Road Cycling - Would your bike shop do this??!!!

Early in February I bought my first road bike in a loooooog time--a Trek 2200, 58 cm.

Over the past three months I've put about 500 miles on it. It was a joy to ride but I was having considerable reach-adjustment problems for most of those miles. Finally, after having found that a 100mm +15degree stem was a solution, I realized that my real problem was that I had gotten the frame one size too small--that is, the stem was much too far below the seat height.

Felling kind of stupid for not having realized this earlier, I call up the bike shop up to see if Trek had any kind of a trade in plan. Of course Trek didn't, but then the owner says he'll order me a new 60cm 2200 to try, and I can decide then if I'd like to move to the larger frame! He'd charge me $100 if I decided to make the swap.

What do you all think about that? I've never heard of service like this.

Early in February I bought my first road bike in a loooooog time--a Trek 2200, 58 cm.

Over the past three months I've put about 500 miles on it. It was a joy to ride but I was having considerable reach-adjustment problems for most of those miles. Finally, after having found that a 100mm +15degree stem was a solution, I realized that my real problem was that I had gotten the frame one size too small--that is, the stem was much too far below the seat height.

Felling kind of stupid for not having realized this earlier, I call up the bike shop up to see if Trek had any kind of a trade in plan. Of course Trek didn't, but then the owner says he'll order me a new 60cm 2200 to try, and I can decide then if I'd like to move to the larger frame! He'd charge me $100 if I decided to make the swap.

What do you all think about that? I've never heard of service like this.

Jump on it... the owner must have been sitting around the degreaser bucket a bit too long today... :o :D

Where is this? I would love to patronize that shop.

Where is this? I would love to patronize that shop.

no doubt, me too
they seem to wanna take care of you, take care of em back
lol about the degreaser

my question is why did this shop sell you the wrong sized frame to begin with?
did they fit you for this frame?
-m

my question is why did this shop sell you the wrong sized frame to begin with?
did they fit you for this frame?
-m

Brian (the manager) fit me, and the fit was always a little "iffy" He was never completely happy w/ the fit, but the 58 was very close, and it wasn’t immediately apparent where and what might ultimately be wrong.

Brian has done nothing but impress the hell out of me each and every time I've dealt w/ him (asking questions, buying shoes, asking more questions). I have the impression that he genuinely feels a responsibility towards me as a customer even after the sale.

I'll count myslef lucky to have found such a shop

Where is this? I would love to patronize that shop.


Chapel Hill, NC--Franklin Street Cycle http://www.franklinstreetcycles.com/fsc.php

...and how much time did you waste posting this thread? ;) Just hope the LBS doesn't change its mind...

...and how much time did you waste posting this thread? ;) Just hope the LBS doesn't change its mind...

Get off the computer, go down there as fast as you can, slap the $100 on the table, wait for the transaction to complete, then complain to them about fitting you wrong. Man, do not what to opportunity to slip away. It's better to spend $100 now, than be stuck with a bike that doesn't fit you.

NC = too far! Damn!

Good luck though,

PJ

My LBS would charge me $100.00 to change the stem, then keep the old one while an employee swaps out his worn out open pros for my new ones. Then eventually be talked into the in-stock larger frame.

Brian (the manager) fit me, and the fit was always a little "iffy" He was never completely happy w/ the fit, but the 58 was very close, and it wasn’t immediately apparent where and what might ultimately be wrong.

Brian has done nothing but impress the hell out of me each and every time I've dealt w/ him (asking questions, buying shoes, asking more questions). I have the impression that he genuinely feels a responsibility towards me as a customer even after the sale.

I'll count myslef lucky to have found such a shop


So...a lesson to you internet junkies....

A lady called the shop the other day. She had purchased a new helmet (Limar) about 10 days ago and had an accident. Hit the helmet and broke it. Her inquiry was to see what or if there was a warranty. Off the top of our heads we didn't know so we asked her if she still had the warranty card, box. etc...she did, but then admitted SHE HAD BOUGHT IT OFF THE INTERNET. Trying to contain out laughter, we nicely explained that she was going to have to send the helmet (at her expense) back to the site where she had purchased the helmet...we could not honor her warranty (the nerve to even think we would)...it gets better...she absolutely needed to have a new helmet, TODAY...we'd be happy to sell her one. Any on sale she asks? Nope, we replied...so, she says, I need a reason to buy a helmet from you (we are now REALLY trying to keep from laughing)...gee..how about you using your savings to send the freakin' helmet back to some unknown person with whom you have NO relationship, and HOPE they honor your warranty? Unbelievable.

I have other funny stories like this...

Your story is another testament to why you do business face to face. Enjoy the bike that fits. The 2200 is the best "deal" in the Trek 2000 bike series.

