General Cycling Discussion - I Hate A-Hole Bike Shops!

So I went to a bike shop and asked if they had this: CatEye Enduro 8 (http://www.cateye.com/en/products/viewProduct.php?modelId=5&catId=6&subCatId=0) bicycle computer.

The salesman tried to push the Mity 8 model on me, it was the model he had that was similar to what I was asking for.

I said I was just interested in the Enduro 8 and he then insisted that I was asking for "last's year's model" and that Cateye doesn't make the Enduro 8 anymore.

Why do bike shop employees constantly assume that everyone walking into their shop is an ignorant f*ck??

So I went to a bike shop and asked if they had this: CatEye Enduro 8 (http://www.cateye.com/en/products/viewProduct.php?modelId=5&catId=6&subCatId=0) bicycle computer.

The salesman tried to push the Mity 8 model on me, it was the model he had that was similar to what I was asking for.

I said I was just interested in the Enduro 8 and he then insisted that I was asking for "last's year's model" and that Cateye doesn't make the Enduro 8 anymore.

Why do bike shop employees constantly assume that everyone walking into their shop is an ignorant f*ck??
That's not so bad. Some of the bike shops around here try and sell you stuff that's a few years old, telling you that's it's new. With no discount of course.

I went to the biggest bike shop in the Baltics a few days ago. It two huge floors of crappy alu frames. They didn't even have a set of tires for me. I wanted something either 700x28 or 700x32. Nothing! Not even a tube! They had ONE tire 700x38. One! God, I hate that place. Nasty attitude as well. Thanks for letting me vent!

Have a bike shop around here owned by a true aussie, who always says,
"You're dreaming!" in an aussie accident to any question you ask, and then proceeds to try to make your question seem stupid, and your ideas seem ridiculous.
I really hate going to that bike shop. Lucky I have at least another 10 in a 10km radius.

When I was buying my bike for my first tour, I went in looking for a touring bike with drop handlebars. The guy insisted that the hybrid would be best. Silly me, I got the hybrid. I love it, but damn.... right after my tour ended, I knew it was not the bike for my touring needs.

Then again, it did lead to me getting this schweet Bike Friday I have now.

Koffee

Poor communication works the other way too.

I had a woman come into my shop who wanted to buy a bike for touring. I asked her: "Just what do you mean by touring?" She got mad at me. She just said: "Touring. Touring. Don't you know what touring is?" I tried to make the distinction between riding the KATY trail, maybe an occasional B&B weekend, doing organized tours with somebody to carry your luggage and packing all of your own gear. She just kept literally shouting: "Touring. Don't you understand what touring is?"

She bought a hybred from another source and then brought it to me to tune because the chain rubbed in the extreme crossover gears. I tried to explain to her that wasn't going to work. That rubbing couldn't be adjusted out, that much angle was hard on the chain, and those gears were replicated with another combination anyway. Her answer was: "That can't possibly be right because then it wouldn't be a 21 speed bike." All this for a bike that I didn't even sell.

Eventually she wrote a letter to one of my high-school aged employees to complain about my poor service. I guess she thought that he was my boss. We got a good laugh out of that.

....ex used car sales people...

Why do bike shop employees constantly assume that everyone walking into their shop is an ignorant f*ck??

Hey G,

Don't worry...we LBS guys hate A-hole customers equally as much as you hate the a-hole bike shop guys.

We really hate the ones who constantly assume that everyone who works in a bike shop is an ignorant f*ck.

How's that for a generalization ?

....ex used car sales people...

....People who wished they had the talent to work in the industry but just don't.....

Bike store brethren unite! Prepare to get torn to shreds for suggesting that a bike shop might suck. I asked why bike shops have to suck a few weeks ago after i got a HUGE runaround in a bike shop. The bike store brethren (shop owners and employees) will come at you like a marching army. It won't matter that the guy was trying to tell you something that was wrong and that you were right. It will just matter that you called a bike shop an a-hole. Get ready. :rolleyes:

Poor communication works the other way too.

thats true but you should remain helpful, professional and courteous even when the customers behave like a-holes.

Often customers feel at a psychological disadvantage walking in to a bike work shop and behave defensively.

The customer´s perception is that its full of nasty sarcastic ex-cons just waiting to take the p** "Hey Fred did you hear that - this moron wants a touring bike for doing the shopping bwaaaahhhhaaaaaaaaa".

