POSITIVE experiences with cycling-related businesses

[AllenG]

On Line
Wallingford; traded with them several times and they have the fastest delivery turn-around times of anyone.
Harris Cyclery; you name it they have it, and know how to install it.
Peter White; Bought some pit-locks from him, delivered quickly.
The Touring Store; Wayne is a pleasure to deal with, nice man
C-Bike; They sent me a free water bottle with my order
Ortlieb; They thought it took too long to process my order and sent me a free t-shirt for waiting

Brick and mortar
Sunshine Cycles in Athens & Watknisville, Georgia; My LBS, good folks
Bicycle South; in Atlanta--Commuting bike savvy

[Rowan]

It would be better to list reasons and anecdotes supporting why, rather than just offering up advertising with a link.

The thread title does say "positive experiences".

[themickeyd]

I have started dealing with http://www.biketiresdirect.comout of Portland and have been really impressed. Both orders I have done from them I placed on line during my lunch hour and it was on my door step the next day when I get home. And that was with UPS ground shipping (I only live 150 miles from there).

[DieselDan]

Lemme add www.barplugs.com . He is a small custom bar plug guy that has several custom plugs in stock and can make whatever you want on a plug. The quality is good too. He has bar tape and seat bags too. The shipping is USPS first class and my order got to coastal South Carolina from coastal Oregon in 3 days.

www.loosescrews.com is good too for odd bits and parts with excellent service. They sent me the wrong BCD chainring. They sent the replacment first with a return envelope, postage paid, to send back the wrong one. Again, USPS but Proiroty Mail. (damn the spelling)

[Feldman]

My business is a repair-only LBS. It's very small; under $50K gross receipts per year. All of my wholesale suppliers treat me well, but the standout is Shimano's tech support and warranty. Retail customers take note--Shimano will in my 30+ years' experience in the bike business ALWAYS live up to the letter of their warranty and frequently go beyond. Favorite Shimano warranty story: About 12 years ago when I worked for Bike Gallery (large Portland LBS) a friend of mine brought in a 1975 vintage high-flange Dura Ace hub with a crack in it. I sent it back with a note about "not expecting that you'll do anything with a part this age but...................," and they sent my customer back a pair of then-current Ultegra hubs in the same drilling. FWIW, Ultegra ca. 1995 is a little better than Dura Ace 1975 quality, so they even upgraded him. That's warranty and customer service! Remember that when parts shopping.

[qqy]

I once ordered a whole bike from Nashbar, in individual parts, as well as all the tools needed to build it. Aside from the fun of getting exactly what you want and knowing how to put it together, my whole experience was flawless until my last package came it. I had ordered a ISIS Platinum Pro BB, which wasn't in the box, yet had been chekced off on the packing list. I was certain that I wouldn't be able to get them to send another, so I called them up, fully expecting a fight. The person on the other end couldn't have been nicer; she looked up my customer #, saw what I had ordered, and sent the BB the next day without ANY argument or unplesantness. THAT is customer service and they earned a customer for life that day. Can't beat the deals...

MEC has always been excellent to me, and I've been going there for as long as I can remember. I still have the backpack I used in gradeschool, which is testiment to the quality of their in-house products.

[stella]

here's my list:
wallbike: excellant customer service! Bill helped me pick out the right saddle for my needs!
Baileyworks: best mess bag I've owned, again--excellant customer service.
for lbs'a: The Hub in Providence, RI. Good group, active in the community to make providence a more friendly place to commute/messenger/just generally ride about.
Ski Market in Warwick, RI. purchased my daughter's bike there. she's a budding mtn biker. customer service was great, very patient (with the adult and the kid). also, years ago--converted my mtn bike to a singlespeed.

in Western Mass:
Laughing Dog Cyclerly in Amherst these guys have taken care of me during school. trust my bike to them.

[AllenG]

I ordered a few things from Wallingford recently. Because I ordered during Mardi Gras I got several strands of beads, guaranteed to have been caught during the parades.
They have the fastest turn around of anyone I've traded with on the net.

--A

[cruentus]

Should make this thread a sticky.

[Ranzak]

Sunshine Cycles in Greenville, SC - Great shop, helpful service and great advice on local mountain biking trails.
Sycamore Cycles across intersection from entrance to Pisgah Forest (NC) Great service, great rentals to help introduce your friends to mountain biking

[trace22clawson]

I've had very positive experiences with cycling related businesses. I haven't always bought from these, but they have offered some very good advice and have been very patient and very nice on the phone:

The Touring Store: helped me learn about Ortlieb panniers and Tubus racks. I found great deals on these products on Craigslist so I ended up buying them. I'm going to order a B&M tail light for my Tubus cargo rack from www.thetourningstore.com

Peter White Cycles: excellent customer service. Talked with someone on the phone there that helped me decide on a Carradice saddlebag.

