kissesmom

I hope this isn't too silly of a question but I am buying a new bike for the first time in years and this is my 1st experience buying one at a bike shop rather than a big box store.

I am very excited as I am purchasing a Townie 3 that I was able to test drive at my LBS . I fell in love with it.

Now for my question. Is it wrong of me to ask the shop if I can buy the model that is hanging on the ceiling with the packagin/plastic wrap still on the seat (I am assuming it has not been test ridden much if at all)?

Is it normal to buy the test ridden bikes at the new/full price? Are they really "new" if they have been tested.

In this particular shop, you can ride any of the bikes on the floor so I assume most are tested. The dealer seemed like he was hoping I would purchase the model I tried out but I wasn't actually ready to buy that day however, I am going today to buy but I don't know if it is wrong of me to ask for a bike that has NOT been ridden? Hope my question makes some sense as I am having a hard time wording it. Thanks

M_S

It shouldn't really matter. A bike like that in particular will have been ridden at most 10 miles. If there is visible damage then you could reasonably ask for a discount or the one that is hanging from the ceiling, I suppose.

Retro Grouch 

Trust me, what you are asking is a lot bigger deal to you than it is to the dealer. Eventually he's got to sell both Townies and he won't particularly care which one he sells first.

kissesmom

Thanks for your reply, however the problem I simply called and asked if I could have the model on the ceiling and he seemed bothered by this and was rude to me. In other words, what is the big deal? It seems like now he is just pushing the floor model to me and as a customer I don't see why I cannot just buy the one I want. It is MY money. Both bikes cost the same. I would just prefer to be the first to ride the bike is all.

He also lied to me on the phone just now and said the one on the ceiling is going to take long for me to get since it had to be put together. What?? It was already completely put together when I was in there and test rode the other one. I just don't know what the big deal is. Apparently they just don't want my money it seems.

kissesmom

I see your point there but it is no reason for him to make me feel wrong or feel as though I am putting him out by asking for the other one is it?

And this really bites now because it looks like I may not be getting my townie since they are the only dealer near me that sells electra. And noone ships these bikes out.

J.C. Koto

Ok. This might sound rude, but I don't intend it to be. These are just a few facts. First off, you really *don't* want to be the first to ride a new bike. When they are shipped from the factory, they are usually mostly assembled, but some of the bolts, fasteners, cables et cetera can get loose. This is why most good bike shops will test ride all their new bikes first. Sort of a shakedown period so they can make necessary adjustments before passing a possibly *unsafe* ride off to the customer. So, with that in mind, you probably won't be the first to ride a new bike unless you assemble it yourself, or purchase it from a department store, neither of which are ideal.

Second, it's common for bike shops to store "unfinished" bikes (like the untested ones mentioned above) from the ceiling as space is usually at a premium. Unlike other retail outlets, there aren't any shelves in a bike shop to keep back-stock, and there usually isn't a "back room". I don't think he was lying to you when he said it would take time to put it together.

Third, and this is the potentially rude part , is that unless there was a good reason (ie, scratches, dents, or if the ceiling bike was a different size or color, etc.), what you were asking was needlessly demanding. You tested the bike and fell in love with it, but just had to have the "fresher" one on the ceiling. Was is happier? Did it smell better? I say this as one who has worked in retail for a long time -- you, as a customer, have expressed doubts as to the competency of the dealer, and showed little faith in their product. I don't know you or him, and I wasn't there, but frankly, if one of my friends was a dealer in his position, we'd both have a good gripe session behind your back. That's just the way it is. Anywhere.

So, if you got a bad vibe from the shop, then just go elsewhere. Otherwise, get the bike you fell in love with and ride and enjoy!

[EDIT] I forgot to ask: If you hadn't noticed the other bike on the ceiling, would you have bought the one you rode?

Retro Grouch 

Having previously owned my own bike shop and having worked in several others.

Point one: Balogna!
Point two: Bike shop assembly of a bike like a Townie takes a slow mechanic less than an hour.
Point three: What's wrong with giving the customer what they want? That's where our money comes from.

Write out the check and tell him it's for the bike on the ceiling or no sale.

cooker

^^^assuming the one on the ceiling is the same size, etc.

st0ut

Go to a different shop. buy off the floor these bike have been shakenout a bit. The Townie is a great bike but every other bike manufacturer makes a similar product the trek wasabi, felt necter fuji saratoga. etc etc etc
However the relationship you have with your LBSis more important than the brand of bike. Find a LBS that make you feel comfortable and you are satified with there knowledge and love of cyceling.....

