Scott Contessa Speedster and asking for discounts?

Hi,

I'm new to the world of cycling. I've done hours of research and am stoked to stumble across a website just for us gals. Buying a road bike is a little intimidating-- it's not exactly a cheap purchase and there are a ton of options and so much to learn before making a decision!

I've tested a lot of bikes. My favorite so far is the Scott Contessa Speedster 15 (http://bikereviews.com/road-bikes/sc...ens-road-bike/).

The LBS is selling it for $1400. Firstly, I'm wondering if anyone has this particular bike? I haven't been able to find many reviews on it. Also, are the components worth the price?

As for the actual process of buying, I've read posts saying you should try and haggle on the price and posts saying the complete opposite. I can pay with cash instead of card (which should save the store 2-3%). Should I mention this and see if I can get a discount? Also, a lot of the posts I read mentioned it is better to try and get a deal on accessories?

Thanks for any input and advice!

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Originally Posted by hoppy1214

Hi,

I'm new to the world of cycling.

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What are your reasons for cycling? What kind of riding do you intend to do?
That's a lot of money to drop for a first bike.

That is a lot of money for a first bike. If I were you I would check E-bay and other places like that. I got a mid range bike, Dawes lightning 100 with Shimano components, for $400 with shipping. It is not the top of the line bike but there is time for that as I become more into the sport.

I just bought a barely used 2006 Scott Contessa Speedster for $400 on craigslist. I love the bike! The components are great, not sure how they compare to a brand new model though.

The Scott's are very nice bikes. I rode the carbon men's version of that frame and really liked it. I've even toyed with the idea of getting a Speedster to race/play on when I don't want to risk the carbon wonder bike.

It's on par price wise with any other 105 level, aluminum frame, well equipped bike. Whether or not that price is "worth it" is a personal decision.

As far as haggling. I don't like it. Either I'm willing to pay for something or I'm not, and either the bike shop is wonderful and takes care of me or they don't, IMO (hint: in the latter case I walk out...). Don't expect a deal on a brand new 2010 bike. It's early in the season and it's new stock. I've also been hearing numerous reports (here and elsewhere) about entire manufacturing runs already being sold out or backordered for months. If they don't sell that bike to you they WILL sell it and they WILL sell it at a profit, so there is no incentive whatsoever for them to haggle with you (other than your continued business, which, if you present yourself as the customer that's going to question and haggle every price they aren't going to really want unless they are really hurting...).

If they had an 09 on the floor, yes, that would probably be discounted, but it would also probably already be discounted on the tag.

If you've got to feel like you "got a deal" then asking for it in small services and accessories or working with you on upgrades at the point of sale is the better way to go about it (both from avoiding a bad taste in the shop's mouth and from getting what you want). 15% off any accessories bought that day is pretty common, throwing in water bottles or other very small items can also happen, swapping out components at a discount and with no labor fee can generally be negotiated (how much the discount is will depend on what they can do with the "old" part and other factors). Getting a slightly upgraded fit may also be a possibility. Paying in cash, yea, you may be able to get that tiny discount, but if the 3% you quoted is accurate you are talking $45, which on a $1500 purchase is just miniscule.

But a note/addendum to the previous paragraph. Some shops do all or most of this standard anyway; that's part of the value added deal of getting a bike from an LBS instead of the internet or a chain store. Other shops (those that don't advertise that they do this, or necessarily do it for everyone) will, if you are a regular face in the shop (and not a regular face that tries stuff on and then runs to the internet), start giving "bro" deals as favors, etc, especially on labor. I get 15% off every time I walk in the door on basically everything I buy (bikes excluded). They've "forgotten" to ring things (like CO2, gels, t-shirts) up. I can't remember the last time I paid for minor repair/adjustment, even on bikes I didn't buy from them. Last time I had a bike built there (Craigslist purchase), they wrote the "pro build" up as a "tune up", which was a 75% (or over $150) discount. When my bike was totaled a few months ago they put 40 minutes of labor and insurance paperwork together for me (at closing time, the day I walked in) for free (again, not one of their bikes). And, unless they are totally and completely swamped, they'll drop everything and do minor repairs (drive train adjustments, stans in a tire and reseal, etc) while I wait.

Basically, I have saved WAY more in the long run than I ever would have talked them down to on the initial bike purchase (heck, I saved more than I would have talked them down on the bike in that ONE build). I'm certain at least part of the reason this happens is I NEVER walk in there expecting the above treatment, and that's something to think about, assuming you want/see the benefits in a long-term relationship with a small local shop.

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Originally Posted by MartianDestiny

I've also been hearing numerous reports (here and elsewhere) about entire manufacturing runs already being sold out or backordered for months. If they don't sell that bike to you they WILL sell it and they WILL sell it at a profit, so there is no incentive whatsoever for them to haggle with you (other than your continued business, which, if you present yourself as the customer that's going to question and haggle every price they aren't going to really want unless they are really hurting...).

