Should a dealer charge for...
 

I'm in the process of buying a new bike, and unfortunately, will be paying FULL list price on it.

The Ritchie Adjustable Stem that comes with the bike is 100mm, and I've determined that I need an 80mm. The dealer wants to charge $30 to swap in the shorter piece, but will give me the 100mm stem to sell on Ebay (lists for ~$60 new).
Do you think this is a reasonable charge if I'm paying full list, or do you think it should be included?
Just curious.

thanks

should've swapped it out no charge....
i bought mine at 30% off retail and i got a free swap.

I would try to find another dealer. Not that there's a law or rule, but they are doing NOTHING to earn your patronage.

what's stopping you from swapping out the stem yourself?

Ummm, because you'd have to buy the stem to do that. :rolleyes:

My opinion... if it is a fit issue (going from a 100mm stem to a 80mm stem) they should definitely be doing this at no cost. Tell them to ebay the damn thing. Especially if you are not getting any kind of deal on the frame.

ritchey stuff on ebay goes for rock bottom prices unless it's the carbon flavour.

Not to open a can of worms but if you need an 80mm stem maybe the bike is to big.......

agreed.

No, I don't this is a reasonable charge.

I vote for the bike is too big as well. That's an awful short stem.

+1

Swapping stems is part of the fitting process. Unless you upgrade, it should be gratis.

Free stem swap or find another dealer. I've had shops switch out parts at no extra charge without any trouble at all.

Also, frame is probably too big to start with.


Edit: you are not being a PITA customer are you? ;)

Have you checked the Pay It Forward thread in Marketplace->For Sale? It's sticky...

is this a high-end, mid-range, or low-end bike? Is this the only place within reasonable driving distance to get the bike? Adjustable stems come usually on lower-end bikes, and unless you're married to whatever color scheme, you'll be able to find a comparable bike at a hopefully more customer-oriented shop.

Customer service and proper fit is the ONLY thing keeping consumers off of bikes direct. The ONLY reason. If I knew that I was going to have to pay for a swapped stem and basic fitting, I'd have bought my wife's bike online. As it was, I got a great bike at a great price AND a stem swap and lifetime tune ups through my LBS. If I can properly fit my own bike, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Scattante, Motobecane or any other 'lesser name' brand bike because they are great bikes. Across this forum, wherever you see people asking about BD, you'll find the main reason to NOT buy a first bike from them is "FIT." Expertise and part swapping. Another LBS (that I didn't happen to buy from) even advertises that they will cheerfully swap out any component cost for cost on an off the shelf bike. NOT asking the customer to ebay the part themselves. That's absurd. If at all possible, I'd find another shop.

-Jeremy

Me? A PITA? I resemble that remark. :)

It's entirely possible, although I usually consider myself fairly reasonable. The dealer was kind enough to offer a discount on a multiple bike purchase, but when the others in my buyer's group fell thru, I lost the discount. Now it's full price.

The bike is a Jamis Aurora touring bike, and I think part of the problem "may" be that I'm in between the 50cm and 53cm sizes.

My stats:

I'm about 5'6.5"
pants inseam 30
Pubic bone height 32"
In shoes ~33"

The 50cm bike;

30.45" standover,
effective TT of 535mm,
4.53" head tube,
Comes with an 80mm stem.

The 53cm bike;

31.45" standover,
effective TT of 545mm,
5.32" head tube,
comes with an 100mm stem (so does the 55cm, btw).

I test rode last year's models, and although the 50cm felt ok, the 53cm just felt more like "home"; relaxed and stretched out, a more commanding view of the road, crank motion didn't feel quite as cramped. Maybe I'm crazy. The only problem was that I needed to reach just a little too far in order to comfortably ride the brake housing, which is my usual position. And this was after flipping over the adjustable stem in order to raise the angle.

Btw, THANKS for all the replies. It's very much appreciated.

True, but in regards to this thread, that comment is akin to a car dealership telling a person to get a Maco paint job instead of trying to get the color the customer asked for in the first place. I stand by my comment that the stem swap should be free (unless an upgrade as mentioned above).

did they order all the bikes in for the deal you guys had. Then maybe that is why you are stuck paying full price. They might be stuck with multiple bikes. If not then forget it buy from somewhere else.

I'd buy the bike if I had to, but get a stem somewhere else and be done with it. It does not sound like they care if you come back or not.

. . . not much of a 'dealer' . . . tell him 'goodbye!'

It seems the shop does not want to be stuck with one of these stems he cannot sell.

http://ritcheylogic.com/web/Ritchey~...ble_angle1.jpg

The dealer said they recently picked up the Jamis line, and only had one 59cm Aurora in stock when I called a month ago. I then asked them to order me a 53cm, which they were happy to do. When I told them that my other friends had crapped out, they said that they had intended to order a complete size run anyway, and had not ordered for them specifically. They're a new mom & pop store in a trendy neighborhood in Chicago, and seem very nice. We've actually exchanged 8 or so emails, so I'd like to help them out. It's just that I don't wanna feel like I'm getting nickel and dimed when I'm paying full price in the dead of winter, and I also don't want to feel like I'm nickel and diming them either. That's why I'm asking your opinions, which I deeply appreciate btw. Heck, they might even feel that a 50cm is more appropriate for me.

Is an 80mm stem really that short, considering that the 53 and 55cm's come with a 100cm? Also, it's kinda nice that the 53cm gives me a 3/4" taller head tube, which lets me have higher handlebars.

Better than being stuck with an entire bike that went unsold if you ask me. I worked in a bike shop and can tell you that leftover, unwanted parts are part of the cost of doing business.

Btw, the "adjustable" stem (online brochure says Ritchey Comp Adjustable) doesn't look like that in person, and doesn't have the infinitely adjustable angles like that one. I think it may just be a flip-flop stem with choice of two angles. Not absolutely positive, but pretty sure. Look at the pic on jamisbikes.com