eriksbliss

I stop by last night to look at some aero bars. They're for my track bike -- I'm thinking about trying some time-trial events at the Velodrome, and want to see how cheaply I can get a decent setup that I could swap out without too much time or trouble. I'm standing there holding a Profile Design basebar, looking to confirm that it's a 31.8 clamp diameter (so I don't have to buy a new stem or fuss with shims or something).

EMPLOYEE: "Hey, can I help you out?"
ME: "No, thanks, I think I'm all set." Hold up the bars for him to see. "Just looking at some bars."
EMPLOYEE: Pulls down some carbon road bars form the shelf. "These right here are great."
ME: "Okay. But I'm looking for aero bars." Hold up the bars again.
EMPLOYEE: "Oh, yeah, those are great, aren't they? I put some on my bike and now I go at least 3 or 4 miles-per-hour faster. What do you need to know about them?"
ME: "I'm just trying to confirm the clamp diameter -- I don't see it on the bars or package, but it looks like 31.8."
EMPLOYEE: "Diameter, huh?" Pulls down same basebar and stares. "I don't see anything here, but I'm sure they're all standard."

Very helpful. Thanks.

Talewinds

Did he call you an ***hole?

Sprocket Man

He was clueless, but at least he had a good attitude. It must not have been his birthday.

the beef

I work sales at an LBS, and I think he could've done better by grabbing a more senior employee to answer your question.

However to be fair, he did ask if he could help you (which is much more than can be said for many stores), and as someone else said, he did have a good attitude. He was also technically correct - but he just didn't know that there were two road standards. Don't be so hard on him by complaining about stuff like this; it's tough. For example, I'm very knowledgeable about road stuff, but when people come and ask questions on MTB stuff on a busy day, sometimes I just have to rely on the intuition and knowledge I have and help the customer as best as I can.

sixtyten

I walked into a Performance once on my birthday and some mechanic immediately called me an ***hole. I told him to HTFU and proceeded to drope the hamer on him. Don't think I'll be giving them my business again

s4one

Yea... from experience Performance bicycles is not the best.

Nachoman

Good attitude goes a long way in my book.

palookabutt

Not the best, but in my area they're the only place for cheap s--t. I bought a cheap computer for my trainer for about $10 -- the LBS doesn't sell any for less than $30. Lube is about 20-50% cheaper than the LBS (same brands/sizes). Tubes are cheaper, albeit different brands. I also found my favorite saddle there (who woulda thunk my delicate butt had cheap tastes?).

However, for a new bike (or drooling over bikes I can't afford) or expert maintenance, it's my LBS, hands down.

prendrefeu

I LOL'D.

Jay Andriot

Why do we expect some kid at Performace to know everything about bikes? He's just a kid at a bike store. Most of us have more knowledge about what we are buying than the kid's working at Performace do about what they are selling. The two sizes of road bars are not hard to tell apart. To some extent the kid was right, 31.8 is becoming the standard size for road bars. I for one do not expect an employee at any bike store to make my choices for me.

urbanknight

I must be lucky. The Performance in Pasadena has excellent service. I'd forget I was in a chain store if it wasn't for those sale stickers all over showing the same price they've had for years.

skinny

+1

CrimsonKarter21

I went to the shop that I race for today to get some rim strip and some chamois cream. Apparently they'd just run out of cream, so I got some Pedro's lube to compliment my strips. Still needing cream, I got to the local Performance. I've never really had a problem with them before, and it's not too bad. I get some cream, a few tubes and a nutrition book. As I'm checking out, I start talking with the guy working there. I'd talked with him before. So when it comes time to pay, he's like "$__.__, with 20% off"
I ask what the 20% is and he's like "Just because"
After talking for a few more, I say thanks and goodbye. Good experience with Performance!

mrt10x

I have never had a bad experience with Performance..neither in person in Virginia, and San Diego or via mail order. I do not expect them to know anything about what I want to buy. If I needed expert opinions on some product I was looking for I would go to the LBS... that has simply never happened. I always do a ton of research on a product online before I pull the trigger. PB's prices are pretty much unbeatable. I guess it is the transient nature of my business but I just never stick around any one place long enough to develop a relationship with a LBS.

