Purchasing a new bike should be an exciting experience, but my recent encounter at Dick’s Sporting Goods turned into a complete nightmare, and it’s a story I feel compelled to share, especially for anyone considering buying dick’s sporting bikes.
I went to Dick’s Sporting Goods intending to buy a simple, single-speed cruiser bike. I had plans to eventually upgrade it with an electric kit, so a sturdy steel frame was exactly what I was looking for. I found a model that suited my needs, a classic coaster brake cruiser, and brought it to the checkout myself. Right away, the cashier seemed a bit thrown off that a salesperson hadn’t brought the bike from the bike department. This was the first sign that perhaps their bike sales process wasn’t as smooth as it should be.
They called over a bike department employee who informed me that they needed to “inspect” the bike before I could finalize the purchase. This “inspection” felt less like a quality check and more like an opportunity for a sales pitch. I politely declined their in-store warranty, thinking I was purchasing a brand-new, functional bike. Then began the wait – a seemingly excessive 30-minute “inspection” in the back room. Before this mysterious inspection, the bike seemed perfectly fine as I wheeled it to the register. However, almost immediately after leaving the store, a loud, unsettling grinding noise emanated from the rear wheel.
Concerned, I immediately contacted the bike manufacturer. After describing the issue, they quickly diagnosed it as “definitely” a defective coaster brake. They advised that while it was covered under warranty, given the recent purchase, returning to Dick’s for an exchange was the most sensible course of action. It was a brand-new bike; it shouldn’t have left the store in that condition. Within 15 minutes of leaving Dick’s, I called them, explained the manufacturer’s diagnosis, and was told to bring the bike back.
Upon returning, I demonstrated the grinding noise. The bike was taken to the back room again for yet another “inspection.” This time, the department manager emerged with an unexpected accusation. He claimed the bike showed signs of a “collision” and implied that I was responsible for damage incurred in the short time since leaving the store. When I pointed out that it had been a mere 15 minutes and I had ridden it for no more than five minutes, he simply stared blankly, offering no explanation or resolution. I was genuinely taken aback. There had been no collision, no rough riding – just a brief, careful ride on a smooth sidewalk to realize the bike was faulty. Despite my polite and then firm insistence, he refused to replace the bike. Only after considerable persistence did he reluctantly agree to replace the rear wheel, but with a further 30-minute wait. Feeling I had little choice, I agreed.
Thirty minutes later, the manager returned with the bike. I asked to see the supposed “collision” damage. He pointed to a tiny scratch near the rear hub, a minuscule paint scrape that, suspiciously, I hadn’t noticed during my initial inspection before bringing it to the register. Regardless, the grinding noise was gone, so I accepted the repair and left, hoping the ordeal was over.
Unfortunately, the problems were far from resolved. Within two minutes of riding away, the tire went completely flat. Upon inspection, I discovered a small puncture at the base of the air valve. This valve had been perfectly fine moments before. Now, suddenly, it was leaking air. I re-inflated the tire and tested the valve with water, confirming a suspicious leak exactly where there hadn’t been one previously.
This series of events led me to a disturbing conclusion: Dick’s Sporting Goods appears to aggressively push their in-store warranties. When a customer declines, as I did, there’s a strong suspicion that they intentionally damage the bike during their “inspection” in the back room, away from customer view. Whether this is to pressure customers into purchasing warranties or simply an act of retaliation for lost commission is unclear, but the outcome is the same: a potentially sabotaged bike. My bike, in my possession for less than five hours and ridden for a total of seven minutes under perfect conditions, had a perfectly intact inner tube when purchased. The flat tire occurred only after their begrudging rear wheel replacement.
Therefore, I strongly advise EVERYONE to avoid purchasing dick’s sporting bikes from Dick’s Sporting Goods. Their policy of incentivizing warranty sales seems to have fostered questionable business practices. Compounding the issue, Dick’s provides no clear avenue for escalating complaints beyond the department manager level, who, in my experience, seemed complicit in these practices. Refuse their warranty on a bicycle, and you risk having it deliberately damaged during their mandatory “inspection.”
Adding insult to injury, you are obligated to allow their “inspection” and then made to sign waivers that purportedly absolve Dick’s of liability for any accidents occurring immediately after their “expert” inspection.
The situation is alarming. It appears Dick’s is potentially damaging bikes to coerce warranty purchases. Should a resulting malfunction cause an accident, they conveniently evade responsibility due to the signed waivers. Any establishment that prohibits you from observing their “inspection” process should raise immediate red flags.
Online research reveals numerous similar accounts from other Dick’s Sporting Goods bicycle purchasers who were falsely accused of damage after declining warranties. Having found no resolution in-store, my aim is to share this experience widely. Hopefully, this warning will prevent others from buying a sabotaged bike and risking injury due to component failure during a ride.
Ride safely, and perhaps consider purchasing your next bike from a more reputable retailer.
