New Vado 5.0 IGH in stock? My LBS's say go for it, they can't get 'em

[GuruUno]

Saw the availability for a new Vado IGH in my size (L) in my color (Red) is available.
It's in my basket, so I called my LBS #1 in the area, he said to buy it, 'cause he cannot get it.
I then called Hilltop Bicycles in NJ (Specialized just purchased all 7 stores), the manager Paul said due to the new way that Specialized wishes to do business is E-Commerce 1st, dealers 2nd. But how does that work with the 7 stores being "company" (Specialized) stores?
Anyway, if it's there in the next 1-2 hours I'm buying it if not then the low stock is low stock and I get the next one, hopefully.
(Paul asked me to hang a short bit while he contacted his regional rep from Specialized to get to actual scoop)
I'm just sharing the story to expose what a weird situation it actually is.....you can't even give the LBS some business if you want.
Very, very frustrating, and I can tell you the LBS owners are a tad pissed.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

you can't even give the LBS some business if you want.

The Specialized Delivery is 50% of the commission to the dealer if you pick up the bike in the store, or 75% if the dealer delivers the bike to your door.

If you want to give the LBS some business, choose the last option.

 

[GuruUno]

I can't. BOTH LBS'es say they cannot get the bike and I should order via the site, not them. This is the point I'm sharing.
So you are saying have the bike after I purchase direct shipped to the store?
Very odd procedure. I understand, but why in the hell can't a "Specialized Owned Store" order it? IF you were the LBS and were treated that way?
They too are befuddled.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I can't. BOTH LBS'es say they cannot get the bike and I should order via the site, not them. This is the point I'm sharing.
So you are saying have the bike after I purchase direct shipped to the store?
Very odd procedure. I understand, but why in the hell can't a "Specialized Owned Store" order it? IF you were the LBS and were treated that way?
They too are befuddled.

IF your e-bike qualifies for Specialized Delivery and you start emptying the basket, you will be asked which of the Specialized stores nearby you should handle the delivery. Then, you can indicate the door-to-door delivery to give the dealer maximum earning.

There are several reasons why such a model was chosen. As @mschwett explained in one or two of his posts, the new model is actually good for dealers. For instance, they do not need to invest in the inventory, they do not need to do any sales work, just assemble the bike, deliver to you and even could help you fit your e-bike. And the dealer gets a nice commission for doing only that.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Guru, as I like you when you are in a positive mood, let me share my experience:

My absolutely favourite, Specialized owned LBS has never had Electrak tyres in their stock. The reason being, Electraks are only used on Vado 6.0, and they never sold a single Vado 6.0. I ordered the tyres on the Specialized website and indicated I would pick up the tyres at my fave LBS. The tyres were sent by courier from Specialized Europe (Cham, Switzerland). When the store notified me about collecting the shipment, I drove to them with my Vado.

They washed my Vado (they have a bike wash). They replaced the tyres. They inspected the e-bike. I paid for the service. Win-Win. And I even got a cup of an excellent coffee from the leading salesman!

.

 

[GuruUno]

"as I like you when you are in a positive mood"
I'll keep you informed, thank you

 

[Stefan Mikes]

"as I like you when you are in a positive mood"

Thank you! I was just wondering if "mood" was countable

 

[Allan47.7339]

The second option having it delivered to the shop is probably the best for them since while you are there you can buy some clothes and accessories where they get good margins.

 

[GuruUno]

I understand the comments, however, I think the point I'm attempting to make is that the 'new' business model that is being implemented is not being enthusiastically embraced by the LBS'es.....time will tell

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I understand the comments, however, I think the point I'm attempting to make is that the 'new' business model that is being implemented is not being enthusiastically embraced by the LBS'es.....time will tell

They (LBSes) could not get many e-bikes anyway. For instance, your LBS might have had a Vado 5.0 IGH in size M and wrong colour. You would not buy it. Now, you are on the good way to let the LBS earn as much as 75% of their usual commission, and your Vado in size L, Red would be collecting dust in some LBS in the state most distant from you otherwise.

 

[mschwett]

I can't. BOTH LBS'es say they cannot get the bike and I should order via the site, not them. This is the point I'm sharing.
So you are saying have the bike after I purchase direct shipped to the store?
Very odd procedure. I understand, but why in the hell can't a "Specialized Owned Store" order it? IF you were the LBS and were treated that way?
They too are befuddled.

there’s a fundamental issue here with dealership agreements and franchise agreements as they’ve been instituted in the past. dealers can only transfer stock in certain situations and are generally not willing to do so.

this is bad for everyone except the dealers, making it harder to match up the limited number of bikes to potential riders/customers.

the new model holds back a certain % of the bikes, which can be shipped anywhere in the country to whoever wants them. flexible and equitable. AND the LBS get either 50% or 75% of the commission they’d get if they bought the bike in advance and took up their sales floor space, staff resources, etc.

 

[kahn]

But how, pray tell, do you test the bike. Its power, its handling, its SIZE. Can it be returned, no questions asked after a "purchaser" has ridden it 10 or 15 miles and decides it is TOO BIG or TOO SMALL or.... or ....

And, yes, I realize not everyone has the luxury of a nearby shop. But for those that do or rather DID!!!!

 

[GuruUno]

Well, I appreciate the audience.....I've ordered the bike via the online portal and it's being shipped to an LBS who is now under the umbrella of the "Specialized" brand.
Hope I love it.
As a side note, my Vado 5.0 is posted in. the classified if anyone is looking for a killer bike at a great deal ($2999)

 

[Nubnub]

For an ebike, the choices are Specialized delivery where presumably the dealer who delivers to your home address puts the bike together and gets 75% commission. It's not clear what LBS are qualified to do this. At least in the SF Bay Area it is likely that it would be Specialized Bay Area - cutting out the "real" LBS.

