Remember the major difference between one bike and another is the frame. Competition in the bike business is fierce. Also, remember the LBS does not make much of their money on bike sales. They make their money on accessories and repairs & maintenance. Bike sales are merely a way to get more cylists and therefore more customers. So it is in the LBS's best interests to have their customers LOVE their bikes and ride a bunch so they will buy accessories and have repairs and maintenance done. It taiwanese bike frames had problems, the people who run the LBS would hear of it and not carry the bikes.