Knock Offs
 

Mike Of bikesdirect, you make this statement on this forum,

www.bikesdirect.com - Brand Name Bikes SAVE up to 60%

You include a disclaimer, when a bike is received, that the BRAND NAME on the bike has NOTHING to do with the REAL BRAND NAME. Is that correct?

Your 'CyclesMercier' is not a CyclesMercier bike, and your 'Motobecane' is not a Motobecane bike, is that correct?

You sell 'knock offs'. Yes?

If so, what part of the statement, "Brand Name Bikes" is TRUE? < - - why not the same disclaimer received with the delivered bike, BEFORE THE SALE?

May we inquire as to who does 'create' your 'knock offs'?

Thanks,
Craig

You could just PM the guy and ask him directly. Everyone knows his bikes are from frames made in asia with brand names that his company acquired the rights to use and have nothing to do with their original manufacturers. A knock-off is using for instance the name of another manufacturer and trying to make a cheap copy of it.

Clearly you have a bone to pick with Mike and I don't blame people for flaming you since lots of the bikes on this forum come from his company and your question is a little ignorant. Good luck!

IIRC he now owns those names.
They arent knockoffs.
Or maybe you dont know the definition of the word knockoff.

Wow

Hmmm it says BRAND NAME BIKES. You're getting a bike with a brand name. They have every right to put that name on the bike.

It does not say "BIKES MADE BY THE EXACT SAME GUY THAT MADE THE OLD MOTOBECANES THAT, LIKE, YOU MIGHT BE THINKING OF. OR THOSE CYCLESMERCIERS"

Fools and liars, when the fools uphold the liars, what then? C'ya

I guess they ban you for making a name just for trolling or something.
Who knows.

:)

ha.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...t=#post5383651

If I believed he existed i would simply say OMG! :twitchy:

:rolleyes:

Get a life.

Wow his first and second posts ever only to talk trash about BD. He'll last real long.

I have no bone to pick with BD, but some of the statements on there website could be viewed as misleading.

"We are blowing these out for Mercier as a special promotional deal"

This implies that Mercier is a separate entity that designed this bike. Is that the case?

"We are an authorized Motobecane USA and national service/warranty center
These bikes are the newest 2009 models being sold at a special introduction price.
They will be on the Motobecane site later this year."

Isn't Motobecane USA just a BD shell? This suggest that BD is merely a distributor and dealer for a separate company, Motobecane USA.

"We scored a super deal on a very small shipment of 2009 Windsor Knights"

Again, this definitely suggests that BD is a middleman for a separate company called Windsor.

The About Us section of the website simply states:

"Bikesdirect.com has been selling high quality bicycles on the internet for well over ten years.
Longer than many bike shops near you
We believe in bringing you the best deals possible - some are almost unbelievable!"

There is no mention of BD's branding practices and the use of names from defunct companies. There is no acknowledgment of the names being just that, names. Considering the descriptions imply that the bikes are designed and made by separate companies called Mercier, Motobecane, and Windsor, this omission is a little dishonest.

I could be totally off base with this, because I fully admit to knowing little about the bike industry. However, I can easily see why someone could feel mislead.

Not to be all technical... But that you inferred, does not mean that they implied.

Meh. Bud Light commercials imply that hot bikini models will want to sleep with me because I drink Bud Light.

Come on. You're an American. You should be inured to marketing tactics by now.

Troll-tastic!

[/THREAD]

hahhah lookit the ballwashers! that isnt a personal attack, its posed as a legit question, and bikeybikebaby trying to claim that there is no manipulation in BD text by saying the poster is the one making the implication, so very high school

dude, it doesn't reflect anything but that you are a cheapskate if you own a BD bike, it doesnt mean you fell for their lame marketing, or that you are a chump (you are) or anything like that. BD is a shill selling mass marketer, you are BD *****es, there is no shame in that simply cause its true. Having one of those cheap bikes just means you poor or something. get over yourself, you are probably american and not sure what truth in advertising is.

and god, everyone knows that Mike doesn't post here, it's just some schmuck that blows mike.

you not being technical, just wrong, the dude is pointing directly at teh language used, not defining it for you.

OP, you fail at trolling.

See how jaysilent does it? That's what you should be aiming for.

Practically every bike sold is manufactured in Taiwan, then badged with some "brand" for sale. Maybe back in the day those brands actually meant something about their origin, but that's extremely rare today unless you're shelling out big bucks. Many brands, BD or otherwise, use the same exact factories. The names "Raleigh" and "Schwinn" are no different than "Windsor" and "Mercier" in my book.

Buyer beware and all that, and like everything else, you're getting what you pay for. Companies hype their products, but BD is refreshingly direct about how they run their business, how they source their stuff, and how they acquire and use their brands. It's all right on this board for anyone with half an inclination to find out. Other low- to mid-range bike companies are no different, they just aren't as open about it. If you really want a "true" brand in today's market, stop whining and pay accordingly for a custom frame.

P.S. Why is this in the SSFG forum?

+1

Many bike companies have been bought and sold numerous times and the vast majority of "venerable" brands are no longer owned or manufactured by the same people or even on the same continent as they originally were. I don't see how new bikes branded with a Motobecane sticker are any less legitimate than most other brands.

I don't like bikesdirect, and I don't like their bikes either, but you're just being insulting and stupid. There's nothing inherently wrong with BD bikes, and you get decent value for what you pay

BD is selling those taiwanese frames for a low price that others are charging a premium for just by adding a currently well know, upper tier brand. If you compare the frames being sold by BD to other manufacturers you will see they're exactly the same only the stickers are different. If you like paying 3-400 more for a sticker by all means you are the chump!

Or better yet, if anyone thinks BD sucks or think theyre bull****ting you.....just dont buy from them.
Its pretty simple. Nowadays there are SO many choices on the market.
Make yourself happy and stop wasting it on the internet bashing a random company.

thas wha i'm talkin bout, and its silentjay not jaysilent don beleave wha u read