More LBS stories

"tcmedara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:tLtwc.4832$wS2.4798@okepread03...

Quoted message said:

Follow-up from yesterday's email to Bike Beat.

You are an absolute [censored] head

Bob Rogers said:

"tcmedara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:tLtwc.4832$wS2.4798@okepread03...

Quoted message said:

Follow-up from yesterday's email to Bike Beat.

You are an absolute [censored] head

I'm crushed....Particularly when it comes from someone I
hold in such high esteem. What can I do to change?

Tom (reaching out)

"Bob Rogers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"tcmedara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:tLtwc.4832$wS2.4798@okepread03...

Quoted message said:

Follow-up from yesterday's email to Bike Beat.

You are an absolute [censored] head

...I feel for the kid. Think of the life lesson: "always
expect special treatment/to get things for free/for people
to give/to take, take, take."

Chris

You're an idiot.

*plonk*

"tcmedara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:tLtwc.4832$wS2.4798@okepread03...

Quoted message said:

Follow-up from yesterday's email to Bike Beat. The manager
of the local store remembered my name from a special parts
(4 nylon bushings and a bolt for $50.00, just for the
record) and called me at home. We had a very

good

Quoted message said:

conversation and we both apologized for any
misunderstanding there may

have

Quoted message said:

been between the wrench and me. I expressed my
appreciation for following up on my complaint. Gotta give
'em some credit for caring. However, compare that to
today's story....

I bought my son a kid-sized 7sp Specialized Hotrock last
Christmas from Contes Bike shop across town. The last time
I was in there I commented

how

Quoted message said:

the boy-wonder was growing too damn fast and would
actually fit a small adult frame. Walter, the manager,
suggested I bring the Hotrock by and

he'd

Quoted message said:

see what sort of trade-in he could offer.

I took him up on it today. He gave me 75% trade in value
on the old bike toward a new small, full-sized Specialized
Hardrock. He built one up in under an hour, cut down the
seatpost at no charge, threw in a $16.00

bottle

Quoted message said:

cage, knocked 40% of a pair of tires, and gave my son a
Cliff bar just 'cause he was looking hungry. I walked in
there knowing that the guy was going to take good care of
me, and I was more than willing to whip out the credit
card without flinching when the time came. Now that's the
sort of thing that will keep me coming back. It wasn't
about the money, it was about great customer service. It
was about guys sincerely trying to offer products and
services at a reasonable cost. It obviously would have
been within his purview to charge me $6.00 for use of the
saw to cut down the seatpost or a few other "nickle and
dime" charges. I'm glad he chose not

to

Quoted message said:

do so. It makes me want to go back there again next time I
need some cycling related gear or service.

While waiting for the guys to prep the bike, I asked the
manager what he would charge if a guy walked in with a
wheel in hand and wanted a

freewheel

Quoted message said:

removed. He looked at me with a smirk and asked, "Why
would I charge him for something stupid like that?" Too
perfect. Gee, which LBS should I

use?

Quoted message said:

Tom

Firewalker said:

You're an idiot.

*plonk*

Not the dreaded *plonk* !!!! That's worse than being called
names by Bob Rodgers and Scottieboy! I'm now disliked by a
psycho, a pervert, and an nobody! How will I make it though
the weekend?

Was it something I said?

Tom

"tcmedara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:m2uwc.4836$wS2.2519@okepread03...

Quoted message said:

Bob Rogers said:

"tcmedara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:tLtwc.4832$wS2.4798@okepread03...

Quoted message said:

Follow-up from yesterday's email to Bike Beat.

You are an absolute [censored] head

I'm crushed....Particularly when it comes from someone I
hold in such high esteem. What can I do to change?

Tom (reaching out)

Nah....just be you, so we can avoid you

tcmedara said:

I walked in there knowing that the guy was going to take
good care of me, and I was more than willing to whip out
the credit card without flinching when the time came.

You sir, are a WORLD CLASS nit.

You probably send you food back when dining out, just
because you can. You probably buy things, use them once and
return them because they are no longer of any use to you.
You probably post whiny, [censored] stories to usenet to get
attention.

"sittingduck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

You probably post whiny, [censored] stories to usenet to get
attention.

Probably?

sittingduck said:

tcmedara said:

I walked in there knowing that the guy was going to take
good care of me, and I was more than willing to whip out
the credit card without flinching when the time came.

You sir, are a WORLD CLASS nit.

You probably send you food back when dining out, just
because you can.

Nope, never done that. If the food sucks, I just don't go
back. Do you?

suggesting.

Quoted message said:

You probably buy things, use them once and return them
because they are no longer of any use to you.

Nope never done that either.

Quoted message said:

You probably post whiny, [censored] stories to usenet to get
attention.

Google and find out. Post your results, I'd be interested in
your interpretation....well, not really, but it would make
for good posting anyway.

