Calling your customers "freds?"
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Calling your customers "freds?"
So I was reading the San Diego Reader article about the increased interest in cycling in SD and I saw a section that caught my attention. The author interviewed the guys from Pista Palace in south park and they talked about their high end bikes. They come off as being typical cycling elitist which I'm not sure is something you want to convey to your customers. I understand it that it's your own business and you can do what you want and serve who you want, but do you really want to alienate all these people. They call a lot of their customers "freddies." Ok, I get it, there are a lot of dentists with a lot of cash to unload on a campy equipped colnago. To me, calling someone a fred means that they are a poseur. If I am a customer, I'm thinking why would I buy from these guys, sure I want a nice bike but I don't want to be condescended to and how do I know they are going to give me top notch service if they don't even respect me? Just seems strange. And it seems ironic that they want to sell super high end bikes tricked out with "hand made" campy parts when really, they can get the same bike (since they are mostly made in taiwan and china anyway) for way cheaper with equal if not better parts from sram or shimano. Who is the fred now since they are building up unnecessarily expensive bikes?
https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2...cle-san-diego/
https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2...cle-san-diego/
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In Soviet Russia, Fred becomes you.
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You're telling me. Check out the matching orange socks with smiley face, Cannondale CAD3, long sleeve cotton tshirt and mtb shoes....I wouldn't go to that shop anyways, can't afford it. But that's what the dude in the article seems to want. I don't think he'd care if we Freds didn't go.
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I need a good dentist...
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And it seems ironic that they want to sell super high end bikes tricked out with "hand made" campy parts when really, they can get the same bike (since they are mostly made in taiwan and china anyway) for way cheaper with equal if not better parts from sram or shimano.
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Would i be a "fred" if i ride my Colnago in cut off Levis, Chuck Taylors, a camo t-****s and and my trucker baseball cap under my helmet?
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I'd really like to know how a Campagnolo Record equipped custom built Eriksen would be "the same bike" as an asian built titanium cookie-cutter with sham or shizmano componentry. Please explain this and feel free to offer up all of your experience riding custom frames that have been fabricated specifically for you.
If we are talking about just building a blinged out bike then sure, throw campy and what have you on your european frame or custom frame. If that's what you want to ride, go for it. But back to the original sentiment of calling your customer freds, what makes a fred? Seems strange that if you want to buy a nice bike from these guys, they may be calling you a fred behind your back.
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i mean, either you get it, or you dont. thats the way ive always seen it. you can tell if someone is trying too hard from a mile a way.
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After 25 years in sales, the first & foremost lesson is this:
Respect your customers. All of them. Even the ones who don't buy anything major from you. If you don't practice common courtesy at all times, your attitude will grow and fester. Finally, you'll sit in an empty shop wondering where everybody went. I once solved a $15.00 problem for a guy. It turned into a $75,000 sale a few months later. I walked out of a local bike shop in 1979 due to rudeness on the part of the owner. I've never been back. Bought a few bikes & a lot of parts over the years. He never even had a chance at my business.
Respect your customers. All of them. Even the ones who don't buy anything major from you. If you don't practice common courtesy at all times, your attitude will grow and fester. Finally, you'll sit in an empty shop wondering where everybody went. I once solved a $15.00 problem for a guy. It turned into a $75,000 sale a few months later. I walked out of a local bike shop in 1979 due to rudeness on the part of the owner. I've never been back. Bought a few bikes & a lot of parts over the years. He never even had a chance at my business.
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Originally Posted by CritEastwood
I'd really like to know how a Campagnolo Record equipped custom built Eriksen would be "the same bike" as an asian built titanium cookie-cutter with sham or shizmano componentry. Please explain this and feel free to offer up all of your experience riding custom frames that have been fabricated specifically for you.
