tangerineowl

Now that I've had a taste of what is available out there in the big wide world, it's a rare day that I walk into a local shop.

I only do so If I know exactly what I want. It will usually be a small item which all shops carry.

As for the big-ticket items, I'd be quite happy to purchase my next road bike (I know the model already) in store, however it is only available overseas.

John_V 

The bike was purchased in January of 2012 and was a 2012 model and not a 2011 model. It wasn't a year-end discount. The distributor didn't have the bike in size 50cm and white with 105s because they hadn't yet received their entire shipment of bikes from Italy since it was a new model year. The one they did have was a 50cm, in white with Ultegra, which is what I ordered and purchased and am still riding. I had already seen the bike model, in a larger size and in black, at the other Colnago dealer, so the only thing I would not have liked about it would have been the fit, but as it turned out it fit as perfect as the Defy did. Because the Colnago and Defy frames were identical, except the material (aluminum vs CF), I took a chance on ordering the Colnago without test riding it first. It's the same chance you take when ordering a bike online in the size you normally ride. If it turns out that it doesn't fit, you have to box it back up and pay the freight to send it back and hope the next one you get fits like it should.

Sy Reene

I think this is the bit that's most controversial. Evidently most LBSs will not let you 'take a chance' and have them order a bike. There is no return option, or at least there wasn't wasn't one presented for the OP.

ltxi

My LBS has a 30 day, no questions asked, exchange or full refund policy on any bike in any mfg's line they carry. That includes any stock variant they have to order out. I've had to use this policy once and it was no problem.

Sy Reene

So there you go.. The real question is why do some LBSs then seem to have different return/exchange/refund policies with their distributors than other LBSs? Or, can it be said that just some LBSs are just trying the 'hard sell' approach because they're jerks?

MRT2

I don't think so, at least not in all cases. I suspect smaller shops just can't absorb a no questions asked return policy. They are often small business with limited floor space and they must choose their inventory carefully, or risk having a bunch of resources tied up in stuff that might take a long time to sell. That said, I have found that the smaller shops I did business with always did what they could to make things right when there was a problem with a new bike.

ltxi

Truth there. Mine is one of a local three store "chain" that tends to cater to a bit more upscale, real cyclists. So they have room to deal with the not often/occasional return issues.

ahanulec

Those are perfect words.

v402872

So very true, so very true. Could not agree more

12strings

I chose to go with a Local Bike shop when I bought my bike. It was a Jamis Quest Comp (Sora Component level). The only main online competor was a 105 level Bike from Bikes Direct. Here's Why I chose one over the other:

1. Local Bike shop: I can ride it, pick the right size, get free tune-ups for a year, have someone to talk to with any issues.
2. Better looking (subjective, I know): Pretty curved fork vs ugly straight fork, (Over-all, BikesDirect Bikes look ugly to me...Nashbar's are better).
3. Saddle unknowns...I know I like the Jamis saddle...with the other bike it is an unknown.
4. I got my bike for LESS than the bikes direct price, due to the shop's discount off MSRP. (albeit a lower component level)
5. No assembly required.
6. He had the previous model year on the floor for 15% off MSRP...I asked for the price of the current model year (better color), and he said he would give me the same price.

dim

I buy most of my gear from my LBS ..... I know the on-line prices, and so does he. He then negotiates with the supplier and makes 20-30% on the item as he owns a bike shop and gets discount. I still pay the same price as if I had ordered on-line.

It supports his business and he offers a superb service especially when it comes to repairs/bike servicing (we own 6 bikes between my wife and 2 children)

pdlamb

Does anybody but me see a problem with N=2 LBS corresponding to Universal?


There's a lot of bike shops out there. I've traveled 200 miles to find a "local" bike shop with the touring bike I wanted to try. They had one my size (I'd called ahead of time!), I tried a couple out, and came home with one I liked better than what I went to find. That was worth the trip.


If you know exactly what bike you want, you can still order one and a good LBS will fit it to you when it comes in. You can test ride similar models to get the size right ahead of time.

Luis G.

I think it largely depends on LBS in your area to figure out if LBS deserves your money.
In my area there is only 2 shops I trust buying from.

Also it isn't saving a few bucks.
I saved $500 buying my fitwell over a brand name from a LBS.

jefnvk

No. Not everyone has options. I've lived in areas that only had one shop in a 30-40 mile radius.

Maybe if you have something very specific in mind you'd want to drive 200 miles to check it out, but for most of us "local" does not include shops 200 miles away.

I like them when I need something NOW. I like them for clothes and accessories that generally aren't any less online. I like them for their used rack, if they have one.

