Cyclocross - SRAM Rival?

Hi, I am checking out the 2010 Fuji Cross Pro, the 2010 uses SRAM Rival..
but the guys at performance bike couldn't put it properly together and I could not shift the front onto big ring unless my rear cog is on the small. And it grinds and take a long time. I have to push the lever to 4 o clock position almost, the front shifter basically feels like broken plastic. But evidently this is improperly put together as I notced the uneven threads on the stem and handle bar. The top brake level also drag the other cable when pulled.

I am definitely not going to buy from that store but should I give the Rival component another chance, or look for one with Shimano components?
I feel 105 (click and forget) is much better but I thought the Rival is supposed to be a higher class component.
The Moto Fantom Cross Pro is almost the same exact bike except for the wheels and downtube shape and I could get a better bike shop to assemble it for me.. that could be one option or I check another PB that hopefully have better assembly skills.

When my first generation rival shifters are properly adjusted and good cables and clean housing they shift amazingly considering the abuse and thousands of miles they have been put thru and I love them. The same can be said about 105. I say go with what feels better but try another bike with sram if they weren't setup properly. Of course this is coming from a guy who's next bike will probably have tiagra shifters to save $$ on cassettes and chains. If only sram made 9 spd road shifters.

I have rival and it shifts fine. At least have your bike properly tuned before you give up on an entire group.

Scattered-cant you just use tiagra chains and cassettes on 105 and up? I'm pretty sure they're cross compatible.

I wouldn't buy a bike there. My rival group was dead simple to setup and I'm no pro wrench. I really like rival for cross for it's durability and it rebuildable.

Check the curve of the plate on the front derailleur. Bring it to a mechanic and have him check it... and maybe even bend it a bit to get right. Mine wouldnt shift... that was our ultimate solution.

The problem isn't the groupset, it's the store. Rival shifts just fine.

My Rival front derailleur on my road bike was difficult to shift. My local bike mechanic adjusted the alignment and it works great as do all the components in my Rival group set. I have a Bianchi Axis with Tiagra road break/shift levers and an SLX shadow rear derailleur. That combination has never worked well; the rear derailleur phantom shifts if the cable isn't adjusted perfectly. Last fall a Bianchi dealer set it up with Jagwire cables and an in-line adjuster on the rear cable. It is better, but still requires constant adjusting. Last weekend I finally, set the in-line to zero and pulled the cable tighter at the derailleur and stared over. It has worked without problem for about 50 miles of trail riding. Two mechanics that worked on the bike indicated that the Shimano shadow rear derailleurs tend to phantom shift and are more difficult to keep in adjustment. I am considering changing everything Sram.