Order bikes from Specialized brick & motor store or indie dealer?

[AvalancheRun]

Just curious to get thoughts on this. First thought is supporting local indies is just a good thing to do. They could use the business, and would likely go above and beyond with warranty support.

Also, kinda an aside, but I found deep discount on a non-e Spec bike from a retailer out of town. Would Specialized match that?

 

[Ben J]

FWIW, when I bought my Tero X I test rode adjacent bikes at LBS, but they didn't have the actual bike I wanted. I asked if it mattered if I ordered through them or online (shipped to them) and they said they didn't care. As someone picking up an online order in the store they seemed to expect I needed zero handholding (leaving it up to me to dial in the bike for riding) which was fine by me. Not sure if that would work out if you wanted them to go over the whole bike and setup with you on delivery.

 

[AvalancheRun]

FWIW, when I bought my Tero X I test rode adjacent bikes at LBS, but they didn't have the actual bike I wanted. I asked if it mattered if I ordered through them or online (shipped to them) and they said they didn't care. As someone picking up an online order in the store they seemed to expect I needed zero handholding (leaving it up to me to dial in the bike for riding) which was fine by me. Not sure if that would work out if you wanted them to go over the whole bike and setup with you on delivery.

Appreciate the input!

Yeah, I settled on Spec brick & mortar. Being able to text or call them has been a huge benefit over other brands. I know they want the sale too.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

AR:

• If you order an e-bike at your LBS, they get the maximum sales commision
• If you order online but the e-bike is delivered to your home by an eligible LBS, then the LBS gets the smaller but still significant commision
• If you order online but the e-bike is collected at the eligible LBS, they earn the least commision.

If you get your e-bike at your Specialized LBS, the store will treat you as a valued customer. If you buy elsewhere, expect paying extra for services at your LBS even if the warranty is honoured by any Specialized LBS. Your Specialized LBS might be properly trained in e-bikes they sell, maintain, and repair. The indie dealer is just a seller, I think.

If you are getting a deep discount from the indie dealer (outside the official Specialized discounts) then something could be wrong about the e-bike in question. Usually, a Specialized LBS gives you a small discount for the purchase but high discounts are unusual. For instance, I got a significant discount from a very bad Specialized dealer (they lost their dealership later) and only post purchase I realized they sold me a MY 2017 e-bike but told me it was a 2019 model.

 

[decooney]

The Specialized website offered my eMTB Carbon Comp Turbo Levo bike at a reduced price on sale, and my LBS honored it, ordered it, assembled it, converted it to tubeless, cut the bars for me, and let me test ride it a few times before I paid for it in full. I met the sales person who rides eMTBs, he helped me test ride a few bikes prior, and recommended a particular person to build my bike for me in the shop. Setup the air shock/fork for me weight, showed me how, and helped fit me to the bike.

Being this is an eBike with an electric motor, battery, computer, app-software controlled, lockable, with features I'm still discovering - been back 3 times for Q&A, I can go to the shop any time, ask questions, get support, and if when the motor / battery / computer has an issue. I know where I'm going for warranty coverage and/or replacements. Had no interest this time around buying a complex bike from a one-time seller and risk of them cutting and running, not wanting to deal with it later. The amazing part is, I got a deal from the local bike shop. Don't overlook your LBS, and you can shop around to different LBSs and compare, if you have to. Keep an eye online. Only buy when ready. These bikes are expensive, and it makes a lot of sense to leverage your LBS for help, time, knowledge. Remember them at purchase.

The real value of the LBS for me was all of the different DEMOs they allowed me to do, and I bought a completely different bike from when I started out. My LBS truly saved me good $ by me simply buying the right bike the first time rather than buy / resell / lose $ / do-overs later.

 

[GaryInCO]

Same here. My LBS is a Specialized company store. I test-rode 4 different bikes (10-15 miles each time) and was able to find the bike that worked for me. That's worth a lot.

 

[decooney]

Same here. My LBS is a Specialized company store. I test-rode 4 different bikes (10-15 miles each time) and was able to find the bike that worked for me. That's worth a lot.

Nice, good going!

I have a few buddies lurking and thinking about buying some higher $ eMTBs now. And, they are all enamored with the latest round of online purchase companies, [one starts with a "C"] competing handily with Specialized, Trek, Giant on the entry purchase. Great bikes, great designs, same or better components - up to 30% less initial purchase cost - blah blah blah. i.e. define total cost of ownership over the next 5 years then too, fwiw. However, I'm doing my best to explain to them that real stores offering "Demos" and "onsite Service" and "Warranty" follow-thru and coverage, are "worth a lot" as you say here. Now these bikes have motors, batteries that fail, computers, wiring, software, firmware, getting to be even more complex. Stuff happens. It's nice to have a LBS to keep it service oriented too.

