Local Shop or Online?

[MRMAC9]

Is it better to buy the bike that you really want online from a firm such as 50 Cycles or settle for the convenience of buying from a local shop which may not stock a great range of bikes? The local outlet is very handy if a problem arises or when repairs/replacements are needed. The online shops will offer a greater variety of bikes at more competitive prices but getting repairs/replacement parts may pose problems.

 

[trex]

I
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The online shops will offer a greater variety of bikes at more competitive prices but getting repairs/replacement parts may pose problems.

often it's the other way round. If you have a faulty battery for example, getting it checked out or a replacement for it is quicker if you buy/deal directly with 50Cycles, one fewer link in the chain.

 

[JohnCade]

Compromise may be possible where a bike which fits the bill is available locally. But if the choice is restricted and you can’t get something similar to what you want then buy at a distance. Most local shops will have to send motors back with higher end ones anyway, and they may not have the skill set to be able to deal with all electrical problems.

Any bike shop should deal with the cycle parts unless they are the sort of dicks who don’t want to encourage online retailers. Understandable with normal bikes but not when the local shops have no pedelec choice to speak of.

 

[Electrifying Cycles]

Both can be good and bad. Ask key questions like what happens if something goes wrong. We will do more than most if a problem arises such as loaning a customer a bike free of charge and free collection.

I would give your local supplier a chance but equally internet or long distance selloes can be good too. Although most importantly test ride different bikes. A good ebike stockist should have more than one or two to try.

Good luck
David

 

[EddiePJ]

Just referring to online sales, much would depend upon where you are looking. If you are looking at say Ebay at cheap Chinese unbranded bikes, then the possibility is that you could come unstuck when the seller disappears, or hasn't thought the thing through in respect of spare parts for the bike.
The same issues aren't going to happen when you buy from say 50C, E-Bikes Direct or even from out of the country with someone like Fahrrad Bekher. Each are going to there to support you, sell branded and recognized names, and in the case of the German company, the service is just as efficient. There are some very good UK based and operated online based e-bike selling companies out there, offering a wide choice of bikes. You need to apply common sense when buying.

 

[oldtom]

If I lived close by a shop selling Kalkhoff bikes, I'd probably buy one of their machines. On the other hand, if that shop sold only KTM bikes, I'd buy a KTM.

If it were the case that I lived in the middle of nowhere and had it in mind to spend a couple of grand on an EAPC, I'd take one or two days out to visit specific bike shops to actually ride the bikes and meet the people who sell them. I think it really goes without saying that any previously unheard of dealer with only 5 minutes in the business would not be on my list.

Even the shallowest research of the pages in this forum will soon make it clear which dealers have been around for a long time and generally speaking, those people don't deal in rubbish, they treat customers fairly and have back-up resources to ensure peace mind. They will also have the best warranties in the business in that regard.

All that said, you don't need a Masters in electronic engineering to actually fit a ready-made kit to a bike of your choice but you might want to invest in a decent multimeter if you don't already own one - just for that day sometime in the future when something goes wrong. You will then be able to seek advice and guidance from the forum, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That's when the meter may be handy as you might well be asked for some readings at various points in a fault-finding trail.

Good luck,

Tom

 

[flecc]

Even online suppliers sometimes have some shops. For example, 50cycles have four strategically placed shops, so many can reach one of them without too long a trip in the event of something going wrong.
.

 

[MRMAC9]

Many thanks for all your advice. I will check out my local shop 'FULL CYCLE' first. They specialise in FREEGO bikes. I will test run the EAGLE 16 Ah model and ask a lot of questions.