What do you say when non-cyclists ask you ....

[TsPoet]

More often than not, it's cyclists who ask me what my bikes cost. It's usually a DF rider wanting to know what a recumbent costs.
Recumbents cost the same as higher end DF bikes, you pretty much can't find a "lower end" recumbent, they are made in smaller quantities, so they just make the ones with the higher end components. That's pretty much what I say, without giving a real #.
When people press, I tell them what the MSRP is for whatever bike I'm riding and leave it at that. I don't tell them that I've added/upgraded this or that.

[Geonz]

I've been thinking about this perception that bikes cost a whole lot. Compared to what? Can you think of a machine that does what it does and costs less? (I mean in a literal sense.)
I am going to try to analogize it with furniture. Yes, you can go to Wally World and get particle board furniture if that's what makes sense, but you'd better take care of it and recognize that it's not meant for long mileage or hard use. Same with a bike - just as with cheaper furniture, you *can* get mroe out of it... but it's hard.
I think people have an artificial mindset - part of perceiving bicycles as toys - that makes $400 for a bicycle seem "out there." As a "transportation appliance" instead of a toy, perhaps the prices will seem more reasonable.
Nobody's ever asked me how much my bike cost. THe blender, yes

[spokewench]

If they are cyclists and are just doing some research, I will tell them what my bikes cost. If they are lay people just being curious I usually tell them way more than you would ever want to spend. If they press, I say in the thousands.

I'm with a lot of you. I never ask anyone what anything costs, unless I am trying to do research to buy something similar myself and I will always preface my request, "If you don't mind telling me", "I understand completely if you don't want to tell me", but I'm looking to buy something similar and am trying to figure out what range I should be looking at"

I'm also pretty careful, who I ask something like this as well. It normally would be someone I know fairly well.

[Trekhawk]

If they are cyclists and are just doing some research, I will tell them what my bikes cost. If they are lay people just being curious I usually tell them way more than you would ever want to spend. If they press, I say in the thousands.

I'm with a lot of you. I never ask anyone what anything costs, unless I am trying to do research to buy something similar myself and I will always preface my request, "If you don't mind telling me", "I understand completely if you don't want to tell me", but I'm looking to buy something similar and am trying to figure out what range I should be looking at"

I'm also pretty careful, who I ask something like this as well. It normally would be someone I know fairly well.

LOL spokewench I dont think you are the type that horrify us. Im shocked by people that want to know for no other reason than just being nosey.

[MomOnBike]

Oh, I blast 'em with both barrels. "So far, about $2,000, but with diligence, I'm pretty sure I can get it up to $3,000!" All this with a bright smile on my face.

When they express shock, I add: "It's cheaper than a heart attack."

I ride a recumbent, so people just come up and start asking questions. They don't have a handle on recumbents, cost, comfort, ease of use, etc., so they ask. Cost is just one of the (many) questions. I don't mind, I rather enjoy those conversations.

On a related note, folk at the office often express surprise/concern that DH & I only have one car, so I (have too, poor thing) ride a bike everywhere I go. I think they think DH is such a meanie that he won't get me one, or something. Look, if I wanted a car, I'd have a car. I happen to want a nice bike. I have a nice bike. It's simple, really.

[KnottedYet]

I liked educating folks about recumbents back when I had one. I had a cheapie BikeE, and folks were always surprised that it wasn't all that expensive.

I don't mind folks asking me how much things cost, which makes me think I might be rude and asking the question of others when I shouldn't... oops.

[7rider]

Geez, and I thought my DH got a bargain for what he paid for his Seven.
It probably WOULD cause many folks to have a heart attack if they knew how much he paid. Many folks don't pay that much for car.
When asked - which is rare, and usually brought up by the office P.I.A. - I usually say "I don't remember." because I really don't. I've done upgrades and adjustments over the years to the bike - it's 7 years old - and it's not like I've saved every receipt and kept a runny tally. I've got a basic idea, but it's none of their business.
Sometimes, the question is phrased more like a "So...how much do bikes run these days?" That one gets a more general response like, "Well, they can run anywhere from X to Y." And then I ususally get this long story about bikes they've had in the past and how they *used to* be into bikes ("I coulda been a contenda!") and yada, yada, yada......

[pooks]

Oh, I blast 'em with both barrels. "So far, about $2,000, but with diligence, I'm pretty sure I can get it up to $3,000!" All this with a bright smile on my face.

When they express shock, I add: "It's cheaper than a heart attack."

I love that answer.

[GLC1968]

You know...no one has ever asked!

I've been asked "how much do bikes like that go for" but it's usually when I'm with my husband so we answer in general terms since both our bikes are different.

I get more people asking me what I paid for my car than for my bike (total strangers, too).

[Pax]

New twist on a similar theme...today a co-worker asked me "what is your credit score"? She's house hunting and has poor credit so it's a relevant topic but it felt pretty weird to be asked.