I find your choice of quote bizarre. Are you implying that I
shouldn't be grateful to a shop that provides good service?
I may be a nit in your estimation, but you sound like a
blithering idiot....guess I'm not the only one who thinks
so: tinyurl.comyrnowOpen ↗.

Tom

tcmedara said:

I find your choice of quote bizarre. Are you implying that
I shouldn't be grateful to a shop that provides good
service? I may be a nit in your estimation, but you sound
like a blithering idiot....guess I'm not the only one who
thinks so: tinyurl.comyrnowOpen ↗.

I'm implying that just because you are willing to pay for
something doesn't mean you should have your ass kissed.

Last time I went to my LBS, and bought a part, they let me
put my bike on a stand and install it myself.... but I ride
with the mechanics there, and they all like me.

btw, you call me an idiot, but you can't even seem to figure
out how to use the google groups search, your linked article
contains only 4 words from me, and I'm guessing you don't
even have a clue which 4.

sittingduck said:

Last time I went to my LBS, and bought a part, they let me
put my bike on a stand and install it myself....

And then the mechanic told you how to do it properly?

--
Matt

Fear of a flat planet

Quoted message said:

Subject: More LBS stories
From: "tcmedara" [email hidden]
Date: 6/5/2004 8:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id: <tLtwc.4832$wS2.4798@okepread03>

Follow-up from yesterday's email to Bike Beat. The manager
of the local store remembered my name from a special parts
(4 nylon bushings and a bolt for $50.00, just for the
record) and called me at home. We had a very good
conversation and we both apologized for any
misunderstanding there may have been between the wrench and
me. I expressed my appreciation for following up on my
complaint. Gotta give 'em some credit for caring. However,
compare that to today's story....

I bought my son a kid-sized 7sp Specialized Hotrock last
Christmas from Contes Bike shop across town. The last time
I was in there I commented how the boy-wonder was growing
too damn fast and would actually fit a small adult frame.
Walter, the manager, suggested I bring the Hotrock by and
he'd see what sort of trade-in he could offer.

I took him up on it today. He gave me 75% trade in value on
the old bike toward a new small, full-sized Specialized
Hardrock. He built one up in under an hour, cut down the
seatpost at no charge, threw in a $16.00 bottle cage,
knocked 40% of a pair of tires, and gave my son a Cliff bar
just 'cause he was looking hungry.

When in actuallity, he probably gave the kid a Cliff Bar
hoping he would keep his mouth shut, and maybe his father
would follow suit.

Quoted message said:

I walked in there knowing that the guy was going to take
good care of me, and I was more than willing to whip out
the credit card without flinching when the >time came.

In other words, you knew he would kiss your arrogant ass.
You think you could hear emotion in my other posts? Well,
you are right. There's a new breed of customer out there,
and you are the poster child. The fool who thinks he can
walk into any store just because his name his whatever it
is and get a discount. Then there's you, "I just may spend
$500 dollars at your shop someday"; good, spend that kind
of money, and then we'll see, untill then, that will be
five dollars!

Quoted message said:

Now that's the sort of thing that will keep me coming back.
It wasn't about the money.

[censored], "look what kind of deal the poor shop owner gave
me". What happens when you tell all of your friends (can't
be many, but hypothetically) and they all go expecting the
same kind of "deals" you get. A small business owner can't
afford to do that for everyone, and my best guess (come on
now, say it, "YOU DON'T KNOW ME" LOL) is that this guy does
these things for you to get you out of the shop.

Quoted message said:

it was about great customer service. It was about guys
sincerely trying to offer products and services at a
reasonable cost. It obviously would have been within his
purview to charge me $6.00 for use of the saw to cut down
the seatpost or a few other "nickle and dime" charges. I'm
glad he chose not to do so. It makes me want to go back
there again next time I need some cycling related gear or
service.

Read "It makes me want to go back next time and see what I
can pawn off of him.

Quoted message said:

While waiting for the guys to prep the bike, I asked the
manager what he would charge if a guy walked in with a
wheel in hand and wanted a freewheel removed. He looked at
me with a smirk and asked, "Why would I charge him for
something stupid like that?" Too perfect. Gee, which LBS
should I use?

Tom

Well, I decided to email Bikebeat!
------------------------------------------------------------
-
Complaint letter from Tom Medara Date: 6/6/2004 8:25:53 AM
Eastern Daylight Time From: MTBScottie Reply To: To:
[email hidden]

I would like to make you aware, that the complaint letter
that Tom Medara sent you regarding the simple $5 dollar
charge you asked of him for removing his freewheel, was
publicized on the internet in a discussion group seen by
people around the world. This is the link off of the Usenet
discussion group Alt.mountain-
bike..............http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en-
&l r=&ie=UTF-
8&c2coff=1&threadm=ebf270c9.0406052230.763c89c9%40posting.g-
oogle .com&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-
8%26c2coff%3D1%26group%3Dal
t.mountain-bike..........and another link where I decided to
post this to another group and see what their reaction
would be........http://www.dirtragmag.com/forums/showthre-
ad.php?t=3376

