+amilliion

I've resolved to having two classes of vendors. I just ordered from Niagara yesterday - a bunch of stuff for the parts drawers that I don't need any specific time soon. However, on the occasion I need something and want to count on it getting there in 10 days or less, it's Harris or Ben's or the like. In a real pressing situation, I walk down to the local carbon shop and get charged $4 for two used and slightly corroded crank bolts

What's Ben's? And what's a carbon shop?

A modern LBS that sells only Carbon Fiber framed bikes.

How do you access them through Amazon?

here;
https://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html...A2TE9IQP68MWQU

I recently ordered a bunch of things from Amazon. Some came from Niagara, and the rest came from bikeworldonline. I don't care where it comes from if service and price are good.

For what it's worth, I also buy stuff at my two LBS's, even when the prices are not optimal.

High Gear Cyclery, Millburn, NJ. They sell new stuff. Very nice folks, who know their trade well.

The Bike Stand, Scotch Plains, NJ. He sells new and old stuff. His web site is worth browsing, even though it takes a lot of time. A good guy who is intensely knowledgeable and intelligent.

I really like Niagara! I also like being able to buy from my recliner, and have it delivered to my front door.

If you need instant gratification, maybe you should walk into their store, buy, and be on your way. That, or pay much more, at a store that has a lot of "stuff" available, a few blocks from your house. Your choice.

They definitely give me a lot of buying power, for my dollar. Much better prices, and a better selection, than most. I have gotten some unbelievable deals from them, buying "on sale" from their already low prices. I check their website at least weekly, and try to keep new consummables on hand, for when I need them.

Sometimes, it just pays to plan ahead.

I don't find it unreasonable to wait a bit, considering what they do for me.

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you. I think, however, they could be a little more forthcoming about how long things will take and make their website at least remotely accurate in the way of order status.

Ultimately it's not how long it takes, but how expectations are managed. In today's internet buying world I expect to place an order, have it fulfilled and shipped in 1-3 days, and have the merchants website be reflective of reality. That's not asking a lot.

That said, I'll continue to order from Niagara, knowing now what the modus operandi is (assuming my current order gets to me in the time they said it would).

I'll probably head out to niagara Cycle this week since it is on the way to the Falls, and that is my "get the rust out ride" as well...I will let you all know then.

I apologize, if you percieved that it was aimed at you. That was not the case.

I was trying to state my reasons for buying from them, and other possibilities for purchase. They fill a much needed niche.

I wasn't throwing stones, only trying to explain how I see those stones stacked up.

Their website rivals Harris' for being right up to late 90s standards, but I have been very happy buying from Lickton in Oak Park, Illinois. They have a much more limited line than Niagara, with little or no 'off brand' gear (most tools are Park for example) but their prices are competitive, and they say they price match. I gather they ship VERY fast and cheaply, but I have gone directly to the shop, where the counter staff has been extremely helpful, and as a noob I need all the help I can get!

www.lickbike.com

lickbike (Lickton's) has been around for a long time. I remember seeing their catalog in 1975.

I went when I visited my sister at Christmas. The place on Miltary Rd??? I don't remember. Anyway, they basically had nothing I was interested in there. They said if I called it in the
day before they could have had it all there.

I didn't see any stones, did you? No worries mate...never felt pummelled

I just received an email from Niagara that my stuff has been shipped.

Just received my latest Niagara shipment. I was out of town for a week, so the 8 days it took to arrive was not a problem. Everything was there, and nothing was damaged or substandard. The prices for the items I ordered were very, very reasonable. I see the same brands they carry in other bike shops for "multiples" of what they charge. Even Wal-Mart and K-Mart sell their bike stuff for "multiples" of what Niagara charges! As far as I am concerned, we're pretty lucky to have Nashbar and Niagara to order from. Makes this hobby just a little more affordable. Just takes a little planning and patience when your order. Hey, $5 for tires!!!

Which were the $5 tires?

$5.31 for the Kenda K40 27" x 1 3/8" HP (85 PSI) gum walls. They look nicely finished, and hopefully will seat properly.

Probably will not buy from nashbar again. They charge sale tax in Washington state and many others. I don't understand why, since they operate out of Ohio......Are they part of Performance Bike?

I've ordered from the before, and will again. They're not perfect. They DO have a good selection of low-end equipment that is hard to find elsewhere at good prices.

One order I placed had a couple of small items that were simply thrown in loose in the box with tires and worked their way out. They were like $1 items, though, so no biggie.

And UPS takes about a week to get from NY to Dallas, but that's not Niagara's problem.

They do ship incredibly fast, and their customer service is second to none. Agreed, what they sell is mostly top shelf, and lots of it is geared toward modern bikes, but when I need something in that range, they always have competitive prices.

Have you seen Steve's bike dungeon? If not, next time you go, ask to see it. Prepare to be wowed. As far as I know, he's the only shop left in NJ with a jig for steel frame and fork alignments, and his frame building experience is encouraging.

Yes Performance and Nashbar are the same. They charge taxes in the states that require them to collect it. NC is yet another one.

Aaron

I thought their customer service was OK. I ordered somethings recently, then emailed them with some other things I forgot to add to the original. They seemed pleased enough to add it.

And I got my stuff two weeks later.

Note: all the stuff I ordered, I didn't really need, just thought I'd need it later on.

What is a good source for some pink anodized chainring bolts? Crazy question maybe but this thread seems like a good place to ask...