The other delivery choice is pick up at a LBS that I can select where the LBS puts the bike together and get 50% commission. So if I want to support an LBS of my choosing then they will get 50%.

 

[Nubnub]

But how, pray tell, do you test the bike. Its power, its handling, its SIZE. Can it be returned, no questions asked after a "purchaser" has ridden it 10 or 15 miles and decides it is TOO BIG or TOO SMALL or.... or ....

And, yes, I realize not everyone has the luxury of a nearby shop. But for those that do or rather DID!!!!

In the US, the return policy is at https://support.specialized.com/return/en/return-policy

Only get a refund if the item is unused. Otherwise can return within 30 days for store credit (bike must be undamaged of course). I would suspect there could be some wiggle room where you can schedule delivery to an LBS and take it for a quick spin to check fit. Any decent LBS will make the preliminary fit adjustments as part of the bike delivery and sounds like this is included if you do Specialize home delivery. I imagine if you refuse delivery based on too small/big they "might" issue a refund instead of store credit. Probably would depend on how quickly they think they could turnaround the rejected bike.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

For an ebike, the choices are Specialized delivery where presumably the dealer who delivers to your home address puts the bike together and gets 75% commission. It's not clear what LBS are qualified to do this.

As far as I know for my area, Specialized reduced the number of its dealers to ones ensuring proper sales volume. That left only two stores in Greater Warsaw. One, Specialized Warsaw Brand Store certainly belongs to Specialized (or is at high Tier). The other (Cozmo Bike) is a private LBS that only carries Specialized bikes/e-bikes and Husqvarna e-bikes. The selection of e-bikes is very limited at Cozmo while the floor is full in the Brand Store.

Still, both stores are listed as qualifying for Specialized Delivery. And you can choose which of them you prefer. For the rest of Poland, there are only several LBS left for the Specialized Delivery. Such stores are so big and so active I heard about any of them!

 

[fatshark]

In the US, the return policy is at https://support.specialized.com/return/en/return-policy

Only get a refund if the item is unused. Otherwise can return within 30 days for store credit (bike must be undamaged of course). I would suspect there could be some wiggle room where you can schedule delivery to an LBS and take it for a quick spin to check fit. Any decent LBS will make the preliminary fit adjustments as part of the bike delivery and sounds like this is included if you do Specialize home delivery. I imagine if you refuse delivery based on too small/big they "might" issue a refund instead of store credit. Probably would depend on how quickly they think they could turnaround the rejected bike.

In the UK I was told - by the shop - that an order placed in my LBS would commit me to buying the bike, whether it fitted or not. This was a LBS that sold Specialized, not solely a Specialized dealer (I won't name the shop). This was madness as ordering the same bike by mail would allow me to return it under our distance selling regulations. I probably couldn't use the bike, but I can tell whether it would fit by just sitting on it. The LBS wanted the funds up front and I'd have to take it away even if it was clearly too small or large. They justified this by saying that I was likely to be ordering an XL and they wouldn't normally hold those in stock. Specialized XL's are not freakishly large (I suspect they would fit 15-20% of the adult male population based upon height distributions) and demand for these bikes remains very high.

I ordered online. I did the sizing on the Specialised site and it was spot-on. The LBS (which isn't local, but is the closest Specialized seller) lost the sale and the commission, and probably any follow-up purchases.

I dealt directly with the Specialized Concept Store in Ruislip (North London) and they were outstanding. They answered all my pre-sales questions promptly and knowledgeably and a couple of post-delivery questions as well. I cannot fault the service I received. It was delivered part-built and only needed the bars, front wheel and pedals fitting - all trivial. I'd like to have bought it via a LBS, but not if it potentially committed me to leaving with a bike that was clearly the wrong size.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The company that sold me the big Vado has had several stores in Warsaw, one of them carrying Specialized. I could feel from the very beginning the sales company was not good (I had negative experiences with them later). That was the kind of company to expect part prepayment from you. Now, it looks they lost Specialized dealership.

The Specialized Brand Store is another tale. In June last year, I talked to the leading salesman there. "Could you pre-order a Vado SL 4.0 ST size M in limestone colour?" -- "Yes, consider it done. I only need to warn you that such e-bike would be available in December this year earliest!" -- "Do I need to prepay?" -- "Not at all! If you don't buy it, we will certainly sell the bike anyway. However, if you order the same at another LBS, please let me know". That was the most fair talk you could imagine!

Then I considered it was the best cycling season. I looked around and spotted a Dove Gray size M Vado SL 4.0 EQ on the floor. "What is this?" -- I demanded -- "A floor model, just for sale" -- "Cancel the other order please. Buying the SL now!"

 

[Onimaru]

So I canceled my wife’s preorder and ordered to our LBS from the website. Should have it next week. I waited to order hers first but by the time S came in stock L was sold out in Red. But it’s available on black and that sand color so hopefully soon? I still have my preorder for April if not. But I’m faster than her and if I got the ebike first I’d be in trouble! So close. Can’t wait.

 

[Holland-Tim-Allant+8S]

i don't like seeing the manufacturer's buying up all the local bike shops. but there are advantages. for example, the long time Trek store in northwest Indiana was purchased from the retiring owner in 2020. the first thing Trek did was give all the employees a big raise. why? because they don't need both the wholesale and retail mark-ups. Trek basically gave the retail mark-up to the employees. That is pretty amazing. The employees loved it. tim