Purchasing over internet (vs local bike shop) - tax savings
- Thread starter Operator7
- Start date
D
Deleted member 803
Guest
Hint: I was yelling at the top of my lungs.....................
Operator7
Active Member
86, you are my kind of people. 
Thanks for your feedback.
I will be considering all options for a while, and all feedback is very welcome and appreciated. The out of state vendor is very reputable, from what I hear. I value their business as well as a local business. It's simply unfortunate that initial and subsequent servicing is an issue.
Thanks for your feedback.
I will be considering all options for a while, and all feedback is very welcome and appreciated. The out of state vendor is very reputable, from what I hear. I value their business as well as a local business. It's simply unfortunate that initial and subsequent servicing is an issue.
D
Deleted member 803
Guest
86, you are my kind of people.
Thanks for your feedback.
I will be considering all options for a while, and all feedback is very welcome and appreciated. The out of state vendor is very reputable, from what I hear. I value their business as well as a local business. It's simply unfortunate that initial and subsequent servicing is an issue.
I might add a caveat: The price issue is one of value. If the value proposition is substantive then it makes sense to shop out of the local business area. Saving $25 or $50 to have a bike shipped cross country is not a value proposition.
An equivalent value proposition is a poker bet. If there is $10 in the pot, then a $5 bet provides a 2/1 return. If there is $50 in the pot a $5 bet provides a 10/1 return.
Mike Smith
Active Member
I decided to buy the best ebike I could find from them closest dealer possible and love my purchase of the Diamondback Trace EXC from my local Performance Bike store with nation wide coverage where ever I might need service. I thought about buying from an online dealer but then where to get service? I now have a free two year tune up and lifetime adjustments for brakes etc. Go local and you won't have any regrets. It may not be the bike of your dreams but you can always sell and buy that bike when local service is available. For the time being just get out and ride. I did 15 miles today without a pause on some hills that I normally would have to stop 3 times while walking and catch my breath and my ebike made it feel easy...still had to pedal and work a little but I'm looking for exercise. In any case for the next year if anything happens to my bike I just drive it 3 miles to the Performance Bike store and say fix it under Warranty... easy squeezy, lemon peezy. Have fun whatever you do and find the best bike for you..doesn't have to be your last bike, just the one for now.
I have mixed feelings on this. I want buy locally but I have been "burned" twice. Bought my 1st Stromer at a shop that just was bad, told me disc brakes basically were supposed to squeak, but mine were squeaking from dragging and were only loud when the bike was moving, quiet when squeezed, it was unbearable ...then the bike start to run poorly...ended up in going to Philly from DC to get service about twice a month for awhile for motor replacement.
Fast forward 3 years Stromer gives replacement bikes. We paid for upgrades to Platinum. Life is good until this shop goes out of business. Find the new Stromer dealer. They fix the bikes but charge for labor on most repairs. They then drop Stromer. Now they fix the bikes but my last year of warranty is about useless. Currently both bikes have problems w/mushy brakes, both have issues w/front forks not holding pressure, and 1 rack should have been replaced but it has been heavily modified instead. It was suggested that 1 of the shops that was a Stromer dealer is now 1 again but last time a bike was at their place it was not able to be fixed and this is how we got our replacements. They lost their dealership while the bike was ther for a repair, a true nightm are. And I should go back?
I would have gone through no worse if I bought the bikes from out of state and if a standard purchase saved money.
My issues may be related to Stromer brand but could happen to others. Stromer has always been nice and they gave us replacement bikes but the dealers and their network not as much
Fast forward 3 years Stromer gives replacement bikes. We paid for upgrades to Platinum. Life is good until this shop goes out of business. Find the new Stromer dealer. They fix the bikes but charge for labor on most repairs. They then drop Stromer. Now they fix the bikes but my last year of warranty is about useless. Currently both bikes have problems w/mushy brakes, both have issues w/front forks not holding pressure, and 1 rack should have been replaced but it has been heavily modified instead. It was suggested that 1 of the shops that was a Stromer dealer is now 1 again but last time a bike was at their place it was not able to be fixed and this is how we got our replacements. They lost their dealership while the bike was ther for a repair, a true nightm are. And I should go back?
I would have gone through no worse if I bought the bikes from out of state and if a standard purchase saved money.
My issues may be related to Stromer brand but could happen to others. Stromer has always been nice and they gave us replacement bikes but the dealers and their network not as much
Brambor
Well-Known Member
The closest Stromer dealer is in New Hampshire and my experience with them was pretty unimpressive. They are basically a bike shop with staff who doesn't give a damn about ebikes and all of the people I spoke to seemed to know less than I do about ebikes. Compared to my Specialized ebike support it would be a night and day. That was basically my main reason NOT to buy from this dealer and buy from out of state. At the beginnning of my Stromer ownership I needed some support and the support I got was outstanding. A remote dealer could arrange a Skype session to diagnose issues you are having and help out with things but it sure helps if you are handy.
NoDTMF
Active Member
BTW, when buying from a local bike shop, investigate how the service center operates. Mine requires you to leave the bike a least a week for a tune-up! You can't schedule it! I'm glad they are busy, but leaving the bike for a week is too long.
I can understand their view when busy, but I think it should be a 2 day turn-around if you schedule in advance. That would give them enough buffer for the unexpected, and keep them busy for flakey customers...I think. Perhaps some owners shop owners could comment?