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I can confirm part of what you wrote. I was in the LBS over the weekend and the owner told me Trek is sold out of almost all of their road bikes, except for the entry level versions, until the 2011 production comes out. The LBS has buyers for the upper end road bikes and can't get inventory. I ride a Pilot 5.2, which I love. Trek stopped making the Pilot for some reason, then produced some more Pilots in 2010 at the lower range, and the production was sold out by March. The LBS said the Madone is sold out except for the entry level versions. I asked, what happened? Did the economy improve? Is there a sudden increase in demand for upper end road bikes?

No, the production schedule is always done months in advance and where I worked the next years numbers were done almost a year in advance.

I suspect everyone thought the recession would last longer or people wouldn't be spedning so quickly, so cut the quantity of high level bikes down and now have been caught!

Also I know that component companies (like Shimano) might of done the same so even if you have frames made up in your factory you might not have the components to put on them and so a decision trickle down effect happens.

I just recently bought the 2010 Scott Speedster S20 FB. It is a flatbar version of the Speedster at just above the component level of the Contessa you are looking at. It runs Ultegra on the back and has the 105 Hollowtech triple crankset and chainrings. And of course it has flat bars and the new 105 trigger shifters.

I have enjoyed the Scott very much so far. It rides well. The only thing is it is a very short frame. Scott is one of the few that don't make separate geometry frames for their WSD line. The frame dimensions are the same for the WSD and unisex bikes. The tweaks are all in the components, stem, seat etc to make it WSD. This works pretty well since the frame is so short that it is not too long for me.

That said, I changed out the stem the other night for one with a little more lift and a little less reach. I also swapped seats for one the same as on my road bike when I bought it. I am also considering a seatpost with rear offset, since I have the seat all the way back and still feel I could go further. I think this is because I have long thighs for my height (and still longer than for a man of my height). But I think I am pretty much there now. I like it a whole lot.

But on the subject of haggle... I don't. But I don't know that the Scotts are under-produced to the extent that Trek is from previous posts. I looked at the bike and ummed and ahhed a bit. The seller said she'd "take care of me" on price. And she did - about $220 off the list price of AUD$1899. But I'd probably never be any more forthright than to ask "Is that the best price you can do?" and then accept it if they said it was.

I disagree with everyone telling you that you should spend less money on your first road bike. If you know what you want, like the bike over less expensive options, and can afford it (don't forget the cost of the accessories you will need to get set up to ride - helmet, shorts, gloves, pedals, computer, lights, bag & emergency repair kit, etc.), I say go for it! I bought my first road bike in September (Trek 2.1) and spent about $2,000 on it within the first two months getting set up, and I've spent more since then since I've been exploring different saddles. That said, I'm VERY happy I didn't get a less expensive bike - this one handles very well, is quite speedy, and is going to be great for me in triathlons. The components are high-quality so my LBS has had an easy time of making any adjustments and they are happier to see me as a result. :)

Edit: You also won't have a less expensive bike sitting around when you want to upgrade, and if you NEED the money from selling the first bike to buy the second, you may be bike-less for a while. I spent less on a mountain bike because I knew I'd be using it on college campuses where its chances of getting stolen are a lot higher than my road bike hanging out in a locked garage and only coming out for rides.

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Originally Posted by artifactos

I disagree with everyone telling you that you should spend less money on your first road bike. If you know what you want, like the bike over less expensive options, and can afford it (don't forget the cost of the accessories you will need to get set up to ride - helmet, shorts, gloves, pedals, computer, lights, bag & emergency repair kit, etc.), I say go for it! I bought my first road bike in September (Trek 2.1) and spent about $2,000 on it within the first two months getting set up, and I've spent more since then since I've been exploring different saddles. That said, I'm VERY happy I didn't get a less expensive bike - this one handles very well, is quite speedy, and is going to be great for me in triathlons. The components are high-quality so my LBS has had an easy time of making any adjustments and they are happier to see me as a result. :)

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I can ditto this. My bike was about $1400 and I'm guessing I've spent about $2k when all the necessities were factored in. I would have been happier with a less expensive bike, but my hubby encouraged me to go with nothing less than Shimano 105 components for long-term happiness with my ride.

I think another thing to consider is your personality, esp. regarding athletic endeavors. Are you likely to not keep at it long-term? Do you have a spouse/SO who rides? In my case I'm married to an uber bike geek and our son definitely seems eager to get on a bike of his own once he's a bit older. It's been kind of a natural transition for me to go from running a lot of miles/week to running fewer miles and substituting biking, since it's something I can share with my family a lot easier. My bike is definitely not at any risk of ending up covered in cobwebs.

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Originally Posted by pinkbikes

But I don't know that the Scotts are under-produced to the extent that Trek is from previous posts..

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It is not just Trek. Though I haven't heard about Scott in particular, it seems like Orbea and Specialized are also sold out of some models or waiting on the next production run at this point.

Honestly, this isn't a particularly new phenomena, especially in the much higher end bikes or in unusual sizes. People seem to be talking about it this year, so maybe it's a bit worse, but nothing new.