Fine differences among bike models for different yrs.

[shootingstar]

Geez. So glad that some bike manufacturers give detailed specifications on their bike models, per YEAR model on their web site. Thank goodness for the Internet.

I nearly drove a bike store employee to distraction, when I phoned to inquire about a particular bike model and their price. I didn't need to visit the store since I went to a competitor's bike store elsewhere and tried out the bike, had a long discussion, etc. The employee on phone and I had to juggle between similar sounding model codes. But I had a similar problem when I visited another bike store in person. People were tripping verbally over the similar sounding model codes.

MU XL sounds similar to MU SL ..over the phone. And then the difference between MU XL sport. Well, you know what I mean. And the difference among MU XL 2008, MU XL 2009 and MU XL 2010.

The real test of bike store employee's knowledge is if they have detailed knowledge of the differences amongst different year models, etc.

And yes, at one store, I had a bike store employee who said, "the models are basically all the same". I'm sorry, they are not. For a short, petite person, a couple millimetres can make a difference, etc. Nor did he explain which models one could bring the whole handlebar set closer to me vs. another model.

[KnottedYet]

The real test of bike store employee's knowledge is if they have detailed knowledge of the differences amongst different year models, etc.

I always figure the real test is if they know where to look up those details.
I guess that comes from being a librarian for so many years.

[shootingstar]

A bike store owner was able to tell me in less than 5 min., the key differences amongst MU XL for 2009, 2008 and another variation MU XL Sport by pointing out certain bike parts.

He was abit forceful in his explanation, probably a slightly impatient person by nature. Meanwhile his 2 clerks/mechanics stood by, listening respectfully and absorbing every word. The 2 guys were good people because they listened carefully, answered my questions where they could, showed me certain things, etc.

Of course we didn't get into the MU SL which I didn't ask.