Specialized accepted the orders. Customers have a monetary problem with Mike's only if they don't fork over full refunds promptly.
If I were one of the 400 who pre-ordered a Specialized bike, I'd be very wary of Specialized. If Spec's action delayed my getting a bike, I do my best to spend my money elsewhere.
Mike's isn't owned by Spec, nor (presumably) is it a franchise (i.e. like McDonald's). They presumably sell other brands. If their agreement with Spec prohibits selling certain brands, I'd consider the agreement to be a restraint of trade that may be a violation of law; it's certainly a violation of free market principles.
I'm not in the market for a new bike, but Mike's letter certainly has turned me off Specialized, which is probably what they intended.
Last edited by philbob57; 09-11-21 at 01:49 PM.