Anyone ever bought a "shop soiled" bike?

[grellboy]

Just seen an ad for a "shop soiled" bike on offer for £180 less than the same bike in another shop. The small print says "may have slight wear as will be shop floor stock or may have arrived at store from manufacturer with small blemishes". £180 saving seems well worth for a scratch or two IMO, but just wondered if anyone else had ever got one and if so would they consider they got a bargain or just a shabby cast off?

 

[jefmcg]

My reaction would be to ask them specifically what the damage is and to check the return policy if aren't happy but they are within their rights

 

[fossyant]

Yes. 2014 Boardman FS Pro MTB

£1600 list and £1200 in sale.

Went in shop and couldn't see it. Oh it's in the back but it's a bit tatty. Took a look and it had been ridden round the car park. Had a chip on the down tube. Knocked them to £1,000 and they threw in 3 years Gold Servicing which I don't need to use. MTBs get scratched anyway.

Bloody bargain as the suspension and brakes are worth more than £1000

 

[Drago]

It can mean anything from near mint, through to beaten s***less. There's a good chance it'll be then former, but eyeball anything like this yourself before handing over the dollar.

 

[Tin Pot]

I find it an odd phrase from the world of Sales.

Prior to hearing it, I'd only ever known one meaning associated with soiling and it would rarely encourage me to buy something.

 

[marzjennings]

Yes, my current mtb was 'shop soiled', in as much it was given to one of the shop's team riders for one race, he didn't like it and switched to another frame. I got about $2000 off list price, plus as the first official owner I got a full warranty on frame and parts. It's in the shop now getting brakes and shocks' seals replaced for free.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

ex display. Yep, worked out fine.

 

[Drago]

I find it an odd phrase from the world of Sales.

Prior to hearing it, I'd only ever known one meaning associated with soiling and it would rarely encourage me to buy something.

This is true. It does rather sound like the bikes are something they've squeezed out on the throne.

 

[Globalti]

Where can I get one? If it was already damaged I wouldn't have to worry about that first devastating scratch or dent when it falls over in the garage.

 

[vickster]

Where can I get one? If it was already damaged I wouldn't have to worry about that first devastating scratch or dent when it falls over in the garage.

Evans often sell them

 

[fossyant]

Where can I get one? If it was already damaged I wouldn't have to worry about that first devastating scratch or dent when it falls over in the garage.

This is what I thought. I touched up the minor scratches and you can only see them from 12 inches away. It had lots of dirty marks that just wiped off. Bikes get scratched.

 

[Globalti]

There's almost nothing I can't repair or refurbish at home so Mrs Gti sometimes buys shop soiled things for the house and it's amazing how a minute or two with a rag and some IPA or polish can remove the soiling, which turns out to be sticky stuff from a label or a cosmetic scratch.

 

[ianrauk]

Yep. Got £100 off a shop used bike. Just very minor scuffs on the front fork.

 

[nickyboy]

There's almost nothing I can't repair or refurbish at home so Mrs Gti sometimes buys shop soiled things for the house and it's amazing how a minute or two with a rag and some IPA or polish can remove the soiling, which turns out to be sticky stuff from a label or a cosmetic scratch.

You use beer to clean stuff? Or is that to drink to alleviate the boredom of polishing?

 

[Pale Rider]

My Orbea Katu pushbike was a shop bike in that I was told it had been used 'around the shop'.

It was a bit grubby, but no scratches I noticed.

No doubt the shiny new bike excitement wasn't quite there, but that hardly matters a week or two later, let alone a couple of months later.

Saving off new looked reasonable to me, but that's hard to judge because it's a slightly unusual build of a Katu, and I part-exchanged another bike.