Originally Posted by D*Alex
Sorry-they have mostly the same sorry collection of Sino-junk bikes, with a few 'slightly better' bikes (Diamondback, etc) which sell for roughly the same price as at the local bike shop!!! Gee, that makes sense....spend the same amount for no service after the sale!!! Hell, I even went there to check on prices for Yakima racks. Guess what-the bike shop was cheaper!!
I just bought a Diamondback Topanga Comp at Dick's that my local bike shop wanted $200 more for. Sure the setup was awful, but I tend to repair and adjust my own anyway. I've been a loyal buyer from my lbs, but the local could not come close to matching the price for the same bike. The salesperson TOLD me to buy the bike at Dicks and he'd have no qualms about doing major service in the future. The shop still fixes all of my other bikes and I still support their business. The $200 that I saved will no doubt be spent at my local shop in the future.
If you buy at a discount store or an auction....do your homework and compare component for component.