SMART move by a local bike shop -- others should pay attention

[LuckyTheDog]

41. Let me explain

At Shop #1, I test-rode a small-frame version of a Trek hybrid bike (Bike #1) but decided I needed a medium-sized frame. They told me the bike was not in stock in that size, but talked me into testing a similar Trek -- same frame, slightly better components. The size felt good, but I decided I could not afford (and didn't need) the upgrades. The salesperson told me to come back in a couple weeks when the Bike #1 would be in stock in the size I wanted -- and on sale as well. So, I marked my calendar.

When I came back, they told me that the bike I wanted was, indeed "on sale," but still not in stock in the medium size. So, the choices they offered were: 1) pay more for the slightly better bike I test-rode on my first visit or 2) wait for some undetermined amount of time. I didn't exactly smell a bait and switch attempt. I just got the idea that they were disorganized.

Because of that, I went back to Shop #2 (which I had visited earlier in the shopping process) just to check them out again because -- why not? They could not have been nicer. There was no hard sell.

Shop #2 told me they could not come down low enough to match the price of the Trek I wanted. But, they could sell the Specialized to me to less than I would have paid for the more-expensive Trek. After thinking it over most of the day, I decided that the better components on the Specialized were well worth the extra $40, so I went back to Shop #2 and told them I'd take it.

The color thing was a bit of a snag, but was never going to be a deal-breaker. I was happy that they offered me anything on account of that.