Similiar experience happened to me, fitted for a 54cm Trek 5200-during the fitting I mentioned to them I felt binded repeatedly. LBS orders 54cm anyway,bike arrives(change out for a 100mm stem),I take possesion for a day and call Trek Rep the following day and express my thoughts on the fit. 1 hour later I receive a call from my LBS telling me a 56cm has been ordered and please return the 54. Now that's service, riding my 56cm has never felt better,need to upgrade to carbon bars thou. :)

That's a sweet deal. Stick with those guys!

So...a lesson to you internet junkies....

A lady called the shop the other day. She had purchased a new helmet (Limar) about 10 days ago and had an accident. Hit the helmet and broke it. Her inquiry was to see what or if there was a warranty. Off the top of our heads we didn't know so we asked her if she still had the warranty card, box. etc...she did, but then admitted SHE HAD BOUGHT IT OFF THE INTERNET. Trying to contain out laughter, we nicely explained that she was going to have to send the helmet (at her expense) back to the site where she had purchased the helmet...we could not honor her warranty (the nerve to even think we would)...it gets better...she absolutely needed to have a new helmet, TODAY...we'd be happy to sell her one. Any on sale she asks? Nope, we replied...so, she says, I need a reason to buy a helmet from you (we are now REALLY trying to keep from laughing)...gee..how about you using your savings to send the freakin' helmet back to some unknown person with whom you have NO relationship, and HOPE they honor your warranty? Unbelievable.

I have other funny stories like this...

Your story is another testament to why you do business face to face. Enjoy the bike that fits. The 2200 is the best "deal" in the Trek 2000 bike series.

I think this counts as loosing a sale and a potential regular customer. Not to pick knits, but this is just as much your loss as it is hers. In reading this, your attitude is a turn off and a common reason "intenet junkies" don't go to the LBS for all their biking needs.

Just food for thought, run your business the way you want.

ehenz

So...a lesson to you internet junkies....

A lady called the shop the other day. She had purchased a new helmet (Limar) about 10 days ago and had an accident. Hit the helmet and broke it. Her inquiry was to see what or if there was a warranty. Off the top of our heads we didn't know so we asked her if she still had the warranty card, box. etc...she did, but then admitted SHE HAD BOUGHT IT OFF THE INTERNET. Trying to contain out laughter, we nicely explained that she was going to have to send the helmet (at her expense) back to the site where she had purchased the helmet...we could not honor her warranty (the nerve to even think we would)...it gets better...she absolutely needed to have a new helmet, TODAY...we'd be happy to sell her one. Any on sale she asks? Nope, we replied...so, she says, I need a reason to buy a helmet from you (we are now REALLY trying to keep from laughing)...gee..how about you using your savings to send the freakin' helmet back to some unknown person with whom you have NO relationship, and HOPE they honor your warranty? Unbelievable.

I have other funny stories like this...

Your story is another testament to why you do business face to face. Enjoy the bike that fits. The 2200 is the best "deal" in the Trek 2000 bike series.

I think it depends on what you buy. I bought some clothes from velowear.com. The shirt was too large and so I sent it back in the pre-paid envelope they included in the package at their expense. 10 days later a new shirt arrived. No questions asked. My LBS hasn't got a very good stock of clothes and the nearest Performance store has some nasty naff stuff so for this, places like velowear.com and excelsports.com have got and will continue to have my business. Like I said, it depends on what you buy. I'm thinking of swapping out my cassette. My LBS wants $75 to do it - they say the labor is free. I can get the cassette off the internet for $45. I won't because I value the LBS for all things mechanical and the extra $30 is worth it to me since I enjoy a good relationship with them. Mechanical stuff == LBS. Clothes == Internet.

I think this counts as loosing a sale and a potential regular customer. Not to pick knits, but this is just as much your loss as it is hers. In reading this, your attitude is a turn off and a common reason "intenet junkies" don't go to the LBS for all their biking needs.

Just food for thought, run your business the way you want.

ehenz

I agree 100%. There are 4 bike shops in the area, 3 of which I frequent (one I will never step in again, after the owner told my GF to get a hybrid, because she "couldn't handle a road bike", before ever seeing her ride). Last year while looking at new wheels, I went to shop one.. mentioned I was looking at Ksyriums on the internet, and was wondering what they could do for me. The sales people rolled their eyes at me, and had a very similar attitude to the previous poster.

Store 2- I mentioned the same thing, and the sales person immediately asked- "What kind of deal are they giving you?" I told them it was the retail price, plus I had a 20% off coupon. He ran the numbers, and said he could match that price, as long as I had them do the labor of changing the casset/tires, for $15.00. So, for $440.00 (with tax) I bought a set of Ksyrium Elites with my tires/casset mounted, versus $430.00 with shipping online, with no service. Store 2, got my sale, AND has had plenty of business from me since..

Store 3- doesnt have much of a selection in the store, but is a 2 minute ride from my place, and has a couple of AMAZING mechanics.. They have matched prices when they could in the past, and hold no ill-will towards me if they cant, and actually suggest I buy it online. The attitudes of these two stores have me going back to them even if it is a few bucks more.

