SMART move by a local bike shop -- others should pay attention [View all]

[LuckyTheDog]

OK, so I wanted a new bike for the first time in 20 years. I went to a local shop and found one that I liked (I had test-ridden it about a week earlier). It was on sale for about 20% off (which was very good) but not in stock. They said I could buy it at that price and they'd call me when it came in. That was alright by me, but I decided to check out another, nearby shop.

Shop #2 had fewer items on sale, but was aware of the sale being held by Shop #1.

I told Shop #2 about the Trek I looked was interested in. They didn't have it because they don't carry Treks. But they did have a Specialized in stock that was just a bit nicer (better rear derailer, nicer hand grips, better tires and rims) than the Trek and priced $120 more. I test-rode the Specialized and liked it, but was reluctant to shell out an extra $120 because it was hard enough to fit a new bike into my budget.

Then Shop #2 did something smart. They told me that, if the Specialized were to go on sale, they's probably lower the price my as much as $80 and wanted to know if I'd buy it that day if they lowered the price by that much.

That sounded OK, but it turned out that they didn't have the black one in the frame size I wanted. All they had was the grey one that I test-rode. And I really liked the black. THEN, the sales person said "take the grey one and we'll throw in the kickstand for free."

Shop #1 lost a sale and Shop #2 gained one -- simply because they wanted my business more.

This was Shop #2: http://www.bikesbladesandboards.com/