|   Warranties on bikes | Spartan ForEVR
Jul 17, 2003 8:43 AM | | I am looking to get a Specialized Hardrock Pro or P2 and the bike shop said that there are no warranties on Specialized. Is this common? Is he telling the truth even? Thanks! |
| He's FOS... | Fat-tire
Jul 17, 2003 8:50 AM | | I think.
I've I'm not mistaken, Specalized has either a 5 year warranty or a life time warranty.
It's a brand new bike, yes. I don't know of one manufacture that does not have some sort of warranty. |
| He's FOS... | Spartan ForEVR
Jul 17, 2003 8:57 AM | | I just looked and according to their website, they have a lifetime warranty on their frames. Thanks for drawing that to my attention. |
| He's FOS... | Spartan ForEVR
Jul 17, 2003 9:02 AM | | I just spoke with the store manager and he told me that it is true with them as well and that he is going to "kill the salesperson." Lifetime on frame, 1 year on parts against manufacturers defects. They also give 3 year's worth of adjustments which sounds like a good deal to me. |
| I take it back.... | Cook
Jul 17, 2003 9:12 AM | | A good LBS owner will always pay you back in spades if you're a good customer or to make amends for a screw-up. Sounds like you might have a good LBS owner. Just make sure you only deal with him and not his runny-nosed staff. |
| I take it back.... | Spartan ForEVR
Jul 17, 2003 9:17 AM | | I feel fairly comfortable with him, just didn't get the same vibe from the kid that I dealt with on another visit. I want to get a nice bike for good value, so I am doing my homework starting out.
He told me that they are one of the largest Specialized dealers in the company and as long as I am not dropping the bike off the back of a semi onto cement, that they can get most things taken care of. They have 7 locations, 3 in Ohio, 1 in Kansas, NC and Colorado. They have been around for a long time, so I feel that they are reputable, at least the manager is. |
| Didn't really mean to rag on kids..... | Cook
Jul 17, 2003 9:32 AM | | ....since the kids at the LBS's are usually the ones that do the most riding and usually have the best product and practical knowledge....but it's the owner that gets things done. Buy your bike there, buy your accessories there, ask lots of questions and if you're happy with them, give lots of referrals. A good bike shop is worth more than your bike weighs in gold (okay, maybe not that much).
Since I'm pro-LBS ranting, I'll give you my most recent case in point. I took my Brodie Holeshot into a different bike shop to have some bottom bracket creaking noise looked into. I'd normally do this myself but I was in the middle of moving and didn't have my bike-stand set-up yet. The shop I took it into said I had a crack in a weld at the bottom of my seat-tube. That was the last thing I wanted to hear. I grabbed the bike and took it to the LBS I bought it from. They went to bat for me. After consulting the manufacturer, they had to scrape away some paint to confirm if it really was a crack or not. Turns out it wasn't a crack, just a gap between weld and tube. For the trouble, they fixed my original bb problem for free (turns out it was just a loose cup) and did about an hours work on my r.der, replacing housing and cable.......when I reached for my bank card, the kid said 'no worries'.....of course that was after I let him pull a string of manuals on my bike in the back parking lot. ;)
Relationship building and don't take them for granted or let them take you for granted. Sorry if this sounds pretty common knowledge, but there are a lot of people out there that know diddly about how to deal with people and businesses.
Cheers |
| Didn't really mean to rag on kids..... | Spartan ForEVR
Jul 17, 2003 9:48 AM | | Since I am in sales myself, it all makes great sense. I agree, there are many people out there that can't figure it all out, but I am one to give referrals, etc.