They don´t know what they want and they don´t know even what is available. The fact is that that this customer came to you for advice and ended up going elsewhere. If it was my bike shop I would be focusing on making sure that that didnt happen again rather than on criticising the customers for their lack of communication skills (correct though you may be).

Bike store brethren unite! Prepare to get torn to shreds for suggesting that a bike shop might suck. I asked why bike shops have to suck a few weeks ago after i got a HUGE runaround in a bike shop. The bike store brethren (shop owners and employees) will come at you like a marching army. It won't matter that the guy was trying to tell you something that was wrong and that you were right. It will just matter that you called a bike shop an a-hole. Get ready. :rolleyes:
He's right, but don't take it personally, they attack everyone who isn't thanking them profusely and digging into his pockets to give them money.

"He's right, but don't take it personally, they attack everyone who isn't thanking them profusely and digging into his pockets to give them money."

You think? How about this: The salesman was wrong, they still make the Enduro 8. It is not last years model and the Mity does not replace it. They are the same computer with different wiring harness. The Enduro has a heavier wire, and is a better chice for most people for this reason.

If the shop guy had said it like, "We do not have that model, this is the same head with a lighter wire" Things would have gone better. If he had looked in any catalog, he would have seen this.

The service I have received has ranged from good to great. I don't mind waiting while they help other customers, and I have a general idea of what I want. My little brother claims that it's because I'm a girl and I'm under 30. :p

I mind waiting. If I walk in the shop and they turn their backs to wait on another customer because they don't take me seriously, I'm outta there. If they can't roll out the red carpet special for you when they don't know you, what's to say the service will ever get any better?

I drop a lot of cash on my LBS, so I want to make sure I'm going with a shop that will take me seriously and treat me right, regardless of my gender.

Koffee

Is John Travolta on this forum under the alias of G?!?

Man, I'm glad I have a good LBS.

Hey G,

Don't worry...we LBS guys hate A-hole customers equally as much as you hate the a-hole bike shop guys.

We really hate the ones who constantly assume that everyone who works in a bike shop is an ignorant f*ck.

How's that for a generalization ?

The difference is: the bike store NEEDS the customers and, more importantly, NEEDS them to return or sooner rather than later, the bike store is an empty, boarded-up store. The customer does NOT NEED that store.

I have been in the service industry for more years than I care to remember and have encountered thousands of a-hole customers during that time. As difficult, challenging and strenuous as it was, I maintained my professionalism and treated them respectfully, honestly and, yes, sometimes bluntly. I ranted and raved to coworkers or friends later over beer, venting my anger and frustration, but I gladly welcomed that same a-hole customer with a smile the next time he/she walked back in. That's part of the retail/service sector; it comes with the territory and if bike store people (or anyone else for that matter) isn't prepared to accept it, deal with it and endure it, they are not going to be successful. They should quit or close up now and save everyone the trouble.

Bike store brethren unite! Prepare to get torn to shreds for suggesting that a bike shop might suck. I asked why bike shops have to suck a few weeks ago after i got a HUGE runaround in a bike shop. The bike store brethren (shop owners and employees) will come at you like a marching army. It won't matter that the guy was trying to tell you something that was wrong and that you were right. It will just matter that you called a bike shop an a-hole. Get ready. :rolleyes:

Yeah, I think that you're right. If you start a conversation by asking "Why do bike shops have to suck?" or saying "I hate A-Hole Bike Shops!" the guys who work or have worked in bike shops (myself included)get over-defensive. Can you think of a way that we can work around that?

Yeah, I think that you're right. If you start a conversation by asking "Why do bike shops have to suck?" or saying "I hate A-Hole Bike Shops!" the guys who work or have worked in bike shops (myself included)get over-defensive. Can you think of a way that we can work around that?

I guess it comes down to expectations. There's an art to serving customers effectively. Some are pleasant, some are somewhere inbetween and some you'd really rather not have, but they are all customers and survival depends on them. I know when I was in the service industry (for a very long time) I adopted the attitude that if I was going to lose a customer, it would be in spite of my best efforts to satisfy them.

Don't hate them, go elsewhere is my mantra. Give me attitude? Sure i'll smile and nod, but my money isn't leaving my wallet anywhere in the vicinity of your store.

Koffee, I gues I should have explained. The shop is always busy on weekends, and anyone can expect to wait. I don't expect special treatment. When talking about the various merits of Y vs. X and someone is waiting at the checkout I don't mind if they go help that person while I look at the packaging of X and Y. I never go to the shop when I am in a hurry. I'm a regular customer, but I always buy sale stuff.

