Justen

Hi,

As you probably know from my posts, I just recently bought a '02 Brodie Bruzza. Overall, I am pretty happy with this bike but not so pleased with the LBS.

I feel like I have been ripped off. When I got this Bruzza, it only had 6" disk brake rotors on front and back, however, I was told by Brodie that these bikes should have 8" rotors on both wheels.

The store upgraded the front rotor for me free of charge which I thought initially was a good deal but when I went in the store yesterday, I saw another Bruzza on the sales floor with 8" rotors on both wheels. I asked why and was told that it was a custom job. That's BS.

I asked to have mine upgraded to spec standard and he said he would have to check with the manager.

Any suggestions ?

Justen

Dannihilator

Drop that lbs like a bad habit.

jtown

start a protest ... sit outside and tell people not to go in.

or just tell us the store name and word will get around.

Maelstrom 

Did you pay less than MSRP? I agree this is rude but if they gave you a good deal they may have taken the 8's and switched for 6's to justify a drop in price. But in all seriousness they should have told you what they did before selling you the bike. I really hope it wasn't On Top because I really like that shop.

BigHit-Maniac

Shady businesses like that piss me off.


Reminds me of something my old boss would do.

(at the shop I used to work at).

sebring

I changed LBS because the one where I bought my bike was very poor. He took long lunches making it difficult to stop by with the bike for maintenance or other needs. Found that his prices were higher than MSRP which really pissed me off. I'm now going to one close to my parents which is where I spend a majority of my time riding. If something happens when at my place I'm kinda screwed for like a week, no big deal. I too, am happy with the bike I got, but it all ends there.

Justen

They didn't give me a great deal. The bike was on sale when I bought it and they knocked another $30.00 CAD off it. I just feel really ticked off after seeing another Bruzza on their floor with the 8" rotors after they told me when I bought mine that Brodie had changed to 6" rotors. They had been pretty cool about everything else so I had believed them.

My other concern was about the tires. When I stopped in at another bike shop for some air in them, they were asking why there were such entry level tires on it. I had asked the LBS I bought it from to swap the tires because the tires that were on it were heavy knobbies and not really suitable to my riding. The original tires on the bike were WTB Motoraptor 2.4's.
I just wondered what the equivalent to these is ?

Anyway, I am going to talk to the manager today. She told me that I could switch tires still if I wanted to, even though I have been riding on them for a few days now. I will ask her about the 8" rotor and tell them that I want it installed on the back wheel at no charge.

Justen

Justen

One of the things that I like about this bike shop is that their service has been great. i.e. I have taken the bike without appointment and had it back within 2 hours (when they switched over the rotor and the stem).

However, I just feel that I was lied to about the rotors and that is what is making me angry.

Sounds like it was a good move on your part to change shops after seeing the higher than MSRP prices and crappy service.

I think this bike shop I am dealing with wants to maintain a good reputation. I am going to give them the opportunity to respond to my request to change the rotor. If they say no, I'll just go from there and talk about bad publicity or something.

Justen

Guest

I don't know about your LBS, but I've noticed here in Chicago, when I go to most of the LBS stores, they tend to pay much more attention to men than women. 8 times out of 10, when I was going from one store to the next looking for a bike, I got either the cold shoulder from the guys working there, or I got the "poor stupid female" attitude from them.

The 2 stores that didn't give me that impression I now shop at- scratch that- I just shop at 1 now, since the other one is more of a "treat 'em and street 'em" kind of big store and the other store is a small ma and pa store. Plus, the small store supports me going to Park Tool to learn about bikes- the mechanic was actually encouraging me to go there and get the classes on how to fix bikes. Now that's a store I know I can trust!

Koffee

Justen

I was told by one store that females do not need disk brakes because they don't really use them in a way that they can appreciate the difference and they may not be able to control their bikes with disk brakes.
What a load of BS !!!

You're right about the "poor stupid female" attitude. Most stores have male staff and they talk down to you like you're a child..very condescending. The LBS that I am dealing with about these disk brakes (and bought my bike from) has been fairly reasonable thus far in the sense that they told me I could switch my saddle at any point if it was not working for me and keep switching until I found the one that was right, that I could ride on my current tires for awhile and if I didn't like them, could switch over...etc etc.

It is just this thing with the brakes and the low end tires that bothers me. I feel like they lied to me and conned me out of 8" rotors. I wonder if they would have done this to a guy ?

Justen

Raiyn

I'm sooo glad my G/F's brother and I are such good customers of my LBS. My girlfriend doesn't have to deal with that kind of crap. (I honestly don't think she'd have to at this shop but who knows.) Here's an idea Justen: Go to the Brodie website and print up a copy of the listed specs there then go to the LBS with it and ask WTF! Force them to explain why your bike is different and why the CUSTOM bike has the stock components on it. I assume that Canada has a form of Better Business Bereau (sp sorry it's way late for me) you could always work that in if they give you a bunch of garbage.

I don't know how good you are, but if you're anything like my girlfriend those losers would have a B!z!ch of a time keeping up with you.

