Buying Online vs. LBS

samhedges

I'm sure there are existing threads about this but I was just hoping for some opinions. What are the up and downsides of buying online or in your local bike shop?

I am the god of hell fire

Online = cheap and difficult backup
LBS = more cash but you can nip in on a whim and shout at them

I bought a Canyon bike last year
Great value, a cracking deal but it came with some niggly problems which I would have just taken straight back to the shop (mainly front mech not set up properly)
Flip side is I got a better groupset and wheels for the equivalent LBS bike price point

wishitwasallflat

I am the god of hell fire wrote:

I bought a Canyon bike last year
Great value, a cracking deal

How did you choose frame size?

I am the god of hell fire

wishitwasallflat wrote:

I am the god of hell fire wrote:

I bought a Canyon bike last year
Great value, a cracking deal

How did you choose frame size?

The configurator on the website is pretty good just be careful that you have 30 days to send it back
It took me a little longer to realise the stem wasnt perfect, if they were a LBS just down the street again I suspect Id have been down earlier
Annoyingly the stem is non standard and only they sell them, they are NOT cheap

samhedges

Would it be too cheeky to test ride one and then buy it online? :P Does anybody know if Ribble offer the 30 day return?

crankycrank

SamHedges wrote:

Would it be too cheeky to test ride one and then buy it online? :P ?

Yes. But you can usually also negotiate a price with the shop and match or get close to what you have seen online. Shops generally have a higher overhead and prices due to the fact that they provide much more service, such as offering test rides, than online shops and should be compensated for their service. There are bad bike shops of course but the good ones are worth a little extra £'s sometimes.

wishitwasallflat

SamHedges wrote:

Would it be too cheeky to test ride one and then buy it online?

Personally I wouldn't do that because if people did it in numbers that will be the end of non-chain bike shops and I wouldn't want that to happen.

tordis

SamHedges wrote:

Does anybody know if Ribble offer the 30 day return?

As far as I know, it's 7 days with Ribble. Not very long, if you ask me

Monty Dog

Depends on whether you value having the local service of an LBS or not and whether you're prepared to pay a slight premium. If you're new and need advise on things like bike-fit and dealing with mechanical tweaks, then your LBS can be invaluable and it may save you money in the long run. If you buy a bike online and lack the skills and knowledge to sort things out, you may be spending more than you saved down the bike shop.

samhedges

I guess so, and they'll fit me with shorter stem and bars I guess, and I'll get the after service..

rolf_f

SamHedges wrote:

I'm sure there are existing threads about this but I was just hoping for some opinions.

There are - and you've already posted some of them

Depends really on whether your LBS is actually a good LBS. I bought my first road bike from a very non-local LBS but the drive was worth it as the bike came with a proper fitting so I knew I'd got the right kit and components.

If you buy a production bike, bear in mind you may need to change saddle, stem, bars later which can be avoided on something built to spec in the first place.

samhedges

The choice is between a Ribble Sportive 7005 (online) or a Giant Defy 3 (in store). The Ribble is a better equipped bike but I couldn't ride it and wouldn't have the benefits of LBS. Would you say the Giant's lower spec would be made up for by the service I get?

wishitwasallflat

Yes

Mikey23

My local bike shop is just brilliant and I am more than happy to spend a few more pennies. The choice of bike is a little limited, basically Giant or ... Giant. Having said that, they have been happy to set me up with a bike that is suitable for my needs, test ride it, have it properly fitted and adjusted and sorted out all the little niggles along the way. They are enthusiastic and encouraging and always willing to drop everything and give appropriate advice and guidance. I know how difficult it is to remain in business with their high overheads and how frustrating to have people coming in, soaking up knowledge, trying out product then buying off the Internet.

If I had bought online, I would have had a bike but by buying in the shop I have become an enthusiastic cylist

Mikey23

And I am more than happy with my giant defy 4. A lot of bike for my money. At some stage when I am a better biker I might get a top spec one but till then I am content

MrChuck

SamHedges wrote:

Would it be too cheeky to test ride one and then buy it online? :P Does anybody know if Ribble offer the 30 day return?

Personally I think that's pretty poor and I don't try anything in a shop I'm not prepared to buy from them. The way I see it, the LBS is paying for you to be able to do that and their prices reflect that. Using that service for free and then going and giving the sale to someone else who is cheaper because they're not providing that service is a bit off IMO.

That said, I buy most of my stuff online because it's cheaper, quicker, more convenient, and most LBSs don't actually offer a good enough service to justify going to them instead.

I do like a good browse though if I'm passing, and I'd not like to see them go.

bikeit65

For me it has to be on line as my LBS is only interested in you if you are in the racing, downhill clique, i recently went in to get a pair of road wheels trued and the guy who owns the LBS never even came over to me to offer any assistance, after approximately ten minutes i had to interrupt his conversation he was having with his roadie mates, i asked him if i could leave the wheels with him to get trued and he didn't want to take the wheels off me as he was extremely busy, claiming that it would take two weeks to even look at the wheels and the price would be in the region of £70,
I was also hoping to buy a new computer, bottle cages, bottles and a saddle bag, but his attitude really angered me so i left with the wheels and went home and bought all the gear mentioned earlier online from Wiggle delivered in one day and a lot cheaper.
If i want another bike shop i can visit i have to travel one hundred miles round trip.
So for me its on line im afraid, i always try and support local business as it keeps local people in jobs but not at my LBS.