take a test spin!?!?

eas

Just curious - I was just in a shop looking at a bike, nothing too fancy but around €800 worth. I would be heading back to the shop tomorrow, so said to the guy working there that maybe I'd take it for a quick test spin then to see how it felt. I was told they don't let customers do that. I would have thought the final decision on buying a bike would weigh heavily on how it felt when actually riding the thing? I got a bit anoyed at his reasoning why not, but in the end decided that maybe this sort of thing just doesnt happen.

Anyhow, just curious if that's the norm? It's just principle now more than anything, but still would like to know for future reference.

BTW - I'm talking about a short scoot around outside the shop in dry weather, not taking the bike miles or anything.

lennymc

some shops will allow you take it for a spin. i can understand the reasoning behind it, but it can cost sales....

Tenzor07

Most bike shops I know around Dublin have demo bikes you can test...

They take a swipe of your credit card before you are let out on the bike....





(Dont come back= You just bought a demo bike at full cost!)

JH_raheny

cyclesuperstore offered me to take the bike for a spin before I even asked, ok it was just around the carpark but still

manwithaplan

I have never bought a bike in a shop without riding it first. I have never asked to try out a bike and been refused. Either I look significantly more respectable than you (unlikely) or that shop (or employee) is a bit crap. Find somewhere else to buy.

Darkglasses

McDonalds offered me a test spin with the used bike I bought there (which I did), Penny Farthing didn't offer and I didn't ask.

Hungrycol

Some will do a credit card swipe in case you don't come back with the bike. they probably would be able to cover you insurance wise if you crashed.

kenmc

I wouldn't buy a bike without being able to test ride it first; buying online being an obvious exception.
Find another bike shop.

paulanthony

Wheelworx in liffey valley also offered me a spin without me even asking, as did 2 wheels. Neither asked for a credit card or anything.

I don't think I would have spent €1000 on a bike without testing it out.

Colmhayden76

I work for Halfords and we have been told that no one is allowed take a bike for a spin be it a 100 euro trax or a 2 grand Boardman. Head office are paranoid about being sued like most UK chain stores as their insurance laws are tighter than a ducks food exit point.
And yes I have never bought a bike with out taking it around the block first!

Tackleberry

I work in FitzCycles.ie and we allow test spins on almost all bikes once we get a wallet or ID - we've even let some bikes out on 48 hour test spins where sufficient deposits and ID is obtained.

Only rule is it can't be raining!

CramCycle

I'd expect a test spin, don't mind signing a waiver or getting a swipe taken but flat out refusal would make me ask do they have a no quibble refund (or more realistically no sale at all)

2 Wheels Good

Colmhayden76 wrote: »

I work for Halfords and we have been told that no one is allowed take a bike for a spin be it a 100 euro trax or a 2 grand Boardman. Head office are paranoid about being sued like most UK chain stores as their insurance laws are tighter than a ducks food exit point.
And yes I have never bought a bike with out taking it around the block first!

Would wonder about that, have taken bikes for test rides from Evans in the UK a couple of times. Think you sign a disclaimer if I remember rightly. Any bike is available for a spin for a penny off the cc.
Getting to try out the 2010 and 2011 versions of my bike definitely helped swap my decision last year when buying so shops need to come up with some solution for buyers here.

gman2k

There used to be a bike shop on the Main Street in Maynooth. (Brian ____ was the guy who owned/ ran it)
Anyway, he was a Dawes dealer, and one day (late 80s) a guy came in and ordered a Galaxy.
When the bike turned up, the customer came to have a look at it, and he left Brian his car keys for 'safety' whilst he took the bike for a tryout.
After a while, no sign of yer man and the brand new Galaxy, Brian takes a look at the car keys and notices they are rusty..........
A Galaxy was a lot of money back in the late 80s!

eas

thanks for the comments, at least I know that I'm not the crazy guy that shop owners detest...or I could still be, but at least not for this reason.

I wouldn't buy a bike without being able to test ride it first; buying online being an obvious exception.

With all the talk of walk-in-shops not being able to compete with internet prices, you'd think they'd embrace whatever advantage they have and exploit it.

I was given a couple of reasons why this bike shop don't want customers taking their bikes out, one was insurance...but not for the fear of the customers getting into and accident and suing, or even over the customers for that matter, it was over the loss of the bike if there happened to be an accident. He also said something along the lines of if he let people take test spins he's have people there all day only to take bikes out for spins...as if it was a great past-time or something. Silly.

Thanks again.