Any thoughts on how to find closeout bikes/frames?

[dpk501]

Much to my chagrin, 2015 is coming to a close soon.

I've always wondered about what shops do with current year bike models. Now that 2016 bikes are here, do they discount 2015 models?

Will shops also help you contact the manufacturer to find a particular closeout frame/bike?

Thanks!

[ultraman6970]

For some really strange reason (to me), when the 2016 models shows up, the 2015 frames and components keep the same price and in some cases they go up. I imagine that is to force people to move the new stuff...?

[oldpotatoe]

Much to my chagrin, 2015 is coming to a close soon.

I've always wondered about what shops do with current year bike models. Now that 2016 bikes are here, do they discount 2015 models?

Will shops also help you contact the manufacturer to find a particular closeout frame/bike?

Thanks!

Some do...move old inventory, lose money on each sale as a result.

Some will, depends on how badly the shop is hurting. 'Hurting' means less people, not as trained/skilled people, less time or interest to do anything but sell something on the floor, anything.

But go into shops and specifically ask for last years model closeouts. Just like at yer Ford dealer. Difference is the Ford dealer still makes $ when they sell at invoice, bike shops generally don't.

[milkbaby]

I would just go to the shop that carries the bicycles you're interested in and ask.

One of my local shops sent out emails in the past advertising their clearance bicycles, even ones the bike company was clearing out that you had to special order, i.e. they weren't already in the shop.

Never hurts to ask!

[biker72]

Much to my chagrin, 2015 is coming to a close soon.

I've always wondered about what shops do with current year bike models. Now that 2016 bikes are here, do they discount 2015 models?

Will shops also help you contact the manufacturer to find a particular closeout frame/bike?

Thanks!

Where I work many of the remaining 2015 models have been discounted. Next month there will be more on sale with deeper discounts till they are sold.

[Joxster]

What normally happens, the new models are launched in July by most major brands so about easter time (March/April) the distributors will offer the remaining stock to bike shops that bought in to that brand to clear out with a better margin. If the product manager has done their job properly there will be next to no stock to clear, but that is getting harder as they are generally working on bikes two years down the line. If the distributor has a lot of stock left after offering it to the dealers it is then offered to all bike shops with an account around about May, then upon the launch of the new models any stock left is offered to clearing houses ie Ribble, Wiggle or CRC. The main reason that older stock can seem more expensive is down to exchange rates at the time of production, it cost more to make so the trade price to the shop was higher than the newer model. I used to work for Raleigh UK.

[ultraman6970]

Hey joxter... what is CRC??

[RonW87]

chainreactioncycles.com/

[nooneline]

2015 models are often just 2015 paintjobs. frame manufacturers don't usually overhaul their whole line-up every year - it's usually ever threeish. kind of the same with groupsets. a shop doesn't want to be holding on to bikes with outdated groupsets when those are overhauled - so that's when the time to strike is.

when sram red went to their new hood shape, a shop that i knew was blowing out all the old sram-equipped bikes for basically cost.

[mvrider]

Here are some lists from nearby LBSs:
http://www.goridebicycles.com/goride/?page_id=412
http://www.chainreaction.com/product-list/closeout-road-bikes-pg217/
http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/product-list/sale-bikes-pg88/
http://mikesbikes.com/product-list/bikes-frames-outlet-pg1504
http://www.wrenchscience.com/road/specials/frames/
(http://www.wrenchscience.com/road/specials/frames/)

So, the takeaway is that clearance deals do exist, but I don't know of a central clearinghouse for such deals. Also, most shops are restricted by the manufacturers from shipping bikes.

[needmobikes]

Bikesdirect, lol

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

[oliver1850]

Mail order places like Excel (Colnago, Ritchey, Ridley), Colorado Cyclist (Merckx, Fuji, Kestrel, Litespeed), Nashbar (Mekk, Fuji, Guerciotti, Bottecchia, Redline, Diamondback) and others often have interesting closeouts. For example, CC has a 2013 Fuji Altamira DI2 frameset for $500.