I have been in retail now for 14 years, and today there
exists a new breed of customer, who unfortunatley seem to be
growing in rank. The kind of person who expects you to give
them anything they want, virtually at times, for nothing.
Someone who seemingly is out to get whatever they can out of
a business, and comes back for more. If you take the time to
read the links I provided, you will see, overwhelmingly,
that your $5 dollar charge for the task completed, albeit
small, was supported by many, including myself. I never ever
walk into my bike shop expecting to get something for
nothing, even for the smallest concern, and you will see
after reading what I provided, the majority concur with me.

ta. Medara decided to update us all on what happened next,
and he stated he got a phone call at home to discuss the
situation. I would like to commend your business for
doing such an out of the way act towards someone who
obviously thinks the world is indebted to him.

I think it was foolish for him to walk out of the shop if he
felt the five dollars was "squeezed" out of him, as he says,
and then plaster this on the internet. If he was so upset
over the deal, it's to bad he couldn't have been man enough
to discuss it before he left the shop, but that is
characteristic of his type. The person that leaves with a
smile, but goes home and calls the corporate office and
complains.

It sounds like even though you took the time to call him, he
found another shop that would shower him with freebies and
kiss his hind end. I'm sure that is cause for celebration in
your mind, because it would be for me! I'm sure you don't
need to be, but wanted to take the time to remind you that
people like him are still the exception, and there are many
of us out there who respect how hard it is for a shop to
exist in today's competition, and would have paid the $5
like we were getting a bargain.

Good luck to you and your business!

Scott from Pennsylvania

MTBScottie said:

Well, I decided to email Bikebeat!

Spanky, you are a sad, sick little animal.

sittingduck said:

tcmedara said:

I find your choice of quote bizarre. Are you implying
that I shouldn't be grateful to a shop that provides good
service? I may be a nit in your estimation, but you sound
like a blithering idiot....guess I'm not the only one who
thinks so: tinyurl.comyrnowOpen ↗.

I'm implying that just because you are willing to pay for
something doesn't mean you should have your ass kissed.

I never asked anyone to kiss my ass. The guy was happy to
have my business. I expressed my appreciation for it. How
is that getting my ass kissed? I guess that doesn't fit
with your paradigm so you've got to reject it outright,
is that it?

Quoted message said:

Last time I went to my LBS, and bought a part, they let me
put my bike on a stand and install it myself.... but I
ride with the mechanics there, and they all like me.

Sound like you're the one kissing ass. Did you pay them for
the use of the stand? Once I've completed my business in the
LBS, I go home to put the bike on the stand so they can get
on with other customers.

Quoted message said:

btw, you call me an idiot, but you can't even seem to
figure out how to use the google groups search, your
linked article contains only 4 words from me, and I'm
guessing you don't even have a clue which 4.

Yeah, it was late. Posted the wrong link. That's okay,
you've given enough evidence anyway.

Tom

I am mostly on your side with this Tom but not completely. I
was in the car audio and electronics business for years--
both as an employee and an owner. In the car electronics
business there are a ton of specialty tools and gizmos used
that are not readily available-- much like bikes.

Every day we would have people calling or stopping in
looking for tools or favors. I was of the opinion it made
good business sense to take care them. If a customer wanted
to purchase a tool and I did not sell or have the tool in
stock, I would offer use of the one in my tool box. Or would
offer use of an employee and the tool if I felt it was going
to take longer to explain the procedure than it would for us
to just do it. In these situation I did not expect payment
but I was offended if an offer to pay was not made and would
rarely do the favor a second time free for that person.

In defense of the bike shop, they are new. It cost a fortune
to open and keep open a store. Most small retail stores are
operating on paper thin margins and to be successful these
stores need to watch their pennies. If they don't they will
not survive. Also, there are enough cheap [censored] that do
not want to pay for anything that it does not take long for
retail operators to become jaded to providing anything free.

They probably should have taken care of you because you were
looking for a tool not a freebie, but you should have
offered to pay.

Steve "tcmedara" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:fUFwc.5147$wS2.1331@okepread03...

Quoted message said:

MTBScottie said:

Well, I decided to email Bikebeat!

Spanky, you are a sad, sick little animal.

"SuperPoo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

there are enough cheap [censored] that do not want to pay
for anything that

it does not take long for retail

Quoted message said:

operators to become jaded to providing anything free.

Especially in Newport News, VA

Matthew Paterson said:

And then the mechanic told you how to do it properly?

90% of bike mechanics is child's play. I was repairing bikes
when I was 10 years old.... Only those with zero mechanical
ability are unable to work on their own bikes. Fortunately
for shop owners, that describes most people.

tcmedara said:

Sound like you're the one kissing ass. Did you pay them
for the use of the stand? Once I've completed my business
in the LBS, I go home to put the bike on the stand so they
can get on with other customers.

No. But unlike you, I DID offer to pay.