Originally Posted by
Smaug1
Well, at least some of this is down to the owner of your "Trek retailer".
It does feel more corporate and Plan-O-Grammed, but they will service any bike and are very helpful overall. There is one salesman working and two mechanics at any given time. On busier days, two salesmen and three mechanics. The owner is floating around most of the time too, lending a hand in both areas. (he's a retired MTB racer)
Are you sure you're not just harboring some anger because they're a big corporation and over their supporting a doper 20 years ago? As big as they are, they're small compared to Giant.
I really can't think of how you can criticize their variety; they make a bit of everything, esp. when you consider that Electra is a Trek brand too.
I also have a more local 2nd generation ma 'n pa shop. They're a Giant, Jamis and one other brand I can't think of dealer. Also friendly, but prices are higher and service is not quite as good, as it's a skeleton crew by comparison. It doesn't help that the other local shop closed up last year.
Your mileage may vary on some of this. the 'owner' is gone, and big T took over our local and ruined it; don't think it will ever come back. used to be a fun place to visit, quite lively; now dead. maybe in the Spring they may sell a few bikes, maybe not and probably close up, a once great Bike Shop.
and maybe Bicycling itself is going down with many other great things; remains to be seen.
The big T makes a nice bike and i have a bunch of their brand, they just need to get back in their lane and stay there. Let the real Bike shops sell bicycles, the manufacturers can do what they do best, it is not running bicycle shops.