I've worked at a local bike store with three brands that all produce truly excellent riding bikes. Closer to the end of my tenure working the sales floor (I'm wrenching primarily now), customers would be cross shopping bikes in the same category from our sales floor, and this would come in to what I'll tell them. I'll say stuff like sure, brand X's geometry is slightly more "modern" by media standards, but brand Y's bike is going to be slightly more naturally playful and their suspension design tends to be easier for riders to get used to right away. Now, this might be me growing cynical after the better part of a decade at least part-timing the sales floor, but I'd say something along the lines of "you'll get used to riding either one's geometry and suspension design in a couple rides and the differences in ride will be near-meaningless, however Brand X offers a lifetime warranty and the best aftermarket care of any company I've ever worked with in my 10 year bike industry career".
I suppose the issue to some of your earlier points is by now you're already in our shop. You've already made the decision to come down and chat with me. In COVID days, it probably means you're ready to buy something from us because we're one of the 3 shops in this half of the country with product in stock (another story, obviously). You aren't going to hear about experiences buying online, or from brands at other shops (I'll speak to other brands I've dealt with, with the caveat that the information is many years old at this point).
With respect to Santa Cruz specifically (we do not sell them), I think there's a lot of value in knowing you'll be able to find frame parts for at least ten years beyond sales, and if you invest in some hand tools and time, a bearing set a year. Contrast this with a brand who last week told me they're sending out my customer a new frame because they no longer carry replacement chainstays.... for his 2019 bike... and if you're someone who plans on keeping and maintaining your bikes beyond a year or two of heavy riding and then passing the clapped bike to some schmuck over Pinkbike Buy & Sell, the buying decision between those two is at least pretty obvious in my books. Regarding a Knolly with the "worst rear alignment you've ever seen"? Well, I've seen bad, bad shit out of the box from every brand in existence. It sucks that the stars aligned for you to get that bad shit that day.
I'll echo Mr. Major where this is where a solid shop relationship comes in. My first full suspension bike ownership experience (where I paid full price, before working at the shop) was badly out of rear end alignment, and the small polish brand I got the frame from stepped up and got a frame out, probably much to do with how the shop I purchased stuff from phrased their warranty emails.
I guess if you're adverse to sniffing out the gems in the bullshit of internet forums, then find someone who you trust who's been in industry for a long time, split a 6 pack, and hear what brands they think you should buy. The knowledge is there, you just have to get to it.
April 25, 2022, 6:51 a.m. - Lu Kz
I've worked at a local bike store with three brands that all produce truly excellent riding bikes. Closer to the end of my tenure working the sales floor (I'm wrenching primarily now), customers would be cross shopping bikes in the same category from our sales floor, and this would come in to what I'll tell them. I'll say stuff like sure, brand X's geometry is slightly more "modern" by media standards, but brand Y's bike is going to be slightly more naturally playful and their suspension design tends to be easier for riders to get used to right away. Now, this might be me growing cynical after the better part of a decade at least part-timing the sales floor, but I'd say something along the lines of "you'll get used to riding either one's geometry and suspension design in a couple rides and the differences in ride will be near-meaningless, however Brand X offers a lifetime warranty and the best aftermarket care of any company I've ever worked with in my 10 year bike industry career". I suppose the issue to some of your earlier points is by now you're already in our shop. You've already made the decision to come down and chat with me. In COVID days, it probably means you're ready to buy something from us because we're one of the 3 shops in this half of the country with product in stock (another story, obviously). You aren't going to hear about experiences buying online, or from brands at other shops (I'll speak to other brands I've dealt with, with the caveat that the information is many years old at this point). With respect to Santa Cruz specifically (we do not sell them), I think there's a lot of value in knowing you'll be able to find frame parts for at least ten years beyond sales, and if you invest in some hand tools and time, a bearing set a year. Contrast this with a brand who last week told me they're sending out my customer a new frame because they no longer carry replacement chainstays.... for his 2019 bike... and if you're someone who plans on keeping and maintaining your bikes beyond a year or two of heavy riding and then passing the clapped bike to some schmuck over Pinkbike Buy & Sell, the buying decision between those two is at least pretty obvious in my books. Regarding a Knolly with the "worst rear alignment you've ever seen"? Well, I've seen bad, bad shit out of the box from every brand in existence. It sucks that the stars aligned for you to get that bad shit that day. I'll echo Mr. Major where this is where a solid shop relationship comes in. My first full suspension bike ownership experience (where I paid full price, before working at the shop) was badly out of rear end alignment, and the small polish brand I got the frame from stepped up and got a frame out, probably much to do with how the shop I purchased stuff from phrased their warranty emails. I guess if you're adverse to sniffing out the gems in the bullshit of internet forums, then find someone who you trust who's been in industry for a long time, split a 6 pack, and hear what brands they think you should buy. The knowledge is there, you just have to get to it.