So in early March I was in the market for a cross bike. Decided on a Hakka, but wanted to go with the rival build as I wasn't sure how into a cross bike I'd be and am still budgeting on a 29er fs bike this year. So we're talking a $3300 bike.
Competitive will give you 5% off a stock build if you even hint at a discount and sports basement is an ibis dealer and gives 10% off to their loyalty program.
I went in to my local shop on March 9th who I usually have do some work on my bike and I've bought bikes from before (i.e not a total stranger) and told them what I was interested in, but I needed a 55cm and they only had a 58 in stock. They offered to order me one, and I asked them to price match the 10% off, but that I also wanted to add a dropper. He said he could match the 10% off (they always do a flat 10% for the local bike club members anyways) and do better than 10% on the dropper. In total he gave me a quote for 3476 which was 10% off the bike and the dropper was basically the same price as if I ordered it from WWC or Competitive and asked if I wanted to order the bike. I told him yes, if he could have the bike quickly as I know Ibis can get backordered sometimes and I didn't want to wait months for the bike as that would put me into prime mtb riding time. I asked him to please verify they had one of the build, size and color in stock. He said he'd have to call me on Monday.
On 3/15 I had a vm from him saying he could get the bike by the end of the month. I missed that VM and didn't realize it until 3/24 so I called the shop back to see if that was still an accurate timeline and if so I would come in and give them a deposit or pay for the bike. They again said no problem, we'll find out and call you on Monday.
I don't hear form them again until mid afternoon 3/29 when he says yes, we can have the bike for you next thursday (4/4), but we're ordering today and have to have the order in by the end of the day. I change some plans, drive over and write them a check for $3,476.
On 4/10 I get a call from them that the bike should be shipping out tomorrow or the next day and they should see it by the weekend or monday.
On 4/13 I get a call that the bike is in, but they don't have the right dropper. I ask them what's wrong with it, as if they got the 150 instead of the 125 we could test it for fit. Nope, they ordered the wrong diameter dropper. I'm told I can take the bike now with the stock post or wait until next thursday for them to have the right sized dropper in.
At this point I'm already pretty frustrated, but it's also tax weekend so I don't pickup the bike. Thursday and Friday both go by with no call.
So now I find myself in the exact situation I didn't want to be in, almost a month wait on a bike that Sports Basement could have had in 2 business days now pushing into full on spring and I still don't have the bike in my hands.
I call them on Saturday 4/20 and tell them I want to cancel the order. Dude on the phone tells me he'll have to have the guy I was working with call me back and he's with another customer. He calls back quick enough and asks what's up. I tell him I need to cancel the order and he's like "Why the bike has been here waiting for you for over a week". Then goes on to tell me that he had overnighted the correct dropper over a week ago and claims he called and left me a vm. I point out that over a week ago was before I got a call from them telling me they had the wrong sized dropper and that I had no vm from him and at this point I don't want the bike, I simply want my money back. He's obviously not happy and insists he called me but tells me I can return the bike and they'll have to mail me a check back.
So, am I the arsehole here? Would you have still taken the bike at this point? If I'm honest with myself, the reason I'm wondering is had all the delays simply been on Ibis's part and the shop been on top of communication, I probably would have still taken the bike but their poor communication and then either half truth or outright lies was a deal breaker.
Competitive will give you 5% off a stock build if you even hint at a discount and sports basement is an ibis dealer and gives 10% off to their loyalty program.
I went in to my local shop on March 9th who I usually have do some work on my bike and I've bought bikes from before (i.e not a total stranger) and told them what I was interested in, but I needed a 55cm and they only had a 58 in stock. They offered to order me one, and I asked them to price match the 10% off, but that I also wanted to add a dropper. He said he could match the 10% off (they always do a flat 10% for the local bike club members anyways) and do better than 10% on the dropper. In total he gave me a quote for 3476 which was 10% off the bike and the dropper was basically the same price as if I ordered it from WWC or Competitive and asked if I wanted to order the bike. I told him yes, if he could have the bike quickly as I know Ibis can get backordered sometimes and I didn't want to wait months for the bike as that would put me into prime mtb riding time. I asked him to please verify they had one of the build, size and color in stock. He said he'd have to call me on Monday.
On 3/15 I had a vm from him saying he could get the bike by the end of the month. I missed that VM and didn't realize it until 3/24 so I called the shop back to see if that was still an accurate timeline and if so I would come in and give them a deposit or pay for the bike. They again said no problem, we'll find out and call you on Monday.
I don't hear form them again until mid afternoon 3/29 when he says yes, we can have the bike for you next thursday (4/4), but we're ordering today and have to have the order in by the end of the day. I change some plans, drive over and write them a check for $3,476.
On 4/10 I get a call from them that the bike should be shipping out tomorrow or the next day and they should see it by the weekend or monday.
On 4/13 I get a call that the bike is in, but they don't have the right dropper. I ask them what's wrong with it, as if they got the 150 instead of the 125 we could test it for fit. Nope, they ordered the wrong diameter dropper. I'm told I can take the bike now with the stock post or wait until next thursday for them to have the right sized dropper in.
At this point I'm already pretty frustrated, but it's also tax weekend so I don't pickup the bike. Thursday and Friday both go by with no call.
So now I find myself in the exact situation I didn't want to be in, almost a month wait on a bike that Sports Basement could have had in 2 business days now pushing into full on spring and I still don't have the bike in my hands.
I call them on Saturday 4/20 and tell them I want to cancel the order. Dude on the phone tells me he'll have to have the guy I was working with call me back and he's with another customer. He calls back quick enough and asks what's up. I tell him I need to cancel the order and he's like "Why the bike has been here waiting for you for over a week". Then goes on to tell me that he had overnighted the correct dropper over a week ago and claims he called and left me a vm. I point out that over a week ago was before I got a call from them telling me they had the wrong sized dropper and that I had no vm from him and at this point I don't want the bike, I simply want my money back. He's obviously not happy and insists he called me but tells me I can return the bike and they'll have to mail me a check back.
So, am I the arsehole here? Would you have still taken the bike at this point? If I'm honest with myself, the reason I'm wondering is had all the delays simply been on Ibis's part and the shop been on top of communication, I probably would have still taken the bike but their poor communication and then either half truth or outright lies was a deal breaker.
