is it worth exchanging my bike?
 

Recently I purchased the specialized Crosstrail (The very basic one) and today i went to pick it up, immediately I noticed it had disk breaks and a lock out suspension. My first instinct was "Sweet i got a better bike than i paid for" after checking prices it worked out as

Specialized Crosstrail: £350 (haggled a little and it was the bike i bought)
Specialized Crosstrail Pro Disk: £850 (The bike i was given)

after feeling all giddy about getting the far more expensive bike for the price of the cheap one i took it home, got on it and found it was a size too big (i'm a large 19" and the bike is x large 21") my crotch rests uncomfortably on the crossbar with me on tiptoes (why do male bikes even have these?)

i'm really torn as to what to do, i feel i should take it back for the proper fit but at the same time i feel i would be giving up a bike thats worth more than 2x what i paid for =/ will the fit matter all that much in the long run?

Did you tell the guy at the LBS that he was giving you the wrong bike, or were you just trying to steal the difference between what you paid for and what you were getting?

Paybacks are a *****, eh?

Do the right thing: take it back, tell them of their mistake and get the bike you paid for in the right size.

If it isn't comfortable to ride, you won't ride it. Which would be a waste of whatever you paid for it - no matter its actual value. I say take it back, tell them they must have given you the wrong one b/c it's too big, then get the one that fits you right and enjoy riding it!

Sell it locally then buy the right one. Keep the difference.

Actually I'm pretty torn... it's kind of like the cashier accidentally giving you change for a 50 instead of the 20 you gave her and you keeping it.

i have thought of these tbh, if i were to sell it i wouldn't be able to go to the bike shop again (just a personal thing). i am all willing to take it back simply as i don't care about the disk breaks or the suspension lock i just want to enjoy riding my bike, sadly my parents feel slightly different.

Too small can be handled. Too big is just too big.

They made a mistake. Take it back and get the right bike. It is the right thing to do for both you and the store.

I bet you have better than even odds that if you take it back they will get you the better bike in the proper size, or at least split the difference with you if you want to do that. Let us know what happens.

I agree. Mistakes happen. However, I think being aware of it and still keeping it is dishonest. Do the right thing and take it back - you will get a bike that fits, and feel better about everything.

Its possible you got someone else s bike. The Shop may notice the mistake and call you to see. Like mentioned before, its to big to ride comfortably so go get the right bike.

If you take it back and say "Hey guys, you made a mistake" they will apologize to you and remember this every time you go back for service and you will be treated even better. Just think about it. It is the right thing to do!

How would you feel if you were on he other side. You sold something for X and accidentally gave them something worth 2X?

I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't take it back. Even if it were the right size. Even if I bought it from a giant impersonal corporation, let alone an LBS.

Take it back. So far, all you have from this deal is an ill fitting bike and a guilty conscience.

Keeping it is the same as stealing. You have someone else's bike who has probably already raised a ruckus and somebody may have even lost their job over something like this. Bring it back.

i will be taking it back =) basicly told my parents they have no say on the matter heh, i will be taking it back tomoz and they will probably have to wait another week for a replacment depending on where the mistake was made.

Good for you nataku :thumb:. You'll be better off on a bike that fits anyways. Plus it sounds like the salesman made an honest mistake.

+1

You will be happiest and most accepting of yourself after you return the bike.
I see two issues:

1) You need to exchange it anyway to get the right size. A bike that is too big is no good, no matter what you paid for it.
2) The ethics of taking advantage of their mistake. The honourable choice is to tell them of the mistake.

Then get out and enjoy riding

If you took it for a ride, clean it first.

yay got my bike =) now just strugling to find enough room for everything =/

managed to get some clip on mud guards 20% off for taking the bike back too ^^ .

if i have a rear blinker light do i still need a red reflecter? i don't have enough stem under the saddle to have the light, reflecter, under saddle bag and mud guards. can i get rear lights that go somewere else? will post pictures when the weather is a little nicer here

I think it depends on where you live. I remember reading that one state requires you to have a reflector + light. If you decide to just use the rear light, keep some spare batteries in case it dies out.

I just got a rear light from planet bike that came with a seat post mount as well as a chainstay mount. I have it mounted on the chainstay because I use a wedge bag under my seat.

nataku17, good for you for taking the bike back.

I use a Topeak wedge seat bag and a Planet Bike Superflash rear light that clips to a strap on the back of the bag.

i'm in the UK, looking online it seems i do need both a light and a reflector. sadly my under saddle bag doesn't have a place for a light, i am currently looking at my LBS website and a Halfords website and can't really tell which lights fit to places other than the seatpost =/