So I went by the LBS today to pick up a saddle that I had ordered. There is a guy in there taking a test ride on a Trek Marlin 7, ended up buying it. After a quick conversation with the shop mgr, I head back to the counter to get my saddle and chat with a few of the mechanics and noticed that this bike is in the shop as the owner, dude buying the Marlin, wants them to fix the squeaking in the fork. This guy is 6.5 ft and the bike is at best a size medium and has 27.5 wheels. Bike easily weighs 60 lbs and the wheels are solid alloy or steel. Said he should have just bought the Marlin the first time he came in, but did not want to spend that much money, so he bought this thing off Amazon, and then ended up spending the money for the Marlin anyway. The guy working with him was trying to show him some of the hybrids as he told him he only planned to ride on paved roads, but he didn't want the skinny tires. When they told him he could get wider tires, he said , "the Marlin is perfect for me". Made me chuckle. I asked them what their plan was to fix the fork from squeaking, they just laughed. They told me they get 3 or 4 of these a month by people wanting to get stuff fixed after it breaks in 3 months.

What the hell kind of shoes is this dude wearing??? Look like unlaced high tops

I guess I assumed they were booties of some kind, but after looking again, this poor guy doesn't even have a left foot!

Making fun of someone for making an uninformed buying decision and posting pictures of their bikes is punching down. Enough with the " I'm smarter than them" signalling.

Assume the bike is as bad as people are saying. What's humorous about someone being conned into buying it? Do you laugh at old people who fall for scams?

Everything about the marketing is fair game for ridicule, the exposure of how bad they're lying could actually help inform unwary consumers, but there's no good reason to post ridicule of a buyer.

It's actually Clippy, the former Microsoft digital assistant. He had some work done and got bent into that position.

You have a knack for scolding and instructing other people about what you think is proper, then claiming that other people are being holier than thou when they disagree.

Can I score you as an 8, then? <----------rhetorical question

Repeated as a perfect definition of irony.

Interesting how so many threads devolve into petty bickering and name calling. I love this place.

I don't do the "holier than thou" accusation much. You, on the other hand, just did one. Might want to look up the word "irony".

Yes, I argue with people for exhibiting uncivil behavior, and you can call it scolding, if you like.

What I posted in this thread that is related to the topic is exactly what you say is fair game. Yet you get all worked up and chastise me for...I am really still not sure what I did that was worth being taken to task.
This is too funny to read.
Just report people if they violate forum rules.

You're either a liar or completely illiterate to the point you don't understand what you posted or what you were responding to.

If you're agreeing with me that the line between legitimate "go after it" and "bullying" is where I say it is, stop whining that I accused you of crossing that line. I never did, you made that up. If you're arguing that I'm putting the line in the wrong place, at least be honest about what you posted--whether you meant to or not, you did take a position on that. If you do that, you really don't get to complain if I post that I disagree with you about it.

Here

GCN did a review on a similar bike.

No one's claiming it isn't a ripoff POS. That's definitely a good warning to anyone who might contemplate buying one.

Good way to hide the fact that the brakes don't work might be to put the handles out of reach.

I am not wanting to argue anything. Its a thread about woefully designed/built/marketed bikes and I commented that the designers and marketers deserve criticism. That is also what you said- those people are fair game.
I specifically havent given an opinion on consumers, which is the group you declared should be off limits.
So my posted opinions on the topic so far align with what you want to see in the thread, yet you are chirping on about me doing something wrong...I am still not sure what though. You clearly dislike me having done something though.

Sucks you were so offended and hurt by my response to Siu, but it was neither offensive or improper. I didnt make fun of anyone specific or even in general.

From the perspective of consumers, this thread is a collection of classic buyer beware situations. People tend to laugh at those situations when they recognize them. If you dont like it and feel it violates the forum's rules, then report that laughing.

Someone needs to post The Simpsons gif 'wont somebody please think of the children?' because its long overdue.

I posted that I disagreed with what you said in your response to Siu. I never said anything about you being offensive or improper or even making fun of people. I stated and stand by my statement that OP did make fun of someone. Apparently, people disagreeing with you offends you.

BTW, are you now saying Siu shouldn't have commented on OP's post as she did? Was she just supposed to report it to a mod? You're making up rules and telling us what to do. Too funny.

We're done, you're trying WAYYYYYY too hard to miss the point and make it about imaginary offenses against you.

I honestly dont understand what issue you have with anything ive posted. You continue to just draw conclusions and then comment on the conclusions you drew.

- I am OK with you disagreeing with my post to Siu. I dont know what you disagree with, but I dont really care so I am quite content with you disagreeing with the post.
- If you dont think I am making fun of people, and that is the issue that you have with this thread, then why are you continuing to preach to me?
- If the OP made fun of someone, then dont quote me about it- just take it up with the OP. And maybe report the post if it is so egregiously offensive that you feel the need to respond about it being offensive.
- I am not offended with people disagreeing with me. I have yet to feel offended in this entire thread. Confused?...for sure. Offended?...nope.
- I am not saying Siu should have commented differently. I am not saying that nor am I suggesting that.
- I also am not making up rules or telling people what to do. You have claimed this a couple times now, but no, that isnt accurate. This board isnt mine so I am not making rules for it.
- It is unfortunate that you chirped up and chastised me for answering Siu's post because its led to here- no progress and nothing of value added. Its a pretty common result, from what I see.

The photographer in me is trying to figure what shutter speed they used to blur the background to such an extent but all the spokes are frozen almost as if the bike isn't even moving at all...

Well, that and it's obviously the reversed image of the bike the lady is "leaning" on. It appears they photoshopped a kickstand onto that one.

Fun to put these two together because that's clearly the same image of the bike with one being reversed. Also, the kickstand was probably attached to the bike they photoshopped out to replace with this thing.

At least we know any of us could get a job at Walmart assembling bikes.

Her hand must be REALLY flexible! It fits simultaneously behind the stem and in front of the fork spacers...

3 months ???? You have an inside source selling out the back door at Waterloo?

Cash talks.

But don't even THINK about using the warranty!

I pretty much have the same bike. The brakes don't work very well so there's no way you're gonna go over the handlebars if you hit the front brake all the sudden. The only thing that's gonna happen is you coming to a slow stop.