Cycle-to-work price hike woes

davidoc

A few weeks ago I got a Bike-to-Work "quotation" from Stagg Cycles. I was looking at the Specialized Sirrus Elite or Comp for commuting. Now at the time they didn't have all the details but I was told the prices would be going up "by about 6%" and so the Elite would be around €650 and the Comp around €850.

Last week I found out that the 2010 Elite is €850 and the 2010 Comp is over €1100!

Now the really stupid part: I was being indecisive and in a rush so on the quotation they wrote "Specialized Sirrus" at a price of ~€750; the total came to the magic €1000 with extras. The intention was that I'd either go down €100 to the Elite or up to the Comp.

So I don't even have a proper legally-binding quotation that I can wave at them. In fact, if they wanted to be nasty they could charge me €750 for the entry level Sirrus...

I'm feeling a bit sour about this.

Any advice / suggestions / sympathy greatly appreciated.

Caroline_ie

All specialized bikes have gone up in price on 2010 models. I rushed to get me a 2009 MTB while they were still available. For the same price this year you have a lower spec models, that's everywhere, not just at stag. Try and get a 2009 bike now if you can ... shop around.

davidoc

Not sure if I can shop around as my quotation is for Stagg and my employer has already processed it...

Idleater

davidoc wrote: »

Not sure if I can shop around as my quotation is for Stagg and my employer has already processed it...

The prices you post are roughly £ equivalent, and as far as I remember the 2010 range is slightly higher spec than the 2009 one.

Also, specialized were doing a £/€ deal but that was until the end of June I think hence why the 2010 price for the same model name does appear to differ quite significantly.

kona

davidoc wrote: »

A few weeks ago I got a Bike-to-Work "quotation" from Stagg Cycles. I was looking at the Specialized Sirrus Elite or Comp for commuting. Now at the time they didn't have all the details but I was told the prices would be going up "by about 6%" and so the Elite would be around €650 and the Comp around €850.

Last week I found out that the 2010 Elite is €850 and the 2010 Comp is over €1100!

Now the really stupid part: I was being indecisive and in a rush so on the quotation they wrote "Specialized Sirrus" at a price of ~€750; the total came to the magic €1000 with extras. The intention was that I'd either go down €100 to the Elite or up to the Comp.

So I don't even have a proper legally-binding quotation that I can wave at them. In fact, if they wanted to be nasty they could charge me €750 for the entry level Sirrus...

I'm feeling a bit sour about this.

Any advice / suggestions / sympathy greatly appreciated.

It doesnt seem to be the first time they have pulled this stunt, there was a guy complaining last month about them(or was it another shop?)

davidoc wrote: »

So I don't even have a proper legally-binding quotation that I can wave at them..

ROFL

boniver

From what I have seen of the early models from Giant 2010, it will be the same: prices up, specs down. Giant are the biggest bike manufacturer in the world and if they can't make economies of scale work, no one can. This is just the reality of a weak sterling finally feeding back through to higher prices for us. I did the math on a new Defy 4 € vs £ and if you strip out the VAT differential the prices are the same in both countries. There's not much point beating yourself up for not buying the 09 model Giant/Specialized/Trek as they all sold out months ago.

-Chris-

davidoc wrote: »

So I don't even have a proper legally-binding quotation that I can wave at them.

No such thing unfortunately...