My little brother just gives me a rough time because I have more money to spend on bikes than he does (because he spent all his money on bass stuff).

I love when they try to push crap on you that has been there for sometime. I kind of act ignorant then ask them where the new Polar CS200 is(for example). usually takes the wind out of their sales(get it) :D

Don't hate them, go elsewhere is my mantra. Give me attitude? Sure i'll smile and nod, but my money isn't leaving my wallet anywhere in the vicinity of your store.


Bravo.

A little knowledge is a great thing. Being an 'expert' is just bering a know-it-all!

you win.

Yeah, I think that you're right. If you start a conversation by asking "Why do bike shops have to suck?" or saying "I hate A-Hole Bike Shops!" the guys who work or have worked in bike shops (myself included)get over-defensive. Can you think of a way that we can work around that?
We are so weird like that. Silly us.
I just wish someone would explain how making a post on the internet generalizing about an entire profession is cathartic. It must be, with such threads popping up so frequently. :rolleyes:

Yeah, I think that you're right. If you start a conversation by asking "Why do bike shops have to suck?" or saying "I hate A-Hole Bike Shops!" the guys who work or have worked in bike shops (myself included)get over-defensive. Can you think of a way that we can work around that?

As a matter of fact......a couple things come to mind.

First of all get rid of the terms "a-hole and suck." Why are bike (some) shops bad? That better? "I hate bike shops with bad service." Even with the prettier packaging, i think the bike shop brethren will still dish out the tongue lashing.

If you from the bike shop side of the argument want to seriously address the issue, than perhaps you should honestly try and put yourself in the customer's shoes. Same thing goes with the customer side. The customer needs to remember that he is only seeing things from his own perspective. Their may be a reason that he is having a bad experience.

That said, the customer usually has more of a say in what happens. It is much easier to walk out and take my business elsewhere. Usually telling the customer to get lost isn't an option unless he is way out of line.

So I went to a bike shop and asked if they had this: CatEye Enduro 8 (http://www.cateye.com/en/products/viewProduct.php?modelId=5&catId=6&subCatId=0) bicycle computer.

The salesman tried to push the Mity 8 model on me, it was the model he had that was similar to what I was asking for.

I said I was just interested in the Enduro 8 and he then insisted that I was asking for "last's year's model" and that Cateye doesn't make the Enduro 8 anymore.

Why do bike shop employees constantly assume that everyone walking into their shop is an ignorant f*ck??

Don't spend your time and money in places that don't deserve it.

Patient: "Doc it hurts every time I raise my are like that."
Doctor: "Don't go like that. Please see the cashier on the way out. Thank you"

"Your'e Fired" - Donald Trump

As a matter of fact......a couple things come to mind.

First of all get rid of the terms "a-hole and suck." Why are bike (some) shops bad? That better? "I hate bike shops with bad service." Even with the prettier packaging, i think the bike shop brethren will still dish out the tongue lashing.

If you from the bike shop side of the argument want to seriously address the issue, than perhaps you should honestly try and put yourself in the customer's shoes. Same thing goes with the customer side. The customer needs to remember that he is only seeing things from his own perspective. Their may be a reason that he is having a bad experience.

That said, the customer usually has more of a say in what happens. It is much easier to walk out and take my business elsewhere. Usually telling the customer to get lost isn't an option unless he is way out of line.

That's pretty much the answer that I was hopeing you'd come up with. I absolutely agree.

The service I have received has ranged from good to great. My little brother claims that it's because I'm a girl and I'm under 30. :p

Your brother is introducing a technical reason into a discussion about attitudes :lol:

A-hole bike shop owners and a-hole customers-sounds like my kind of world. LOL

Poor communication works the other way too.

I had a woman come into my shop who wanted to buy a bike for touring. I asked her: "Just what do you mean by touring?" She got mad at me. She just said: "Touring. Touring. Don't you know what touring is?" I tried to make the distinction between riding the KATY trail, maybe an occasional B&B weekend, doing organized tours with somebody to carry your luggage and packing all of your own gear. She just kept literally shouting: "Touring. Don't you understand what touring is?"

She bought a hybred from another source and then brought it to me to tune because the chain rubbed in the extreme crossover gears. I tried to explain to her that wasn't going to work. That rubbing couldn't be adjusted out, that much angle was hard on the chain, and those gears were replicated with another combination anyway. Her answer was: "That can't possibly be right because then it wouldn't be a 21 speed bike." All this for a bike that I didn't even sell.