Now, my last decision in this process is the bike. I have decided on the Specialized Hardrock Pro (Disc brakes) selling for around $450 on special at my LBS, since I am just getting into this. But, today, I saw something on an Ibex Ignition 2, which is FS and has decent components for the same price. What I wouldn't get with that is any LBS support. I am leaning LBS route anyway, just would like someone to really knock some sense into me. Thanks for your help! |
| Hopefully..... | Cook
Jul 17, 2003 10:05 AM | | ....somebody else can chirp in here with reviews on those two bikes since I don't know anything about them, though I'll still kick in two pieces of advice. If you're spending less than a grand, I'd go hardtail rather than full-squishy, and second, if you're relatively new to the sport, buy from the LBS....the support and advice they can give you is priceless.
Have fun. |
| Makes sense to me! | Spartan ForEVR
Jul 17, 2003 10:10 AM | | I will go with the Specialized HT. I can always get something later FS that is quality once I have spent some time getting into the sport. I am a big believer in quality and for this price point, I have heard nothing but good things about the Hardrock pro. Whatever price point I am at, I will always buy quality. I agree, going with a LBS, longterm is the only way to go! Thanks! |
| stick with the hardtail and LBS... | jcw
Jul 17, 2003 11:07 AM | | a quality FS frame will generall add between $400 and $500 to the price of a bike. I know nothing about the Ibex but since that's the price of the complete FS bike I'd be very, very wary. As Cook said, if you're spending under a grand you'll be much happier long term with a decent hardtail than a piece of junk FS rig. |
| Which one? | Ken in KC.
Jul 17, 2003 12:14 PM | | Which BikeSource are you dealing with?
They're my LBS, and they've always stood behind their products and service.
Ken |
| Which one? | Spartan ForEVR
Jul 17, 2003 12:41 PM | | The BikeSource I will be dealing with is in Westerville, OH. It is about 2 miles from my house. Have you had a good experience with them? Do they give you a discount on parts and accessories if you buy a bike there and should I ask about that?
Like I said above, I am not holding what this young salesperson said against them. I will be buying my bike from them anyway! |
| I highly recommend them... | Ken in KC.
Jul 17, 2003 12:53 PM | | Keep in mind, that the only two stores I have "customer" knowledge about are the Overland Park (Kansas) and the Highland's Ranch (Denver) store.
The KS store is hands down the best local bike shop I've ever bought from. The sales people (even the younger ones) really know bikes. The mechanics in the KS store are all pro or expert level racers, all have university degrees and all wrench on bikes because they love them. Their newest mechanic is a retired machinist who has been there a little over a year. All the other have been there 2-5 years.
The Denver store I know because the store manager, assistant manager and maintenance manager all used to work at the Kansas City store. Just based on what I know of them, the Denver store is also top notch.
As far as discounts go:
I receive a 10% discount on accesories from BikeSource because I'm a member of the local IMBA club, Earth Riders (www.earthriders.com). In addition to the 10% discount, BikeSource also gives 1% from all Earth Riders member sales back to the club in cash at the end of the year. It may not seem like a lot, but considering they carry Serrotta, Kestral, Cannondale, Santa Cruz and Litespeed in addition to Specialized, that 1% can add up pretty quick.
In short, they're a very progressive shop, donate a lot of time and money toward advocacy and our local trails, and they provide me with fiar and consistent pricing with fantastic service. I'm happy with them.
Ken |
| Thank you! | Spartan ForEVR
Jul 17, 2003 1:09 PM | | Thank you for that insight. That makes me feel even better about my decision. |
| Don't buy from that LBS | Cook
Jul 17, 2003 8:59 AM | | ....if that line of crap they gave you is any indication of the service they provide, you don't want to be dealing with them if you DO have a warranty issue. |
| Well almost anything you buy has it, either by the manufacturer | moab63
Jul 17, 2003 9:07 AM | | or sometimes even the state, shit even your credit card company. I dont think you should buy anything from them. |
| I have a Hard Rock | JohnDuhh
Jul 17, 2003 9:23 AM | | ...and:
A. The frame is Lifetime Warranty
B. The LBS should give you a year
C. The Hardrock and P.x frames are practically bulletproof. |
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