Hi there! Karen here. I have done some research and have decided that I would like to buy a TCR Advanced SL 2 ISP Giant. I understand it's a boys bike but I'm ok with that. I have looked around some shops and seen some and tested the feel. I like it. This leads me to my question. I found this site. https://sites.google.com/site/ceazgiants/ the guy there says that he is a Canadian man living in Taiwan. (Giants are made in Taiwan) he says that he can get the bike much cheaper than what they ask for it here in Canada. I was wondering if anyone here has ever done business with him. I'm a bit scared to trust him even though he seems honest enough. After all, it is a fair amount of money.
When your paying that much money, i would rather get the bike fitted to your size by professionals. How will you feel one month later if the bike isn't set up correctly and every time you ride, you don't feel comfortable.
That guy may be honest....but, I don't know anything about him and I wouldn't buy anything from him myself. He's a long way from you if things go badly, and you have problems with the bike.
I'd rather spend a little more and buy a bike from a local shop. That way I'd have the shop's help and support if I had any issues with the bike.
Thanks for your replys guys. You do make some good points to consider. However, giant bikes are not really custom-made outside the frame size choice, as per what i have researched. But i do wonder if a local shop would help me if i did have a problem if i didn't buy it from them. I will tumble this one around for a little while longer. After all the savings would be quite respectable. I did email with him. He told me that the bike would arrive not fully assembled. He told me that I shouldn't buy it from him if I had any doubts that I could get it all put together, either by myself or in a local shop. He was quite understanding in that the local shops might not raise a finger here in Canada, without a fee, so I am leaning away from him because I'm not confident, at all, that I could put it together myself. Thanks. Karen
Hi Karen and welcome, I would have to agree with Cone and Paramount about being a little apprehesive buying a bike from a foriegn distributor. Although if you do decide to go that route factor in the assembly cost at the LBS. Another option you may have is to also check your LBS to see if they have any 10 models left in your size. You may get an even better deal on that than the bike from the foriegn distributor. In closing I would add that any "respectable" LBS will work on any make or model bike regardless of origin at their posted rates.
