Buying a bike - test drive?

Ludo

This may be a silly question in the context of bikes, but I went into a bike shop this evening and after looking over a few i picked out one I was interested in and had a chat about it. The sales person asked if I wanted him to put pedals on it so I said go for it. He went off and brought it back to me after a few mins. After sitting on it I said that I assume it is ok to take it outside to the nice big car park and try it out.
Nope!!! Not a chance.
So I am expected to hand over hundreds of euro without being allowed to even test it for a minute? I left obviously even though the bike seemed to be what I was looking for.

Is this normal for all bike shops? Are they afraid you will cycle off on it? My 2 young kids and wife were there also...not like I was going to rob the damn thing.

robyntmorton

A couple of years ago shopping for a bike, I came across the same thing. There does seem to be that "if you cycle out of here without paying, you'll never be back" attitude. I would leave the likes of my phone and ID with them, just to show you're serious.

Other shops though, seem to actively encourage tests. It's a difficult juggling act, unfortunately.

amcalester

I text rode the last bike I bought, left a debit card as security and went off for 30 minutes.

Assumed that the was normal, the bike cost £900 so not top of the line but not crap either.

Ludo

Good to know this doesn't seem to be a general thing. Last shop I went to had nowhere other than a busy road outside the door so I didn't even ask. I'll try somewhere else over the weekend.

stopped_clock

Last time I bought a bike I had a three day trial. Bike shop just took a credit card as security afair.

Kevincavan83

I was in a shop near Clontarf and the lads were dead sound, offered me the bike to try out to head out to howth and try it for a while, told them I couldn't as the wife was in the car outside and they said take a ladies dutch bike out for my wife aswell.

Colonel Panic

Depends on the shop, obviously, but I wouldn't buy a bike from a bricks and mortar bike shop without a test cycle. I'm happy to leave ID and a credit card. Once or two shops didn't even bother asking.

07Lapierre

Ludo wrote: »

This may be a silly question in the context of bikes, but I went into a bike shop this evening and after looking over a few i picked out one I was interested in and had a chat about it. The sales person asked if I wanted him to put pedals on it so I said go for it. He went off and brought it back to me after a few mins. After sitting on it I said that I assume it is ok to take it outside to the nice big car park and try it out.
Nope!!! Not a chance.
So I am expected to hand over hundreds of euro without being allowed to even test it for a minute? I left obviously even though the bike seemed to be what I was looking for.

Is this normal for all bike shops? Are they afraid you will cycle off on it? My 2 young kids and wife were there also...not like I was going to rob the damn thing.

Halfords?

Ludo

07Lapierre wrote: »

Halfords?

Nope...The Edge. Very disappointed in it to be honest as it a local shop and the nearest to me which I would like to support. But certainly wont be now.

paul mountainbike

Went to look at bikes in 2 shops great service from both .
Bikeology in Naas and Race Riget cycles in port loaise .
Both happy to let have a spin around the estate they were on and Bikeology even offered a test off road at a later date as mountain bike was my interest.

Ordered from Martin at race right now .
Great service.