I have only one comment: Go to Switchback Cyclery in Orange. They will treat you right. KeepsWhatHappens
I had to revisit this post after visiting the Bike Co again today. Great, friendly service. They had what I was looking for. I received a nice discount on my purchase. I really hope this is long term. C
I was reading a few random postings in this thread. Two of my friends recommended TBC. My primary store is Performance in Laguna but TBC is within a few miles of my house. I've been there on three seperate occasions: First: I needed a new bottom bracket. Performance had to back order it for me but after a few weeks of waiting I was frustrated. After work I stopped by TBC. They had the exact part I needed and it was $20 cheaper than Performance. I ended up calling Performance the next day and canceled my order. Second: I was looking for a decent set of elbow/knee armour. I stopped by after work (seems to be a habit since it's on the way home for me) and as one person mentioned in this thread, it was like MTV's Jackass. Three of them were in the corner talking really loud, sharing jokes, and goofing around. One customer was being helped, another was still waiting for help, and I was last. Like anyone else, I'm always up for a joke but not when you are running a business and you have customers waiting. I ended up ordering what I needed from Jenson. Third: I dropped off my bike to get my brakes and derailluer adjusted on a Thursday and got it back on Wednesday as promised. It's a bit long to wait for adjustments so I'm assuming they are short on mechanics, backed up in request, or they generally take that long. Dropping off the bike was relatively painless. I told them exactly what they wanted, it was written down, and I was told an expected date. On Wednesday I was given a courtesy call explaining my bike is ready for pickup (nice touch). When I picked it up the price was fair and the mechanic adjusted my headset for free on the spot. Overall, I can't really complain. My second experience really isn't a bad experience compared to others on this thread. I'm pretty happy with the service and the friendly folks that work there.
Shop at the Bike Co. Period!! They are cool. If you don't, enjoy the environment and shop you frequent. I frequent, and recommend the Co. Thanks!
Yeah I was sporting a Bike co shirt at dinner at the Bootleg canyon trip. I think we must love all shops without them we would have no choices. People will complain that there are not enough shops when they are all gone. They will complain that they had a bad day on the one they went to. Voice your opinion though if something is bothering you. No shop wants to be the bad guy. They can't read your mind. If they could they would be there helping you. I go to shops that is what I do for a living. I have been to more that most people. We have some of the best shops here in So Cal what more can you ask for great shops the best riding variety the best weather. But when it comes down to it they are all only human. I think the friendly competition is what in the end gives the customers the best pricing and the most competitive service.
ChumbaJason - Sorry if I missed a post back there somewhere. Are you leaving Chumba and moving to the Bike Co or doing both?
Today is LBS appreciation day. I worked there for a month they are great at what they do. Any problems in the past should be left in the past. I know it is hard to run that place I was there. I work full time at Chumba. I just wanted to say that Bike CO is cool place. I also shop at The Path and Adrenaline they are all great people. I have friends at all of the shops. :beer:
Thanks Jason..... but again I totally disagree. If the Bike Co was across the street from just about any other shop they would have to fold up their tent. I have been in there three or four times in the past three months.......same ol ...same ol
I gave Bike Co one more try when I went in there last week to have them exchange or warranty my broken Thomson stem, which I bought from them a few months ago. They wanted to charge me $10 shipping, or sell me a replacement faceplate for $12...which the guy then realized they would have to order. As a 40-something professional guy, I fit the "team platinum card" profile of someone who could walk in out of the blue and drop anywhere from $50 to $5k without blinking, yet I get treated like a nobody every time I'm in there, and I've heard the same story from too many others. It frustrates me because there's no good reason for it, and because they carry a lot of the stuff I'd like to buy. But I'll take my business to places that treat their customers right and stand behind what they sell. Sorry Bike Co fans & staff, but I'm done with that shop.
I stopped by after work looking for a pair of full fingered gloves since I ripped my finger cut offs from Performance in a span of 2 months. I guess that's what I get for paying 5 bucks for them. Customer service is great at the Bike Company but unfortunately they didn't have my size nor did the price match my budget. Believe it or not, I ended up finding a pair of 661 MTX gloves for $25 on sale at the Sports Chalet up the street.
I thought about it. I use the $10 Mechanix gloves from Pepboys when working on my car and I have seen some at the home depot but they don't fit as well. My hands are sorta chunky so that leaves too much room at the end of the finger tips. I've tried so many gloves on to unfortunately know this. #-o
Stopped by last night to pick up a seat post quick release and a pedal wrench. As always, great service, willing to talk about the products, and even showed me how light the IBIS carbon frame is! Picked up a Hope quick release for $35 but didn't buy the park tool pedal wrench for $22 since I already had a cheapy at home but doesn't offer that much leverage.
No biggie....on the way home for me and convience I guess. I don't mind paying a little more if they treat their customers well.
Here is how they treat their customers Still trying to understand why anyone would give that shop the time of day.:-k Here is another Bike Co horror story. A buddy of mine purchased a Reba 29’er fork from The Bike Co a few months back. He has been purchasing from that shop since they opened and lives about a mile away. This guy is one of if not the biggest bike nut I know and would guess that he has spent well over $20K there over the years. He rode this fork for a total of about 50 miles. He wanted to try the 29’er front 26’er rear thing out. Well he didn’t like it and parted out the bike. I was checking out the fork and he asked me if I wanted to buy it. I said sure and bolted it onto my new bike. Went to adjust the air settings (after it was installed) and noticed there was oil coming out of the negative air valve. I rode it on the street and noticed the rebound knob was also wet.#-o I took it off the bike and installed my old Reba back on the new frame. He took it to the Bike Co. and they repaired it in two days. WOW that was fast.:bang: Took my old Reba off of the new frame and installed his fork again. Took it for a ride and when I got back the rebound was still leaking. Took it off again, re-installed the old fork and told my buddy what was happening. His response was “they charged me $60 to fix that fork”. My response was “they charged you?”. rotest: The fork had less than 50 miles on it!
I feel you dude. Personally for me, I've always had a ton of help and adjustments free of charge. I hear from customers that the Bike Co. is not consistent in that regard and it totally blows it happened to you and your buddy. I certaintly don't push the Bike Co as my main shop since I like to visit other shops as well. For that single part, it was mainly about convience for me.
