Bike Buying Through a Car Buyer's Eyes

There are a plethora of reasons to buy from a bike shop compared to buying one from a big box retail store. Sadly, the only people that get the full grasp of these reasons are the people that already understand them and are trying to explain these reasons to everyone else. Let's put these advantages into a context that more people understand, buying and owning a car.

First, there is bike fit, a bike shop will take measurements and match you up to a specific size bike. Then the shop will make adjustments as needed to make sure that you are comfortable and safe. Big box stores usually have one frame size for each type of bike and there is nobody there that can make adjustments for you, you get what you get. When we look at this through a car buyer's eyes we would have to see a car that has no adjustable steering wheel and a seat that does not move. How many people would be able to drive safely and comfortably if cars were made this way?

Next, there is selection, bike shops have many models and types on the floor with tons of others listed in a catalog that they can usually have at the shop in 2 or 3 days. Big box stores usually have 3 or 4 models, with some being the same bike with just a different label on it. When we try to cross this over to a car dealer, it becomes hard to imagine the dealer having only 3 or 4 models with only one option. I think that the first car dealer that tried this would go out of business within a month.

Then there is the safety factor in the assembly of the bike. Reputable bike shops take pride in putting each bike together; these bikes tend to reflect directly on the shop, the owner, and the employees. This means that great care is taken with each and every one. Then each bike is test ridden to insure that everything was done correctly, adjustments are made, and then the bike is put on the sales floor. Big box stores tend to have an assembly company that comes into each store to put together the bikes. These companies are paid by the piece to put the bikes together. They usually try to get as many put together as fast as they can, there is no test ride, no final check for quality, and it is your problem now. If we try to think of our car in these terms it becomes very frightening. How would we feel if you test drove a car and the steering wheel was loose, the wheels wobbled, or the brakes didn't work correctly? Would you still buy the car?

Then there are accessories to customize your bike. These would be matching grips, saddles, wheels etc. We all know people love to buy accessories for their car, stereos, wheels, and tinted windows. These types of things would be much harder, if not impossible, at a big box store.

Bike shops also have employees with tons of expertise, because it is something they are passionate about. To the best of my knowledge, the bike section is managed by the toy department in most big box stores. I know this would not be the most ideal source of knowledge for your bike related questions. Imagine going to a dealer with questions about a car you wanted to buy and hearing, "This car has an engine, it is good. Um, I think it goes up to 100 mph and you can drive it on pavement and dirt roads. You will like it."

Bike shops also have excellent warranties on the bikes they sell. Big box stores will usually let you bring back a bike, but have no written warranties. If a car dealer did not have warranties on their new cars, would you buy one? Would you have confidence in this dealer's product?

Some car companies have big followings. You can see this at races, at certain car clubs and manufacturer gatherings such as Jeep, Honda, Subaru, Form Mustangs, etc. These types of things can also be found at bike shops. Employees are usually members, or know of, local clubs with riders of all types. These types of social relationships do not exist at any big box store.

Finally, there are the adjustments. Bike shops offer free tune-ups for 6-24 months depending on the shop, with some even offering lifetime tune-ups. The shops will gladly take care of any small adjustments that you need such as, tightening brakes, truing wheels, and cleaning-up slow shifting. Big box stores do not even have a service area, much less trained mechanics to provide the same services as a bike shop. If there was a car dealer that sent you to another establishment every time you needed service, no matter how new your car was, would you ever return to that dealer to buy another new car?

I hope these comparisons help to shed a different light on this subject. Sometimes we forget what it is like to do something new, when we have been doing it for so long. I wanted to put this into a perspective that will be a little more familiar to people that have not yet become a cyclist.