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

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

Quoted message said:

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

Probably?

Quoted message said:

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?
You'd have to be a [censored] moron, but that seems to be what you're
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: http://tinyurl.com/yrnow.

Tom

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.google
..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/showthread.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.

Mr. 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:
http://tinyurl.com/yrnow.

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

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

Quoted message said:

tcmedara wrote:

Last time I went to my LBS, and bought a part, they let me put my bike on

a

Quoted message said:

stand and install it myself.... but I ride with the mechanics there, and
they all like me.

Collin's ?

sittingduck said:

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.

another way to look at is is that we all have different talents.
I did manage to replace a leaky tube on my son's bike yesterday. ;-)

Penny

tcmedara said:

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

I think both managers of your local LBS stores have followed your previous
thread.

BTW when I took my daughters two y/o 16" bike down to my LBS he had a used
20" about the same vintage. I asked him if he wanted to do a trade in and he
said sure thing. Gave me the 20" er and said here you go and walked off with
mine. Yes my mouth fell open.

--
Perre
"I'll have to remember that next time I go shopping"

"tcmedara" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

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.

A few years ago, Conte's gave me ~75% retail for my old Motiv (gag), sight
unseen, in trade for a new Hardrock
I was looking at the Hardrock, and he asked "What are you riding now?"
"A beat Motiv, from Costco"
"Ok...I'll give you $xx for it in trade for this."
"Deal. I'll bring it back this afternoon when this one is ready."

OTOH, a member of the semi-official AFCA gets an automatic 10% off at
Freddie's. And he takes ANYTHING in trade. You gotta see the stock of old
stuff he has around.
60's Stingray's
3 wheel rickshaws

Pete