Pickups for SF Folks?
William Henderson
from SF and quite a bit of time if I'm just getting an odd part or
two. On the other hand, I don't want to pay shipping for a cheap part
nor do I like the idea of packaging and trucking a part that I can
carry in my pocket home.
Propposed solution: I order my parts, they wait at Riv for a couple
days, and then on the weekend we take turns doing a mass pick up for
SF folks. Informally, one pickup gets you one free "shipment". The
courier can meet the rest of us back in the city at a central location
(coffee shop), where there will be much rejoicing, perhaps a quick
ride, etc.
Anyone interested?
Seth Vidal
Does SF have a zipcars program? That might be an affordable option.
-sv
Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery
that's a glib answer, but I often talk to local-to-me folks who order
odds and ends online when I have the same items on-hand at a
competitive price within easy bike-range. They are often surprised to
learn that whatever items they want are available locally.
On Jan 5, 7:12 pm, William Henderson <william.c.hender...@gmail.com>
wrote:
Ray Shine
I make about three trips a year over to RBW. William's idea is a good one, but I don't go/order that often.
RS
San Francisco
From: Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery <thil...@gmail.com>
To: RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wed, January 6, 2010 4:05:42 AM
Subject: [RBW] Re: Pickups for SF Folks?
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Gino Zahnd
Bart across the bay, and ride the rest.
SF to Walnut Creek is $4.75 (one way). SF to West Oakland is $2.90.
Riding from West Oakland to Riv is no more than 17 miles. While you're
out there, ride up the mountain and make a day of it!
-Gino
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cyclotourist
:-/
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Cheers,
David
Redlands, CA
"Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be. There is something wrong with a society that drives a car to workout in a gym." ~Bill Nye, scientist guy
Ray Shine
From: Gino Zahnd <gino...@gmail.com>
To: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thu, January 7, 2010 10:01:10 AM
Subject: Re: [RBW] Pickups for SF Folks?
> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
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Eric Norris
cyclotourist
My wife keeps telling me to quit buying stuff from them. I think I'm finally going to listen... :-(
Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery
well. Sounds like the main problem is communication - i.e. if they're
not interested in filling your special order, they should communicate
that to you, and if you're not interested in waiting indefinitely, you
should communicate that to them.
Speaking of, I have to get on the phone to place some special orders.
On Jan 7, 1:46 pm, cyclotourist <cyclotour...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I figure special order is a bit of a pain, but then I consider it's just a
> couple clicks on a keyboard, and decide that no, it's really not that
> difficult. I'm pissed that SRAM won't send/sell the $5 part directly to me
> and make me involve my LBS in it. But seeing that they are involved, it is
> their JOB to do that. If they don't like ordering bike parts, maybe they
> should be in a different profession. You know, one that doesn't involve
> bikes, or parts or the public in general.
>
> My wife keeps telling me to quit buying stuff from them. I think I'm
> finally going to listen... :-(
>
> 2010/1/7 Eric Norris <campyonly...@me.com>
>
>
>
> > In my experience, LBSs are generally terrible at fulfilling special orders.
> > I also try to buy locally when I can, but it's hard to do when I will be a)
> > usually paying more and b) putting up with a longer wait.
>
> > A friend took his broken Brooks saddle to a local shop in early December,
> > and they still don't have the replacement bolt that wallbike.com could
> > have delivered in a few days.
> > — Eric Norris
> >www.campyonly.com
> >www.wheelsnorth.com
> > [image: Blog] <http://campyonlyguy.blogspot.com>[image: Flickr]<http://www.flickr.com/photos/35176895@N03>[image:
> > Web] <http://www.campyonly.com>[image: Web] <http://www.wheelsnorth.org>[image:
> > Web] <http://www.groovyboy.org>[image: Email] <campyonly...@me.com>
>
> > On Jan 7, 2010, at 10:10 AM, cyclotourist <cyclotour...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Unless their LBS is like mine...<http://cyclotourist.blogspot.com/2009/12/ok-whats-up-with-incompetent...>
>
> > :-/
> >> <rbw-owners-bunch%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com>
> >> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
> >> For more options, visit this group at
> >> <http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en>
> >>http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
>
> > --
> > Cheers,
> > David
> > Redlands, CA
>
> > "Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be. There is something
> > wrong with a society that drives a car to workout in a gym." ~Bill Nye,
> > scientist guy
>
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Richard
Virginia, I found two bike shops that went out of their way to help
with special orders, Bicycle Pro Shop (Mel Pinto's retail shop) in
Georgetown, and College Park Bicyles, near the University of Maryland,
a Rivendell retailer at the time.