My LBS said the bike you really want we dont sell but we can get you a frames canbalized your old bike and buy the rest of the parts. even thought they new i wasnt gettinga bike for 2 months they where more interested in the long term deal than the quick sell it worked.

kissesmom

Oh thanks so much Stout, Retro and JC. Before I read these last two posts I headed to the LBS mentioned above and went ahead and bought the bike. The one overhead was actually a 24 " I was able to work with the shop manager, not the guy I spoke to on the phone or emailed with previously.

Anyway, the manager was very nice and he said it was my choice if I wanted the one I test rode or if I wanted him to place an order for a new one.

I looked over the one I rode and saw nothing wrong and it rode beautifully so I made the purchase.

I am happy that I went back and now I have my new first ever townie/lbs bike!

I haven't had a bicycle in years so I am excited to get out there. I have a really good warranty from the store and Electra so that makes me feel good too!

To think, I was going to buy a bike from Walmart. I am glad I did my research and feel I will be happy with my bike.

Thanks again.

Wordbiker

Glad you like the Townie. They're very comfortable and easy bikes to ride, and the 3-speed should give you many years of service with little maintenance.

st0ut

OMG how close we came to loosing her.

BTW when your kids want a new bike use the LBS as well. A real bike compared to an x-mart specail is like comparing a playstaion 3 to a atari 2600.

Weight, proper adjustments, a drive train that WORKS. At 6 my son can drop me if i am not paying attention (Specialized Hotrock 20' coaster). But there is anouther factor... my son sees the car as only something that we use to put the bikes on to go riding when we go other places. and the Bike as his primary choice of transportation. Not as something he wants to abandon just cause he turns 16 i hope that last.

Timtruro

I would head off to another shop. There are too many around to put up with being treated poorly.

kissesmom

Unfortunately in my area there are not many around at all and this is the only one that sells the Electras.


I appreciate your reply but being the novice I am, I made some mistakes in this situation as I prejudged without really knowing the ins and outs of an LBS. For instance, the overhead bike was not completely put together as I thought. It just looked that way to me so I "assumed" it was.

I also did not realize that the overhead model was actually the 24" not the 26" like the floor model I test rode and bought. Although the dealer I sdealt with when I first went to the shop did not say it was the 24" and he was the one who I thought was rude when I was on the phone with him when he mention it would take awhile to get it down and put it together. Once again, no specification that it was also NOT the 26" He went on to say that if people did not buy the tested bikes he would not be able to let anyone test ride bikes at all. I now understand this but I still feel he was treating me as if I was putting him out by even suggesting to buy the bike that was hanging. So I still agree he was rude and probably won't deal with him again.

However, I emailed them yesterday before I went back to make the purchase to let them know my feelings and the manager emailed me back and from then on I dealt with him and he has treated me well. So I guess it was a bit of both our (dealer and customer) faults in this particular case.

No matter now, however, as I really do love my new bike and at least now I know that if I have a problem I can take it to my LBS.

And yes Stout, I will take your advice regarding getting future bikes from my LBS. In fact I took my 13 year old daughter in with me yesterday to purchase my Townie and she absolutely fell in love and now wants the lovely ladies super deluxe 3 cruiser. I may have actually created a monster..lol....

J.C. Koto

Congratulations! I'm absolutely thrilled you love your new bike It also sounds like you built up a good relationship with the manager which is always a good thing to have when tune-ups, upgrades and new bikes become necessary.
Ride safe and have fun

kissesmom

quote from JC "You tested the bike and fell in love with it, but just had to have the "fresher" one on the ceiling. Was is happier? Did it smell better?"



Thanks JC but this was still a rude and unecessary comment from you..I know I know you forewarned me that you were going to sound rude...

Siu Blue Wind

I'm a picky person when it comes to bikes.

Having a LBS in the family, it's really not a problem to get a new one for you. It makes you happy and you will tell your friends.

Even if you buy the floor model a new one has to be built up to replace it anyway. Might as well get the new one!

Glad you enjoy your new bike. Congrats!! And don't forget to post pics!!

John Dark

Come on people. You're getting a bicycle, not a wife. It doesn't matter if it's already been ridden or not.

Siu Blue Wind

Yes it does.