Eventually she wrote a letter to one of my high-school aged employees to complain about my poor service. I guess she thought that he was my boss. We got a good laugh out of that.

That's almost enough to make you become a "Retro Grouch" :D

Okay, I want to add something here.

the lbs for me also sells Skis, Kayaks, Conoes and a few other things. basically an all season shop. So i am in there a year ago looking for new ski boots (they have none for my budget), but I'm talking to the owner. He has top of the line everything. I want new skis, but can not afford the new ones, nor do I like the shaped skis. He says "No Prob" he has a huge inventory of straight ski that he will give me a deal on (he has to get rid of them somehow). I did not take him up on the offer. I come back a year later, looking at bikes. I want a entry level comfort bike in the $200-300 range. I talk to his employee. they have nothing. He says we can get you whatever you want, but it will take awhile. I say I will think about it.

I look at their bikeracks (for cars). I need one and know how much they are. He has a nice thule 2-bike hitching post. he sells it to me for $30 less than the best net price I could find. So, I go in for a bike, but end up with a rack. I head over to Dicks to see what they have. They have the bike I want and buy it, their racks are about $40 more than the lbs. I come back two days later with a tuning question for the shifter. Dicks can not answer it. I go to the lbs. They answer in about 2 minutes.

to summarize. if the lbs had what I wanted, I would have bought there gladly, but ended up at a lesser store.

Not sure ifthis adds any value to the thread or not. Just thought it was interesting.

Poor communication works the other way too.

Seen it too many times. I have gotten to "Norm from Cheers" status at my LBS. What you described, seen it one too many times. Scary part is I've seen that mindset at my buddy's tatto shop too. I think Houston has the Fattest City in America title. I think it should have Most uneducated consumers per capita city too. Just my thought.

I have been in some shops that made me do a quick 180. Sometimes I wonder if they are a real bike shop, or like a locals only business.

I mind waiting. If I walk in the shop and they turn their backs to wait on another customer because they don't take me seriously, I'm outta there. If they can't roll out the red carpet special for you when they don't know you, what's to say the service will ever get any better?

I drop a lot of cash on my LBS, so I want to make sure I'm going with a shop that will take me seriously and treat me right, regardless of my gender.

Koffee

I have learned to nurture a good LBS... and that takes time and contact. I thought about replacing my 80's era custom bike some time ago and went to different shops to see what they would recommend... man was I disappointed... they each went to some campus/hybrid bike and steered it toward me as right for someone of my age... Some guys were downright pushy. I tried to get them to think serious tour/commuting and it just did not go.

Later I went around buying parts for the old bike... similar situations... except a few folks took an interest. Went back to the shops where I wasn't just a number. Narrowed it down to three. (there are roughly 7 bike shops in a 5 mile radius). Went back to each of the three looking for odd parts... some guys just gave me the "order it on-line" pitch. Well OK, but that puts you right out of business... and I crossed them off the list. One guy came from behind the work stand, to the front counter to see what I needed... showed a real interest, offered suggestions on a problem I was having. I go to that bike shop now. (BTW I did end up ordering some parts on-line... brake pads, and ferrules... which nobody seemed to carry these days.)

Too bad it took all that effort, though. But at least one LBS is going to get my business.

Buy online. The prices are almost always cheaper, and you don't have to deal with sh__ty attitudes and ignorance that is rampant in many stores. In my extensive dealings with LBSs, salespeople that are both knowledgable and pleasant are about as rare as an honest politician.

Excuse me while I put on my Nomex suit.

Buy online. The prices are almost always cheaper, and you don't have to deal with sh__ty attitudes and ignorance that is rampant in many stores. In my extensive dealings with LBSs, salespeople that are both knowledgable and pleasant are about as rare as an honest politician.

Excuse me while I put on my Nomex suit.
You're right. That's the best part about buying at your LBS. Getting that smirk. (sarcasm)

Buy online. The prices are almost always cheaper, and you don't have to deal with sh__ty attitudes and ignorance that is rampant in many stores. In my extensive dealings with LBSs, salespeople that are both knowledgable and pleasant are about as rare as an honest politician.



Generally, I've found the lbs to be pleasant. Knowledgeable is another subject. They only seem to be knowledgeable about what they have.
I know it's difficult to keep up with stuff you don't carry, but, I'll buy more if they expand their expertise.