I can understand their view when busy, but I think it should be a 2 day turn-around if you schedule in advance. That would give them enough buffer for the unexpected, and keep them busy for flakey customers...I think. Perhaps some owners shop owners could comment?
eDean
Active Member
You can look at it as a business decision. First, much are you saving by buying out of state
1. How does that number compare to the probably of failure and associated local labor cost if the local dealer will not honor your warranty. Parts will be covered but labor is questionable.
2. How many times can you round trip ship your bike to the out of state dealer for the money you saved?
1. How does that number compare to the probably of failure and associated local labor cost if the local dealer will not honor your warranty. Parts will be covered but labor is questionable.
2. How many times can you round trip ship your bike to the out of state dealer for the money you saved?
Brambor
Well-Known Member
funny this thread made me look again at the Stromer Dealer map and the dealer I did not like is no longer working with Stromer. Instead the dealer from whom I bought my Specialized Turbo has also picked up the Stromer brand! Looks like I could get them both serviced under one roof if necessary. The only problem is that it is still 90 minutes driving from my house.
stevenast
Well-Known Member
http://electricbikereview.com/commu...st1-battery-compartment-door.1771/#post-19460
...yet another person experiencing poor / no Stromer service from their local ebike retail store. Push those units out the door and forget them!
I know some excellent shops are represented on this board, & I want to make it clear I'm not disparaging them. But a lot of us live a thousand miles away from a quality ebike shop like that.
Stromer is a quality bike, but its network in the US is not so quality.
I still think the OP might do better to look at dealing with a larger company that offers better support, especially after reading some of the posts in this thread, and also knowing he is not good at self maintenance.
...yet another person experiencing poor / no Stromer service from their local ebike retail store. Push those units out the door and forget them!
I know some excellent shops are represented on this board, & I want to make it clear I'm not disparaging them. But a lot of us live a thousand miles away from a quality ebike shop like that.
Stromer is a quality bike, but its network in the US is not so quality.
I still think the OP might do better to look at dealing with a larger company that offers better support, especially after reading some of the posts in this thread, and also knowing he is not good at self maintenance.
D
Deleted member 803
Guest
My local bike shop does sorta the same thing. They make their work schedule available online for all to see and schedule accordingly. You can even schedule online and they will adjust if you haven't allocated enough time. They have enough techs to take care of the walk-in minor stuff too.
Cameron Newland
Well-Known Member
It depends on where 'out of state' you buy it, I know that when I was calling around, most online comps charged you the tax of the state you lived in, so you might be better off just buying it in TaxCaliforniaCation. or w/e you cali girls call it.
What shop(s) did you call that quoted you with the sales tax of the state that you live in? They very well may have been breaking the law (pocketing the tax and not paying it to your home state at quarter-end or year-end).
As far as I know, interstate transactions do not have sales tax levied on them, and the purchaser is required to report the purchase on their personal taxes and pay the appropriate use tax in their state (which is almost always exactly the same percentage as the sales tax would have been had they bought in their state in the first place). For purchases under $5,000, it seems like most people don't report these transactions on their taxes, and they are technically breaking the law, but it seems like there is little enforcement, and so I think a lot of people get away with not paying use taxes to the state.
Cameron Newland
Well-Known Member
You don't round trip ship your bike to the out of state dealer. Your warranty covers you in all 50 states. If it doesn't, you should buy a different bike from a brand with a legitimate warranty.
D
Deleted member 803
Guest
Cory151
Active Member
The 2 Stromer Shops Ive been to in SoCal have been nothing short of amazing. They gave me a Stromer to ride while mine was on its way from the US distribution center. When I went in to get a checkup (incase any cables had stretched) they let me pick any of there floor models to take home while mine is being kept overnight. This was nice because it allowed me to confirm my choice in the ST2 over the Haibike and the Neo. In Carlsbad there is the USA distribution center who has even expressed no issue with profiding service for any issues, in fact it is who most of the shops turn to when they dont have a part or cant diagnois a problem.
Put it this way, knowing what I know now, if I woke up tomorrow and any of the very good bikes mentioined above resided in my garage instead of the ST2, Id be upset.
Put it this way, knowing what I know now, if I woke up tomorrow and any of the very good bikes mentioined above resided in my garage instead of the ST2, Id be upset.
Last edited:
Cory151
Active Member
Not sure if its a concern for you but I was considereing a Bosch drive bike at one point, some other members have expressed some concern about using their Bosch Driven Mountain bikes in mountain bike enviornments in this thread:
http://electricbikereview.com/community/threads/a-couple-of-bosch-drive-system-issues.1167/
http://electricbikereview.com/community/threads/a-couple-of-bosch-drive-system-issues.1167/
stevenast
Well-Known Member
...then don't forget the recalls of Stromer, here's one:
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/BMC-Recalls-Stromer-Electric-Bicycles/
Re: the Bosch thread you posted, you had a couple people who were pretty much abusing their bikes and one problematic part of the derailleur system that has since been corrected.
Stromer has had problems as well. I ride a Haibike/Bosch that retails for 3000 dollars less than the Stromer ST 2. I wouldn't take the Stromer in trade straight up.
Cogging, rough ride, recall issues. Looks good though!
Cory151
Active Member
Slow night on the LGBT forum?
What Galaxy are you living in for your make believe Stromer trade to make any sense? Nobody in their right mind would trade you straight up for a bike that's worth twice as much, goes twice the distance per charge and is faster.
You do know your posting in a Stromer forum right? Do you think everybody in the Stromer forum is gonna be talking whatever bike (I don't even know) you have up? No, cause they don't care. The OP sent me a private message asking for my input on STROMER based on a wright up I did when I got the bike. Everybody here now knows your opinion and your vote is counted -1 for Stromer.
Similar threads