Jeff Neese

I can't imagine waking up one morning and suddenly deciding that I had to have a new bicycle THAT DAY, and would be willing to walk out of a store with whatever they happened to have in stock. I think most buyers are pickier than you think,, at least the people who frequent these forums.

Trace Syd

The key advantage of buying from a shop is face-to-face advice, both in terms of buying the right sort of bike and also when it comes to fit and sizing.The direct suppliers make it as easy as they can, but phone calls, emails and Skype chats can't match face-to-face advice

Z953

I took my LBS's advice...


I went to the LBS that I bought my bike from to price a 105 groupset. He said, "Go online, I can't get even get near the prices that you will find on the internet". He explained to me that his suppliers quote him prices that make his jaw drop. I ended up piecing together a 105 groupset on eBay comprised take-off's from multiple BIN's for about $350 including all tax and shipping. It was the tools that was a kick in the nuts, I spent almost half the price of the groupset on Park Tools. But having said that, I compared prices of tools from a few LBS's vs online and I saved 30 to 50% on each tool buying through the internet.


I really want to support the small shops but when you can save up to half off what they are asking, you have to think about your own self at some point.

bakes1

Same advantage as going to a local shoe shop I guess.
Quite often I cannot find my size in a particular shoe or sneaker at a local shop. Sometimes I buy a different pair sometimes I stay with the same pair, pay them up front and have it shipped. And sometimes I simply leave without buying.
What I never do though is leave the shop to go home and post online about the viability of local shoe shops in general

I-Like-To-Bike

Perhaps there is a Shoe Forums somewhere on the blogosphere which has many enthusiastic posters who seem to be shoe store employees and other people financially or emotionally involved with a local shoe store (perhaps through a running club associated with the store or loyalty to a specific brand sold by the store).

On such a Forum, there might be similar posts about the "need" for shoe wearers to support their Local Shoe Store.

12strings

Regarding Distance:

I live in a small city that is about an hour drive (50-60 miles) from two major cities, each of which have at least 10-15 bike shops each. I shopped around lots of those shops for my road bike and ended up buying from one of them. I go back every few months to get the bike's free- check-up/tune-up, but not much else.

In my town, there is one small bike shop that is more BMX/hybrid focussed. They are good, nice people, and good mechanics. If I need something fast, I go there. If not, I'll often order online.
-Example: I got an old 1970s bike that I stripped down and re-built. The shop was able to hook me up with tires tubes, chain, bearings, cables, and housing the same day, so I was able to get my project done in one weekend. Online would have had me sitting around waiting for parts.

RichSPK

I bought my '85 Raleigh Alyeska at my LBS. I couldn't find one ANYWHERE online!

36Oly_Rider

The best advice I got about ordering online is to know what you're buying. I enjoy building my own bikes and there are some things that are far more cost effective buying online. I generally order the more expensive items like derailleurs/groupsets online when they go on sale. I can usually save up to 40% on them. A lot of the time, I will research it out and end up buying from the bike shop. Granted, it may be a little bit more, but less hassle waiting on delivery, back orders, etc... Every so often, items on Amazon can be had cheaper at the LBS...Just gotta look at the pro's and con's of buying online...

parulverman

I guess it is better to buy from a shop because you can get to know the exact size and wether it is comfortable to travel on the bike or not

CrowSeph

I buy almost everything online for many reason;

1. First of all the lowest price
2. Sometimes the local shops do not have the part i need , and the ordering time is reaaaaaaaaaally slow , some times i buy others products from the china and they arrive more fast than the shop's order.
3. Excuse me for the term but some shop's seller are just dickheads... The shop where i bought all my 3 bikes is just an incompetent , he made many errors and scratc my carbon frame. Last time i was in his shop he was tryng to sell some disck brake parts 3x times theyr price! So i changed shop and the other guys seems to be more respectfull but i still prefer the online buy.

mconlonx

For something like this, I'd offer either a discount off MSRP or free installation of parts to at least bid on the job.

If the customer was savvy and set on doing the work themselves, my advice would be similar to what you received, but if we were going to do the build, I'd give them the first two options along with a third: bring the parts in and we'll build it up for you at full service pricing, if they buy everything online. I'd even be happy to give out advice on which parts they need, which are compatible, where it makes sense to upgrade or save a bit by downgrading, etc. The only risk with this is getting the wrong or incompatible parts -- if the shop is buying parts, that's on them; if an individual is buying parts, they will eat the cost.

Another thing we do through the slow winter months is offer mechanics classes, some which are a basic overview of flat repair and shift/brake tuning -- basic ownership skills that are good to have -- but also more advanced classes and open time in the shop, kind of like free co-op time, advice, tools, and workspace/stand.