mazpr

So as some may know I have been looking for a replacement cassette for my bike.

Called Mikes Bike in Sausalito and they have the item and while we are talking the guy adds the line; " We do Price Match"...

So Ok, the bike tech is asking 87.70 for the item and of course I was going to search to see if I could find one.

So I found the item at www.beyondbikes.com for $64.95, I call the guys and tell them I found it and if they still have the item... the guys reply its ok, no problem they will price match it.


I drove all the way from Petaluma to Sausalito to buy the damn casssette and when I arrive to the store the manager tells me its a website item and that of course they can have those prices as they do not pay water, electricity, employees, all the BS, You name it the manager said it which if I recall well his name is Sam.

They refused to price match it because its not a store; check the link below and see for yourself they do have a physical location as any regular store. After I called them twice, after they tell me its no problem and they make me drive the friday night traffic jam toward San Francisco these bunch of losers tell me this crap.

Worst customer service ever, they do not honor crap... his last words before I left the store like a little baby " I have to pay the bills"... (its pathetic)

https://www.beyondbikes.com/bb/hours.asp

bkaapcke

Sometimes it costs a little to find out who you are not doing business with anymore. Clarks shoes moved production of their 'Air Mover' shoes ($185.00) to china, and suddenly, they were a little narrower. They are sturdy shoes and stretching them just doesn't work. When I called to complain at Clarks America, they said send the shoes to them and they will replace them with some wider shoes. It cost $12.00 to send them, and that's the last I ever heard of it. Well, if you aren't going to do anything, AT LEAST don't get me to waste another $12.00. So I found out who I'm not doing business with anymore. Besides, all they have now is cheap crap from china that still costs the same. bk

donnamb 

I can understand your frustration. While I don't have a problem with paying a bit more at a local LBS to support a local business, if they don't want to price match, they ought not advertise it or at least be clear about exceptions.

madfiNch

In my experience, places that promise a price match don't include websites in the deal. They mean they will match the price of any other local business. If you told them it was a website when you called them and they still said they would match the price, then yeah, they should have kept their word. You can't expect a small local business to try and compete with web businesses, though..

Bekologist

WORD. Additionally, it has to be in stock at a local brick and mortar store to be considered for a price match.

mazpr

Thats why I included the link, they do have a store.

The manager at Mike's Bike would refuse because BeyondBikes does not have a store. He played the blind and deaf technique and could not admit they in fact is a legit store.

BeyondBikes does the same thing as REI.

The manager over the phone explained clearly; "As long as the website has a physical store we will price match it"

I told them again and again, look thats the store location. HE would reply by saying thats where they have storage but its not a store. Anyway, they never said local business.

I ask him where is all your policy stated in the website and he said he does not need to, everybody knows it. For me they are full of it, I called twice, I told them about it and then when I go there bunch of whinners. Check this out... they have a 20% with purchases under $100.00 with the online coupon. My printer is broken and I was running short on time before they would close the store.

I arrive and tell them the 20% coupon is on my 2 GB memory stick because my printer is broken and I arrived at 6:50pm. One of the employees tells me it has to be a print out. "I am dude, You are going to make me go to Kinkos by then its going to be closed, drive back to Petaluma, come back tomorrow just because its not a print out, WTF?"

C'mmon mman, this guys are more anal than the Soviet Army... I had to call the manager, he thought about it and then after some BS analysis approved to use the memory stick. Ah, the computer they had did not have a USB port (more BS so they could not prove if I had the coupon or not), once again the manager took my word for it...

So no, they did not price match and after some arguing they finally honored the 20% coupon I had on my USB drive...

These is one of the stores I got to keep for test and return items and then buy it cheaper online, thats a given.

Bekologist

I can see who the real whiner is from here.

DataJunkie

What is special about this cassette? When I replace mine I walk into whatever lbs I feel like visiting and purchase the cassette I am looking for.
It's not like I am purchasing a crankset. Just curious.

Rev.Chuck

I guess I should whine on the internet everytime someone special orders some oddball, otherwise unsaleable part, and then backs out when it comes time to pick it up.

If you find something on the internet for 30% less than the local shop sells it for, go ahead and get it. The shop will make ZERO selling it for that discounted price. But don't ***** when you expect them to sell stuff for no margin and they have employees that don't know ****.

