Ecotric Oakland=just a guy with a phone...... When you place an order with this company Oakland or Los Angeles location will take your payment and then place an order from the real bicycle seller!!!! You will pay $200-$400 more for the bicycle by not just ordering it from where these guys order from. His seller isn't going to say no to you going direct. Ecotric will say we buy so much quantity we get a quality product cheaper. Maybe he does get a break. But since he orders once your money arrives I doubt if he has quantity purchases often. In short I can order the exact same bike with stickers that say ecotric sucks. My ecotric sucks biker will be exactly like the ecotric bike with different stickers. I highly suggest you type alibaba.com Look for items with an american flag symbol. That means unbranded chinese product. But already in a warehouyse here in the states. These middle people take your money and wait for the bike. So you can go direct and wait for the bike without the middle persons fees