General Cycling Discussion - Are bicycle manufacturers bound by the law?

What is the law concerning bicycles-manufacturers-dept stores?
I just hate seeing people ripped off.
I know many people do not know any better they keep taking bicycles back to the dept store were they got it:confused:

I think it's the same law concerning everything else you buy - you get what you pay for. Go and buy a cheap no-name brand CD player and see how long that lasts.

I have a low end Shimano group of front and 7 speed rear derailleur, shifters, brakes and a crank set fro 4 years now and it's still runs as good as new. I didn’t buy my bike at a Dep. Store though. It was $250 four years ago in my LBS.

No there is no laws in the u.s. concerning bicycle manufacturing. Although it has been brought up in the Senate and House before. Basically the big rich foreign manufactureers got it shot down. Gee wonder how?

Yes there are regulations under the CPSC: For example, see:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/success/bikes.html

and

http://www.johnforester.com/Articles/lights.htm

Also, some states have requirements regarding helmets, etc.

It seems to me that I read a write up in Bicycling magazine a couple years ago that the laws are such that a bicycle manufacturer can only ship there bicycles to a compitant source that knows bicycle repair and understands bicycles...thats the law?:confused:

Originally posted by chip
It seems to me that I read a write up in Bicycling magazine a couple years ago that the laws are such that a bicycle manufacturer can only ship there bicycles to a compitant source that knows bicycle repair and understands bicycles...thats the law?:confused: AHHHHH But who defines "competency" hmmmmm? Most people (ie: Joe Schmoe non cyclists) think that if you can ride a bike you're a friggin expert. Wrongo! For example, the shop I work at doesn't consider you a "mechanic" until you've done it for at least 5 YEARS. So even with the (not-so-miniscule) amount of knowledge I do have I'm far from being an "expert". Now imagine a X-mart employee, the manager walks up to the employee in question and says "I saw you rode your bike in tonight. Do you think you can slap some bikes together?" It's sad but in MANY cases true.

Dnvr Fox,
That unfortunately is not a manufacturing law or standard set by anyone. The link you posted was a study done for riding at night.
Here is the info I could find:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000915.htm
There are however numerous safery standards for the manufacturing of helmets.

I believe there are laws concerning bicycles but they are not respected.
The manufacturer obeys the law initially and ships there bicycles to a reputable dealer and from there it is all diispearsed to various store.Ever ask a dept store if the manufacturers warranty is valid...It is not cause they are not compitant...often a store will have there own 1 year warranty which could mean a rear wheel replacement..I've heard of many people
get the run around with these warranties
because plain and simple no one knows what there doing..is often the case:(

It seems to me that I read a write up in Bicycling magazine a couple years ago that the laws are such that a bicycle manufacturer can only ship there bicycles to a compitant source that knows bicycle repair and understands bicycles...thats the law?

Sure, and I saw an article in the same magazine about 5 years ago about reshipping bikes.. the practice that allowed brand named bikes to be sold at department stores with no warranty and little connection to the manufacturer by shipping them out to a third buyer in a third country. The example they used were several shipments of GT Zaskars that had made it to Russia, then being being sold at Costco's on SoCal for next to nothing, but came with no warranty, laughable huffy service first-type assembly, no knowledgable sales people, no service, no nuttin. Bleh.

What ever happened to the adage "let the buyer beware!" Seems to me that those that are looking for something inexpensive to use have to live with the decision. I don't think we need additional laws (we all know there are too many already) to protect the uninformed. I retail for a living and it never ceases to amaze me how many people fail to educate themselves on the product or process's prior to spending valuable money.

No one is saying anything about additional laws...Its just many people are unaware of whats already out there concerning bicycles...and yes you are right people should educate themselves about there purchases?