| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 2811.1 | y | MOVIES::WIDDOWSON | Red number 6 | Thu Jul 07 1994 13:25 | 28 |
| > They say it's a very rare store in the UK that does. Says
> people are fussy enough so that the bike is no longer "new", and so they
> won't buy it.
Not the answer you wanted, but it seems to me that you friend want to
change his bike shop. Althpough I've never done it, in discussions with
my local bike shop they are very fair, you swop your credit card for a
bike and if you do not buy it then they give you your card back. Of
course if you mess up the bike then will consider it sold and it would
appear to me fair that you pay them a setup cost if you do not buy it,
although this was not mentioned.
The sort of attitude your friend mentions is often prevalent in the MTB
type shops where the aim is to ship as much iron (Ti) to gullible but
rich yuppies as possible. Since There is real proft to be made on MTBs
(compared with the slender pcikings from roadies, this sort of shop is
in the ascendancy..
fwiw:
I have a friend who once `tried out' a bike and then bought the self
same bike from a catalogue, I count this as being imorral and in the
long run self-defeating.
/rod
You might also want to see note 11.31 in UK_BIKING.
|
| 2811.2 | | BASLG1::BURNLEY | | Thu Jul 07 1994 13:32 | 9 |
|
Tell your friend to try another Bike shop!
The bit about it being rare may be true in the Midlands but down south
I can think of a least 6 shops who have Demo Bikes, and who would be
happy to give you a test ride. Just grab a bike mag and do a bit of
phoneing around. I sure there must be one local to him.
|
| 2811.3 | | PAKORA::GGOODMAN | Loonatic | Thu Jul 07 1994 13:53 | 15 |
|
Yep, they are out there, just look for them. All will look for security
unless you are a known face. My local bike shop knows all the members
of my club and is less careful with us. He even let a rider test drive
a disk wheel in a local race. "See your time and you'll want to buy
it." He did, and he did. But that's the key. Find a shop you like and
stick with him. I can guarantee that I would find things 5-10% cheaper
elsewhere, but I still buy from him, because he will do me favours.
I've seen me need a spindle or a QR skewer and he's opened up a
complete hub and given me the part for free and sent the box back to
the manufacturer saying that it came like that. In the long run, the
faithfulness pays. Friendly bike shops are also good for insurance
claims... :-)
Graham.
|
| 2811.4 | | HYLNDR::WARRINER | Information is perishable | Fri Jul 08 1994 14:25 | 14 |
| I once walked into the bicycle shop in Chelmsford Center, and they
let me "test drive" a Trek without any deposit. I kept asking
him if he wanted my drivers license or something, but he said no.
I must have an honest face or something.
-David
P.S. Anyone want to buy a Trek 950 really cheap?
Just kidding.
|
| 2811.5 | | LHOTSE::DAHL | | Fri Jul 08 1994 16:04 | 7 |
| RE: <<< Note 2811.4 by HYLNDR::WARRINER "Information is perishable" >>>
> I once walked into the bicycle shop in Chelmsford Center, and they
> let me "test drive" a Trek without any deposit.
Chelmsford Cyclery, by any chance? A good shop to do business with indeed.
-- Tom
|
| 2811.6 | | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Fri Jul 08 1994 16:16 | 2 |
| I've only been there a couple of times, but I second that. Very
friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable...
|