Originally Posted by
onyerleft
REI might not have the world's best bike mechanics, but they are the most honest of any shop I've been in - FACT.
The bikes shops around here cater to the very well off. I don't think all of the LBS's are dishonest, but I am not impressed with any of them.
If you want to buy a $6000 Santa Cruz, you go to the LBS. If you want to buy a $6000 Cannondale you go to REI.
One LBS is big on Soma, and Specialized, the others like Trek, and Cannondale. One shop is higher end. I can get just about anything of similar quality from REI in similar price ranges. I can't get the customer service, or return policy from an LBS that I get from REI. They even compete with that higher end shop I mentioned. Which is a small local chain.
The notion that REI is low end is absurd. Is REI like Dicks? Dicks would be a better comparison for lower end, average for a chain type sports store. Not REI.
The problem is people are bored, and not patient. I would not buy a new bike now. The CO OP's will drop much more latter in the year, or early next year. That's when I would buy!
I would never pay a lot of money for a bike. That's me though!
(I would have bought the 3.1, the OP wants the racks.......)