Ornery

Hah, he's right, the store manager screwed up. There's something strange about bike shops. That business seems to bring out the worst in customer relations. I think used car lots are only slightly worse.

Personally, I appreciate being warned about poor business practices by particular companies or individuals. That's exactly why I check these forums out before making a purchase. If I were you, I'd be doing the exact same thing, and I'd contact the owner of mikesbikes.com and let him know about this transaction, and how you're spreading the news.

mazpr

You do what you got to do... and I do mine.

Its like the other day I went to perform an alignment to the car.

They had this $30.00 off coupon so I go to the place; they see the car, accept the coupon and ahead to sign approval for the job.

Halfway on the job while I am waiting and they have the car lifted up in the air, the alignment tech dude comes and tells me its going to be $30.00 more (go figure) because the car had some style of different alignment and was going to take them half hour more.

Its not that I am looking for the sale and deal of the century, but c'mmon...

Chuck; Can you figure out why I am complaining on this forum?

Can you "SEE" why I am complaining in BF besides just whining? You have 30 seconds the most, else you are overtraining, LOL>

StephenH

I was pricing unicycles a while back. One thing I found is an outfit that will have prices on Ebay for something like $25 + $50 shipping (for something that would typically cost around $75 anyway). I'm not sure of the motivation, maybe Ebay fees are based on item price and not shipping price or something.

One of the advertisers here, Bike Island, has an affiliated Ebay vendor, and also an affiliated actual store in Plano. Something that Bike Island will sell for $79.99 with free shipping will be $59.99 + $20 shipping on Ebay or $79.99 at the actual brick-and-mortar store if you pick it up. So an internet price is not always the same price as what you would pay at the store.

Add to this the number of flat-out scams on the internet, and I can see why a normal retail business would not want to match prices with somebody like that.

Rev.Chuck

Because you wanted online prices with right now product?

Your second sentence is incoherent. A surprise.

Bekologist

mazpr, I'd suggest driving to San Diego from Petaluma to get that price from bikesbeyonds' storefront location and see how much you actually save. Is that a local whine you've been drinking?

Mtbnomore

That's why the only thing I buy at chain stores is store-brand clothing. Business and bullsh*t get in the way.

Sure I shop at more than one store, but when it comes to the mechanicals of my bikes, it's my LBS that doesn't have sales or nothing.

mazpr

Dude, dont be a tard... I call them before going to the store....dAAAA!?

I told who they were... You still do not understand? If I call them and they say it is fine, no biggy, come over and we will work it out, don't BS me and make me go over there and hear there whining that they need to pay the bills.

Its not as if I read it somewhere and then I arrive out of the blue, I talked to the damn dude... You understand now? I talked with the MANAGER... Dont BS me, bla bla bla...

And if I were you, I would not be that dumb to drive all the way there, if you do not know there is something called USPS, look it up... as long as you pay the proper fees any store can send you mail and guess what, it can be used for personal use so you can send mail to friends and family with something called an envelope.

So save yourself some gas and dont drive when having to buy stuff out of state, use the phone and lets pray they dont BS you and next thing you know they do not know what is USPS.

Cyclist0094

so you drove 62 miles round trip to only save 23 bucks?
Let me guess, you drove a big *** SUV also?

operator

I do believe he has a legitimate case Chuck. I was going to flame for the exact same reason you mentioned but beyondbikes DOES indicate it has a showroom. Whatever that means. I'm imagining a sort of room with just bikes on display and no merchandise for sale - can anybody actually confirm?

If beyondbikes is really a real store offering $LOWER_PRICE on item then why didn't you just go there? Oh yeah, 31 miles vs a billion. Oops.

I think ebay is always going to be summarily exempt from price matches. What you describe, overcharging on shipping as a part of the product price - is normal and common practice on ebay. Not that it's "legal" under ebay policy.

99 cent item with $FULL_VALUE of item as shipping. That's how they get around ebay fees. It doesn't have to be as extreme as this example but you get the point.

Anyways - bike shops that don't match internet prices (well internet meaning a mail order with no real store), I don't blame them. Basically the consumer is asking for internet pricing but immediate satisfaction. It just doesn't work that way. Nor should you expect it to.

For example I wouldn't walk into an traditional shop and expect PBK prices on the items. It simply isn't going to happen.

mazpr

Now that you think you are a smart...

