Buy The Bike In A Specialized Store!

[Gelsemium]

I bought a new bike this summer and I made the mistake of buying it in the supermarket (a huge promotion convinced me), lol right. Well, the bike looked good, most components were Shimano, so that was a warranty, but I regret it a lot because when I need support I don't have no one to give it, so I need to pay for maintenance. Where do you usually get your bikes from?

 

[oldbobcat]

Don't despair. After the newness wears off, most of us either end up paying for bike service or learning how to do it ourselves.

But there are significant differences between an entry-level bike you'd buy from an authorized dealer and what you'd pick up in a promotion, discount store, or discount online dealer, even though the components might be branded "Shimano."

If the bike fits and suits your needs, have it serviced and keep riding it. If it doesn't, find a way to recover part of your loss with integrity and call it a learning experience.

 

[Gelsemium]

Yep, that is what I realized too. I bought my kids bike at Decathlon and I am super happy with their service, they are great, but as for my bike I should have ignored the promotion and invested for the real deal. Oh well, always learning right?

 

[gavinfree]

It just depends on your needs really. Casual riders looking for a casual bike won't mind what they get from an ordinary department store, and they won't pay a fortune for it either. Anyone else that's looking to do serious training or compete or have a top of the line bike will want to head to a specialty bike shop, though. Otherwise, they're not going to find anything worthwhile at a department store. I have what I would consider one casual bike and then one high-performance road bike. I don't mind riding either one, but I know what each bike is going to give me, so I choose the appropriate one for training or taking a lazy bike ride.

 

[Gelsemium]

That is what happened to me Gavin, but they simply aren't as good, only the price might be better. What I was told is that they are assembled with "random" pieces, they are not made as a whole and that shows in mine.

 

[wander_n_wonder]

I bought mine in a sports house, mainly because I mostly find their sales associates to be more capable of explaining the features of the product. If you really bought yours in a supermarket, I bet no one even assisted you in inspecting the parts and also in explaining what the functions of certain features are. I never buy anything related to sports in other places, I believe in going to the experts. It would even be more ideal if you go specifically to bike specialty shop because then they can present way too many alternatives for you.

 

[Gelsemium]

That is the place where I bought the bike from my kid and I am super happy, but what can I do now, nothing really, just learn with my experience and spread the word to others...

 

[blur92]

I originally bought mine in a supermarket. Luckily, I had no issues with it. I would still recommend buying it in a specialized store, though. People who work there tend to be more knowledgeable and passionate about the topic. They want to leave the customer equipped well and with a bicycle that is of decent quality. Usually, workers at a supermarket are more concerned with getting off of their shift. They do not know as much, and therefore cannot recommend the best products.

 

[Gelsemium]

So you too? Yeah, I had one of those coupons when I was shopping saying, 40€ off if buying the bike within the next two weeks. I was looking for one so I saw that as a sign from the god of bikes...

 

[sixxup]

Specialized stores do sell bikes with different prices. You must first do a research, to find out the best brand that can suit your budget. Then compare prices that different stores offer to select the cheapest store. Best stores do have positive review, since they are selling genuine products. You can alternatively order it straight form the manufacturers.

 

[Gelsemium]

Yes, I don't argue that, a specialized store is more expensive, but at the same time we have other sort of warranties and we are buying a support service as well.

 

[shilpa123]

Buying bike from a specialised store has its advantages and disadvantage. Advantage is that a lot of people are happy for the warranty they receive. But all warranty exists only for a short period of time. It all depends on what kind of bike you are buying and how well are you going to use it.

 

[shilpa123]

Buying bike from a specialised store has its advantages and disadvantage. Advantage is that a lot of people are happy for the warranty they receive. But all warranty exists only for a short period of time. It all depends on what kind of bike you are buying and how well are you going to use it.

 

[Gelsemium]

It's not just a matter of warranty shilpa, it's a matter of the integrity of the bike, we know that the bike will get to our hands in new conditions and that it was assembled by someone that knows what he's doing.