I had been thinking of buying a road bike for quite a few months now. Was postponing due to some cash crunch but was slowly gathering information about different brands, especially the imported ones meant for pros.
I found that out of all the imported brands, I could only buy a Firefox coz only that fit my budget. I ignored the Indian brands coz I found their designs quite pathetic, to say the least.
Having zeroed in on Firefox, I found a couple of stores which stocked Firefox bikes. One located in Malad, the other in Bandra. I had been to the Malad shop earlier but never with a serious intent to buy one.
This time, I was serious. Snippets of the conversation with the owner at the Malad shop.
Me: Want a roadbike.
Shop-owner: Sir, I have a LA roadbike with me right now.
Me: Ya, I can see that. Nice one but over my budget. You have a Firefox 0500 model? I had also called sometime back to inquire about it, remember?
Shop-owner: No, don't have it in ready stock. But if you look at this one (LA model in display), it's made of… (lot of gyan follows). You know cycle owners don't understand what the cycles are made of – the material, the proportion of metal in alloys, whether it's a carbon body or alloy body…
Me: What about alloys, I don't know.
Shop-owner: You can check all the information on the net. Everything's available there.
Me (within myself): Is it? So why don't you tell me?
—
Shop-owner: The model you are looking for a semi-pro model. This LA one is a pro-model. Rust-proof. Full alloy body.
Me: Even Firefox 0500 is rust-proof, isn't it?
Shop-owner: Sir, anybody who says it's rust-proof is telling a lie. They'll sell it you but you might find after some time that the bike is rusting. But I never do that. I say it upfront.
—
Me: Can you give a gearless roadbike, something that's within my range?
Shop-owner: (after a little uh! ah! oh! umm!) There's a brand called Suncross. From Taiwan. It has a gearless roadbike. But I fear it's still under production.
Me: Ok! Then which other can I go for?
Shop-owner: I can give you one for just 9k.(He started describing the colors, the body and all; he didn't have any picture.)
Me: Can I see the bike? Do you have any picture or can you tell me the website so I can check on the net?
Shop-owner: Sir, the bike looks better than this (pointing to a kid's cycle). It will all be in yellow and black and will look really good. I can deliver it by today evening if you place an order right now.
Me: If you know someone, some dealer, who stocks this bike I can go and have a look.
Shop-owner: I can tell you the address of the dealer but he won't let you see unless I am around.
Me: That's fine. So, why don't you call him and tell him that I want to see the bike.
Shop-owner: It can't happen like that… (and he rambled on giving me some obscure logic why I can't see the bike)
Could I have bought the bike from this guy? Thank you.
I called up at the Bandra shop. The shop owner invited me to his shop after 3:00pm since he would be available at the shop after that.
Me: Roadbike
Shop-owner: Ok. Please have your seat.
As we look around…
Shop-owner: You had called up… Siddharth, right?
He shows us all the roadbike models he has under different brands – Indian and International, including Firefox. Doesn't push any brand but tells me the pros and cons of different models.
—
I inspect all the models for a few minutes. There's a mechanic standing with me, answering my questions. In the meantime, the shop-owner attends another customer and a phone call as well.
—
I decide to buy the new BSA Mach with broader frames and new design.
Me: What about delivery? How will you deliver the bike to Powai?
Shop-owner: One of my boys will ride it to your place. Will take Rs100.
Me: Oh! Will ride it…
Shop-owner: Or it can be delivered by taxi. In that case, you will pay whatever the taxi-fare comes to…
Me: How much do I need to pay right now? I am not carrying much money right now.
Shop-owner: You can pay me whatever you want to 500, 200 or 100. Rest you can pay when the guy delivers the cycle.
—
I gave him my address and was about to leave when the shop-owner says, "My boy will deliver at around 11:30 tomorrow morning. If you have any change in mind, call me up before 9:30. After that, we won't be able to change anything."
Me: Oh no. No changes. You can deliver around 11:30.
Shop-owner: Oh no, in case you change your mind and don't want this model or don't want to buy the cycle at all, you can just give me a call and take the refund whenever you are here.
Me: (surprised) Ok! Thank you!
After that last statement, I told my colleague the contrast in the approaches of the two shop-owners. And it gave me a good feeling to have bought the cycle from the second shop.
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