On Jan 7, 2:07 pm, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery <thill....@gmail.com>
wrote:
> > > rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com<rbw-owners-bunch%2Bunsubscribe...@googlegroups.com>
> > > .
> > > For more options, visit this group at
> > >http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
>
> > --
> > Cheers,
> > David
> > Redlands, CA
>
> > "Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be. There is something
> > wrong with a society that drives a car to workout in a gym." ~Bill Nye,
> > scientist guy- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
beth h
I've similar experiences as a customer and do sympathize.
As the lead buyer at our shop, I can tell you that if a shop is left
holding the bag too many times on a non-stock part they can't easily
sell to someone else, they may become more skittish about special
orders in general, and orders for non-stock items in particular.
We do our best to manage special orders where I work, but we make sure
the customer is committed by asking for half down, advising that we
give no refunds on non-stock items, and advising that delivery times
are usually beyond the control of one small retailer (we estimate 7-10
days unless they want to pay for expedited shipping).
We also advise the customer that if an order will not fulfill our
minimum required dollar amount to place an order from a distributor we
may have to wait until we have enough other stuff to order from that
distributor before placing the order. This is a reality for a small
retailer; we just don't have the buying power of a mail-order house
and we are often required to educate customers to that effect.
I would also add that we (and I'd guess most LBS's) are happy to
special order anything the customer is willing to pay for, but that
many times the culprit is the manufacturer who has suddenly
discontinued a still-popular item without warning (Shimano 8-speed
fans out there take note: 8 speed IS going away and Shimano is
unapologetic, even cocky, about it). The last time I had this
discussion (okay, argument) with Shimano-USA about a suddenly-extinct
component or group I was asked, "why do you people insist on
supporting outdated technologies? You should be trying to sell your
customers the new stuff! It's better, and it's in stock."
Just so you know what your LBS may be up against.
What a mail-order house can offer -- often -- is better supply through
greater variety and deeper stockwells of items. What your local shop
can offer -- almost always -- is excellent and direct customer
service. We can't compete against mail-order houses and generally
don't try. Instead we focus on what we can do best, which is to fix
your bike expertly and get you on the road quickly and with a genuine
smile.
Happy riding! --Beth
Seth Vidal
> I'm sorry it's so hard to special order stuff through your local shop.
> I've similar experiences as a customer and do sympathize.
>
> As the lead buyer at our shop, I can tell you that if a shop is left
> holding the bag too many times on a non-stock part they can't easily
> sell to someone else, they may become more skittish about special
> orders in general, and orders for non-stock items in particular.
>
> We do our best to manage special orders where I work, but we make sure
> the customer is committed by asking for half down, advising that we
> give no refunds on non-stock items, and advising that delivery times
> are usually beyond the control of one small retailer (we estimate 7-10
> days unless they want to pay for expedited shipping).
>
> We also advise the customer that if an order will not fulfill our
> minimum required dollar amount to place an order from a distributor we
> may have to wait until we have enough other stuff to order from that
> distributor before placing the order. This is a reality for a small
> retailer; we just don't have the buying power of a mail-order house
> and we are often required to educate customers to that effect.
>
These last two paragraphs are the critical bits.
If you're upfront about ALL of that and give reasonable expectations
and keep communication up then any pissed off customer is unreasonably
pissed off.
I've just found that a lot of LBSes are rotten at communication and
managing expectations.
-sv
Steve Palincsar
But, I think, a lot better than Beth is at getting the money up front.
I've never had a special order where I didn't have to pay full price up
front. None of this "half" business, full price in advance.
cyclotourist
--
Beth, Jim, et al: I 100% sympathize with the potential hassle of ordering parts. I understand waiting till the shop can get their minimum to avoid shipping. I get it, really. Buuuuut, I'm still the guy with cash in hand, trying desperately hard to throw that cash in their general direction. $40 for the bars, $25 for the shifter, and $5 for rinky-dinky SRAM IGH part. NOT a lot of money, so I don't expect them to jump up and get it tomorrow.