Nashbar.com: They have always been good to me. I've bought a backpack/pannier, wheelsets, repair stand, tires, and some clothing.

Performancebike.com: I've shopped the online store but always ended up going to the local store for my purchases - peddles, tools, shoes, clothes, helmet, tubes,.

Dinottelighting.com - excellent products and awesome customer service!

WOW! I've been spending a hell of alot of money!

[Bushman]

Our Community Bikes vancouver BC: great service, friendly staff, tons of used parts bins for me to dig thru to fin that elusive SACHS freewheel cog spacer.

[operator]

Probikekit FTW!

[Markok765]

Sportchek: Game me a free tune-up when I brought in my bike, and replaced my broken shifter with labor free. Got the best ones, and it only cost me $35 beecause of the nice people.

Oh and Henrys pro photo shop gives me free stuff like cases from time to time cuz I'm a regular customer that spent +500 there!

[within]

http://www.worldclasscycles.com has fast service and good old fashioned low prices.

http://www.dtswiss.com has super customer service as they replaced a cracked RR1.1 rim which I had no receipt for (ebay). Posted a thread in the road section a couple days ago...

[rando]

Harris Cyclery is great! I wouldn't have the bike I have today without them
and major props to my local shop, Bicycle wheelers on Rural and broadway in Tempe. the guys are knowledgeable and friendly. and a couple of times on my way home I stopped for a repair and they did it right then! I bought all my bike accesories there. they fixed up two old three speeds I found in the trash that I am going to make into "Art Bikes".... they are just generally great all round.

[maddyfish]

NASHBAR- I've had excellent service from them. Only one problem, and they fixed it, plus free shipping, plus a big discount.
RESER CYCLES-LBS Newport, Ky. Excellent service, I haven't yet bought a bike from them, but they help me with my crazy projects anyway. Decent prices, very nice people. My next new bike will come from there.

[ltspd]

Blane Hook at BikeProMobile, Mobile repair guy...best mechanic in town (I've tried them all). A very decent, honest guy with lots of experience and integrity . Fair prices. 572-0333.

Pro Cycling - Robert spent hours helping me with fit problems. Finally bought an Orbea Opal from them. A first-class, locally owned shop that puts a premium on customer service.

[ltspd]

Blane Hook at BikeProMobile, Mobile repair guy...best mechanic in town (I've tried them all). A very decent, honest guy with lots of experience and integrity . Fair prices. 572-0333.

Pro Cycling - Robert spent hours helping me with fit problems. Finally bought an Orbea Opal from them. A first-class, locally owned shop that puts a premium on customer service.

In Colorado Springs, that is....

[themickeyd]

I forgot about this thread, but I just had one outstanding case with Topeak. I noticed that my Joe Blow pump gage wasn't zeroing out anymore so I went to their web site and just asked if there was an adjustment. Next thing I know they wanted a mailing address to send me a new gage with out me even asking. That blew me away!

[bac]

Lemme add www.barplugs.com .

I can't get to this site. Can anyone??? ThanX!

... Brad

[cb400bill]

Maybe it is supposed to be http://www.barplugs4u.com

[mead_hall]

LBS in Orlando, Orange Cycle works.

I bought my bike there and they couldnt have been more helpful.

More over, when I had a problem with the bike that w/e I brought it in that Saturday morning and the shop was very very busy. I walked to the service area and stood for about 30 seconds when one of the mechanics asked me what I needed. I said, "My lock ring is loose, can you tighten it?" With out asking if I bought the bike there, or checking their records he put a wrench to my bike and before I could even look around (shopping) he was finished and I was off on my ride.

Great shop, great people, and the best customer service I have ever experienced.

Mead

[Hickeydog]

LBS: Eddy's Bike Shop in Stow, Ohio. Very knowledgeable staff, MASSIVE showroom; tons of selection. I once counted, they had over 1000 bikes sitting on the floor. They also have a great selection of parts and accessories, They are not as cheap as the online stores, but they make up for it in customer- service and knowlegability.

[iced_theater]

I've only recently got back into riding again and so I only have one positive experience so far. But I had a good experience with chickabike on E-Bay which I guess is pretty much bikesdirect.com The bike came within the week and in good shape.

Also, I don't care whether anyone here believes I'm not a schill or not, as I'm the only one that has to be happy on my purchase.