I had friend who was part owner of a bike shop in a resort town.
Any "touron" who came into the store was referred to as a "Fred", because they weren't going to drop big bucks on a new Mountain bike .

He went from being the busiest store in the town, when he bought into it, to bankrupt, in five years.

I have had the same experience as G-Unit in a number of stores. Its easy to look up products on the internet and know what you want. Then you go to the local bike store and they give you some line of BS about the product you want. If they admit they didn't know and offer to look it up in the catalogue, that s cool, but often they try and bluff you.

The other pain is trying to find small parts- like barrel adjustors- I know they can't make a living going through their small parts bin looking for a 50 cent part, but maybe if they do, I would be willing to come back and spend more on a big ticket item.

Its usually not the owner or the manager that treats customers like this, but often a bored kid who works in the shop so he can get parts at cost and hang out with his friends.

In my experience, the manager/owner was great to talk about skis with. He was very knowledgeable and interested. I did not talk to him about bikes, but his young employee had that same personality towards the bikes. I just wish he also catered to entry level bikers with a budget. Let's face it, I am not going to drop $500 on a bike that I may not end up using. That being said, the $200 bike I bought at Dicks, I am very happy with, but the techs there are morons.

Not for nothing but the Mity 8 and Enduro 8 are the same computer minus the Enduro having a heavy wire and slightly different wheel magnet. He was bs'ing you about it being last year's model though. He probaly was just trying to keep you from going somewhere else by selling you an equivalent computer, he just didn't have to stretch the truth as much as he did. Personally I would have tried to turn you on to a Mity 8 or offer to order the Enduro 8.

don't hate the playa. hate the game. so they say. the cycling industry is a strange one considering the unique sport/activity it caters. on one hand, you may have a person who is willing to drop 1K on a bicycle related product and another person who wouldn't spend more than 10 bucks on their bicycle. so i can see how LBS exist the way they do. i actually found myself riding quite often in lyrca bike shorts and jerseys but then one day i realized i was getting way to serious about it and now i just ride around in jeans (and always with a helmet) and i just feel much more comfortable as a cyclist. i love riding (currently own 4 vintage road bikes) but my love for cycling doesn't require me to spend a penny more on it. when I realized this, I left the LBS drama behind me and unfortunately all my cycling catalogs found themselves in the garbage. but i enjoy cycling more today than yesterday. so it goes.

You're right. That's the best part about buying at your LBS. Getting that smirk. (sarcasm)

Having stood around at my local LBS the other day while my new fork was being fitted I have to say I often felt like smirking at the customers that came in. Two Eastern European looking guys came in first of all and asked if they stocked any "cheap bikes". The manager politely explained "now we dont have any cheap bikes why don't you try the shop further down the street". Then another guy brought in a bike-shaped object and asked how much it would cost to repair. The manager quite politely explained that it would be cheaper just to throw the object away and buy a new one from the local builder merchants and ride it for another 6 months before it broke again.

Having stood around at my local LBS the other day while my new fork was being fitted I have to say I often felt like smirking at the customers that came in. Two Eastern European looking guys came in first of all and asked if they stocked any "cheap bikes". The manager politely explained "now we dont have any cheap bikes why don't you try the shop further down the street". Then another guy brought in a bike-shaped object and asked how much it would cost to repair. The manager quite politely explained that it would be cheaper just to throw the object away and buy a new one from the local builder merchants and ride it for another 6 months before it broke again.
What's the problem with asking for a cheap bike? If all you can afford is a cheap bike isn't it better to ask outright than to waste the shopkeepers time? And why mention what the people looked like. Would you have said two Southern Europen guys? Or Two bavarians?

