Buying at LBS a Brand they Don't Carry
01-17-20, 11:12 AM
#51
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Which probably says more about the differences between bicycling and those other activities than it does about the "secret" marketing agendas of whoever it's supposed to be.
You get a lot of people trying biking again after not having done it since they were 16. It's a very low barrier to entry activity. People don't just pick up an RV at a garage sale and start using it, or pull the motorcycle out of the basement after 15 years of gathering dust and rust. The nature of bicycling is such that it has a disproportionate number of people at any given time that are basically beginners.
You get a lot of people trying biking again after not having done it since they were 16. It's a very low barrier to entry activity. People don't just pick up an RV at a garage sale and start using it, or pull the motorcycle out of the basement after 15 years of gathering dust and rust. The nature of bicycling is such that it has a disproportionate number of people at any given time that are basically beginners.
01-17-20, 01:08 PM
#52
Zip tie Karen
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Putting My Friendship Where My Mouth Is/Was...
I don't know about trolls, or bots or cans of spam, but I do know when it's time to spring into action!!! Maybe @friendlyguy1234 just needs someone kind to reach out to him from our big tent bicycling community.
So, I've officially sent him a friend request. Who knows, maybe someday we can order matching bikes from an LBS together.
I invite everyone to do this. Let's see if he can get up to 100 BF friends!
So, I've officially sent him a friend request. Who knows, maybe someday we can order matching bikes from an LBS together.
I invite everyone to do this. Let's see if he can get up to 100 BF friends!
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01-17-20, 01:20 PM
#53
Senior Member
My local hardware store does not carry a certain shovel, can they order it?
Joking aside.. The only hardware store within 15 miles of my house just went out of business... Maybe I should have asked last year.
Joking aside.. The only hardware store within 15 miles of my house just went out of business... Maybe I should have asked last year.
Last edited by u235; 01-17-20 at 02:42 PM.
01-17-20, 02:21 PM
#55
Rouleur
I can't. I live by the Rush song "Limelight" : "I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend". It's a lonely life, but at least I don't have a house full of "Johnny Come Lately's"drinking all my beer.
01-17-20, 02:41 PM
#56
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01-17-20, 02:43 PM
#57
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01-17-20, 03:17 PM
#59
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Almost that entire generation of music is wildly overrated because of the disproportionate chunk of population that grew up with it. Don't tell the sheriff I said that...
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01-17-20, 04:10 PM
#60
Senior Member
Can't you determine size by another brand? After all, 54cm is 54cm.
Then ask the LBS to order the frame, or order it yourself with the understanding that you will buy all the parts from the LBS and have them do the buildup. Everything. Why is that not a win for everyone?
Then ask the LBS to order the frame, or order it yourself with the understanding that you will buy all the parts from the LBS and have them do the buildup. Everything. Why is that not a win for everyone?
01-17-20, 05:03 PM
#61
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For the same reason you can't tell if a specific size of one piece of clothing apparel or shoes or bicycle helmet will fit the same as another piece from another brand even when marked as the same size. Different lines of clothing with the same size designation even from a single manufacturer or brand may not fit the same. That is why dressing rooms are in stores and we try on shoes even when we know our correct size.
01-17-20, 05:29 PM
#62
Non omnino gravis
My 58cm Ritchey is larger in every dimension than the 61cm KHS frame it replaced. Bicycle frame sizing is almost random.
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01-17-20, 07:05 PM
#63
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My two go-to bikes are a 52 cm and a 56 cm respectively. They both fit me perfectly.
01-17-20, 07:45 PM
#64
Full Member
01-17-20, 07:52 PM
#65
Full Member
01-17-20, 07:54 PM
#66
Non omnino gravis
Underrated bands could easily fill an entire thread. Speaking for myself, and recognizing that at least for the moment this thread is wandering, I'll throw Primus out there.
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01-17-20, 08:04 PM
#67
Full Member
There's an important distinction between whether or not a shop stocks an item and whether or not they carry an item.
