buyabike?

jmeadows

anyone used buyabike in preston?
good or bad experience?

gkerr4

i have..

they are ok - I bought a trek pilot from them last year - it was a 2006 model.

The two guys that own it are ex-roadies - very knowledgable.

They tend to do a deal with the manufacturers / distributors to buy a 'job lot' of, say, a last of season set of bikes - so they had bought all of the remaining 2006 stock of trek pilots - and then they sell them at very big discounts.

they have just become the importer / distributor for Jamis in the UK (i believe) - good prices on them for the spec - although I have never heard of the brand

it wasn't put together too well though - the handlebars, for example were only held on by the top two bolts on the stem (the bottom 2 were hand tight).

jmeadows

cheers gkerr4, i was looking at the jamis, usa brand & have been on us forums who say they are good solid bikes, good spec with value for money, was gona go down there & try one out.
the owners are helpful then? i only ride a mtb at mo' so have been picking peoples brains on the forums and it would be good to speak to them if so...
i wouldnt worry about nuts bolts etc just that the gears & brakes were set up right as thats were i struggle with bikes at mo'
thanks again.
ps. is it worth waiting till the sales start on the 08 jamis dya think? there still full price at mo'

gkerr4

hi mate - yeah they are knowledgable - a bit miserable perhaps - but helpful if you can get their attention (it's busy at weekends!)

The rest of the build was fine by the way - gears indexed well etc - I was just annoyed that the stem bolts hadn't been tightened properly

te Jamis does sound OK - apparently the third biggest US brand (after specialized and Trek) - and as you say, decent value.

as for the sales - honestly - ask him! - ask him if it worth your while to wait - tell him it is a bit over budget etc - he will make it worth your while - they are good for haggling.

oh also - they do a decent range of shoes & pedals so once you have agreed the bike price - buy a pair of shoes and get the pedals for cost - he's done that twice for me now!

gondwanaman

jmeadows
Can't help you on buyabike but my wife has a Jamis (Dorado? MTB). I don't think it'll win a prize but it's 10 years old, low shimano spec, never been serviced, lives outside all year, has rust on all the non alu bits and does regular 20/30 mile jaunts. She could be lucky though.

jmeadows

gkerr4- thats great ta, it says on their site to ring them and they will try & help you with cost but its good to know theyre flexible.
i was hoping to get the xenith race as it has full ultegra as oppose to the comps ultegra/105 mix, so if i can the race for close to the comps price it would be good, i will be sure to ring them tho, thanks

DuncSF

I was in BaB yesterday with a friend , who bought a Jamis as his first road bike.
The owners are very knowledgable and may appear a bit grumpy and not very forthcoming but they are very good guys, just not in your face. I personally prefer it that way, better than being pestered.

You do have to wait sometimes if there are a few in the shop and the phones are busy, but it is the best collection of bikes and kit around, maybe with the exception of the new Formby Cycles which is worth a visit.

If the shop is quiet Pete, the owner, will spend the time of day with you.

The Jamis is a good quality bike, no doubt although one or two of the range are not as good quality - ASK!

judokev

hi GKERR4,

I only live about 5-10mins from buy-a-bike but didn't buy from them.

When I first went in for a look I didn't even know road bikes came with a tripple only ever seen doubles on older bikes, I was wanting a look about and some info thinking if I bought a bike locally then any bother could be sorted quick and easy.

I was in the same boat as you going from a mountain bike to road so wanted to make sure I got the right one, it was like getting blood from a stone the fella was giving the shortest answers possible and telling me nothing I wanted a conversation but he must have thought I wasn't going to buy as I know nothing so why should he waste his time.

Two months reading this and other sites I went back for another look, Different bloke older fella much more helpful but more friendly than knowledgeable which was still a massive step forward.

They didnt have the bike I wanted as what the net says isnt what they have, but they have got a lot of bikes so it is worth a look, if you do go down make sure you go out back they keep the reduced stuff and second hand bikes out there so you might find a bargain?

Judo kev

jmeadows

from the responses i think i am best going down there for a chat as opposed to over the phone, it isnt that far from mine really either.
formby cycles is 10 mins from mine but from all accounts there is no drop down on the price, besides i am thinking seriously about this jamis as it seems good from reviews, value for money and every other person hasnt got one

judokev

Yeah its worth a look,

But if your going to come this far up the M6 Junction 28 your also not very far from Hewitt Cycles, Ribble cycles, Broadgate Cycles and Wallis cycles and you will go past the junction for Winstanley cycles take a look at there sites just incase there are any bargains still to be had.

