Get All You Deserve
Saturday I had a customer APOLOGIZE for asking to test ride, “too many” demo bikes. Folks, this is how you find out what you do and do not need. You are doing any dealer a FAVOR!
This lady is a perfect example. She thought she wanted to convert her awesome and expensive Kona gravel bike. I wanted her to see how the torque sensing mid-drive would feel. She rode one of our step through rental bikes. Not the quality to which she was accustomed. She came back a changed person.
She now wants a Dutch style step through. She found what I have always known; comfort and stability is not a function of fat tires and suspensions. Comfort is the result of good design.
It is more comfortable and stable even than the cruiser she rode. She knows what she wants, but will be bringing her Kona back to see if a proper fit might make it more comfortable. We even discussed options using models from other local shops. She feels bad, but I know that when she gets her bike, she will love it. It will be the right bike and she’s going to tell others.
She apologized for being soo cheap instead of buying one like her friend’s factory bike. Her husband got a big kick out of it when I pointed out that her conversion would be 100% more powerful, have 85% more torque, a color dispaly with two accessory ports her friend does not have ($1500 less, including the new price of her Kona).
Now, this might make you think I believe everyone needs a ton of torque and performance geometry. I had another fella come in that just wants to ride to and from work significantly less than five miles each way. He might getaway on weekends for a ten or fifteen mile ride, but certainly could not justify spending more than for The Retrospec Beaumont Rev to climb. One hill per day. I sold him The Rev+ for The Rev price. He rode three bikes and this pleased him most. You can imagine his pleasure to learn it was the least expensive.
You are spending over a thousand dollars for a bicycle (up to $15k). I’ll add that the margin on e-bikes, especially direct to consumer models, is far greater than on traditional bikes. You deserve the best service. You deserve the best bike you can get for your money. Ask questions! The three customers I have had that plunked down money, no questions asked, actually ended up COSTING me money! They will never be happy. Please, ask questions. Do test rides and explore alternatives. You deserve it!