LBS says I can't take it out of the parking lot
07-07-09, 10:54 AM
#101
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Let's see... people don't wreck cars very often, cars don't fall over if you're careless, car dealers are equipped to touch-up minor paint scratches, cars take abuse better than bikes, the salesman can ride along on a car test ride, the markup on the car is large enough to make the hassle worth it...
Try showing up at a Suzuki dealership with a helmet and a motorcycle endorsement (which at least proves that you have some riding skills) and ask to take a new GSXR for a spin...
If I owned a shop (pretty big IF), I would have a restrictive official test ride policy - and waive that policy when it seemed to make sense to do so.
Try showing up at a Suzuki dealership with a helmet and a motorcycle endorsement (which at least proves that you have some riding skills) and ask to take a new GSXR for a spin...
If I owned a shop (pretty big IF), I would have a restrictive official test ride policy - and waive that policy when it seemed to make sense to do so.
07-07-09, 12:03 PM
#102
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I'm super tall (61.5 cm top tube for a not-that-aggressive position), so I've mostly had bikes built for me. There's no question of test tides in this situation, as they'd have to build you a demo bike, which is probably not all that profitable. Despite this, I've been happy with what I've been riding.
If you're buying a popular stock bike, you could probably do a bit of online research (here, roadbikereviews, etc.) and get a sense of what most people think about the model you are interested in. If everyone thinks a bike is stiff but responsive, it probably won't be cushiony and noodly for you, unless your body is markedly different than the average person's body.
An alternative to putting time and money into demo bikes is to have a very lenient policy for swapping saddles, handlebars, stems, pedals, and so forth. For less experienced buyers, it's usually one of these things (or a bad fit) that makes a new bike unpleasant, rather than a property intrinsic to the frameset.
Finally, if you all can get a good feel for a bike after 30 miles, my hat is off to you, it usually takes me several hundred miles to really figure out what I think of a bike.
If you're buying a popular stock bike, you could probably do a bit of online research (here, roadbikereviews, etc.) and get a sense of what most people think about the model you are interested in. If everyone thinks a bike is stiff but responsive, it probably won't be cushiony and noodly for you, unless your body is markedly different than the average person's body.
An alternative to putting time and money into demo bikes is to have a very lenient policy for swapping saddles, handlebars, stems, pedals, and so forth. For less experienced buyers, it's usually one of these things (or a bad fit) that makes a new bike unpleasant, rather than a property intrinsic to the frameset.
Finally, if you all can get a good feel for a bike after 30 miles, my hat is off to you, it usually takes me several hundred miles to really figure out what I think of a bike.
07-07-09, 12:14 PM
#103
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Let's see... people don't wreck cars very often, cars don't fall over if you're careless, car dealers are equipped to touch-up minor paint scratches, cars take abuse better than bikes, the salesman can ride along on a car test ride, the markup on the car is large enough to make the hassle worth it...
Try showing up at a Suzuki dealership with a helmet and a motorcycle endorsement (which at least proves that you have some riding skills) and ask to take a new GSXR for a spin...
If I owned a shop (pretty big IF), I would have a restrictive official test ride policy - and waive that policy when it seemed to make sense to do so.
Try showing up at a Suzuki dealership with a helmet and a motorcycle endorsement (which at least proves that you have some riding skills) and ask to take a new GSXR for a spin...
If I owned a shop (pretty big IF), I would have a restrictive official test ride policy - and waive that policy when it seemed to make sense to do so.
(God save the Queen?....or he could at least save me some money on insurance....)
07-07-09, 01:56 PM
#104
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When i was shopping a month ago for my first road bike, every single shop let me test ride any bike I wanted. One of the shops even set up a whole number of bikes in all of the price ranges including one worth $5k, just so I (as a first time road bike buyer) can ride and see how different frames and components feel even after i told them about how much i am willing to spend (alot less than 5k). I shopped around in about 5 different places and only 1 put forward a stipulation about not riding away more than 2 blocks (ironically I was trying out a $700 bike there).
Some places required me to wear a helmet and an orange reflective vest thing. Almost every shop let me try out different frame sizes and different stem sizes.