Well, if we are talking about a "fast" bike, what makes a bike fast? weight and stiffness? You can take a giant/specialized/cannondale/trek "cookie cutter" frame and put shimano or sram parts on it and make it lighter and just as stiff. If we are talking about fit, correct me if I'm wrong, but that can be adjusted by seat tube, saddle, cleat, stem position. They sell Time and Colnago, it's not like you can order a custom sized frame from either of these companies. Can you? I'm asking because I don't know about those two companies. I've never ridden campy, only shimano and sram. Seems to me if the performance of that gruppo and comfort were that much better, every pro would be using it regardless of their sponsor. I'm not trying to trash campy, but riding it because it is "european" and shimano/sram are junk because they are american seems misguided.
If we are talking about just building a blinged out bike then sure, throw campy and what have you on your european frame or custom frame. If that's what you want to ride, go for it. But back to the original sentiment of calling your customer freds, what makes a fred? Seems strange that if you want to buy a nice bike from these guys, they may be calling you a fred behind your back.
If we are talking about just building a blinged out bike then sure, throw campy and what have you on your european frame or custom frame. If that's what you want to ride, go for it. But back to the original sentiment of calling your customer freds, what makes a fred? Seems strange that if you want to buy a nice bike from these guys, they may be calling you a fred behind your back.
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Wow, all of that fantastic speculation and keyboard void, yet you still didn't manage to offer up your experience with riding a custom fabricated frame to help validify your opinion and experience on the matter. A simple admission of zero experience would have been sufficient, as it appears to be.
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people cant really be this clueless can they? i swear, half the garbage i read on bf just comes off as troll bait.
compact geo can go to hell.
compact geo can go to hell.
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I may not even be from SoCal, but I have ridden an Eriksen and I ride only with Campagnolo, but I have tried many other brands of bikes and components as well.
As far as components go, it's all subjective. If you're looking for the lightest group, go Red. If you're looking for the highest tech group, go DA. If you're looking for awesome looks, complete rebuild-ability, smooth shifting, and an array of affordable and racier options along with awesome customer service, go Campy. That's my opinion. Notice that? We all have those. Saying whether or not a shop is decent has nothing to do with the components they put on their floor bikes. Too each their own in that regard.
But as far as dissing Kent Eriksen goes, you're way off base. Sure, custom fabricated, made-in-the-USA titanium frames are way more expensive than a mass-manufactured, cookie cutter Taiwanese frame. Knowing Kent personally, and having spent a few days in his shop myself, I must say that his frames are like no other. The things that the man can do with titanium are practically unheard of, and the amount of effort he personally puts into a single frame is unmatched. I've seen him spend literally hours talking to a single customer, giving up his own ride time, and often working late into the night in order to nail down geometry as well as perfectly shape, cut, miter, jig, and align frames to give one of his 175 annual customers a truly unforgettable ride. There's something that happens to a person when they step over a perfectly designed and fabricated titanium frame - the feeling isn't the same as anything else you've ever ridden because the bike itself is dialed in just for you and the ride feel is different from anything else you've ever experienced. Personally, when I rode one of Kent's personal frames (albeit a SS, fully rigid 29er), it felt as if there was nothing beneath me, as if I was one with the bike. Plus, the painstaking attention to detail is unsurpassed.
Now, as far as you calling the shop "freds" for make "unnecessarily" (I believe I just proved the contrary) expensive bikes, I don't really think you know what a fred is. Being called a fred is a compliment, in all actuality. A fred is a person with no care or knowledge for his or her equipment, but rides faster than anybody in the A/B group mashfests. So, really, Mr. Beanz is a bit of a fred. His apparel contradicts that of most road cyclists, but look at that picture - who's the one about to get passed by a dude in orange smiley face socks? The one with full gear and, I assume, a Taiwanese manufactured frame that he got to "fit in." Plus, even as an avid climber myself, I'm pretty sure Mr. Beanz could kick my butt any day.
So really, your whole argument is just a huge contradiction because you're attempting to diss a shop for carrying high-end, high-quality goods, but instead you compliment them and dig yourself deeper.
