Buyers remorse/panic: Bit of a saga, sorry!

[JenLeath]

I have never heard of a restocking fee for a local bike shop. I have for ordering it, if they don't carry it. I would definitely challenge that. Call anonymously and ask how to contact the owner. Tell him about your experience and that you are not happy with your purchase, but returning the bike would turn out to be too expensive. I bet he would be willing to work something out. From what I have seen about bike shop owners, they love the sport and wouldn't want to be responsible for someone having a bad experience.

Good Luck,

Jen L

[chakra]

Everyone,

Thank you so much for the wonderful responses, which gave me the courage to go back to the bike store with the bike. I asked about the restocking fee, and I think it would have applied if I had not decided to go ahead and buy the Road Warrior . As soon as I saw it again, glinting in its orangey fashion at me, I had to have it!! So, they charged me for the labor it took to set up the last bike (fenders, rack etc.) and that was all. They made good money on me too, the RW was another $400.00!

As for the Copilot Limo (the seat for our 2Year old) it was a special order (they usally stock the model below, it the Taxi) so they were not so willing to refund that one. However, I think they'd be willing to work it out if I tried it and didn't feel good using it (it is on order and due to arrive by this weekend). Dh is very keen on giving it a go, and I am less keen after all the input from you. One thing is for sure - if ds appears at all scared, or dh at all unstable, we certainly won't use it, it isn't worth it. So I'll wait and see on this one, and I'll push for a return or at least an exchange if keeping it isn't right for us.

I am glad to have found a bike I really enjoy riding - I took her out for a spin this evening, but it was with the kids, so I haven't been able to really put her through her paces - but oh my, what a smooth responsive ride!! I don't know how she'd do on trails of any kind - I had the tires changed, but the bike has pretty narrow rims - it moved her up from 700cc/28 to 30s, and that is as fat as they can get. She is pretty much a flat bar road bike, but I am not sorry!

Even though they were good about taking the bike back, I have to say the owner (Fort Street bikes) didn't go out of his way to be helpful. He was a litle grim-faced about the whole thing. After my fitting, and except for the free tune-ups they do, I won't have much to do with this store. I don't wish to bad-mouth them - there just wasn't the warmth/interest in really being a help to me. Given that I have now spent over $1,800 in their store, I find that to be a problem (bike, fenders, lights, tires, rack, panniers, child seat...).

In making the decsion, I had two sources which really helped: You lot at team estrogen, and another bike store (Oak bay bicycles, for those in my city). DH and our kids' bikes come from this store, so they know all of us quite well. I went in to ask them about bikes, kids seats, and all the questions I posed to you, and even showed them the cannondale RW on their internet connection - they were absolutely lovely in helping me decide. I will be sending people there, and will purchase any components/clothing there for sure. Much warmer, kinder service. If they had had anything like the RW in stock there, I think I'd have just dealt with losing that restocking fee, or would have argued about it at least.

But really, I have learned I should trust my gut, go with the shop that really treats you right, get the thing you really love, and then. . . well, then get on with what really matters, which is riding again!

Thank you so, so much for all the help.

Chakra

[KnottedYet]

congratulations!

Now, post some pics of your beautiful new bike! (we like pictures!)

Your 30 tires should do just fine for you. I have 28's that I take on everything (including grassy fields for bike skills practice) on my roadie. Cyclocross racers have tires in this range, and you should see the stuff they ride through!

Hoooray for your new bike!!!

[MINIskirt]

Congrats on the new bike!!!

[KnottedYet]

Just a snarky side comment:
I've never heard of a shop that wouldn't refund/return an ordered item that hadn't even arrived at the shop yet.

Ok, I'm done being snarky.

[mimitabby]

without a re-stocking fee you mean?

[KnottedYet]

I'm thinking about the baby-seat, which isn't supposed to arrive until this weekend. "they were not so willing to refund that one." Special order or not, the seat hasn't even arrived, so why would they fight cancelling/refunding?

and no, what's with the restocking fee!?!?!

Oak Bay Cycles sounds like a better match for an LBS. Hey, they were even helpful about a bike being purchased at another store! They sound good.

[uforgot]

Your 30 tires should do just fine for you. I have 28's that I take on everything (including grassy fields for bike skills practice) on my roadie. Cyclocross racers have tires in this range, and you should see the stuff they ride through!

Hoooray for your new bike!!!

Knotted, what tires do you have? I'm going to 28's on my road bike, but I'm not sure what to get. I want a more all round tire than the little slick 23s I have on there now, and my rims support up to 28.

Maybe I just need to put you on speedial. The last two weekends I've asked your advice...

Chakra, congrats! Sounds like you found a bike you love. I, too, want to see pics!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I have Pasela brand Panaracer tires 700x28mm, with kevlar (to help prevent flats) on my road bike. I can and have ridden over the most god-awful sharp rocky gravel roads you can imagine, including through fields of tractor ruts, too...several thousand miles....no flats yet.

By the way, I do NOT inflate them to their stated maximum pressure of 105 psi. I keep the back tires at around 95, and the fronts at about 85. That keeps my ride way smoother, gives me more stability on slippery gravel and in wind (and NO, it has not slowed my average speed down- I compared my average speeds with when I pumped up both to 105). Remember when your tires are super inflated and hard, they will bounce more and have less road contact. That can translate to less traction, more wasted vertical bounce movement, and thus loss of forward power.
I realize a lot of people disagree with this, but I figured I'd throw it in anyway. Works for me.

[uforgot]

Wow, thanks Lisa! I really wanted a tire that would go on my road bike, but on light gravel also. Sounds like what you have is just the ticket. Thanks!

[KnottedYet]

I have Vittoria Randonneurs with reflective sidewalls. 700 x 28.

I've ridden on grass, asphalt, broken asphalt, and small gravel. They are low pressure tires, max inflate is around what Lisa uses. Very comfortable!