Just be warned some of the bikes in Hewitt cycles are silly nice and may make the bike you want look a bit boring.

Judo Kev

Jonr

Hi,

I bought a Jamis Xenith Comp a few months ago and can't be more pleased with it, would definitely recommend, the bike feels really good, in fact feels better that the spec it actually is to ride. I took it back to change the stem a few weeks later which they were really helpful with and got the right size fitted on straight away. I needed to try a few different sizes to get my position right. The bike isn't well known over here, but I did quite a bit of research on t'internet before buying and they're well known and very well reviewed in the states. I think buyabike imports them direct and the exchange rate with what it was when he imported them helps keep the price down really well, probably won't when he imports the next lot with the exchange rate moving now.

I have found them really helpful at buy-a-bike, once they knew me and I was doing business with them, before that well yes they were a bit miserable. I've never failed to get a discount even with smaller things and thet's without really trying and their prices are pretty cheap to begin with anyway.

jmeadows

jonr- yes mate i have done loads research myself, best way, good to hear from someone like yourself who has one and even better is pleased with it.
as i say am defo going to go down there, spill the beans then what did you get it for?

Jonr

It's always worth a try but I don't think you will get much of a discount with the Xenith Comp, he says they are at rock bottom prices to begin with and can't take anymore off, I guess he would say that though anyway. I just got a good set of pedals and a bottle holder thrown in, so nothing to write home about. I've had better discounts on other usually smaller things where the profit margin is probably higher or something, he can usually beat most internet prices when he does do a discount.

Lazyoldsod

Buy a bike is a large outfit that sells most major brands - and I for one will be happy to reccomend this business to anyone. My father in law bought his Trek Tourer from them - I have bought a Trek for my son some few years ago and just recently bought 3 Jamis bikes - an X trail 3 for my son and a couple of Dakotas ( which are great ) -

They were very good to deal with helpful, and while I noticed a couple of comments about the owners being "misserable" this just makes me smile as they are just not your typical "in your face salesmen" they are cyclists - and as such - know their stuff, but it takes a little time for them to warm to you.

I take it that they buy large "job lots" as as such can sell quite cheaply - my only gripe is that my bikes paint finish looked a bit like a "seconds" however they have made good effort to resolve the problem - Yes I do reccoment Buy a bike - they are a good outfit and friendly as well - value for money is superb

STEFANOS4784

Lazyoldsod wrote:

Buy a bike is a large outfit that sells most major brands - and I for one will be happy to reccomend this business to anyone. My father in law bought his Trek Tourer from them - I have bought a Trek for my son some few years ago and just recently bought 3 Jamis bikes - an X trail 3 for my son and a couple of Dakotas ( which are great ) -

They were very good to deal with helpful, and while I noticed a couple of comments about the owners being "misserable" this just makes me smile as they are just not your typical "in your face salesmen" they are cyclists - and as such - know their stuff, but it takes a little time for them to warm to you.

I take it that they buy large "job lots" as as such can sell quite cheaply - my only gripe is that my bikes paint finish looked a bit like a "seconds" however they have made good effort to resolve the problem - Yes I do reccoment Buy a bike - they are a good outfit and friendly as well - value for money is superb

So what are the wages like?

edindevon

Re. this ad at http://www.buyabikedeals.co.uk/ can anyone tell me what Buy A Bike member points are worth?



I've signed up anyway, but it seems odd that they don't tell you what you are actually getting.

Edindevon

tebbit

I bought my wife's mountain bike from there, I'd buy again from them

mattbibbings

Stumbled across this thread and thought I would add my two penneth.

I have had excellent service from Buy a Bike. I got a Jamis Xenith Comp through CycleScheme from them and not only is it an ace bike but the service has been quick, personal and spot on. Even when I had the dreaded "105 shifter problem" they had a replacement unit in the post to me as soon as the failed unit landed on their counter.

Ace outfit to deal with. Give them a try.

dag_on_a_bike

gkerr4 wrote:

i have...

They tend to do a deal with the manufacturers / distributors to buy a 'job lot' of, say, a last of season set of bikes...and then they sell them at very big discounts.
...

Me too.

However, mine was next year's model, a Specialized Roubaix Expert 2008 purchased in August 2007 just after the new range came out.

Price? RRP £1999.95. I paid £1460. Within 2 weeks of purchase it was back up to full price. How lucky was I?

Service was great. No hesitation whatsoever in recommending them.