Rolla

Not really. We have an abundance of good shops in my city, so even casual buyers typically look at the offerings of three or four, and then go back to the one where the bike and the price best ticked their boxes.

Test rides are still a big part of the process. Inventory levels for complete bikes are good here.

PeteHski

Test rides would make me far more likely to use a local shop. But that business model has long gone over here, even before the current situation.

TiHabanero

I worked in a bike shop from 1982 to September 2021 and consistent between all the shops I worked in Monday, Friday and Saturday were the biggest dollar days with bike sales at the head of the column. I worked in a shop in CA that was closed on Monday, but come Tuesday all hell broke loose.

Test rides for inexperienced riders is important, just as important as test driving a car or a walk through on a house one is looking to buy. When I was selling I encouraged test riding because a long test ride explains the difference between bike models better than a long-winded salesman any day.

livedarklions

I know this seems crazy to you and me, but an increasing number of people are buying homes online without ever seeing the place in person. Test driving cars is also increasingly optional as people are buying online.

We may not approve of these trends, but we can't pretend they don't exist.

prj71

Exactly. Which is why Specialized dealers won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

Bimmer69

Given *which half* of the cyclist population would be cut, I’d argue that’s not a bad plan

Bimmer69

bike shops will need to evolve. It’s looking like the movie theatre model.
the studio gets the profit from the seat sales, and the theatre gets the profit from the snacks and other add-ons.

this article seems to provide a bit of behind the scenes of how this could end up after the pandemic

The Bike Boom is Over, but Shops are Learning to Ride a New Wave

https://www.singletracks.com/mtb-gear/the-bike-boom-is-over-but-shops-are-learning-to-ride-a-new-wave/

burnthesheep

This is so true it hurts.

I cannot stand the concept of buying a home or car site unseen. Or not test ridden the car or bicycle. But you're right, enough people do it that the industry follows.

livedarklions

Wow, thanks!

This is the small business nightmare, having to make a bet the company decision several times a year. From the article:

“We’re buying strategically so far in advance these days,” said Francis. Pre-pandemic, Francis would limit the inventory on his showroom floor to keep credit available. He always saw too much stock as the demise of many shops. Now he doesn’t have a choice.“I’ve been taking an absurd, absurd amount of bikes.”

If he doesn’t take advantage of an order, brands offer it to the next retailer and he has no idea when he’ll have another chance. Francis calls it “forced purchasing.” Some brands have come around with available bikes two years after he requested them. When he tried to pare down his order because he didn’t need them all anymore, he was told it was all or nothing."

prj71

I don't trust a guy that wears pink socks and checkered shoes.

PeteHski

I've bought 2 cars sight unseen in the last couple of years. In both cases I had 7 days to test drive them and return for a full refund if not happy for any reason. I kept them both.
I've also bought 3 bikes unseen, all with 30 day test/return policies. I kept them all as it happens.

So that gets around the issue of test rides. Only difference is that you do have to commit to paying up front before the test. But you don't lose out if you decide to return them. Maybe shipping costs on a non-fault return, but I'm not sure on that as I've never had to make a return.

Would I prefer to be able to go into the shop, look the bikes over closely, borrow one for the weekend for a decent test ride etc? Sure I would. That's how it used to be here 15 years ago. Today I go into the shop, there is hardly any stock on the floor and no demo bikes available. Just a few random models to poke around and a sales guy to help you "order" your new bike. The shop model is effectively broken.

If you really need serious buying advice then the boutique custom build shops easily have the best people to talk to, but it's invariably a very expensive experience! But if you do know what you want then buying direct online is not a problem. The more casual inexperienced buyers on a budget probably lose out the most, but the more switched on direct online sellers (Like Canyon, Factor etc) offer remote advice which is probably enough for most people to choose a bike. Even some of the bigger retail shops are going this way with online sales chat etc.

TiHabanero

PeteHski, you are an experienced cyclist. The person just getting into the activity typically does not follow your behavior. With that said, I will also comment that the noobs will be making purchases online more often than ever before and it will become common in the very near future as this is the shape "retail" has been taking for the past 15 years.

livedarklions

TBH, I really don't see the problem buying new cars sight unseen as long as they're fully warrantied in that manner--we know those are going to likely be to spec for the brand. The thing that I can't fathom is buying used cars online that way. I know people do it, but it's got to involve a fair amount of trust on the dealers to honor their obligation to take the vehicle back.

PeteHski

Agreed, no way would I buy a used car without seeing it up close and personal.

PeteHski

I think the younger generation are used to educating themselves online. You see it right here on BF and other specialist forums. The likes of Canyon do also offer online/phone advice, which is probably enough for most people to get riding. I'm sure Specialized will be similar with their direct sales. I'm sure you could call them or chat online and get a reasonable response to basic questions. Obviously some people just prefer a face-to-face buying experience, but it doesn't always end up with a better result. I've seen plenty of threads here where someone has clearly been sold the wrong bike because the shop talked them into buying something to make a quick sale. Specialized appear to be offering both alternatives. Whether or not that will hurt dealers is another question.

gpburdell

Can't tell you how many used cars I've checked out which STANK to high Heaven from cigarette smoke -- or the nasty crap the dealer used to try to cover it up.