Some places required me to wear a helmet and an orange reflective vest thing. Almost every shop let me try out different frame sizes and different stem sizes.
07-07-09, 01:57 PM
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Let's see... people don't wreck cars very often, cars don't fall over if you're careless, car dealers are equipped to touch-up minor paint scratches, cars take abuse better than bikes, the salesman can ride along on a car test ride, the markup on the car is large enough to make the hassle worth it...
Try showing up at a Suzuki dealership with a helmet and a motorcycle endorsement (which at least proves that you have some riding skills) and ask to take a new GSXR for a spin...
If I owned a shop (pretty big IF), I would have a restrictive official test ride policy - and waive that policy when it seemed to make sense to do so.
Try showing up at a Suzuki dealership with a helmet and a motorcycle endorsement (which at least proves that you have some riding skills) and ask to take a new GSXR for a spin...
If I owned a shop (pretty big IF), I would have a restrictive official test ride policy - and waive that policy when it seemed to make sense to do so.
07-07-09, 02:51 PM
#106
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If a demo rider got hit by a car, the liability is his or the driver's, not the LBS.
If a rider gets injured doing something unwise on a bike, a standard release form ("You understand that cycling is an inherently dangerous activity, yada yada yada") will shield the LBS from liability.
Realistically, the only way liability attaches to the LBS is if the rider is injured as a result of a problem with the bike (e.g. the brakes fail, the seatpost splits, etc.).
If a rider gets injured doing something unwise on a bike, a standard release form ("You understand that cycling is an inherently dangerous activity, yada yada yada") will shield the LBS from liability.
Realistically, the only way liability attaches to the LBS is if the rider is injured as a result of a problem with the bike (e.g. the brakes fail, the seatpost splits, etc.).
07-07-09, 03:12 PM
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When i was shopping a month ago for my first road bike, every single shop let me test ride any bike I wanted. One of the shops even set up a whole number of bikes in all of the price ranges including one worth $5k, just so I (as a first time road bike buyer) can ride and see how different frames and components feel even after i told them about how much i am willing to spend (alot less than 5k). I shopped around in about 5 different places and only 1 put forward a stipulation about not riding away more than 2 blocks (ironically I was trying out a $700 bike there).
Some places required me to wear a helmet and an orange reflective vest thing. Almost every shop let me try out different frame sizes and different stem sizes.
Some places required me to wear a helmet and an orange reflective vest thing. Almost every shop let me try out different frame sizes and different stem sizes.
07-10-09, 01:43 PM
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Obviously I need to say it slower.
A car dealer might have one car that they use as a demo. If we keep a 52cm whatever in stock and you ride a 56, you want to ride the 52?
I really have not ever worried about the size of my car. Nobody ever measured me for a car. It would require a bike dealer to carry many bikes to go to "Demo" status...so there are enough models and sizes..plus you get the rubes that want to take it out but won't ever buy. All it does it make the shop lose money.
It's fairly obvious that many people will always be employees and work for someone else.
07-10-09, 02:59 PM
#110
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By the time you're in the market for a 2K bike you should already know enough about what you want and expect from a bike that you don't need to ride it for a week to make up your mind about the purchase.
07-10-09, 03:13 PM
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For what it's worth (prolly nuthin'!) - the Off Ramp is located in a horrible area, right there at Lawrence and El Camino which would be considered a freeway in most places. That intersection is a complete clusterf*uck. For anybody not familiar with Bay Area, Ca. traffic - it's getting as bad as Los Angeles. This is a city street (an expressway) that has seriously speeding traffic, like they are in some sort of open wheel auto race or something.
FWIW, the Off Ramp in Mountain View had no problem with me taking out a couple bikes onto the side streets a couple years ago.
07-10-09, 04:06 PM
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I understand why a bike shop might be hesitant to allow long test rides. But as a customer, the test ride is the single most important reason I'd buy a bike from a shop instead of from the intarwebz.
The business has changed. You aren't just competing with the other bike shops in town any more.
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07-10-09, 06:20 PM
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If I "didn't need a test ride" I'd just buy a bike off the internet - a lot cheaper.
