Performance Coupon "protest"
 

First off, I don't know if this is a good idea, so let's keep this constructive.

What do y'all think about not buying anything from the online store until they restore the coupon code? (Obviously, this would be easier for those of us who have price competitive LBSs.) The idea for a "protest" is just to get their attention.

Maybe Joe could negotiate a BF-only code with them? I know he currently makes enough money from this site for his weekly Taco Bell fix, so I don't want to cause more work, but it's an idea.

Does anyone here know someone at Performance HQ that we can talk to?

I'm all for a company making a fair profit, so if they were making a profit after the discounts, then they should consider re-instating 'em... the free publicity had to have been an enormous value.

Hi,
it was fun while it lasted. Let's face it, if you buy something already double discounted, and then knock off an extra 10 or 20 per cent.... they are losing money. You can buy a Michelin Pro Race from them tofay for twenty bucks. That's a deal. Look for the deals, and count yourself lucky that you were hanging around here and could take advantage of that while it lasted.

Buy A Team Membership

not necessarily true. We don't know their margins. IF they were making a profit, they should consider continuing the promotion.
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That's a seperate issue from the code. I suspect most people using the code have a membership.

I haven't bought anything from them lately but would have if they had a code. They lost the sale of my build kit becuase of stock (or lack there of) not the lack of a code. That said it is a high of 19* F here today so I am not doing all that much outdoor cycling anyway.

LBS did just undercut Performance price on a Cycleops trainer for me recently though. Go LBS! LOL

Has Performance ever gone this long w/o a discount code, although it's only been about a month, but it just seems longer?

In terms of pricing, Perf/Nashbar/Supergo are already the Wal-Marts of bicycling. They are very difficult to beat on price--actually impossible, as they will match any legit price you find (plus give you points on top of it). Though they are usually the cheapest anyway. It's hard to imagine they make money on some things. But they make up for it in volume certainly. Their accessories are often 1/2 price compared to independent LBS's. Of course, they get mfgrs close-outs at next to nothing, but it looks like they price them accordingly too.

I think they lost money on the commuter they sold me in August. Giant Cypress SX MSRP $600. It was a double points weekend, so I got it for $480. Then there's the 90 day price protection. Lo and behold, the bike goes down to $499 about a month later. Final price $380. I bet they paid more than $380 for it. Of course, I had to spend the $220 in the store so they did recoup some of that. Still, ...

I was just in last night and bought a pair of shorts on sale from $50 to $30, a shirt on clearance from $50 to $20, and a chain cleaner from $17 to $10. On top of that, I will get back $6 to spend in the store. I rarely if ever buy anything at regular price; I just wait a few weeks and it goes on sale.

We should count ourselves lucky that we have Perf/Supergo/Nashbar to feed our bicycle addictions and still have money to eat. Without them I doubt half of the people on this site would be here. It's tough to be addicted to something that is too expensive. I certainly wouldn't/couldn't have bought half of the stuff (i.e. carbon fiber flat bars $20!) at standard LBS prices. I just can't afford it.

I'm lucky to have Perf as my LBS, with Supergo on the other side of town. I'm not a big fan of Supergo though. They don't operate at all like Performance.

Sure, it would be great to get another 20% off, but why should they? They are already the cheapest.

By the way, we do buy at other LBS. Not so much at Wal-Mart.

I too have a Performance Bike shop where I live. As a matter of fact, I have to pick up an order for a couple of helmets that I bought a couple of weeks ago. To be honest, I rarely visit the place because I've found prices a lot cheaper on EBAY for the items that I want. For example, we've been looking for some Shimano PD-M324 ATB Pedals to put on our tandem. Performance wants $75 where on EBAY I can "Buy it Now" for around $52 including shipping but they have some going for even lower bids. I guess it's whether you want to wait for the item to show up on EBAY or wait for a coupon to come out. I'll take my chances on EBAY. I've never been burned yet.

I don't see that anyone else posted this observation, Performance and Nashbar are treating winter as a time to have specials and closeouts rather than using the coupon route. The coupons come in during more prime time. They serve the purpose of giving the really price-conscious consumer a break that brings them in, where those who are not careful shoppers, i.e. more impatient, (e.g. one of my brothers-in-law) are apt to just pay full price. I admit to having bought closeout items with coupon savings in the past, but that is really not the long-term marketing strategy for the big gorillas of mail-order bike stuff.