 

[Vamos]

Same here. My LBS is a Specialized company store. I test-rode 4 different bikes (10-15 miles each time) and was able to find the bike that worked for me. That's worth a lot.

l think of a LBS as an independent store, but if you already know that you want a Specialized it is nice to be able to see and test ride the various models. There are significant changes in bike retail.https://www.pinkbike.com/news/whats-the-significance-of-the-specialized-d2c-move-its-complicated.html

 

[AvalancheRun]

Nice, good going!

I have a few buddies lurking and thinking about buying some higher $ eMTBs now. And, they are all enamored with the latest round of online purchase companies, [one starts with a "C"] competing handily with Specialized, Trek, Giant on the entry purchase. Great bikes, great designs, same or better components - up to 30% less initial purchase cost - blah blah blah. i.e. define total cost of ownership over the next 5 years then too, fwiw. However, I'm doing my best to explain to them that real stores offering "Demos" and "onsite Service" and "Warranty" follow-thru and coverage, are "worth a lot" as you say here. Now these bikes have motors, batteries that fail, computers, wiring, software, firmware, getting to be even more complex. Stuff happens. It's nice to have a LBS to keep it service oriented too.

I bet those bikes have more battery range and higher power motors but are in most other ways worse than Trek, Specialized, Santa Cruz, etc. MTBs.

That tends to be how this story goes.

 

[decooney]

I bet those bikes have more battery range and higher power motors but are in most other ways worse than Trek, Specialized, Santa Cruz, etc. MTBs.

That tends to be how this story goes.

Well, I hope positive outcomes for the MFGs you mention for a while longer because I want them all to keep LBS stores around us in business. I won't bring attention to whom I'm referring to, but when you see the results of engineers [in Europe] studying the best of Specialized or Santa Cruz eMTBs, and then see them now offering a bike with same or better top shelf quality parts - some say even better design, coming from hard core riders. Referring to a trick carbon fiber chassis design, Shimano EP801 motor, Fox 36 forks, Fox Float X2 shock, 900w battery, nice Shimano shift / brake components, and 1lb less weight, at close to half of the retail price [on deep cut sale prices] - well you get the point. Kind of reminds me back when Amazon, Home Depot, Costco came along and put our local main chain stores and hardware stores out of business. imo Trek, Specialized, Santa Cruz are gonna have to get creative fast next few years [somehow] if they want to retain a loyal customer base long term and keep stores open, with some profit. We have several stores of each all around us in my neck of the woods. Hope the compelling difference offered is great service, warranty, accessibility. But, for 40-50% more cost - I don't know if that can hold on. For 25-30% more cost, maybe. We'll see over the next 2-3 years how it pans out.

Spec already moved to direct-sale, and as long as they can keep offering sale competitive prices, and people want local shops - will keep fingers crosse for them all.

 

[decooney]

Retailer store COMPETITION is here in different ways now too, at least for eMTBs that is. Yet another competitive threat to regular bicycle stores for the e-Bike sector is here now, today, or for eMTBs at least - in my neck of the woods. Read on if interested...

Traditional Motorcycle retail stores around us here in NorCal are starting selling Electric Mountain bikes, in real quantities. Scenario unfolded naturally, it seems. You have buyers like myself who rode dirt motorcycles our whole lives, now buying eMTBs. More places to ride off-road now, with eMTBs. eMTBs (seemingly) cutting into their traditional dirt motorcycle sales business perhaps.

Last week i popped into my local Motorcycle chain store, in business for decades and rnow for the past year with eMTBs too. Was quite a surprise to see it in person, center stage, front side and middle back half of the store. They had a full court display of Specialized eMTBs, 30+ bikes, on multi-level display racks, and a separate eMTB service department just for the eMTBs (Specialized) primarily.

So, appears the traditional motorcycle retail stores want "in" on the action now too. Locally, within 15 miles apart, we have full-tilt motorcycle dealers (3+) now selling Specialized, Yamaha, Husqvarna, Ducati, GasGas, and other e-Mountain bikes now too. I suspect our local (regular) bicycle shop dealers getting into eMTBs were not anticipating this. It just happened. Good for industry, maybe. Not sure what it means for traditional bicycle retail stores if eMTBs keep catching on like they are.

 

[mschwett]

i wonder how good/experienced they are working with bikes. obviously both bikes and motorcycles have two wheels, hydraulic disc brakes… a few other similarities, but i imagine everything is different in multiple meaningful ways. even between bike shops that focus on road bikes, mountain bikes, cruisers, etc there is some lacking of experience.

 

[decooney]

i wonder how good/experienced they are working with bikes. obviously both bikes and motorcycles have two wheels, hydraulic disc brakes… a few other similarities, but i imagine everything is different in multiple meaningful ways. even between bike shops that focus on road bikes, mountain bikes, cruisers, etc there is some lacking of experience.

