[lfg929]

Like most things I would say “it depends”. If you really don’t have a way to afford the bike and have to use credit then I agree it probably isn’t the best thing to do and you should continue to save. If, however, you can get the cash interest free and are assured of paying it off before interest starts then it seems fine with me. I say that after financing my Santa Cruz Hightower CC build via a Trek credit card with 12 months interest free financing. I didn’t have all of the cash at the time but had a plan through work and selling a couple of other things that would ensure my ability to pay the bike off before interest hit. Plan to cut a check next month for the remainder, 4 months before the interest gets lumped in.

 

If there is any chance you can’t pay it off before interest then definitely don’t do it. I believe the rate for my card is 21% or so (might be as much as 24%) and it is retroactive, so if I need the 13th month or longer to pay it off then interest is calculated from last summer when I bought the bike. The card issuer is certainly hoping people can’t pay off the total so they can start raking in sizeable interest fees.

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