The local Performance Bikes appears to have had three full inventory counts in 4 months? I come in there early usually as soon as they open, and there are telltale signs all over for why there are 12 employees in the store at that time. Odd for a retail store to keep doing that, wonder if it has something to do with them being out of everything? They don't reorder so they don't have to keep counting it? Trying to sync up with the online stock levels? New computer system? Any of these situations can wreak havoc with the on-hand inventory.

I received my first order from Universal Cycles today. Placed the order on the 1st so shipping was quick and the prices and shipping rates are very competative.

I get most of my stuff on Amazon - I'm a Prime member, so I get free 2-day shipping on eligible items, and I can set my search terms to only return eligible stuff. Whenever I've had a problem, they've been incredible with getting it sorted, and when I had a problem after I became a Prime member, a customer service rep called within 15 minutes of sending an email and they overnighted a replacement item to me at no cost.

This.
If you ever wonder where to buy your next piece of cycling gear, come back and read this again.

I cancelled my Team Performance membership about a year and a half ago, mainly because I was already kitted out pretty well and the things I needed I needed to get from multiple sources (a la Yo Spiff and MMACH 5). If I'd been paying more attention I would have mentioned a drop off in choice, price, and availability.

Then right about on the one year anniversary, I see a $29.99 phantom charge show up. It turns out they just banged through a "renewal" and it wound up taking a couple of emails and a couple of weeks for them to finally un-renew and re-re-cancel me. I'm going to be watching them in 2013.

Universal Cycles is my LBS of choice, actually. They have one of the best service departments in town, actually, and they open at 6am, which is crazy. And since they have everything, and usually in stock at the local store, it's super convenient.

I like to change my credit card number once a year because of these kinds of things.

This was in the fine print, at least they eventually refunded it. I agree though, the membership used to be worth it (especially if you are new and buying a lot of gear, like I was), but not so much anymore.

Absolutely. The year I bought a new bike, fenders, rack, etc, the membership was well worth it. The next year, my purchases of tire patches and lubes did not cover my membership fee.
I much prefer the REI loyalty business model ($20 = lifetime membership).

^^True 'dis.

I don't shop there, except for an occasional Strada K tire or tube or rim tape. I'm so deep into restorations/repairs that they cannot even speak my language anymore.

Example: "Do you have any old DiaCompe non-aero road lever takeoffs in a bin? I'm looking for the black plastic conical ferrules that rest on top of the hoods beneath the outer cable..."

Them: "huh?"

"Okay, do you stock grey lined cable housing?"

Them: "no. we have black...."

Many, many other examples. They're just not in my universe.

Hahhaha, it's kinda funny, I had a similar experience there. Some of the sale's people there are just too herp derp about bicycle repairs/parts.

I buy a lot of stuff from Amazon.

When you buy from Niagra, Nashbar, etc through Amazon, you get Amazon's clout if something goes awry.

You also get to check feedback for the vendor.

Interesting.

I'm not "there" yet.

Performance is my LBS. I bought my bike through another LBS, but those guys turned out to be jerks. I'll buy 90% of my stuff from the local Performance and the other 10% online. I'm still in the stage where I need some basic help with wrenching and I'm still buying tools, parts and/or clothes from them every few months. I really like them and I plan to continue to shop from them.

Maybe one day I'll look at the mechanic like he's an idiot and start buying elsewhere, but for now they're still way smarter than me.

It's the mechanics that are easier to talk too, but they're also too busy working on the bikes in the back. It's the sale's people on the floor, they just seem like they're just weekend warriors cyclist at most and just trying to make a sale.