Good question. More info to share, I.e

At my closest local Motorsports store, ex-Safeway grocery store/size that is, they reached a deal with a local bike shop owner who closed his bicycle store, and he now sub-leases space inside this large Motorsports store that sells Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki motorcycles +Specialized eMTBs. The eMTBs sub-store owner inside has his own dedicated Specialized “Service Store”, adjacent to the MC Service Bay area. You are forced to see the Spec bicycles in the middle of the store on display, so it’s not off to the side or anything, and a new priority for the store. Claims they are “moving a lot of eMTBs through” there now.

I wonder if this could put a small dent in their motorcycle dirt bike sales as another viable option. More eMTB bike trails to ride than sanctioned state OHV parks to ride any more in our state. I can see how eMTBs will dominate even more next few years here.

 

[decooney]

BLACK FRIDAY Sale on the Specialized website today - Nov 24th

Checking this morning, noticed some of the Turbo Tero bikes are $1000 off, a few the Levo SL bikes, one of the Turbo Levo Comp Alloy bikes, and a few of the Vado's are discounted pretty good right now. All of my local (official/affiliated) Specialized dealers will honor the same price that's online. And/Or order the bike for you at that sale price if you are willing to wait 1-2 weeks for it to arrive.

What I've found is Spec plays with the prices, you have to keep an eye on it every 24-72hrs some times. Seems as if they sell off a batch of bikes, then raise prices right back up again. I kept watching in Aug/Sept and how I got mine for a 4-day low price, fwiw.

link -

Sale - Specialized

Find our latest clearance items here and snag a deal on quality equipment and apparel.

www.specialized.com

.

 

[GaryInCO]

I didn't even look, since I the Vado 4.0 I ordered last weekend was already on sale. Sure enough, it's still at the same price it was last weekend, so I won't get any additional discount ...

 

[decooney]

I didn't even look, since I the Vado 4.0 I ordered last weekend was already on sale. Sure enough, it's still at the same price it was last weekend, so I won't get any additional discount ...

Well that's a good thing you can confirm you got the most recent deal then, nice! Before I purchased my current bike, I had been watching the Tero bikes a lot, for six months, and the Tero 5.0 bike prices were not budging for a long time there. Finally seeing them drop price too. Hopefully Specialized keeps prices competitive for the long game, there are other up-and-comers snapping at their heels right now with quality designs, components, and pricing. A few friends of mine chose those alternatives instead lately even though they like Spec eBikes a lot.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Did you know Specialized offered no bikes or e-bikes for this year's Black Friday in Europe? Only apparel, wheels, cranksets, etc.

 

[GaryInCO]

I see Upway has some good sale prices. Mostly older models (2020-2022) but their price for a 2023 Vado 4.0 is several hundred below Specialized’s sale price. Unfortunately only Small frame size, though…

Search: 30 results found for "Specialized Vado 4.0"

Discover top-quality electric bikes at Upway. Save up to 60%, enjoy a 1-year warranty, and get fast home delivery. Find your perfect e-bike today!

upway.co

 

[decooney]

I see Upway has some good sale prices. Mostly older models (2020-2022) but their price for a 2023 Vado 4.0 is several hundred below Specialized’s sale price. Unfortunately only Small frame size, though…

Search: 30 results found for "Specialized Vado 4.0"

Discover top-quality electric bikes at Upway. Save up to 60%, enjoy a 1-year warranty, and get fast home delivery. Find your perfect e-bike today!

upway.co

On that note, I've been studying the Upway Co for the past six months. A friend pulled the trigger buying a new Niner e9 Rip, full suspension bike, with nice components. Not quite half of new, late 2022 model, and has a local dealer to support him on setup, registration, warranty since it is a new bike [no prior people owners] in this case. Helping him out, checking it out - I got a chance to get to chat with one of the leaders there for more of a full scoop on what they are doing, buying, selling. It varies by bike and group purchases its seems. Gotta ask on each bike really, imo In my buddies case, the bikes were overstock buys, and while it reads <3mi with a disclaimer note on the ad, they are brand new bikes, never used. Some do apparently get scratched in shipping too I learned, yet if in original factory boxes/packing, likely a better situation.

Previously, on the Upway.co site, I was following some of the Specialized bikes and models too past, and the ones I was looking at were (not brand new) mostly ex-demos with <50 mile on them, but certainly not brand new. They pick up bikes in various situations, not all of the same. So you can start with Chat and then ask to talk to a manager or something and they will talk over a call. I can see how this could help dealers/distributors clearing out stock for the new year, yet also competes with them if people don't mind buying bikes in caring conditions, scratches, to save a few $.

I guess it started in France, they have offices in the USA now, in NY, and I was informed they are sending so many bikes to California, they will be building a distribution location out here too on the West Coast in Calif. Watching closely and studying how this all ties into industry competition, market pricing, and wondering what it will do to LBS/Distributors/Dealers, -AND- what all of this means in terms of SO many companies making eBikes now, [will it?] drive prices down more, hmm. Seems only the prepared and strong will survive next few years.