Guest

If the specs show they changed the bike, drop them an @ss whuppin' they won't soon forget either! I can't stand the attitude of these "good ole boy" LBS stores.

Damn. My blood pressure just went way up.

Good luck with this. Let us know what happens.

Koffee

Maelstrom 

I am so surprised you got that ***** out here. We have a huge contingent of female riders that are very very skilled. We produce the best female freeriders in the world and some of the best xc and dhillers...I am shocked and embaressed.

Justen

Hi Koffee,

I am going to do as was suggested - print out the Brodie specs and take it with me. I will simply say that I want my rear rotor changed to bring it up to spec. I will also point out that the Bruzza on their floor is exactly the same price as mine and has the 8" rotors and bring out the specs.

I am pretty assertive when I need to be so they are not going to win this !! At best, I get the 8" rotor..at worst, I don't get it but they will end up with a load of bad publicity.

I will fax them copies of my posting a note about their store, their service, their name etc and your responses ! :-)

Justen

Justen

I was shocked too. I don't go to that store any more and have spread the word to many of my friends who have called and told the store that due to the attitude of the staff, they will be cancelling their bike orders and going elsewhere.

It seems so backwards that male staff would still be holding these views these days. As you say, there are many good female riders out here.

Justen

Psykik

If you suspect and can prove that your factory bike may have been downgraded by the LBS, you might consider informing the bicycle manufacturer.

The manufacturer stands to lose their good reputation if the bike they ask to be placed on the showroom floor is modified and being sold with components out of spec or of lesser quality than designed...UNLESS the LBS advertises the bike as being modified as such.

Likewise, I am sure that the manufacturer would like to learn of a dealer that sells the stock bike at above MSRP due to "custom" parts that are actually factory parts.

Good luck in your endeavor.

You have been very patient and almost too understanding. I hope that it pays off for you in the end!

Rob

KleinMp99

First of all I think you are all insane. Secondly.....when bikes are shipped they dont always have the same parts as spec'd on their website, catalog, or anywhere else. Atleast they gave you the front 8"....dont make a huge deal out of only having a 6" rear.....you dont need an 8" anyway. Just a few days ago we went to build a womens stumpjumper that had a duke on it....and there is another stumpjumper sitting on the floor with an axel, does that mean we were swapping parts? NO. Try to talk to them about it.....maybe you should have noticed that it had 6" before you bought it.

Justen

First, there is no reason to be rude and call everybody here insane.

You have clearly missed the point. I have no interest in responding to the rest of your note as I just don't appreciate the way you have addressed me in this note.

Justen

Justen

Thank you Rob !
I think that Klein missed the whole point here.
The LBS was not honest initially when they told me that the Bruzza came with 6" rotors and then I later see that the bike is on the show floor with 8" rotors for the same price.

I did of course notice the difference in size of rotors but had been misled by the LBS about them being stock items and therefore did not query it at the time.

When I later asked for the upgrade to an 8" rotor on the front, they changed it.

Anyway, I am going to talk to the manager when she gets in this morning and see what she has to say.

Justen

descartes

Justen-

I agree that what the shop did was wrong. The salesperson was not honest with you in regards to what the bike comes spec'd with from the factory. It would have been one thing to tell you that they changed the rotors on your bike and that the difference is minimal, but for them to have changed them and told you that is how the bike comes is wrong. Many bike companies' websites and catalogs have disclaimers that specifications may vary. But again, the salesperson did not explain that to you and was less than forthcoming.

You have every right to have the bike you want. If you really want the 8" rotors, you should be firm and explain your situation. Check the stores return/satisfaction policy and if you paid with a credit card, have the cc company help you.

With that said, you may want to reconsider whether it is worth your time and effort and anxiety to push the issue. If the manager is unwilling to change rotors, perhaps she can give you some free equipment or give you some money back. You certainly have every right to bad mouth the store if they dont rectify your situation but that is time you could spend riding your bike. People here have said the difference btw the 6" and 8" is minimal and you will likely not notice the difference. I would trust their judgment. I understand the principal of the situation (and your position is correct) and sometime ago it would have bothered me to no end if the store didnt fix it and I would raise a commotion. But at some point you have to move on, let "the baby have his bottle" and just enjoy your bike.

However, if the store doesnt make you happy, I certainly wouldnt give them any more business in the future. Who knows what other corners they cut.

Good luck and let us know how it all works out.

BTW- nice looking bike. I was unfamiliar with Brodie until your posts.

pcsanity1

Quick question - you stated that you bought an '02 model - is the one on the floor now an '03? Are the specs different between '02 and '03?

Justen

Nope...mine is an '02 and so is the one on the floor. They are identical.

However, I have talked to the bike shop since and they have agreed to put a new 8" rotor on the back wheel as well after I explained my concerns.

Justen

descartes

glad to see everything is resolved. enjoy your ride.

KleinMp99

Sorry, I didnt read all the posts thoroughly....one reason being I was in a 85 degree classroom.

Psykik

Were you in class at that time?
If so, the darn teacher was probably distracting you as well