TooMuchWitt
Member
I'm going to make a longer thread in the Haibike section about my decision to go with a Haibike and the other models I was seriously considering, what I tried out, etc.
This thread, however, is meant to discuss the experience I had with purchasing out-of-state from an " unnamed discount Wisconsion dealer" that gets recommended often on here.
Pre-sale:
Here's where it all goes south:
So, ultimately my bike is on the way, with an arrival date of Wednesday next week. I saved some money off retail price, for sure, but most retailers around here were willing to cut me a discount, just not one as deep as this "unnamed discount Wisconsin dealer".
Here's my takeaway:
This isn't meant to blast them, but to provide a honest review of my experience with them.
On the plus side, I'm super excited for my bike! I've just set aside an extra $400 in case I need to fix/repair anything on my own. Fingers crossed!
This thread, however, is meant to discuss the experience I had with purchasing out-of-state from an " unnamed discount Wisconsion dealer" that gets recommended often on here.
Pre-sale:
- Very eager to respond to questions, proactive in finding answers
- Good pricing (much better than any local dealers)
- Touted the 2 year comprehensive Haibike warranty on everything as a bonus above "internet-direct" ebike purchases. I specifically asked about labor, and was told that they would "cover it".
- No sales tax out of state
- Took CC over the phone
- Said I would be kept up to date with each step of the process (bike was shipping from the Haibike distribution facility in Ohio to the Dealer, then from the Dealer to me in CA)
- I said I was interested in other items to add to the order (suspension seatpost, saddle) and the salesperson set them aside so I could pay and add them to the bike shipment
- Called the sales team, got a different person on the phone, but they checked their system, and said that the bike was "on the way" to their dealer location.
- In the same call, I asked about how I would handle any warranty issues, in case anything arises, and they said "contact Haibike. They will provide parts. You pay for labor at a local dealer. We don't handle anything since you're out of state"
- One day later, I suddenly received a UPS shipment email.
Here's where it all goes south:
- Upon receiving the email, I immediately called the store. The dude who answered the phone said "you just ordered the bike, it's still on it's way here. What more do you want?" That caught me off guard lol. When I explained that I just received a UPS shipment email, he then cut me off and said "Ok, that means UPS picked it up and it's gone from here. Nothing I can do. What do you want?" I asked him about the stuff that was set aside to add to my order, and his exact words were "tough s*it, looks like you missed out on that. We need to make a separate order. Your salesperson only works Saturday, Sunday, and Monday."
So, ultimately my bike is on the way, with an arrival date of Wednesday next week. I saved some money off retail price, for sure, but most retailers around here were willing to cut me a discount, just not one as deep as this "unnamed discount Wisconsin dealer".
Here's my takeaway:
- I would have paid the $260 difference and bought local, both for better service and for the fact that local dealers provide everything under warranty, including labor.
- I'm not confident in the "condition" my bike will arrive in. I'm hopeful they set it up correctly, per Haibike's dealer agreement, but with how they have handled everything so far, I'm skeptical.
- I'm thankful I paid with a CC so that if they become obstinate or there are major issues with the bike, I have some recourse.
- The salespeople are helpful until they have your money, and anything after purchase (even before delivery!) is horrendous.
- This dealer clearly doesn't know what's going on with your order, even when it's in their system. 3 calls = 3 different people. When asking to talk to a previous person, each time I received "they aren't in and won't be in for a few days." Getting any accurate info is like pulling teeth.
- If you're buying via a dealer for the peace of mind that a warranty provides, BUY LOCAL or from a more customer-oriented web-dealer.
This isn't meant to blast them, but to provide a honest review of my experience with them.
On the plus side, I'm super excited for my bike! I've just set aside an extra $400 in case I need to fix/repair anything on my own. Fingers crossed!
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