07-11-09, 03:42 PM
#114
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I've always though test drives/rides are an essential part of purchasing a car/motorcycle/bicycle. I'm fairly sure most people agree with this as well, obviously not all, but most. Dealers and shops should realize this and considered it part of the cost of doing business before they ever opened their doors, and if they didn't, then I'll go onto the next shop as I'm sure most people will.
Also, I've never taken a demo car for a test drive. It's always beenthe same exact car I plan on buying, if it suits me, I take it, if not I walk out. If they don't let me drive the car I intend to buy, I'll leave.
Also, I've never taken a demo car for a test drive. It's always beenthe same exact car I plan on buying, if it suits me, I take it, if not I walk out. If they don't let me drive the car I intend to buy, I'll leave.
07-11-09, 03:49 PM
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The "you don't need a test ride" argument is kinda funny. Have I always test-ridden every bike I've bought? No, but other times I have.
To say that because some customers don't need to test ride a bike it means that nobody has to seems like a good way to repel potential buyers.
To say that because some customers don't need to test ride a bike it means that nobody has to seems like a good way to repel potential buyers.
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07-11-09, 06:29 PM
#116
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That was the story at the shop I bought my first bike from. When I made my last bike purchase, my new LBS had no problem letting me take a $9,000 bike for a 45 minute ride.
07-11-09, 06:55 PM
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Just to give examples of different situations, and yes as I previously posted we start with a test in the parking lot first:
Yesterday, just before closing, I sold a bike with no test ride. Not that I didn't offer, I sure hope he's happy with his $600 purchase.
On the other end, today I passed a guy off to the boss who is looking to upgrade from a CF bike with ultegra, I think, to something with dura ace. So the boss says, come back friday and I'll fit you on my litespeed and then come ride our sat am ride of 30-50 miles. He would be riding a stock bike if we had his size.
Just reiterating that different customers deserve different considerations.
Yesterday, just before closing, I sold a bike with no test ride. Not that I didn't offer, I sure hope he's happy with his $600 purchase.
On the other end, today I passed a guy off to the boss who is looking to upgrade from a CF bike with ultegra, I think, to something with dura ace. So the boss says, come back friday and I'll fit you on my litespeed and then come ride our sat am ride of 30-50 miles. He would be riding a stock bike if we had his size.
Just reiterating that different customers deserve different considerations.
07-12-09, 03:23 AM
#118
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Every car I've ever bought, I've test driven. Not a demo of the same model, the actual car I bought.
I understand why a bike shop might be hesitant to allow long test rides. But as a customer, the test ride is the single most important reason I'd buy a bike from a shop instead of from the intarwebz.
The business has changed. You aren't just competing with the other bike shops in town any more.
I understand why a bike shop might be hesitant to allow long test rides. But as a customer, the test ride is the single most important reason I'd buy a bike from a shop instead of from the intarwebz.
The business has changed. You aren't just competing with the other bike shops in town any more.
Yes...the car has about two gallons of gas in it too. Drive it around the block or up the street and back. You didn't drive it to Chicago and back.
In our case, we have a huge parking lot that we use. But the bikes that are sold in bike shops, you are not buying new on the internet. Sorry.
The business has changed. That's why we will pop through $9 million in bike sales shortly.
07-12-09, 09:45 AM
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How many bike shops are doing anywhere near as well as you are? For that matter, how many are doing as well now as they did five years ago?
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07-12-09, 09:51 AM
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www.competitivecyclist.com
www.all3sports.com
www.trisports.com
www.nytro.com
www.excelsports.com
Nearest LBS said my P2C would take 2-3 weeks to come in, just with the stock DA build. I called competitive cyclist and got a P2C custom-built with SRAM force delivered to my door in 6 calendar days.
There's also this program, which I thought was kinda cool:
https://www.trisports.com/fly-n-fit.html
And to demo those bikes that the LBS won't even let you touch before you buy... demo fees can go toward the bike purchase:
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/road-bikes/demo-bike
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Last edited by DrPete; 07-12-09 at 10:01 AM.
