| Advantages | | | | While this is a good service, some bike shops will |
| Service - is the best thing about purchasing mountain | | | | happily take the bike you purchased somwehre else |
| bike from your local bike shop. There are even two | | | | and for a smaller service fee for you. |
| service you can get, the service you get when | | | | Choice |
| purchasing and after sales service. | | | | On the other hand, Choice (which is one of the |
| Your local bike shop can help you in anything you | | | | disadvantages of purchasing mountain bike from your |
| need or want for your bike. Their service provider will | | | | local bike shops) is one big advantage you can have |
| help you decide what you should have for your bike. | | | | in purchasing mountain bike online. You can find the |
| Disadvantages | | | | bike of your choice (if it is less than 2 years old) |
| The biggest disadvantage of purchasing mountain | | | | somewhere online. |
| bike in your local bike shop though is, service | | | | Convenience |
| providers, especially business owners will tell what | | | | This is another one big advantage you can get when |
| you want to hear to push the sale, which is definitely | | | | purchasing mountain bike online. Online mountain bike |
| not in your best interest. | | | | shops are only a call or email away, and you can get |
| Choice - is the main disadvantage of purchasing bike | | | | your bike shipped straight to your door. |
| from your local bike shops. Most bike shops only | | | | Price |
| offer 3-4 brands of bikes, or they may stock several | | | | Most online bike shops don't have to pay overhead |
| brands but only offer very limited range of bikes | | | | costs like rent for the shop and utility personnel, thus |
| available for each brand. If you meticulously | | | | they can offer you a bigger range of choices of |
| researched for the type and brand of bike you would | | | | bikes at a lower price. |
| like to have, chances are, you would have a hard | | | | What should you watch out for? |
| time finding that bike in your local bike shop. | | | | Be very meticulous in transactions you make online, |
| Free Service? | | | | especially in purchasing mountain bikes. Know the |
| This often comes in after sales service. Most local | | | | company well before you do any transactions with |
| bike shops offer 2 months of free service (or so) for | | | | them, you want to get what you pay for, so it is a |
| your newly purchased bike. This service is important | | | | lot better know a particular website well. The two |
| to tighten up the cables that most likely have | | | | main things you should consider is - be careful with |
| stretched on its firsts use, and to ensure your bike is | | | | their postage and refunds/warranty conditions. |
| working the way it should be. | | | | |