Who cares if the shop calls their customers freds (albeit with an alternate meaning than the actual)? The people still shop there because the store obviously offers good service and good product. I mean, have you ever even been to this shop? Doubt it. Maybe you're the elitist.
As far as components go, it's all subjective. If you're looking for the lightest group, go Red. If you're looking for the highest tech group, go DA. If you're looking for awesome looks, complete rebuild-ability, smooth shifting, and an array of affordable and racier options along with awesome customer service, go Campy. That's my opinion. Notice that? We all have those. Saying whether or not a shop is decent has nothing to do with the components they put on their floor bikes. Too each their own in that regard.
But as far as dissing Kent Eriksen goes, you're way off base. Sure, custom fabricated, made-in-the-USA titanium frames are way more expensive than a mass-manufactured, cookie cutter Taiwanese frame. Knowing Kent personally, and having spent a few days in his shop myself, I must say that his frames are like no other. The things that the man can do with titanium are practically unheard of, and the amount of effort he personally puts into a single frame is unmatched. I've seen him spend literally hours talking to a single customer, giving up his own ride time, and often working late into the night in order to nail down geometry as well as perfectly shape, cut, miter, jig, and align frames to give one of his 175 annual customers a truly unforgettable ride. There's something that happens to a person when they step over a perfectly designed and fabricated titanium frame - the feeling isn't the same as anything else you've ever ridden because the bike itself is dialed in just for you and the ride feel is different from anything else you've ever experienced. Personally, when I rode one of Kent's personal frames (albeit a SS, fully rigid 29er), it felt as if there was nothing beneath me, as if I was one with the bike. Plus, the painstaking attention to detail is unsurpassed.
Now, as far as you calling the shop "freds" for make "unnecessarily" (I believe I just proved the contrary) expensive bikes, I don't really think you know what a fred is. Being called a fred is a compliment, in all actuality. A fred is a person with no care or knowledge for his or her equipment, but rides faster than anybody in the A/B group mashfests. So, really, Mr. Beanz is a bit of a fred. His apparel contradicts that of most road cyclists, but look at that picture - who's the one about to get passed by a dude in orange smiley face socks? The one with full gear and, I assume, a Taiwanese manufactured frame that he got to "fit in." Plus, even as an avid climber myself, I'm pretty sure Mr. Beanz could kick my butt any day.
So really, your whole argument is just a huge contradiction because you're attempting to diss a shop for carrying high-end, high-quality goods, but instead you compliment them and dig yourself deeper.
Who cares if the shop calls their customers freds (albeit with an alternate meaning than the actual)? The people still shop there because the store obviously offers good service and good product. I mean, have you ever even been to this shop? Doubt it. Maybe you're the elitist.
Last edited by DRietz; 01-06-11 at 07:10 PM.
#19
Has coddling tendencies.
#20
Has coddling tendencies.
Now, as far as you calling the shop "freds" for make "unnecessarily" (I believe I just proved the contrary) expensive bikes, I don't really think you know what a fred is. Being called a fred is a compliment, in all actuality. A fred is a person with no care or knowledge for his or her equipment, but rides faster than anybody in the A/B group mashfests.
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DRietz, did you bother reading the article? Here is the section I'm talking about.
To me, his opinion of freds is not that high. My intent was not to diss the custom titanium bikes, eriksen, moots, whatever... The point was he sells "cookie cutter" frames if you want to get technical about it (the difference is they are european cookie cutters), He is painting his customer in an unfavorable light, that was my original point. this just seems odd to me.
Then there are the “Freddies.”
