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New Roade Bike (Merida S3)

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 6:35 pm
by slik50
Hi,

I'm looking to buy a road bike after commuting on my MTB for quite some time now. I'm interested in buying a new Merida S3. I've seen the Melbourne Bicycle Centre in Pahran has them on special for $800.

Unfortunately I live in Canberra and can't find anyone who stocks Merida locally. So this leads me to 2 questions:

1. Does anyone know where I could find a Merida S3 in or near the ACT?

2. If not, does anyone know of a bike that has a similar spec for less than $1000? The important criteria for me are a triple chainring on the front (I have had a recent knee reco) and a tiagra groupset.

I had looked at the Cell swift but it only had a double, the upgrade price for a triple was $250. This plus the shipping cost would have made the price almost $1200.

Any ideas?

Robert

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 6:38 pm
by MountGower
G'day There,

The Melbourne Bicycle Centre in Pahran offered to post me a bike for $50 about a year ago. You should ask them about it.

Re: New Roade Bike (Merida S3)

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:03 pm
by thomas_cho
slik50 wrote:Hi,

I'm looking to buy a road bike after commuting on my MTB for quite some time now. I'm interested in buying a new Merida S3. I've seen the Melbourne Bicycle Centre in Pahran has them on special for $800.

Unfortunately I live in Canberra and can't find anyone who stocks Merida locally. So this leads me to 2 questions:

1. Does anyone know where I could find a Merida S3 in or near the ACT?

2. If not, does anyone know of a bike that has a similar spec for less than $1000? The important criteria for me are a triple chainring on the front (I have had a recent knee reco) and a tiagra groupset.

I had looked at the Cell swift but it only had a double, the upgrade price for a triple was $250. This plus the shipping cost would have made the price almost $1200.

Any ideas?

Robert
One of my colleagues just purchased a Merida road bike from cycle city. I think thats in Lyneham. Give them a call.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:05 pm
by slik50
Yeah,

I was thinking about the shipping thing but am a little concerned about buying a bike that I have not ridden.

Also I'm not too sure how much assembly would be required and whether I would be able to do it properly.

Rob

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:35 pm
by miss min
I had my bikes shipped, ironically, from Canberra. They should be able to assemble most of it, leaving you to add the seat, bars, front wheel and pedals. If I can do it, so can you I reckon. I did test ride the bikes first in Melbourne though, but they weren't in stock here to purchase.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:59 pm
by Aushiker
G'day

Merida are distributed in Australia by Advance Traders Pty Ltd. Advance Traders website can be found at http://advancetraders.com.au/ and surprise surprise they have a dealer list here :wink:

Regards
Andrew

Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 6:53 am
by slik50
Aushiker,

Thanks for the reference, I found this the other day and along with the list of Sydney dealers this list is not particularly accurate.

It seems none of the "Onya" stores in this list are dealers any longer. Having said that I did not ring the guys in Lyneham. I'll give them a try today.

Thanks again.

Rob

Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 9:20 am
by Aushiker
slik50 wrote:Aushiker,

Thanks for the reference, I found this the other day and along with the list of Sydney dealers this list is not particularly accurate.
Hi Rob

In that case I would suggest ringing them or emailing them for an up to date list.

Andrew

Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 8:26 pm
by slik50
Andrew,

I hear you. Sometimes I get a little too precious for my own good. Businesses that don't do the simple things right (for instance update their website regularly) tend to make me not really want to deal with them.

On the other hand I am a tightass and really like the value of the S3. I was hoping someone local might have a good lead on an LBS that was run by professionals. So far no luck.

I contacted a Merida dealer today that told me there was no "S3" model made by Merida and that there definitely were no 2008 Merida Road bike with a triple on the front. They claimed to have contacted the distributor (Advance Traders) to gain this information.

When I contacted MBC for clarification on the exact model they were selling, they were happy to give me the product code they used to order this model of bike from Advance Traders. I will contact them tomorrow to find out who is yanking the chain.

Who would think it is this difficult to buy a bike. Maybe I'm trying too hard.

Thanks again to everyone for their advice.

Rob

Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 12:00 am
by Aushiker
slik50 wrote:Andrew,

I hear you. Sometimes I get a little too precious for my own good. Businesses that don't do the simple things right (for instance update their website regularly) tend to make me not really want to deal with them.

I know what you mean and would like you walk most times, but I have learnt or are learning that often small business, particularly in the world of cycling seem to not yet understand the power of the Internet so I am getting a little more tolerant of them; well up to a point anyway. I would email Advance and give them 48 hours to reply before going elsewhere and them let them know they lost the business.

Just this week we have had an example of this with Ranger Camping here in the West. They have learnt the hard way, that well written emails, circulated widely can do extensive damage to their business. Ranger Camping are now trying to repair the damage, but their Retail Manger still has to learn to pull her head out her arse and start being nice to her customers.

Regards
Andrew