[Mike1jw]

I guess this subject can go on forever
I find that I am going back and forth between buying from a LBS or online. I can get twice the bike online that I could get in a LBS. I would like the service and the fitting, yet with a little planning it seems that you can fit yourself. Lets face it, even the the people that do the fitting will say the final choice is a personal one.

I CAN'T MAKE UP MY MINE

[Burr]

Mike, why don't you take the papers from the on-line store into the LBS and ask them to match it or see how close they can come. THEN you got a friend in a LBS to ask questions and turn to !!!!!!

[jeepster93]

I measured myself at home. There are several places on the web for this.
I DID go to a couple lbs's before I bought online.
I looked at a Fuji and a Specialized or two.
But in my defense... The Bike Source(the Specialized dealer) could care less and was way too busy fussing with a wall of inventory and a damm telephone to be bothered by a cash customer...his loss! If I am in your store with $1000 cash in hand and YOU THE DEALER shows more interest in a ringing phone...I WALK!!! And that fuji was one ugly bike...ugly! The colors were a bit...well not my taste.
U-haul did the same thing when I tried to buy(with green cash money)a trailer hitch and every time the phone rang...she stopped dealing with me and had a conversation on the phone(several calls later) I walked out and went to Draw tite and was treated like a man with cash money!
Guess which trailer hitch I got?

Same with bikes..I am NOT riding a specialized bike. Doesn't matter if Specialized is God's gift or not, not going to be treated poorly and then hand over my money!

Treat me like your business is dependent on me...especially when I have cash money!!!
OR
I will go to a place where they WANT my money.


Also...
I have VERY limited funds, I work hard for my money.
I will make EVERY EFFORT to spend my money on large purchases, on the "best bang for the buck". If this is on line...so be it.

[snowbird]

I havn't found a spin "around the parking lot" any more informative than the sizing information posted on most websites.

I like GM's marketing plan where you have 60 days to decide wheather you like their car or not. For me a 20 minute test drive isn't enough to decide on a major purchase. It takes me 20 minutes to figure out the radio and climate controls.

[funetical]

Most places let you ride the hell out of it. I always leave the keys to my car though or my license. Some of the bikes though are more expensive than my car.

[hophead]

Originally Posted by snowbird

I havn't found a spin "around the parking lot" any more informative than the sizing information posted on most websites.

I like GM's marketing plan where you have 60 days to decide wheather you like their car or not. For me a 20 minute test drive isn't enough to decide on a major purchase. It takes me 20 minutes to figure out the radio and climate controls.

I agree that a test ride around the parking lot, or even on the road, in itself is not enough to make an informed decision. It's just the final step before purchase. By that time, you should have a good idea of the brand, model, component group, size, etc. that you are interested in.

GM's business model is not one that any bike manufacturer is likely to emulate--not if they want to keep their doors open anyway.

[funetical]

I trade at all my local shops. Your tone is pretty drastic. You shouldn't get so riled up. Calm down have a big glass of Metamucil and when your bowls open back up you can remove that stick. But thanks for the opion burrrrr

[Mike1jw]

what's "dead sailored off the bike" mean?