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Background: I got a new bike on the b2w scheme, Ribble CGR 725, setup with guards and pannier rack as it does genuinely get ridden to and from work. I have been working on my 'emergency fund' in line with popular guidance that you should have at least a 3 month buffer to cover periods of not working. It's in line to be sorted by the end of the year.
This means I have money in the bank, as much job security as is possible in a start-up at this point of the world and a desire to have a 'fun' gravel bike to hack around on when not doing work commutes. I'm thinking a Ribble Ti CGR.
So I'm asking, who has made a rash impulse purchase, have you regretted it, have you looked back on it as a great decision? I am not an impulsive person, I am a chronic ditherer and overly analytical shopper, but sometimes I wish this wasn't the case.
Note: not in the bike forum as could be purchases of all sorts of things!
I impulse bought my flat in peebles.
10 years ago.
Its had a few troughs but mainly nah probably been a good idea.
I'm like you I spend ages debating stuff to buy. I never buy stuff on impulse. Often takes years to decide.
Bought a Calibre Fat Bike in Go Outdoors a few years ago. Had gone in for a couple of riding tops. Ended up riding it around the shop and giggling a lot. I only kept it a year or so but it was bloody good fun for not much money. Sold it to a mate and it's still getting ridden many years later.
Only regret the things you don't do and all that 😉
I found that the impulse buying urge can be satiated by buying smallish stuff - I just handed over some work today so ordered myself a fancy gaming mouse with credit I had from buying a fancy gaming laptop about six months ago.
Now buying the laptop involved lots of research and umming and ahhhing over several weeks - which is pretty much my standard approach for anything expensive
Bit of both and depends what it is. I'm generally a purchase researcher for big ticket items, but I am for 'reasons' quite cash strapped at the moment despite being in a good job with security, and by most measures very well off on paper. But, I can't get my hands on it and while I'm a long way from poverty stricken (so, violins away again) cash flow rather than assets is a temporary problem.
And (pitchforks out!) I'm quite enjoying it; living to my means and really valuing what i do spend money on. So the odd slightly impulsive purchase feels a bit exciting beyond what I'd probably in the past not considered, and the cost / price of a dangerous impulsive purchase is now a lot lower.
My recent one was a jacket off Vinted, I was looking for a shirt / shacket type thing now the weather's a bit better (and got a couple for a few quid each) but then there was this really rather cool looking BNWOT jacket for almost 10x the price of what I was shopping for, that I just had a WTH moment on, and then instantly 'regretted'.
Until it arrived, and it is really rather nice and has become a favourite. So, regret followed by happiness.
I am more likely to impulse buy a more expensive thing than a cheap thing. Bought my last car the day after in came into my head to change my car. Just bought something I thought would fit the bill and it worked out well.
Buying a new chainset for £100 would typically take much more research.
I'm a ditherer, researcher, price-comparer down to the finest detail usually... but when these things were announced.. was straight on the website and bought one. Got til end of May, but I don't think I'll be cancelling 😀
I have really tried to limit what I buy since I sold/recycled/gave away a lot of things before my move. That and the old mindset I developed when I was really short of cash in 2002/2003 means I really need to need something before I buy it.
Some of the things I have bought have been second hand and I have kind-of regretted, despite using them and saving a lot of money, but even buying new clothes before the ones I have are worn out (jeans get moved down the stack from "work" to "home" to "gardening" before they end up being binned). All my bikes are 2008-2012 vintage and nothing that I have seen that is current is good enough to make me think I should switch out one of the current three.
I impulse buy food though. But not very often and it is mostly kebab.
Your decision does not sound too impulsive.
You sound like it's not a rush ,so keep an eye on the secondhand market if you are worried about the money side of things or just go for it and get a brand new superbike.
I have bought a lot of secondhand stuff over the years and new bikes as well. Its a big ask when they now cost so much.
For proper impulse buys or even holiday booking I try and sleep on it at least 24hrs . It has saved me quite a bit of money!