I think most folks just expect too much from some high school or college kid working shifts at a Performance.. most dont even ride.

GP

Just got back from Performance. Made an exchange. The manager called me sir. It's tough to harden up when people call you sir.

Sapling

I bought a high-dollar helmet at Performance in Virginia in January 2007. In October I was on vacation in Colorado and discovered a crack in the 'foam' liner. Took it to the store there, they replaced it w/ no questions. Just got a repeat customer.

Demit

I buy from performance because I already know what I want. They are great for that. If I need help, I go to my LBS where they charge ridiculous amounts and are a little snoby.

obie

+1

Scenarios 1 & 2:


1. Kid at Perf. did all he could to get me sold on a Fuji Roubaix that he sounded like he had little familiarity with. Rode the parking lot for 10 min., got the saddle adjusted, rode some more. Took a free poster, some notes about the bike specs. and wondered if I could make the bike fit by myself. And, at a whopping $300. off the usual price (one of their usual "24 hr.only" sales) I left a bit let down but, wondering if I should pony up the dough, take the big discount and learn a hella lot more about good road bikes in a hurry.


2. Went to a local LBS (v.small, all high-end $1k+ plus bikes). Bantered with the owner about the best bike for my needs (Felt F85??) and got some ideas about shoes, cleats, pedals, ideal road wheels for my size and usual riding routes, spoke tension primer, pros/cons on CF seat stays, intro to Ultegra shifters and a few other bits of info. Left with a promise of a call when the shoes arrive, get them fitted and then an hr. for some bike fit work. Prices seemed pretty competitive with most OC bike shops.



Pretty easy call for this noob about who gets most (but not all) of my money.

Sprocket_Jockey

I went to performance once. They made fun of my hair cut and kicked my dog. I'll never shop there again.

Cdy291

The closest Performance to my house is about 50min to a hour away but I would stop in there occasionally before I got a job a the bike shop I'm working at now. They are pretty good and I have no complaints of them, and have found some really good deals. Back in January I found some 07 Mavic Ksyrium SL's for $550 plus 10% back. The mechanic is a little weird though, but nice, and he smokes.

urbanknight

Did they say "Next time, leave the dog at home"?

formula4

The mechanic at my local Performance touched my weiner.

Dubbayoo

He saw the guy standing by the bars, asked him if he could help while probably already aware he lacked the knowledge to do so. Why not just call the big guns over right away?

the beef

When I sell a pair of handlebars in my LBS, 5 times out of 6 the conversation goes like this:

Me: "The advantage of road bars is the multiple hand positions, increased aerodynamics, etc. etc"

Customer: "Ah, I see, that's nice"

The fact is, most customers in LBSs are NOT BFers (the ratio of average people to enthusiasts is probably about 5 to 1 in my LBS), and by the same token, customer service and a friendly attitude is far more valued than specific, technical product knowledge. I sell plenty of products without delving into tech. details. So the idea of a sales guy getting a manager before even greeting the guy looking at handlebars is definitely not what would happen at a bike shop.

The Perf. sales guy in this case did his best with his general product knowledge, besides making the assumption of one standard. And judging by how the OP didn't even seek to clarify his question after the exchange (the OP could've said "well, there are two diameters, 26.0 and 31.8, could you tell me which one this one is?" at which point the sales guy would've undoubtedly gotten a more senior staff member), the salesperson probably wasn't completely aware of what was wrong. Communication on both ends is vital.

yogi13

A couple of years ago I was bike shopping, trying different bikes out in a bunch of shops. Tried a Fuji at a performance. Head mechanic put it on the stand, checked tension and alignment of stuff, led me out to do a "test ride" around the parking lot. Got on the bike, started to pedal, chain fell off the cranks. Mechanic took the bike back in, fiddled for a bit, brought it out again, same thing happened again. I left.

After that, I'd never buy a bike at performance, nor get service done there, though I do buy a bunch of tubes, parts and assorted accessories from them.