I usually don't buy without a coupon code unless I really need something, otherwise I wait until there's a coupon code floating around...and with the temps hovering around the single digits for the last week, I haven't really needed anything. I wish we were lucky enough to have a Perf or Nashbar or Supergo locally

I buy from performance even if i dont have a coupon because i am a team performance member and i get a discount on a lot of things. I got a Db700 wireless cpu for 20.00 when it is 30.00

Well, I absolutely don't care about their profit margin. I am a consumer, not their shareholder, and the only ethical principle I hold is to get what I need at the lowest price. Performance's closeouts, although discounted, are still more expensive then their original discounted price with coupons. That's why I am holding up my money right now.

Bicycle components are almost exclusively non-essential and people are buying them mainly to upgrade their lower spec parts. If you have something worn out and definitely needed replacement (e.g. tires, tubes, chains, cassettes), you can buy it now. Otherwise, wait or go to ebay.

Believe me they are not losing money. The discounted stuff is usually stuff that they are buying as overstocks. They are wheeling and dealing with manufacturers. Contacting performance will be a waste of time. They could care less.

I agree with everyone that says we should not worry about their profits. They are getting by and still making a profit.

Who knows, maybe they are not putting out coupons because basically it is the end of the year and they are clearing out their stock. They assume people will by the already reduced price items without taking on 10 or 20%.

I do not have a store near me (performance), but did get to visit one in Portland, Oregon this week. Great prices on stock clearance items. Wish I could have went back for more before I left.

Performance is pretty cheap the way it is. Nashbar has a coupon out right now, don't they?

Both are a gift from the cycling gods, and we should feel lucky to have them, not upset at them for not lowering their already low prices.

Couldn't agree more. Honestly, I'm a bit taken aback by this post. Sounds as if folks feel that their entitled to these coupons. These coupons are a gift.

Don't get my wrong; I'd love it if they started running more 20% coupongs... but guys, let's keep this all in perspective here. I'm sure Performance has a bunch of reasons to run a coupon -- clear inventory, hit fiscal targets, probably a dozen other ones too -- but they aren't going to offer them based on a few folks whining (yes, whining) in a message forum

I don't think anyone posted anything in this thread to suggest that they're upset.

It's nothing but microeconomics -- supply-and-demand, finding the sweet spot on the curve where charging the right amount against volume maximizes profits for them. 70% of the people that have responded in this entirely unscientic poll have said they're buying less. You can't extrapolate this into the broader market, but IF it is representative, then Performance (and others) should re-evaluate their pricing structure.

(yeah, I majored in economics in college)

As consumers, we'd be pretty dumb to not balance price, convenience, and service.

Granted, the extreme is Wal-Mart and they're down right evil... but that's a seperate topic altogether.

Why would you protest if you weren't upset, or at the very least dissatisfied?

I put protest in quotes cuz I couldn't think of the right terminology. Don't get hung up on one word, just take it on context.

I've got about $500 in stuff to buy from Performance, but it ain't happening till a coupon code comes out. None of this stuff do I "need," so I can wait.

Either a coupon code or another double points weekend...whichever comes first.

Put it this way, coupons are a privilage, not a right.

true, but if it makes us buy more, Performance should be happy.

I am still waiting too.

This cliche doesn't help the discussion. There is no "right" to buy any bicycle product at any price. And I didn't see anyone saying they had a "right" to a coupon. That said, lots of us people have said they won't buy unless they have a 20% coupon. That actually is their "right."

To turn your phrase around, you could also say that for Performance, having our business is a privilege, not a "right."

The prices that Performance and Nashbar offer are great, but I get creamed when it comes to shipping and tax. It's usually an extra $12 to $15 on top of the bill :( If I have a 20% coupon that usually evens out the savings for me. Example, I needed some recovery drink. Performance had what I wanted on sale for $24.95(or something close to that). When shipping and tax added, total bill was $33 :eek: I just went to the local GNC and got it for a few pennies more :(

When was the last time you gave your employer 20% off as a thank you? I thought so.