Proper impulse buys are when you have not done the research or the salesman is putting you under pressure when you see the product as you pass it on the same day.
Reminds me of my in laws getting a puppy and they are in their eighties!!!
If it's an impulse purchase that doesn't set you up for any ongoing annoying costs or commitments, then I go for it (Bike, Watch, Camera etc.) as if you don't end up using it as much as you thought then you're not really in a bad position and you can either sell it or just be happy using it occasionally.
If it's something that'll saddle you with ongoing costs/maintenance/storage issues like a Speedboat and or a Glider then a bit more thought or dithering might be a good plan.
Ribble Ti frames are lifetime warranty now and fall into the first category so I reckon go for it!
My Stumpjumper Evo was an impulse purchase. I'd got fed up with my old bike chewing through bottom brackets. It's a great bike, and I've had a lot of fun on it, but I've had miles more fun on my Ragley hardtail (also an impulse purchase in the chain reaction closing down sale) frame, built up with the parts from the old full suspension bike.
I rarely buy on impulse, but I don't over analyse it either, If I want something, I'll go and get the thing, but then I go to a trusted source and get it, I'm not bothered to look at a million shops/websites to save myself pennies, or pounds sometimes if it's a unpopular colour or whatever.
Saw a bargain Ebike on FB marketplace, bought it an hour later. Went expecting to be mugged but it’s been the best thing I’ve bought in years…wasn’t even really thinking of getting one yet.
Went to an Art Show, came away with an original painting (Harry Brioche). Three years on, I still regularly stop for a while and just look at it.
Bargain hunting is another thing that slows me down, trawling ebay - checking for refurb stuff, blah blah.
I'm impressed that a flat was an impulse purchase, and I figured there be a lot of bikes buying on here too. Art, nbt, keeping it classy! So far seeing relatively little regret though.
I suppose by impulsive, I'm maybe more saying, before I've got the cash specifically saved for it rather than stealing it from a savings account. I *could* theoretically wait for this round of b2w to end, but I'm not sure I can be bothered to wait that long (~6 months).
Good point above about ongoing running costs etc. It makes me think of some of the landowners who rip off holiday caravan owners and raise costs year or year etc. Lots of examples.
Getting a loan is not a great way of funding a impulse purchase without serious thought first or at least a overnight sleep on it ....that's how I bought an ex rental bike once! It did seem along time to repay it and all the new bike prices dropped in the meantime after covid!
I once bought a Bontrager TI frame from Harry Halls, I think it might have been in the shop when it was blown up. I only went in for something minor. Really liked the frame until it snapped.
Went to an Art Show, came away with an original painting (Harry Brioche). Three years on, I still regularly stop for a while and just look at it.
Isn't he better known for making bread??
OP: Happiness is a cigar called Hamlet, so why not just impulsively buy a Hamlet?! 😆
I get the impression everyone reacts differently. I'm another one for whom the longer-term happiness, after the initial excitement wears off, comes from knowing that despite being impulsive, it was still a good purchase - it still makes sense/ is fun/ gives me joy. So as long as you know in 6 months you'll still think it was well worth doing, go for it!
The only question I'd have is... is it too similar to your existing bike? Another CGR but in Ti - does it have enough of a use case for it? Or might you prefer... a lightly used Yeti hardtail?!
(no clue how much that'd cost, mind...)
We were thinking of a modest budget campervan. Decided to go and view a proper factory conversion that was 30% above budget. They had another viewer due that same afternoon...
It's called the Red Adventure Bus, RAB.
I usually over-research and over-analyse, but I think in time that balances out (so, for example, I dither do due diligence so long that eBay stuff I didn't really need anyway has gone before I get round to making a decision). Usually for high value items (cars, bikes) I'm more decisive if I've set a budget, I know what I'm looking for, and the item fits with that. Having said that, I did see my current full-sus in the PB classifieds and decided on impulse to buy (and smooth over relations with my OH later). The outcome in that case - happiness (absolutely fab bike to ride and OH was understanding).