I think this counts as loosing a sale and a potential regular customer. Not to pick knits, but this is just as much your loss as it is hers. In reading this, your attitude is a turn off and a common reason "intenet junkies" don't go to the LBS for all their biking needs.

Just food for thought, run your business the way you want.

ehenz

I disagree. People like this woman shop on price alone and we all know how difficult it is for a LBS to compete with online retailers. She clearly failed to understand the value in having a local supplier. I personally have no problem with buying online and would never press my LBS to match pricing given the "value-added" nature of their service.

-mark

I disagree. People like this woman shop on price alone and we all know how difficult it is for a LBS to compete with online retailers. She clearly failed to understand the value in having a local supplier. I personally have no problem with buying online and would never press my LBS to match pricing given the "value-added" nature of their service.

-mark

I think the point is, if you can make the customer realize that you are offering more service, or at least try, it is much more productive then rolling your eyes, and trying to hold back laughter..

go for it.

I think the point is, if you can make the customer realize that you are offering more service, or at least try, it is much more productive then rolling your eyes, and trying to hold back laughter..

agreed.

Early in February I bought my first road bike in a loooooog time--a Trek 2200, 58 cm.

Over the past three months I've put about 500 miles on it. It was a joy to ride but I was having considerable reach-adjustment problems for most of those miles. Finally, after having found that a 100mm +15degree stem was a solution, I realized that my real problem was that I had gotten the frame one size too small--that is, the stem was much too far below the seat height.

Felling kind of stupid for not having realized this earlier, I call up the bike shop up to see if Trek had any kind of a trade in plan. Of course Trek didn't, but then the owner says he'll order me a new 60cm 2200 to try, and I can decide then if I'd like to move to the larger frame! He'd charge me $100 if I decided to make the swap.

What do you all think about that? I've never heard of service like this.

My LBS allowed me to bring back a 2003 Cannondale R800 I bought 1 week later for a 2004 Trek2200 with no questions asked. They will always have my business now even though I pass a few other bike shops to get there. You cannot beat such service. That being said I will buy gels/bars/clothes on line since my LBS has a very small clothing department and I can get great deals for this stuff online.

Early in February I bought my first road bike in a loooooog time--a Trek 2200, 58 cm.

Over the past three months I've put about 500 miles on it. It was a joy to ride but I was having considerable reach-adjustment problems for most of those miles. Finally, after having found that a 100mm +15degree stem was a solution, I realized that my real problem was that I had gotten the frame one size too small--that is, the stem was much too far below the seat height.

Felling kind of stupid for not having realized this earlier, I call up the bike shop up to see if Trek had any kind of a trade in plan. Of course Trek didn't, but then the owner says he'll order me a new 60cm 2200 to try, and I can decide then if I'd like to move to the larger frame! He'd charge me $100 if I decided to make the swap.

What do you all think about that? I've never heard of service like this.

Buy all your stuff from this guy, recommend him to all your friends, acquaintances, anyone you know or see who cycles! This guy is a jewell!

And, yes, my LBS would do that.

Chapel Hill, NC--Franklin Street Cycle http://www.franklinstreetcycles.com/fsc.php


Well. Yes. My shop would do that, but, it seems to be the same shop. :D Although I tend to shop over at their sister shop, the Clean Machine, I bought my last bike at Franklin st. It's a Langster http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForumPicPost/noloftsbikes.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=6826 and it's fabulous. We are lucky, the service at both shops rocks.

Did you catch the Bob Roll book signing?
Noloft

As I've mentioned in some other threads I have one bad knee so I can't pedal on that side. I took my bike to Champaign Cycle (http://www.champaigncycle.com/) and they built up a peg which mounts behind the bottom bracket to rest my non-working leg on. Their solution to my problem was obvious once it was solved, but until then no one had any ideas.

They wouldn't take a dollar. They did get the best pizza in town (Garcia's (http://www.garciaspizzainapan.com/)) and a fridge full of soda, and I've been telling everyone to shop there ever since. One of the few places in the world where I'm happy to pay full retail.

Buy all your stuff from this guy, recommend him to all your friends, acquaintances, anyone you know or see who cycles! This guy is a jewell!

And, yes, my LBS would do that.

Yes, I am reccommending them around and I think I can almost guarantee them a new customer in the near future...

Nolift: no, I missed the Bob Roll book signing--I think I was halfway into my Tuesday night ride when I remembered :(

Nolift: no, I missed the Bob Roll book signing--I think I was halfway into my Tuesday night ride when I remembered :([/QUOTE]


Aw man, that's too bad... if there ever was a good reason to not ride, that was it. The guy was hilarious. I doubt you could do a 20 mile ride with the guy. He rocks. I'm still laughing.

Noloft