Is buying new parts now better than waiting?

Question

So to give a little background, right now I work at a bike shop so I get a pretty good deal on bike parts. I will need to leave work there to go to school in a month or so. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to buy up some spare parts now (chains, tires, etc) since I'll obviousily lose my employee discount. But is it possible that if I hold parts in storage to long that they could start to degrade and lose quality before I use them? What do you think?

Answer 1

What kind of a boss do you have that won't continue to give you a discount? Doesn't he like you?

Bikes upgrade faster than computers. What's hot (and expensive) now won't be in a year, season, month from now. And something better will, inevitably, come along.

Don't tie up your funds. Stay liquid. And ask the boss what's up about cutting you off.

Answer 2

Pretty much the only things that will degrade sitting on a shelf will be tires. Store them inside in a nice cool dark place and they'll last a few years anyway.

I would suggest taking advantage of your discount because once you get used to having one it's hard to start paying full pop for parts.

Answer 3

if they degrade  over the course of 1 month, sitting on a shelf, please don't put them on my bike!

Answer 4

As long as you store them in a safe,clean, element-free (high humidity, smoke-free,no-pest infestations secluded area) place, stocking won't be a problem ( not unless a nuke bomb explodes there in your vicinity! ).  Check them every few weeks from dust and grime or if the possibility of rust ( for those with non stainless parts) has affected the gear. Put 'em in a box with extra protection as a  precaution and label them.