The market price on hot
items will exceed mfg's price. If you want a deep discount, then buy a
bike which isn't in such heavy demand.

Beats me why you posted. I'm sure you understand these concepts if
you're over 18.

-paul