Bargaining Your Way Through Bicycle Shopping: A Guide to Score Deals
Reduced cost for bicycles is a common occurrence.
Choosing a new bicycle can put a dent in your wallet. But fear not! The art of negotiation might just be your ticket to savings. That's what the ADAC discovered during an undercover mission, where they haggled their way through a hundred bike retailers across the country—with impressive results.
If you're in the market for a new set of wheels, learning to haggle could be your newfound skill. While some may find this nerve-wracking, others naturally thrive during price discussions. But don't worry; you're not just playing to win, but potentially saving a good chunk of money.
The ADAC's covert operation revealed that price reductions are not uncommon, and negotiation can often lead to more savings. They visited retailers nationwide undercover, looked for deals, and went the extra mile to lower the price. The outcome was quite promising: in 88% of cases, there was a discount, ranging from discounted items on the shelf or reduced prices after negotiations.
The attention was split between two types of bicycles: a top-tier e-mountain bike worth over 3500 euros and a city bike around 1000 euros.
Bargain Hunters Score More Than Just Recommended Retail Prices (RRP)
The testers first checked if there was already a discount compared to the RRP on the tags. Then, they made two attempts to lower the price. In total, the desired model was cheaper than the RRP in 88% of cases.
43% of all retailers had already marked-down the price compared to the RRP on the tags, without any negotiation required. 63% of retailers gave in during the first negotiation round, and 46% were persuaded during the second, typically towards the end of the sales discussion.
The average discount stood at 13% for e-mountain bikes and 15% for city bikes. The savings weren't always direct price cuts, but occasionally took the form of discounted or free accessories, like a lock, as well as complimentary services. These benefits were particularly apparent in the second request.
City vs. Countryside: Where to Look for the Best Prices
The testers also noticed a price discrepancy between urban and rural areas. Every second bicycle in the city already came with a discount compared to the RRP. In contrast, it was only one out of three models in the countryside that matched the offer.
An essential takeaway: visit multiple retailers, as prices for the same products can vary significantly, making shopping around a wise strategy.
In case you're wondering, ADAC isn't typically involved in bicycle-related studies. They focus more on vehicle-related matters, such as emissions and other automotive issues. But if they did conduct a study on bicycle prices, it would likely revolve around consumer experiences and pricing flexibility, though this information is not available in our search results.
Source: ntv.de, awi/dpa
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- A savvy lifestyle choice can lead to more savings on home-and-garden or employment-related items as well, just like negotiation can help lower the cost of a bicycle.
- When it comes to shopping, whether it's for home-and-garden items, employment-related items, or even a bicycle, it's always a good idea to investigate community policy and compare prices from various retailers to secure the best deal.
