To find the cheapest cycling power meter, check online marketplaces like Amazon or eBay and compare prices during sale events.
How to Use Price Comparison Tools and Websites
There are many ways to navigate through the myriad of options, and price comparison tools and websites are the best of them. Keep in mind that websites, such as PriceRunner, Google Shopping, and even Amazon offer price comparisons. Also, be sure to check if the final price has any hidden costs, such as shipping fees and import duties.
How to set alerts for price drops
Most of the price comparison tools also allow you to set up alerts for price drops. You can get those alerts by mail or as a push notification on your phone. The most useful tools Instagram profile , as well as their website. To set up an alert, you will first need an account, and you only have to add the product in question to your watch list.
If you want to know if refurbished or second-hand power meters are also as good as new, read more about those used units. However, seeing how pricey power meters can be, these could be the most affordable solutions. According to My Millennial Guide , eBay and Craigslist are full of units that sellers have used just a couple of times and are selling them as refurbished or even new condition. But, not all online sellers are reliable, so be sure to check their ratings and return policies first.
Before you confirm your purchase, also check if there are any coupons or promotional codes. Some exceptional website examples include RetailMeNot or Coupons.com, as they usually have deals for all of the popular power meters. Also, joining a retailer’s newsletter sometimes gives you access to some special offer.
Best Times of Year to Purchase
Shopping smart means knowing when to buy. For cycling power meters, there are specific times throughout the year when you can expect better deals. Holiday sales and the release of new models are prime time for discounts.
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Holiday Sales
Major sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Post-Christmas sales often feature significant discounts on cycling gear, including power meters. Retailers are looking to get rid of their gear by the end of the year, hoping to clear the shelves before the year ends. That means that you can save 20%-50% off the regular price around late November and December. Mark your calendar: if you want to shop smart, this is one of the two best times to do so.
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New Models
Things start heating up early in the year when cycling manufacturers release their new products for the cycling season. They time it to coincide with the start of the cycling season in many countries, making their marketing push to accompany the actual start of the riding season for many people. The new models mean that retailers have last year’s products that they need to move, usually by offering a discount. You can expect another major discount around March and April when the new products start appearing on the market.
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End of Season
Finally, as the outdoor cycling season is ending, retailers offer discounts on their gear to push the old line out, making room for wintery products. That means that the best time to buy a power meter is around September and October, with discounts typically around 15%-30% off.
Steps to Ensure Quality and Reliability
To ensure that investing in a cycling power meter is a smart move to not only save money but receive a reliable product, one should take the following practical steps:
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Research brands and models. Firstly, it is necessary to conduct in-depth research on the choice of models and brands. Well-known, reputable names in the industry are SRM, Quarq, Power2Max, Stages, and others. The reviews from DC Rainmaker and users on cycling websites can be compared to determine the companies with the best history. This step helps to set the direction in which the choice should be narrowed down.
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Check features and specifications. When comparing the specifications, one should ensure that the power meter meets personal specific requirements and fits the bike. For example, a rider should check the compatibility with crankset and wheel. The best choice is a device with ±1-2% accuracy. The connectivity is usually offered by either ANT+ or Bluetooth. Some distinguishing features to watch for are the dual-sided type of measurement, waterproof ratings, and pedal dynamics. For training in all conditions, the last two are the main characteristic to track .
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Purchase from reputable retail. One should buy a track power meter at reputable retail or from the manufacturer . Respectable vendors offer additional benefits, such as warranties and easy returns, and may even install any devices. Mostly, such retail does not offer fake or misleading products.
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Check warranty and support. A strong warranty can also indicate whether a product is reliable . Therefore, one should strive to not buy models with less than one-year warranties. Another thing to consider is customer support and availability of technical support.
Strategies for Finding and Applying Discount Codes
In some cases, with a decent discount code, the difference in the pricing of cycling power meters or other cycling gear can be quite significant. In my experience, these strategies proved to be highly-efficient, and they should help you always have access to the best deals.
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Use dedicated discount code websites: Websites such as RetailMeNot, Coupons.com, and Honey specialize in collecting and providing discount codes for various retailers. Before purchasing anything, check these websites and see if there is a code available for that particular item. These websites are updated often, and they can provide an instantaneous discount at the checkout.
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Follow brands on social media: Most brands and companies that sell cycling gear make special promotions and discounts announcements through their social media accounts. Follow your favorite brands and companies on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, and their next discount code might be exclusively available for you.
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Sign up for newsletters: Most, if not all, cycling gear retailers send a newsletter with each other, in which they announce promotions, new releases, and send their customers discount codes. For a start, sign up for the newsletters of your favorite cycling shops and brands and never miss a discount code again.
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Install a browser extension for coupons: Browser extensions, such as Honey or Wikibuy, can find and apply discount codes automatically when you are making a purchase. Find and install the browser extension of your choice in order not to miss any discounts. These extensions search the internet to find the best possible discount code and apply it to your purchase.
How to Negotiate Prices or Find Bundle Deals in Specialty Bike Shops
A process of getting a good price for cycling gear in a specialty bike shop, power meters in particular, is one of the most rewarding activities one can engage in. To this end, the following are the strategies to engage in:
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Establish good relationships with the shop. A frequent visit is also a very good way to do it. The staff will be better equipped to notify the customer if a good price is coming up or will develop a more relaxed attitude. In the end, everyone wins and the clients can always feel more relaxed asking about the price or to state that they have found the same product for a lower price.
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Ask about could you give me a box ? Many bike shop managers are used to clearing up storage space on a regular basis. There is a high chance that one will run into a deal asking if a purchase of a power meter can be accomp[anied by the purchase of other gear which they need. At this point, even the smaller shop will feel more relaxed to charge a lower price. After all, no shop will ever refuse a larger order and will knock a bit off of the price.
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Offer to pay in cash. Not all of the shops will be equipped to invoice whatever they wish without a client having to pay the card visiting fee. Keep in mind that almost all of the shops have to pay a fee for each card transaction that is processed. As such, if one offers to pay them a certain amount of money right away in cash, they will most likely refuse.
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Purchase out of season. It is neither cycling, skiing, nor surfing season in the late fall and the early winter. At that time, the shops want to sell off as much of the last year’s product as possible and in a bundle if they can. At this time, one can expect the shops to be cleaned out.