Wow, where do I begin. Luckily I've never dealt with snotty or a-hole lbs employees. I have dealt with snotty or a-hole customers. (Smiling the whole time) I have never tried to sell anything to a customer, that the customer did not want. If we did not have the exact item in stock, I have offered different models or offered to special order the exact item. The only lie I've ever told " My supplier is out of stock and they expect more in next week" Only because I realized, I forgot to order it. OOPS.
The customers I truly love :rolleyes:
are the ones who know nothing, but have a friend who thinks he knows everything and they take it for gospel, "but my friend says I need this".
95% of our customers are great, being regulars or new ones, we've been honest and we explain options,
and its up to them what they want to do.
Most lbs's would like to think that they don't sell cheap bikes, maybe you should ask for an inexpensive bike or a used bike. I don't know of any bike companies that deal only with independent bike dealers, that offer a 200.00 retail priced adult bike. The cheapest I've seen is at least 290-340. So if you ask for a cheap bike, most lbs's will direct you to a big box store.
And those that order everything online and come in wanting free advice on how to install it or what works with it, so they can go home and order that online also, or want to borrow our tools to work on their bike and never intend on spending a dime in our shop, have learned not to ask
Poor communication does go both ways, some customers do not know the exact name or they say
" the pedals are coming off" when they actually mean " my bottom bracket is so loose that everything seems to be ready to fall off" are usually easy enough to figure out.
Walking into a lbs with attitude usually doesn't help. Customers that have had bad dealings with other lbs's
walk in with a chip on their shoulder making the whole conversation start out rough, but after awhile find out we are not out to sr*ew them, and leave happy and become return customers.
There are customers that I've happily let leave, because unless your giving everything away they will not be happy. So I say Farewell to the customers from hell, let some one else deal with them.

here's my situation:
My computer crapped out, its an older Astrale not the 8. What died is
the wiring harness, no biggie go to the LBS and get a new one. No dice.
the older rear wheel sensor bracket is in short supply. He had the new one
at about $40, or the double wireless. I was shown both, with an honest
push towards the more expensive model (and all the reasons to buy
that one). After explaining reasons I wanted the wired version he agreed
it made more sense.
FYI I could get it for about 10 - 15 bucks cheaper online (or ebay),
I bought it right then and there, I'd much rather support my LBS and
the wrenchs there, the online stores won't be there when I need some
part now, they sure won't have wrenchs to bail my butt out when
I need some repair 15 minutes before a group ride.

wanna go cheap? have at it, but remember you get what you pay for.

Marty

I have dealt with snotty or a-hole customers. (Smiling the whole time) I have never tried to sell anything to a customer, that the customer did not want. If we did not have the exact item in stock, I have offered different models or offered to special order the exact item. The only lie I've ever told " My supplier is out of stock and they expect more in next week" Only because I realized, I forgot to order it. OOPS.

95% of our customers are great, being regulars or new ones, we've been honest and we explain options,
and its up to them what they want to do.

Poor communication does go both ways, some customers do not know the exact name or they say
" the pedals are coming off" when they actually mean " my bottom bracket is so loose that everything seems to be ready to fall off" are usually easy enough to figure out.
Walking into a lbs with attitude usually doesn't help. Customers that have had bad dealings with other lbs's
walk in with a chip on their shoulder making the whole conversation start out rough, but after awhile find out we are not out to sr*ew them, and leave happy and become return customers.


Customers can be pretty smart. If you lie to them, they'll find out soon enough. Then you're dead meat. Sometimes customers think you're lying. That's very difficult to deal with. But sincereity is the best way to deal with any customer. Occassionaly(sp?), I've seen employees give customer the "deer in the headlights" look. That's fustrating for me too, cause then they start thinking you'll be just as bad.

I don't don't work in a lbs. I work in retail and have for a long time. More than 99% of our customers are great. But poor communication is a big problem. I find it's easier to deal with a general description of a problem, because then you can ask questions and find a solution.

Buy online. The prices are almost always cheaper, and you don't have to deal with sh__ty attitudes and ignorance that is rampant in many stores. In my extensive dealings with LBSs, salespeople that are both knowledgable and pleasant are about as rare as an honest politician.

Excuse me while I put on my Nomex suit.


Read my post about Performancebike.com

I'd rather deal with an A-hole LBS than an A-Hole e-commerce website any day. At least the former can look me in the eye when I'm mad at them! :D

I just LOVE being made out to be the bad guy yet you ********* whine and moan whenever we don't drop everything and answer your questions or when we correct you when the advice that you give is so *********************ing incorrect it's dangerous.
Bunch of flipping ingrates:crash:You really hate customers, don't you? :(

Read my post about Performancebike.com

I'd rather deal with an A-hole LBS than an A-Hole e-commerce website any day. At least the former can look me in the eye when I'm mad at them! :DI read your post. Funny thing is, I'm going through something similar with Nashbar right now. Placed an order for shoes and pedals yesterday. I received an email reply saying that they would have to raise my shipping costs for "oversized and overweight" items. I emailed them asking "How are pedals and shoes considered to be 'overweight and oversized'?" We'll see how long it takes for my stuff to arrive.

Maybe I better go back to my LBS - may be the lesser of two evils, I guess.