forresterace

Simply not worth my effort!

jefnvk

FWIW, Performance Bike requires you to pay in full before special ordering in, if you want something they don't have on the floor. I believe REI does the same. Both will refund you if you don't want it, but they want to stop people ordering in a bunch of bikes they then have to sell. Being in remote Canada and buying a somewhat oddball bike, I would really expect the same (albeit without the option to return for a full refund if you simply decide you don't want it)

That's not the smartphone's shortcoming, that is the site offering up a mobile site without it regardless of your wishes. Maybe realize that not everyone utilizes the internet the same as you?

shelbyfv

Population under 20,000 and one bike shop plus a used bike/co-op/glass works outfit. Looking more and more like a specific customer issue.

forresterace

That's not the smartphone's shortcoming, that is the site offering up a mobile site without it regardless of your wishes. Maybe realize that not everyone utilizes the internet the same as you?

Whether I realize it or not, it's still not my, nor my computer's, problem.

Dan Burkhart 

Putting myself in the shoes of a bike shop operator in Yellowknife NWT, I think I would take measures to ensure I didn't get saddled with an expensive e-bike that may sit on my floor for years if the person who ordered it backed out.
Not sure I would ask for the entire price, but certainly a substantial non refundable deposit.
I've been to Yellowknife, albeit in winter, so I'm not sure how much of a cycling culture there is in the (very short) summer.

jefnvk

Good for you. Neither are responses not taking into account where the OP is. If it was that relevant, it should have been detailed in the question.

As the question stands, I don't really think location plays all that much into effect, other than not having a convenient second option to order from. Something that exists even in far less remote rural America.

Skipjacks

Did the OP ask the bike shop for an explanation? We can speculate all day long here. But the bike shop knows why they want the full price and knows the 100% absolute correct answer.

I find that just asking questions like that usually results in a "happy to explain" honest answer. I don't always like the answer...but I rarely have trouble getting the answer. And sometimes when an answer I don't like is explained to me clearly I understand why a store is doing what they are doing, even if I still want them to do something else.

Plus if you just talk with the shop owner and convince him that you're a serious buyer he might cut you a break on the 100% thing.

Or he may legitimately not have the cash or credit line on hand to do the purchase on his own. I have to think a bike shop in Yellowknife is running on a pretty thin profit margin this time of year.

Dan Burkhart 

Hey forreterace I haven't seen you on here in a while. How ya been?
I posted the above remark before I noticed that some others pointed out the OP's location.

borgey007

I apologize, I should have changed my profile - I currently live in Toronto, Canada.

jefnvk

In that case, there should be another Specialized dealer in the area. May be worth phoning one and just asking what their policy is.

northtexasbiker

Lots of things require a full payment upfront, although deposits are more common. It's certainly not an unheard of policy. I don't think you are going to be left in the lurch either way. Even though there is no written contract there is still a verbal contract, and no court (if it were to come to that) is going to believe that you verbally agreed to purchase the bike regardless of condition. So if it were to come damaged, the store is going to refund you your money. Put it on the credit card as well and you get a little more control back.


Also in reverse if the store were laying out the initial cash and only required a deposit and the bike came damaged and you walked, they would then ship it back to Specialized and get their money back. At no point in the retail model is anyone ever agreeing to purchase damaged new equipment unless it's a discount. There doesn't need to be a written contract to explain that.

Dan Burkhart 

Oh yeah, that changes things. For one, you have lots more options in bike shops.

Dave Cutter

Yep.... and even if the sale is completed with buyers satisfaction... inventory is often floated on loans... so there will be interest. And if paid for with a credit card on delivery the LBS will pay 5-8% carrying fee to the CC vendor/bank. Making profit is never easy... and this situation doesn't make any easier.

I remember people asking in the 50's.... isn't a MOPED just and under-powered motorcycle with pedals? It reality any bicycle with motor (even tightly wound rubber bands) ... is a motorcycle. IMHO.

The other option for the buyer is get in his car/truck.... and drive to the big city (or into "the states"). Make his selection... load it up and drive it home.

borgey007

The Specialized Turbo Levo "E-bike" is a pedal-assisted electric bike.
There is no throttle, the motor only helps you when you peddle; the harder you peddle, the more the motor helps you.

The motor will cut out however at 20mph (18 mph according to online reviews).

SquidPuppet

It's a business transaction, not church. I'd be very uncomfortable hearing that.

I'd be GONE.

shelbyfv

Sounds as if that's what the shop has in mind.

blakcloud

Well that changes everything. I hope you can work something out with the shop but as others have said there are other Specialized Dealers in the city.

Welcome back to Toronto.

fietsbob

Me No I dont, but my LBS Sells TRek not Specialized...

We have a Friend of the Shop in the Coast Guard , he worked in the



LBS while stationed here, got transferred to Kodiak Island..

has developed a market there for Fat bikes , and works with the old local down here.. the bike gets repackaged to go USPS

since UPS is not serving there as well and at as low a cost, as the post office does.

Looking at the 2018 Trek electrics in the states , they're all arpond 4 to 5 thousand.

in Oregon No sales tax, or your CDN GST....

Mid drive Conversion motor kits for existing bikes start @ $1500 USD.





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Sy Reene

The more you try and exercise, the more the bike tries to stop you?

WizardOfBoz

I'd also wonder whether the LBS in question is in good financial shape. That 8000 bucks might be to pay off debt and you'd never see your bike when the LBS declared bankruptcy. Their mere asking for 100% would send me to the next bike shop.

borgey007

Not really.
The more you try and exercise; or the harder you work - the more assist you get.

If you don't work (ie pedal hard), you get less or no assist.

fietsbob

Un Like Canada, & most other countries, we have to pay for medical insurance out of pocket in the states..










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bicyclridr4life

From my experience in retail, (I've managed a few stores) the normal deposit on any special order is what the store or shop's cost, with the deposit being non-refundable.
That way it does not cost the store or shop anything, and if the person or group decides s/he or they don't want it, the shop is not out anything.

IMHO, any request or requirement for 100% of the MSRP for a special order is a football field size red flag.

fietsbob

wait till spring, maybe then they will get a truckload of new bikes and have one of those included,
to not special order and pay shipping on just one..



pedal-electrics are a thing a lot of people ask about..

Here, last summer, conversation fades away when the real price ( those Kilo-Dollars), enters the conversation.

but maybe you have more money circulating in Toronto. whether they pay you with enough is up for question.





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blakcloud

If you care to share for us Torontonians what shop is it? My guess Bike Depot on Bloor. I can also understand if you don't want to share.