Originally published at: QR Claimed, We Tested - Slowtwitch News
Direct to Consumer has been the direction for some time now. It started with the Milk Man and then Amazon made it really easy. And, for better or worse, it’s a massive part of our lives. The ability to get online, hit a couple of keys or make a few finger presses on a flat digital screen, and boom, the ordering process has started.
A whole bike though? That was the question people asked years ago. While it was a gradual progressing stepping stone. 2018 was the first full year that American Bicycle Group (ABG) went all in on direct to consumer. Today it rings the same as it did back then, if a lot of people can’t even change a tire on a bike, how can a bike company sell you a $4,000-$15,000 bike and have you put it together? And should they?
We put the process to the test with a new Quintana Roo V-PR. And to be frank. It’s as smooth as I have seen.
Dont let this fool you. This box is NOT small. Coming in at 59 x 22 x 30 it’s the largest box allowed by Fedex trucks.
Since we needed to send this back, we took the “Slide” approach, but one could open the box at the seams.
Step 1 is a QR code link that sends you straight to a step by step set up video that will give you all the information about what you are in for next.
The exposed rotor was the one thing that got me asking “why?” Everything else was shockingly perfect.
All the equipment you’ll need is precisely placed in the front of the box under the aero bars.
There are four main boxes. One of which reads “OPEN ME FIRST.”
Tools, spacers, stickers, charging cords, even “Directions”- everything you need for bike assembly success.
There are more than enough spacers to make sure you can get just the right fit.
FuelBay (Water Bladder)
You even get a T-shirt with your purchase 🙂
Once you figure out where this extra large box can go and you get everything out, putting this together is about as simple as one could ask. I would say it is even easier than taking your bike out of your own bike box after your last race. (Mostly because nothing is broken and you don’t have pee on the bike.)
Install seat post.
Install wheels.
Adjust your fit, and go ride.
9.8 out 10 stars when it comes to easy set up.
My only issue is that you need to make sure you watch out for the double sided sticky tape that is on the boxes – this will 100% give you problems assuming you don’t put something between it and the floor.
When I ordered a $5,000 Treadmill last year, four people came to my house to deliver it. They put it together, plugged it in and made sure it was working probably. (Or, I should say, they tried to do all that.) Same goes when I ordered a Tonal. Why cant bike brands do the same? Once upon a time we had a company that was trying to be the delivery middle man in the space, but sadly they shut their doors, and just when D to C bike companies thought they had found that last pass off consumer solution, it was gone. Until the time comes when it makes more sense for another company like that to start up again, this will be the new norm. I give QR a high five for making it about as easy as it can be to receive a large complex piece of equipment that needs final assembly by the consumer.