Who has purchased a bike on-line ... good / bad ??
- Thread starter Dave7
- Start date
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Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
My next bike will be bought online. I've always supported local bike shops, i thought it'd help keep their business going by buying off them,but the last purchase was a nightmare! They talked me into something that wasn't suitable and when i took it back for the first "free service" it must've took them 5 minutes at most. My advice, buy off a big company who will treat your purchase as an hours takings, not like a LBS who'll see your purchase as a whole week's takings and do anything to avoid giving you a refund if anything goes wrong
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raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
I'm pretty sure a lot of bike shop staff get a bit P'd off with people coming in and looking at bikes, getting an idea of size and then buggering off to buy that model/size off t'internet. I know I would.
Tin Pot
Guru
Maybe they do, what's that got to do with my post?
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
Maybe they do, maybe they don't. However, my experience suggests that some shops make minimal effort to convert a very interested potential customer, ready to spend, into a sale. In higher value per unit retailing a customer standing in front of you is a golden opportunity to take and convert.
Instead, I have witnessed total indifference, a failure to listen by staff and some utter tripe spouted in my direction - at times I have wondered if some people even know what they are selling.
Plus some brands are not even available on line.
I'm sure there must be some wonderful stores out there that make a potential customer feel great but, if my experience is anything to go by, they must be few and far between.
I've only really disliked one rude member of staff - I was talking through bike spec's with him and his mobile rang and he answered it, walked off and had a short conversation, came back and never even apologised. I don't think it was a life or death call either as he was laughing whilst on the phone.
I'd probably say that a very high percentage of staff have disappointed me though.
Maybe this question should be asked the other way around. I've never bought a bike online but have bought a fair number of high ticket items via the web and have generally had brilliant service. On the other hand I have had some appalling bricks & mortar experiences.
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Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
So long as I want a Specialized, I have a great dealer near me. If I want a Trek, I have a good dealer near me, a bit pricey and a bit thin on the service side, but the mechanic is great, and the shop is good. Anything else, like a Raleigh (which I favor) and I'd have to go online, or travel 40 miles, where one of my old high school friends has a shop in the Peoria area. I think I'd buy a frame online, like from Planet X, but I'd rather spec drivetrain and accessories my self.
Julia9054
Guru
- Location
- Knaresborough
ianbarton
Veteran
I have bought two bikes from my LBS and had friendly and good service. Recently, I bought a bike from PlanetX in one of their 40% off sales. It arrived in perfect condition and apart from attaching the bars and seat didn't need any setup. There was a handwritten note in the box from whoever built it, saying that they hoped they enjoyed my new bike.
The PlanetX bike is roughly the same spec. as my Giant Defy 2, but cost half the amount. I do use my LBS quite often for servicing and repairs, as I am happy to pay someone to do a good job in much less time than it would take me. They sell a good range of accessories, but they are often way more expensive than on line retailers. If I wanted to go and try loads of stuff on before buying it, I would probably end up buying it from them. However, I need a new pair of cycling shoes. I know exactly the size and make I want and I don't see why I should pay almost twice as much as buying from the LBS, for what is a simple box shift.
The PlanetX bike is roughly the same spec. as my Giant Defy 2, but cost half the amount. I do use my LBS quite often for servicing and repairs, as I am happy to pay someone to do a good job in much less time than it would take me. They sell a good range of accessories, but they are often way more expensive than on line retailers. If I wanted to go and try loads of stuff on before buying it, I would probably end up buying it from them. However, I need a new pair of cycling shoes. I know exactly the size and make I want and I don't see why I should pay almost twice as much as buying from the LBS, for what is a simple box shift.
Julia9054
Guru
- Location
- Knaresborough
Not just bike shops. Most shopping these days - it's amazing that there's any actual shops left
vickster
Squire
Possibly because there's more to the experience than just handing over a credit card? I like the face to face transaction but if I could get a small item online cheaper than in store, I will. Buying a bike is in some ways different, it's not just about the item especially when you lack confidence or interest mechanically. That said only one of my 4 current bikes actually came from a physical shop and that was now nearly 5 years ago and it wasn't a simple off the peg bike
bladesman73
Über Member
i got my racer via lbs and my hybrid online thru tredz. hybrid still in good working order 2 years on.when i got my racer i was a bit of a noob, i was promised a free bike fit which now i know wasnt a bike fit at all..just a sit on the bike and look at my position jobbie. also after i bought it i needed a few tweaks here and there, it took the lbs ages to fit me in, id just spent nearly 2k with em! next time im buying online, i now have the benefit of a great bike mechanic now trading near where i work. anyone in colchester area id recommend andy from atw cycle repairs