“‘Freddies’ are the weekend warriors who wear bright yellow so cars can see them, or that bright orange vest that can land a plane because its colors are so bright. Instead of having regular water bottles, they have a Gatorade bottle that doesn’t even fit in the holder. They’ve bought whatever was on sale at the Trek store, the Trek bike, with the Trek shorts, the full Lance Armstrong Mellow Johnny’s kit. They’re dressed exactly like the pros, but are fat, old guys. But you’ve got to remember: Freddies feed the industry, so I have no problem selling a TIME to them. Freddies put me through college. A lot of times I’m trying to do the fit, get a tape around their gut. I tell every one of them, ‘Listen, you’re not really in shape yet. So, understand that you’re buying a racing bike, but we’re trying to make it a comfortable bike.’ That’s what we call ‘Fredding out’ a bike.”
”
“‘Freddies’ are the weekend warriors who wear bright yellow so cars can see them, or that bright orange vest that can land a plane because its colors are so bright. Instead of having regular water bottles, they have a Gatorade bottle that doesn’t even fit in the holder. They’ve bought whatever was on sale at the Trek store, the Trek bike, with the Trek shorts, the full Lance Armstrong Mellow Johnny’s kit. They’re dressed exactly like the pros, but are fat, old guys. But you’ve got to remember: Freddies feed the industry, so I have no problem selling a TIME to them. Freddies put me through college. A lot of times I’m trying to do the fit, get a tape around their gut. I tell every one of them, ‘Listen, you’re not really in shape yet. So, understand that you’re buying a racing bike, but we’re trying to make it a comfortable bike.’ That’s what we call ‘Fredding out’ a bike.”
”
#22
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DRietz, did you bother reading the article? Here is the section I'm talking about.
To me, his opinion of freds is not that high. My intent was not to diss the custom titanium bikes, eriksen, moots, whatever... The point was he sells "cookie cutter" frames if you want to get technical about it (the difference is they are european cookie cutters), He is painting his customer in an unfavorable light, that was my original point. this just seems odd to me.
To me, his opinion of freds is not that high. My intent was not to diss the custom titanium bikes, eriksen, moots, whatever... The point was he sells "cookie cutter" frames if you want to get technical about it (the difference is they are european cookie cutters), He is painting his customer in an unfavorable light, that was my original point. this just seems odd to me.
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But as far as dissing Kent Eriksen goes, you're way off base. Sure, custom fabricated, made-in-the-USA titanium frames are way more expensive than a mass-manufactured, cookie cutter Taiwanese frame. Knowing Kent personally, and having spent a few days in his shop myself, I must say that his frames are like no other. The things that the man can do with titanium are practically unheard of, and the amount of effort he personally puts into a single frame is unmatched. I've seen him spend literally hours talking to a single customer, giving up his own ride time, and often working late into the night in order to nail down geometry as well as perfectly shape, cut, miter, jig, and align frames to give one of his 175 annual customers a truly unforgettable ride. There's something that happens to a person when they step over a perfectly designed and fabricated titanium frame - the feeling isn't the same as anything else you've ever ridden because the bike itself is dialed in just for you and the ride feel is different from anything else you've ever experienced. Personally, when I rode one of Kent's personal frames (albeit a SS, fully rigid 29er), it felt as if there was nothing beneath me, as if I was one with the bike. Plus, the painstaking attention to detail is unsurpassed.
My work is done here, thank you DRietz.
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DRietz, did you bother reading the article? Here is the section I'm talking about.
To me, his opinion of freds is not that high. My intent was not to diss the custom titanium bikes, eriksen, moots, whatever... The point was he sells "cookie cutter" frames if you want to get technical about it (the difference is they are european cookie cutters), He is painting his customer in an unfavorable light, that was my original point. this just seems odd to me.
To me, his opinion of freds is not that high. My intent was not to diss the custom titanium bikes, eriksen, moots, whatever... The point was he sells "cookie cutter" frames if you want to get technical about it (the difference is they are european cookie cutters), He is painting his customer in an unfavorable light, that was my original point. this just seems odd to me.
No problem, CritEastwood. If I could afford an Eriksen right now, I'd have one.
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Is this another of those confuse "Fred" with "Poseur" threads ?
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