the bike industry guys in here seem like we just want people to know beforehand how to ACTUALLY get good deals at a shop.
Fair enough, although it seems your example with suits would indicate that one shouldn't even bother to ever try to get a discount, just pay full retail.
Fair enough. That being said, a case of beer is cheap, and will be repaid tenfold in bro-points in most any shop
It's a two way street, bike shop wants MY business first and then I want their service second, that's why it is only I who has the luxury of the two to choose where to shop ;) So, until I've had some really nice service, how can you expect me to bring beer?
And if you are saying that by bringing beer I'll get lower prices every next time I show up… then why not cut the crap and you charge me lower prices + the price of beer (:lol:)?
I can see bringing the mechanic a cold one if I know he'll be working on my bike and it's hot summer, but the motivation is not to get a good deal but to show my appreciation (only if service is good!).
I once had a guy ask me for a discount on a (cheap) bike after he'd told me he was a dentist. I told him that "no, sorry, margins on inexpensive bikes aren't high enough to give people deals but we do good after sales service yada yada yada…"
What I really wanted to say was "do you give out deals to people who ask for them in your dental office?"
Apples and oranges, most of his patients will have insurance. Why would they care for a deal? And YES, those who pay cash can always ask for a discount and YES again, you would get one.
From what I hear in this thread from the "industry" people, I as a customer have to bend over backwards to "deserve" a small discount. Geeshhh… oh how dare I even ask??? Wow.