You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
First thread I've made on here but just had to get some input on this.
Was about to buy my first bike in 12 years today, just wanted tp take it for the obligatory pootle along the road outside the shop, when I was asked to leave a bank card and drivers license. I only had my bank cards on me but that apparently wasn't enough. So I left very confused and took my business elsewhere. I feel quite insulted by the whole thing even if it is common practice these days. In the past I have been able to take bikes on the road no problem (it was dead btw, the saleswoman could have come and watched me).
Has anyone else come across this?
Cheers
Given that we have had 2 bikes stolen by people test riding them outside the shop I believe it's a sensible precaution by the shop involved. Don't feel insulted, a policy like that that applies to everyone is the fairest way of doing it.
Really? You would expect a shop to release an item of stock outside the building to someone they didn't know with no ID?
Times change and plenty of bike shops have been ripped off recently so I don't blame them at all.
So I left very confused and took my business elsewhere. I feel quite insulted by the whole thing even if it is common practice these days.
Sensitive much?
It's fair enough really. I had one shop ask me to pay for a bike before I test road it (not just a credit card imprint either). Needless to say I've never been back
Sounds like a sensible policy to me too. What is a person stood watching going to do if the test rider slips into the big ring and gives it some away?
Hahaha you are off your head! You could've found/stolen a wallet with a couple of bank cards in it. Of course they want to see some ID. Would you let me ride up and down the road outside your house on your brand new bike with only a bank card as a deposit???
Leaving a form of ID seems perfectly reasonable. I certainly wouldn't be offended by it.
No problem with that. I demo'd a bike for a weekend a few years ago and had to leave a swipe of my credit card AND my passport. It was 2k's of bike it didn't bother me.
Okay well I guess if that's how it is then I'll just be prepared next time.
Where was it you went instead with your business, I'm after a free bike.
Some shops have had to do this for years.
I left a kidney when i took a bike out for a test ride.
Still not been back to collect it.
Though I do have a nice carbon bike sat in the garage that didn't cost me anything.
you took your business of wanting to ride a test bike somewhere else? or did you actually buy a bike?
Why on Earth would you feel insulted by that? They'd be daft if they did anything less IMO.
so you didnt really want the bike then, did you OP 🙄
float - Memberso you didnt really want the bike then, did you OP
I didn't really want the bike either but it looked better than my kidney so i kept it.
Okay well I guess if that's how it is then I'll just be prepared next time.
Putting aside 'next time', how are you now? Are you feeling ok after such a traumatic ordeal? Maybe you should speak to someone about how this horrific event has made you feel. PTSD is a serious issue, and should not be underestimated.
I know of three bike shops that all lost a bike over £3k in value because someone came in, left car keys and bank card and never came back. Turned out car keys were fakes/stolen / as were the bank cards.
If I owned a bike shop I think I'd follow anyone that took a bike out!
I don't blame them one bit, you can't even borrow a DVD without photo ID, why should someone let you take a £3k bike with less?
Other way round for me- I was actually quite shocked when my lbs let me test my bike outside and when I offered to leave some ID they said don't worry about it.
Definitely can't blame for doing so, it's not much to ask tbf
To the OP. Welcome on your first post.
Unfortunately, we live in times where bike shops have been hit by theft and profit margins are such few can afford to take the risk.
OP fail
[img] http://cdn.memegenerator.net/images/300x/5377538.jp g" target="_blank">http://cdn.memegenerator.net/images/300x/5377538.jp g"/> &sa=X&ei=E6NLUOGWH8ao0QWbzoDwDA&ved=0CAsQ8wc4IA&usg=AFQjCNFUWkTSsSV2AxP4B9MYNaq_mm8Juw[/img]
When I worked in a bike shop 10 years ago we did the same thing and asked for ID. It's not new, the loss of any bike whatever the cost is not going to do your profits any good.
Couldn't believe it when I test rode a bike from my lbs and they didn't want i.d. or anything. I thought they would even tho I've been using them regularly. It's a lot of money for them to lose if they lose a bike by being too friendly
cant see a problem with this, i would rather do this than have to fork out an extra few £s to cover the cost of bikes stolen from the shop.