Serious Question: Buy From A Store with Poor Service?
06-22-14, 06:49 AM
#26
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Take the make and model and color of the bike you like, to a LBS you are happy with. Ask them if they will please order it for you. I'm sure they will. The cost may be a bit higher. The decision of course is yours. The decision then boils down to one of money vs service.
06-22-14, 06:53 AM
#27
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Thanks for the wonderful replies guys! Decided to mull on it a couple of days. I know many of you say its just a bike and you could always support your LBS by going to that shop for repair work and upgrades but I rather go with a shop like that from the start.
06-22-14, 09:16 AM
#28
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So they say but trust me I know people that work there and they are still taking stuff back that's 5-10 years old as long as you are a member and you refuse to take no for an answer. Official policy is make members happy. You can still get store credit if you argue
06-22-14, 11:31 AM
#29
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I've seen some MONSTER deals on carbon bikes on craigslist. Some people drop serious coin on a bike, then, find out they don't have time to ride it, or just don't like it.
Also, I used to be all about the free adjustments deal at the LBS, but really, once you get a bike dialed-in, the only adjustments are using the barrels.
As someone mentioned, you should be able to change your tire and other minor repairs. I just changed my cassette after watching a YouTube video. I had already purchased the tools from Nashbar.
If warranty really is a concern, LBS is the way to go, buy you live in densely populated area and a great shop should be available, even if it is a little bit of a drive.
S
Also, I used to be all about the free adjustments deal at the LBS, but really, once you get a bike dialed-in, the only adjustments are using the barrels.
As someone mentioned, you should be able to change your tire and other minor repairs. I just changed my cassette after watching a YouTube video. I had already purchased the tools from Nashbar.
If warranty really is a concern, LBS is the way to go, buy you live in densely populated area and a great shop should be available, even if it is a little bit of a drive.
S
06-22-14, 12:39 PM
#30
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Why don't you go there and judge FB for yourself? It's not really fair to formulate an opinion based solely on other people's opinions. If you end up liking them, then buy it. If not, take your money elsewhere.
06-22-14, 03:20 PM
#33
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FYI
freshbikes will move any of their inventory between stores, and the guys in their Bethesda shop are top notch.
freshbikes will move any of their inventory between stores, and the guys in their Bethesda shop are top notch.
06-22-14, 11:02 PM
#36
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Maybe so but that would still make you kind of a jerk. I'm all for stores backing what they sell and repairing or replacing defective products, but if you buy something with a lifespan, like clothing for example, and wear the heck out of it for years, and then after you've either worn it out from normal usage, or just want something new, you take it back an demand store credit - jerk move.
06-23-14, 06:55 AM
#37
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The issues are, the reviews are extemely poor. While it seems as though they stock a WIDE selection of products, it seems as though they don't really care about you as a customer unless you're rich. Many of the reviews talk about how they brought their bikes there but was turned away saying it was too cheap or old (remind me never to bring my Fuji there
).This may very well not be a fair criticism of the LBS. People will come into a shop with a low end (i.e. department store bike) that has never been maintained, and ask the shop to tune it up. The Shop is stuck in a bad situation here, they can expend the time and parts necessary to make the bike function reasonably well, and charge the customer a multiple of what the bike is worth, or they can half ass it, make it pedable, but its just going to break down again and PO the customer.
No win situation for the LBS, and people who think their $300 bike was expensive don't get it, and post criticism like that.
I'd rather go to an LBS that is honest in telling customers they can't help them, than a LBS that charges for work that never should have been done.
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