Pretty much every LBS out there buys from the same pool of distributors-- QBP, KHS, Hawley, etc. If a distributor has it, they can get it.
Full bikes are the exception, because there are dealer contracts in place for all of the big names-- Giant, Trek, Specialized, etc.
Trek is only sold through Trek stores, Specialized often has exclusivity contracts as well (they will only be sold at shop that don't carry certain brands.)
But if the OP is looking for something less mainstream, like even say a Colnago or a Masi, there's a fair chance the shop can get it and just doesn't stock it.
I bought my Cervelo at my LBS and they don't regularly stock Cervelo.
Pretty much every LBS out there buys from the same pool of distributors-- QBP, KHS, Hawley, etc. If a distributor has it, they can get it.
Full bikes are the exception, because there are dealer contracts in place for all of the big names-- Giant, Trek, Specialized, etc.
Trek is only sold through Trek stores, Specialized often has exclusivity contracts as well (they will only be sold at shop that don't carry certain brands.)
But if the OP is looking for something less mainstream, like even say a Colnago or a Masi, there's a fair chance the shop can get it and just doesn't stock it.
I bought my Cervelo at my LBS and they don't regularly stock Cervelo.
There are probably a bit more than half a dozen bike shops in my city, and our market isn't big enough for one shop to carry more than one major brand - Spec/Trek/C-Dale/Giant are each sold at four different shops. Those shops may each carry an additional smaller line but those manufacturers are split up as well, e.g., only one will carry Orbea. The rest of the shops get smaller pickings.
01-18-20, 04:58 AM
#68
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I’m all for supporting the LBS’s but if they don’t carry what I’m looking for then it doesn’t make sense. It’s faster and often cheaper to just order it online.
01-18-20, 08:25 AM
#69
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For a successful LBS, there seems to be either of 2 strategies: 1) align with just one of the big brands (Trek, Spesh, Giant) or offer anything and everything else (one online example is racycles.com)
01-18-20, 08:32 AM
#70
Senior Member
Ok, I understand.
But if the published measurement is listed as, for example, center-to-center, would that not be the same? Sure, sloping top tube vs straight, race vs tour geometry etc., but I would think that a good shop could help with that.
If someone has determined that they want a specific frame, it is probably not because of perfect fit; it's probably because it is a bike that they have lusted for......for a long time. Adjust the seat and stem and off you go. Otherwise, have your LBS sell you a bike that fits you, not one that you dream about.
But if the published measurement is listed as, for example, center-to-center, would that not be the same? Sure, sloping top tube vs straight, race vs tour geometry etc., but I would think that a good shop could help with that.
If someone has determined that they want a specific frame, it is probably not because of perfect fit; it's probably because it is a bike that they have lusted for......for a long time. Adjust the seat and stem and off you go. Otherwise, have your LBS sell you a bike that fits you, not one that you dream about.
01-20-20, 12:56 PM
#71
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However, I browse Bike Forums from time to time, prompted by summary emails I receive, or searching for a discussion of some topic of interest. So I would appear to be an unregistered guest simply because I'm not logged in.
I'm usually here to learn and with little expertise of my own to add, I have no reason to post.
Better to say nothing and be suspected a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
01-20-20, 01:08 PM
#72
Junior Member
I am looking to buy a new bike and have chosen the bike that I want. There is an LBS that I want to support near me and I want to order the bike through them, but they aren't an official dealer of that brand. Can I still order that bike through them? Many thanks in advance!
01-20-20, 01:32 PM
#73
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I would tell them to pound sand if they are a regular dealer of a brand but want to charge you shipping for buying something in that brand. Often dealers sell a few % off of MSRP, and a special order might not get this discount, but don't try to charge me extra for bringing in something you should have on the sales floor. That's right up there with 'dealer prep fee' when buying a car - a special fee to pay for the privilege of buying from them? If they can't do it for MSRP then they have problems.
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01-20-20, 04:31 PM
#74
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I really needed a good laugh today. Thank you everyone!
We're still on page 3!
We're still on page 3!