[Closed] shopping for a bike - experiences

My mate decided he wanted a mtb and so dragged me along on Saturday as 'technical adviser... (yeah, i know!).

The 1st shop was a large-ish national chain. 2 40-something blokes wandering around looking at bikes for over half an hour and not once did we get approached by any staff - most too busy looking 'cool' for their mates i reckon. We walked.

2nd shop was close by, a well-respected Marin dealership. Quite busy but the staff were with us within minutes of us walking in, great attitude even down to handing out two bikes for my mate to have a spin on without security! They didn'y have the bike he wanted in the right colour but they searched the 'net for one and offered to do more on Monday when the suppliers are open. No result but a great service.

3rd shop is a relatively famous little independent shop quite beloved of this website's owners. Not a great deal of stock on display due to being busy changing model years. The had the bike in the right size but in the wrong colour (mate wanted 2009 colour scheme not 2010). Very helpful, even took us into the workshop area and got out the unassembled bike from the box for him to see.

4th shop is a Gary Fisher/Trek dealership nr Oldham. The bloke was nice enough but very obviously giving a well-practised spiel, he even tried to tell my 5'6" mate he needed a 19" frame for gawds sake.
Bikes were ugly, poorly specced for the price, old fashioned and really unappealing.

5th shop is further into Oldham. Wasn't sure about going cos it's expensive & the website had nothing at his price point.
Went in and saw a Cube Acid, great bike for the money with nice kit and the right colour - unfortunately only a 14" & a 20" left. At £689 it was a good bike though and he wanted it.

Eventually found a Cube LTD PRO on CRC, higher spec than the Acid but for less at £637 - RS Tora solo air fork, Stroker trail brakes, Easton EA30 finishing kit etc.

Just hope it fits now. Some shops really wanted to make sure he got the right bike even though they didn't have it in stock, some shops just wanted a sale and were happy to sell him a bike that was way too big for him in order to gain that sale, and one shop was staffed almost entirely by teenage wannabe's who are too dim to spot money walking through the door and are more interested in looking 'cool' in their stupid little baseball caps.
Shops like that are the ones that drive the web based cycle business.