Covid bike supply issues.
Order 2 Norco FS bikes late October from the local 99bikes because they were crazy enough to offer a sizable discount in covid times (they have since realised their mistake and removed most of the discount, but order is placed, deposit paid and thus price locked in.)
One was due late Nov, just in time for December trip to Derby/Maydena. Arrived while we're in Tassie.
Oh well, we have other MTBs.
Second bike is due late May. Call them late April to check, get told it's now late July and I'm not suprised. Get a call today, they've been checking their orders and thought I should know it's now due to land early November, more than a year after ordering. Do I still want it, or would I like a refund? I'll keep that order thanks. Even if I didn't want it, such hard to obtain bikes must be worth a fortune now!
Things are now so very different to my first MTB purchase in Sept 2003: Walk into bike shop, ask "Will you give me a discount if I pre-order an 2004 NRS2 now?" - I'm imagining 10% off and a few weeks wait. Sales guy says "there's one just arrived, you can have 20% off if you keep it quiet from the Giant rep standing over there." Ride home on new bike, drive back to store a couple of days later to collect old bike.