I might consider buying a new car without a test drive, but no way in heck would I consider a used one. Not with the hassle of trying to unwind financing to return it.

livedarklions

Some of them it goes much farther than that--having to deal with an actual salesperson is not something they're comfortable with, and they just won't buy the item if they have to do that.

Chandne

Specialized is much more "hated" in the mountain bike world and have been for the last 5-6 years. They have sued some smaller companies for trademark infringement etc. That really made many mtn bikers mad as hornets. However, I found that besides Santa Cruz and less so, Ibis, people still buy Specialized mountain bikes hand over first, almost. They are all over the trails even though I think the really small boutique companies (Revel, Spot, Guerrilla Gravity, Forbidden, and others) keep growing. Demos (paid by hour or day) are more of a thing in that world but they sell really really well, regardless of that. It is the smaller companies that rely on demos more.

I think Specialized continues to be dominant. They mountain bikes have become better and better, and lighter as well. I prefer multi-link suspension designs (Ibis, Santa Cruz, etc.) but even I am becoming more interested in and curious about Specialized's latest designs, after over 20 years of mtn biking and never having considered a Specialized model, due to a couple of reason that kept me away. I still think it will take a mutiny by many large dealers to change their path of direct-to-consumer. A small minority of customers will buy this way- possibly really high-info customers and really low-end bikes for kids. I'm curious to see how this shakes out.

indyfabz

An investment as large as a home? No way. As for cars, I have only bought two in my 57 years of life. (Second one in 2016.) I am a relatively tall and broad person. Not only did I get inside the make and model I was looking at at the Auto Show (something I never imagined I would attend) I took a test drive at a dealership. I get discounts on cars through work. We did the price negotiations via emails, but I bought in person since I wanted to test drive it for fit anyway,

I took test rides of all my non-custom bikes.

prj71

You aren't wrong. Trek and Specialized dominate the trails where I live. I haven't purchased a Trek or Specialized full suspension mountain bike because I don't like their suspension designs (I prefer DW Link style suspensions), but I do have two Trek Road bikes in the household and one Specialized Fat Bike and one Specialized Sirrus. Specialized recently changed the suspension on the Stumpjumper to a DW Type...It would be in the running now if I were looking at a new or additonal bike.

Hiro11

Every Specialized road model has seen a 30%-40% increase in pricing over the past two years... and people keep buying. The SWorks Tarmac is now a ridiculous $13,750, it was $10K in 2020, and yet people keep buying. The new Allez Sprint is now $3K for a basic build with 105 and cheap wheels, competing models with the same build from Trek and Cannondale are $2.3K... and yet I'm sure Specialized won't be able to keep the Allez Sprint in stock. All of these prices are really high, an aluminum road bike with 105 from a major brand was $1,500 not that long ago, Canyon will still sell you a very nice Endurance AL with 105 for $1,800.

Across their model range, Specialized is now charging a hefty premium on top of already inflated "supply chain crisis" pricing. I can't fault them, people keep paying.

tkamd73 

As one who actually likes cars, when I’m not on a bike, I’m curious, what was the first car you bought that lasted so long?
Thanks, Tim

Chandne

I prefer DW Link in general since we climbs much here. They are not plush till you prob get to that 140+ travel range. I have a new Ripley now. I went to look at the Specialized SJ and SJ EVO. They had a few in and all were gone in 3-4 days so I could not really see them in person. People simply bought them over the phone or online and picked them up.

indyfabz

'95 Mazda Protege. Only had 108,000+ miles on it after 18 years. That was put on between three drivers. My mom, me and my GF later in its life. Looked like crap, but it was the perfect big city car. Still got about 30 mpg on the highway. The GF drove it to her parents' for the night to help them with trash and recycling. Left it there and came back to the city in her dad's BMW. While it was parked outside her parents' house that afternoon, a young guy who lives down the end of the street slammed into it with his dad's pickup truck. It was broad daylight. He claimed sun glare. No way. The sun was too high in the sky at the time he hit it, and he was facing a row of tall pine trees. We think he was texting, probably telling a friend he had just left the house and was on his way. Managed to squeeze $2,700+ out of his insurance company. (I didn't have collision coverage.) Bought a '17 Subaru Forester at the beginning of July, 2016. I am just about to hit 15,000 miles. It would be fewer, but I had to start driving to a different office once or twice a week instead of walking or riding my bike to my office in town

tkamd73 

Thanks, great story, that Suby should be the last car you buy then. Not wishing anything bad on you, just that the Foresters are known for longevity.
Tim