TheChosenOne

I looked at some places like Nycewheels online and they sell Birdy bikes but aren't listed as an official dealer on Birdy's site. Also at a local place, they sell Bromptons but aren't on Brompton's site as an official dealer. Just curious if this effects anything.

Wileyrat

It might affect your warranty not buying from an authorized dealer.

no1mad 

Could be at least three different scenarios:

1. LBS could be a new addition to <insert brand> dealer network and the website(s) haven't been updated to reflect that yet.

2. LBS used to be part of the dealer network, but had sluggish sales of said brand and decided to quit offering them. Website(s) updated to avoid giving free advertising to anyone not selling their product(s).

3. LBS can special order, but can't/won't commit to minimum quota to become an authorized dealer.

CydonianCyborg

The only issues you might run into with that would be warranty issues.

TheChosenOne

Instead of a manufacture's warranty, can they add their own warranty?

unterhausen

I'm sure it's just a matter of the company not updating their website to add them as a dealer. Nobody sells bikes if they aren't an authorized dealer.

indyfabz

If the shop is selling "en masse" and has several bikes of a certain brand in the shop, I would agree. If the shop says "I can get you a Birdy if you really want one" there could be something improper going on. 15 years ago I inadvertently started a minor spat between the owners of two shops. I was buying a Colnago from an authorized dealer when I just happened to mention to the owner that a friend of mind was getting a Colnago from another local shop that was not an authorized dealer. Seems the local Colnago rep had supplied the frame to the other shop when he should not have. The owner of the shop where I got my bike eventually dropped Colnago because of all the problems he had with things like this and their U.S. distributor in Texas.

bulldog1935

I'm guessing bike shops that make the official dealer's list on the MFG website pay for it either directly or indirectly (by exclusion agreements).

CydonianCyborg

A lot of bike shops have warranties of their own, but most importantly, they can get in contact with representatives from the manufactures very easily and solve problems for you.

drlogik 

Best to call those makers and ask if the shop is a dealer for them. If not then, yes, I agree with previous post, it "could" effect your warranty if the maker deems the shop didn't set up the bike right.

Wileyrat

Lets say after a year or two, your frame develops a crack due to a manufacturers defect. Now, the manufacturer probably will honor the warranty, but what recourse do you have if you bought it gray market?

Op, the risk is yours, if the prices are good enough to take a chance, go ahead. The only time it's ever even been a consideration to me is when I went carbon fiber.

Kaze6

It used to be that most brands required a shop to sell or floor-plan a certain number/value of bikes each year to be an AD, but could buy and sell without any issues -- they just didn't get spiffs, repair/parts referrals, ad copays, the best pricing, etc.

Some brands (Schiwinn, Huffy, Raleigh, Windsor all come to mind) would only honor warranties on bikes bought from ADs. Some of THOSE brands would allow an AD to "satellite" to another dealer within their territory (that is, let another dealer do sales under the authority of the AD), or in a territory with no ADs at all (rural areas, for instance).

The bottom line is that you shouldn't be asking US, you should ask the brand.