Originally Posted by
longwave
Thank-you for taking the time to reply. I cannot however agree with your arguments. Yes Norco is easy for the LBS's to deal with. That's why so many bike retailers stock their junk. My point remains that little choice is offered the consumer as a result. What if you don't like what Norco stocks? As you say Axiom panniers are garbage...at any price point. My local LBS stocks only that brand. So..the consumer gets screwed again. For me a LBS that goes the extra mile by stocking quality items and provides good after sales support is going to be the one that gets my business. I'm tired of this one size fits all mentality. I stand by my original statement. If you are going to put pump pegs on a bike and it's brand new then make sure accessories are available to fit it otherwise don't include them. Norco just looks rediculous as a result. I will never by another Norco product if I can help it. Looks like it's MEC, REI or the internet from now on. As a general rule I find that most bike shops don't stock much touring gear. What they do have is cheap and inadequate for all but the mildest useage. Oh well I'm sure I can find a retailer that caters to my taste in bike and gear, it's just most likely going to be outside of Canada.
Regards,
GregT
I believe that if you are having a problem with only being able to access Norco's offerings through your LBS, that is a problem of the LBS in itself. Many bicycle shops are like that, its simply a fact. And it is also the reason that many people such as yourself who have interests in niche products are looking to sources outside the primary bicycle retail industry such as MEC and the internet in order to have their needs met. There are a few discussion threads on this subject in this particular sub forum that are quite busy right now, in fact. Some people feel that businesses such as MEC are encroaching on the LBS and threatening their security, whereas others simply feel that the LBS just isn't keeping up with people's needs or interests and deserves what it is getting.
However, as a counter point: For every person interested in relatively niche products such as high end panniers or racks like Ortlieb or Tubus, there are going to be a larger number of people whom are looking to simply buy the newest aluminum mountain bike or road bike, pick up some generic accessories, and do their thing. Touring gear is a smaller niche market, and many shops simply don't want to take the time to independently source out suppliers for specialty name brands one by one, given the lower reward comparative to simply having a couple of catalogues and some big name bikes.
As you are shopping in a niche market, you need to find a niche shop. Most bike shops aren't big enough that they are carrying everything in great detail, most find their specialty and focus on it. Those that don't, are simply bicycle "convenience stores", much how Norco is the perfect catalogue to compliment that.
As for their product, even when you DO find a specialty shop, you are quite often supporting Norco with component purchases outside of the Axiom line. They carry a very wide selection, much wider than simply the Axiom line itself. Quality items, things like Topeak Road Morph you ordered are Norco catalogue items. You may have supported Norco with that purchase.
Again, the frame pegs were likely just a convenience for owners of frame pumps to begin with. I would like to note that they DID include a feature for a pump that accessories are widely available for - the bottle cage mountings you'll attach your mini-pump mount to.