Buying it at the store and waiting for it to be delivered; shipping plus tax would be the same deal plus the time to wait for it to arrive and the convenience of return around the block instead of all the way to San Diego and having to repack etc.

You may ask; so why all the hassle if he has plenty of benefits by buying locally, yes I know that.

Once again; I gave it a shot and call them twice, they said it was fine. So if you add up the expense on fuel, but substract the convenience of warranty, making sure its the correct item, saving the waiting delivery time it comes down to even it out. DAAAA!!!

Dude, I am not desperate for money, its not as if I am complaining because now I am broke, its that dont open your mouth if all thats coming out is bla bla bla and at the end your are just full of it and just another local store called Mikes Bike that scams on people for a bare $23.00 dollars.

Yep, for 23 bucks he was not accepting even his own coupon as well. Anyway, I am done with this, I got the item.

Yes I know; why didn;t you buy from the store in San Diego, Jesus Lord? Whats going on here? I called them first and told them about it... they even saw it was a store in San Diego and just came back with ... "It the storage space for the merchandise" when in fact its a store... Hey, if they say YES, then its YES, its not a YES and then give me the run around..., W/E the case I am done!

"Put your money where your mouth is"

Bekologist

dude, more whine. a local isn't going to price match a store that's 300 miles away from you, bro.

get a clue. a LBS isn't going to price match AEbike in Michigan either, despite them having a 'brick and mortar' store. AEbike takes advantage of QBP's catalog linking direct program, linking directly to QBP's Catalog, and does so at ridiculously low margins - but AEbike can't ship you a Shimano product because AEbike violates Shimano's pricing policies.

At the bike shop I work at, we call the local store and see if they've got it in stock before we price match. But our prices are usually quite competitive on many products already. better than Performance on a lot of goods. Anyway, I digress.

I can't believe the extent of your *****ing and moaning about this. You should buy from your LBS without complaint or trying to get a Bay area shop 30 miles from you to honor a price match in a store in San Diego, because they've got what you want in hand.

Has your 'whine' gotten you banned from all the bike shops in Petaluma?

LOSER!

mazpr

Dude, just read the thread, don't be such a tard and reply without even knowing what I am talking about.

I called them, one more time... I called them before going...! HELLO!

Ziemas

You're not desperate for money yet you are willing to drive sixty some odd miles, search the internet, and make a bunch of phone calls to save $23? It sounds to me like you are just plain cheap.

Sportsman9

I'm gonna side with the OP on one point: if the bike shop said they would price match the other outfit, then refused to honor it when he showed up, that's just so wrong I can understand why it upset the guy so much.

On the other hand, I think it's reasonable for an LBS to charge more than a mail-order place. They should've given him an honest price, and then the OP has a choice of price versus convenience.

Some things I prefer to get at the shop (shoes for instance, so I could try them on). Now I'm not gonna turn around and buy them over the Internet because that would be all kinds of wrong. I balked a little at paying a $20 premium for a U-lock, but ultimately bought it at the shop as a reward for being able to hold various locks and feel their weight, plus I know bike shops have it tough and want to throw them some business.

The things I mostly end up buying over the web are things where the comparison shopping is much easier to do with the web interface, no sales pressure, or things where the selection is better than my LBS carries.

Siu Blue Wind

I feel that if the guy tells him OVER THE PHONE that he would price match, he should have asked the OP if this was an internet price he was referring to, then inform him of the policy. Nowadays, soooooooooo many people will do what the OP did. Find a price on the web and want to get it at a brick and mortar so it can be had NOW.

Someone said that it was understood that web prices cannot be matched. This thread is a representation that it does not hold true too widely. Some people know, some don't. But in this case I think for good word and perhaps a lesson learned on part of the LBS (train employees a little more), they should have honored it. Yes, they will be taking a big loss but which is bigger - a few dollars, or a customer who will never come in again and tell two more friends (in this case a whole bunch of people)?

In regard to the coupon, I think it fair to be to honor one or the other, because of such loss (perhaps selling below cost), and explaining to the customer why.

operator

Well those people are complete morons then. Anyways - the shop is really to blame on this one. I hope it teaches the OP a lesson. There are bad bike shops, and there are good bike shops.

With a high turnover retail business like a bikeshop, it's inevitable that someone says one thing and another will (in this case, a higher ranking manager seems like) says something else. There's nothing you can do - this stuff happens. Just be smart about how you shop next time.