Originally Posted by
tacomee
The reason Bikes Direct bikes are 20% cheaper than the ones at local shops is that the local shop assembles and adjusts their bikes. BD bikes are not assembled of adjusted. I've seen couple dragged into our shop. No worries, however, we fixed and adjusted everything for $100. Of those BD owners could have just come in and we'd of hooked them up with a great fitting bike for a little more than Bikes Direct and it have a warranty and a free tune up after a few hunderd miles (that's another $60 for all you BD shoppers)
As an industry guy, only a sucker would buy a bike mail order, sight unseen.
for hybrids that is probably true, however for a road bike, you guys don't have "mid level" prices... BD seems to have that covered... someone who buys a midlevel bike tends to want to have something solid. Mind you we, as a consumer, know we aren't getting the same thing as a name brand in terms of "quality", quality being defined as high level components/frame with an eye toward being a "weight weenie".
if you guys sold something akin to a bikes direct level bike with your service, I would pay more for that than I would pay for a bike "online" but I won't go double the price of a bikes direct level bike... I am not a racer, I am a recreational/commuter cyclist.
midlevel guys like me also are willing to "fiddle" with fit if need be... it will also be useful for what I like /don't like about fit, as I would like to get a "name brand" bike at some point in the future...