But he said "Next Thursday." Then when Next Thursday came around and I find out they haven't even picked up the phone to call SRAM... Now it's four weeks since I placed the original order. Maybe it's in, maybe it's not. They haven't bothered to call me and give me a heads up. That's not the retail business. That's having a hobby of owning a bike shop.
beth h
full pop up front we'd lose not only the business for the special
order but also the additional business that often comes when the
special order part gets picked up. It is amazing how many customers
tell us "money is so tight", then make several additional (unplanned?)
purchases when the special part arrives. Amazing.
Beth
Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery
it's better to take your biz elsewhere.
I am proud to say that we at HC have a number of loyal customers who
pass other shops on their way to our store. Over the years we've had
several dissatisfied customers, but they were all in the wrong, most
assuredly.
On Jan 7, 4:26 pm, cyclotourist <cyclotour...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 2:14 PM, Seth Vidal <skvi...@gmail.com> wrote:
EricP
Could be that whomever the LBS has to deal with at SRAM is a
P.I.T.A. Not condoning the "uh, didn't order it yet" attitude, but
it _might_ explain the reluctance to order. And, yes, QBP did have a
screwed up shipping schedule during the holidays. I had some stuff on
order Jim (my LBS) had to call me to tell me the delivery would be
late.
Guess I should count my blessings that Hiawatha Cyclery is my LBS and
QBP is close by. Never have problems with special orders. Although
am constantly amazed at how many companies don't want to deal with
shops.
Eric Platt
St. Paul, MN
On Jan 7, 4:26�pm, cyclotourist <cyclotour...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 2:14 PM, Seth Vidal <skvi...@gmail.com> wrote:
cyclotourist
I contacted SRAM and talked to someone in product support and had a very good experience (other than their not sending it to me). Couldn't say more than that....
Anyway, I called up the shop today and owner picks up.
Me: are the parts in?
Him: No, probably another week.
Me: Another week...?
Him: (silence)
Me: You did order them, right?
Him: Yes, I ordered them Tuesday. They should be in next Thursday.
So at that point I could have bitched about how he said it would be in three Thursdays ago and how that really wouldn't have been possible if indeed he ordered it just two days ago rather than the four weeks ago when I first asked him to order them and he said they would be there in one week (Thursday) when in fact that Thursday passed three times already with me contacting him twice to see if they were in and never at any time did he say that in fact he didn't order those parts as opposed to the SRAM parts which indeed he did say he did not order yet as he was busy.
Instead I said "OK, guess I'll be in next Thursday."
Let's hope at least the order gets done right. I'm not holding my breath.
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Philip Williamson
I special order things at my LBS (Tommy's Bikes in McMinnville). It's
always weird, and sometimes I have to share my online research (New
Shimano Nexus cogs fit old Sturmey and Sachs IG hubs), but they tell
me how long it will be and why, and when it comes it's either about
the same as buying it online with shipping, or cheaper.
I've never been asked for any money up front.
Philip
> > rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com<rbw-owners-bunch%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com>
Seth Vidal
<philip.w...@gmail.com> wrote:
> That's a drag.
> I special order things at my LBS (Tommy's Bikes in McMinnville). It's
> always weird, and sometimes I have to share my online research (New
> Shimano Nexus cogs fit old Sturmey and Sachs IG hubs), but they tell
> me how long it will be and why, and when it comes it's either about
> the same as buying it online with shipping, or cheaper.
>
> I've never been asked for any money up front.
There are two main LBSes around here that I ever go to. One is nearer
my house, the other is not. The one that is not is the one I will go
out of my way to go to. if I have to order things, I order from there.
the other one I go to if I need somehting RIGHT NOW - but even for run
of the mill things I've found them weirdly undersupplied. I mean - you
wouldn't think a barrel adjuster or a set of downtube cable stops
would really be all that hard to come by but the shop near my house
had only 1 of them and they wanted $30 for them..
-sv
Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery
$30. The other is half that, at most.
On Jan 7, 9:39 pm, Seth Vidal <skvi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 10:32 PM, Philip Williamson
>
Angus
LBS (Elite Bicycles) seem great!
If I find a part that I want, I generally hit the print button, take
it to the shop and say "can you guys get this?" If I'm asking for
something stupid they generally point that out to me...
They do seem amused that most of my bikes has 7-speed freewheels.
The only delay in getting a special ordered part was when half the
country iced up and it delayed the QBP shipments by a few days.
Angus
> > rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com<rbw-owners-bunch%2Bunsubscribe...@googlegroups.com>
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> --
> Cheers,
> David
> Redlands, CA
>
> "Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be. There is something
> wrong with a society that drives a car to workout in a gym." ~Bill Nye,