LBS or Internet

paulieb2006

Having decided to buy an new Carbon Bike, was just wondering should I stick with my LBS or buy it on the internet.. Iam in Ireland and the £1500 on the internet would be E2000 in Ireland not cause of the exchange rate but also the markup which is pretty severe in my LBS.
Was thinking of Ribble, Evans ,Wiggle or Planet X.
Should I or will I feel bad about going into my LBS after a few months to get something done with it.
Any thoughts or advice would be great.
Also If I just walked into an Evans shop could I just buy the bike there and then or do I have to wait for a day or two to get it put together as my father is going to Birmingham to collect a car in the next 5-6 weeks
Thanks

Anonymous

You could ring up the LBS in B'ham before your Dad gets there and pay a deposit, get them to build it up in advance ready for collection.

I personally would only buy a bike from my LBS (not least so I can get a proper fit) but the after sales service I get is worth a fortune), that said, I'd have no qualms about taking an internet bought bike in to the shop, I just wouldn't expect the same level of service.

Frank the tank

LBS, every time. If it's a good LBS that is.

gtitim

Having the bike correctly set up for you to fit you perfectly it worth more than the money you save online.

I have bought cheap bikes online but only because they were ridiculously good offers and less than £500. If you're spending alot then it's worth getting it right.
Just my opinion

zedders

If you get on with your LBS than that's great, and as NapD says, if your happy you'll get the aftersales service your looking for then that in its self will be worth the extra cost. (i assume?)

Unfortunately I don't get on great with my LBS, so am happy to use the internet for most stuff. I will still go into my LBS now and again, but if they don't have what I'm looking for I order of the net instead of being d1cked around! As someone said to me previously why spend your money in a shop your not happy with?

As for going into your LBS with a bike you got from somewhere else, they will fix and service bikes from all sorts of people brought from other shops, so you should be no different. There not going to say ''You didn't buy that here - clear off" are they!

So ultimately it comes down to 1) do you get on with your LBS, & 2) will you get the aftersales service you expect?

SCR Pedro

zedders wrote:

So ultimately it comes down to 1) do you get on with your LBS, & 2) will you get the aftersales service you expect?

I agree. After the last 2 bike purchases from my "LBS", I decided to buy from the tinterweb. I already knew that the frame size was fine, so that made it a lot easier to buy the bike without seeing it first.

It also helps if you can get a killer bargain that your LBS has no chance of matching...

Cheers
Pietro

kilo

paulieb2006 wrote:

Having decided to buy an new Carbon Bike, was just wondering should I stick with my LBS or buy it on the internet.. Iam in Ireland and the £1500 on the internet would be E2000 in Ireland not cause of the exchange rate but also the markup which is pretty severe in my LBS.
Was thinking of Ribble, Evans ,Wiggle or Planet X.
Should I or will I feel bad about going into my LBS after a few months to get something done with it.
Any thoughts or advice would be great.


I had to get a bike sent over to our house in Kerry last year, the local shops didn't have what my wife needed, a carbon road bike, and as we are based in the Uk I didn't have time to faff around, looking high and low for one in Munster. We ordered a Ribble carbon fibre and had it by delivered by Ribble to the local bike shop who checked it all over for us, fitted a few extras and kept it for a few days till we were next in Kerry. The guy in the shop was fine with that and very impressed with the spec and price - people were asking him where he got it from . I don't think any bike shop is going to turn their nose up at trade in the current climate, in the unlikely event you need to do work to one after a few months - go for it

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

If you can get it in your LBS, but if it is cheaper on the internet then buy in on the 'net. Also find it cheaply on the internet and see if your bikeshop will match that price.

Gazzaputt

Just bought a Focus from Wiggle and couldn't be more pleased.

No LBS can get near the price for the spec and it is a stunning bike to ride.