The Bike Co

Discussion in 'Bike Shop Reviews' started by LBmtb, Aug 7, 2007.

  1. RFXIbibisTom

    RFXIbibisTom Wow, how Rad!

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    Bike Co. A small shop!!!

    first of all people, remember that the world is full of human beings, some of which are at the Co., own the Co. and work at the Co.

    NOTHING positive comes from bashing a small shop, getting on the FLAMING ban wagon and driving customers to the supermarket bike shops filled with people that do not ride and the 2 month experienced mechanic. don't forget the store policies which are NOT MOUNTAIN BIKER FRIENDLY.

    Small shops such as the Co. and The Path have Mountain bikers who live a mountain bike lifestyle, PERIOD. This comes at the price of a rather SUPER LAID back attitude where the store is closed early often or open late often and why? Because they are out riding!!!

    Parts aren't always ordered on time, mistakes are made, but remember that its par for the course from a mom and pop, or in the case of the Co. Joe, Mike and Sage store.

    What you do get from the Co. is expertise, passion for the sport, local trail conditions and knowledge, and a TOP NOTCH mechanic service that is NOT PERFECT but its who I trust when I am bombing mustard, Lynx, Rockit, Mathis. I know and have known that my bikes don't fail. PRICELESS.

    I am sure that The Path is probably a good shop, I don't know personally as I have NEVER been there, and probably won't go there as I go to the Co. but they fit the bill as being kind of a North OC similar shop.

    Please do not take the above stanza out of context and say I am Path bashing as I am not, I just go to the Co. and dread the day they don't want to fix bikes anymore. Where would I go?

    Good Luck all!! And be human!!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 16, 2007
  2. Waldo

    Waldo Lebowski Urban Achiever

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    RFX: If you read this thread from the start, you saw that there were many constructive posts here. On the whole, most in the bike community want Bike Co to do well. There's room enough in SoCal for several high-quality shops.

    But implying that paying customers should put up with poor service because the people who work there are passionate about riding is a bad rationalization of poor prioritizing. People can be passionate and laid back and still offer great service: They're not mutually exclusive (plenty of great examples out there). You mention getting things such as passion and knowledge from this shop, but I haven't had that experience because they've mostly failed to acknowledge me unless I was standing at the counter with my credit card in hand - and even then they were slow and distracted.

    At the end of the day, I don't care if a shop guy rides an mtb, a unicycle, a razor scooter, or the end stool at the donut counter. If they treat me right, know their stuff, and keep me riding, that's what will keep me coming back. If a customer's experience with a business suffers because the staff choose to put something else ahead of their commitment to service, that's the shop's right. But the business will suffer the consequences, whether that means critical messages on the net or people shopping elsewhere.
     
  3. RacinJason

    RacinJason Banned

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    The Bike Co.

    All I have to say is this place has earned my respect 100% The fact that I am a mechanic. I normally would never think of taking my bike to a shop .8)
    This place has changed my thoughts about that completely. I have seen miracles come out of bike co.
    I am talking about bike so clapped out I would not even consider riding them even to test them. Terry, Tracy & Joe have been able to turn them around and make them into something that I would be proud to own.:bang: Most of you have seen my bikes I don't ride beaters. I get comments that my bikes look like new a lot.:lol:
    The layout on the sales floor lets you look and feel the parts and even weigh them. :clap: We have a video playing and places to sit for those people that happen to be riding with you in the car when you stop by the shop.8-[
    (friends that are not as into bikes) The videos can be motivating ha ha . Ya Right those guy are crazy on the videos . [-o-]
    The customer service is always great if you ask for help there is always someone there to help you. We are not about pressure sales. I like many others don't like to be attacked like I am at a used car lot. It is nice to be acknowledged then ask for help when needed. I am sure you will all agree. The customer service can use some work at all bike shops. The fact that bikers are relaxed does not mean that they are all stoned.[-X:-k As most of you know I don't do any drugs or even drink. Well the people in the shop are more health conscious than me by far. There will always be haters and that is fine but be your own judge and don't miss out on experienced service because of someone had a tough time. Mountain biking has a lot of tough times look at all the carnage at the loop on Thursdays.:wave:

    Ok now I am done trying to type.
    Lets ride!

    Jason




     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 15, 2007
  4. alank

    alank New Member

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    I can also vouch for the mechanics at Bike Co. I had one of my media bikes built by Mike, Joe, and crew, and it was beautiful. I can't imagine it being done any better by any shop or manufacturer for that matter. The pics below are of the bike that Mike built for me.
     

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  5. RFXIbibisTom

    RFXIbibisTom Wow, how Rad!

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    and if you read my article, and looked at the photos of the trails I ride, you would understand that the premise of my post was that the bikeco. mechanics rock.
    I am secure tackling the toughest North Laguna has to offer and THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE SHOP DO NOT OUTWEIGH THEIR STRENGTHS.
     
  6. guero

    guero iFroth

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    everyone whom has posted has posted THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE at The Bike Co., it is amazing at how sensitive some of the Bike Co. fans are getting over this thread....its been said over and over again, if the shop was so great, there wouldnt be so many negative posts in this thread. personally, i had a good experience there, unfortunately, many of my friends have had negative experiences there....if posting a negative experience is considered bashing, then i dunno what to tell you....probably shouldnt post that you ride illegal trails (repo man, deliverence, carpet muncher) on a public message board as well...just some food for thought.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 16, 2007
  7. alank

    alank New Member

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    ..

    LOL...
     
  8. Steven Jackson

    Steven Jackson My loop, my rules!

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    Did they get any SPAM fingerprints on it?
     
  9. alank

    alank New Member

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    ...

    Mr. Jackson, how is it SPAM? Its a bike that Bike Co. built that evidences their mechanical skill and quality. I can't speak for the customer service, all I can say is what I experienced, just like everyone else. And that was highly experienced and qualified wrenches, some of the best around.

    I try to remain as neutral as possible and not show any favortism to dealers, so I will just let their work speak for itself. I will see you at the Loop.

    A.
     
  10. Code Blue

    Code Blue Guest

    Excellent.........

    post.

    IMO it comes down to this...

    The Bike Co and The Path (the two closest "high end" shops to me) have been around about the same time. Duno the exact time.

    The Bike Co is located close to the best riding in OC (and closest to me).

    However I have seen The Path grow leaps and bounds over the years taking up more and more sq feet and cramming high end parts into every nook and cranny.

    This doesn't happen by accident. Not bashing..........reality.

    please note that I want The Bike Co to be successful and would like to see The Bike Co draw us lost souls back into their shop
     
  11. 2wheel_lee

    2wheel_lee Active Member

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    I love a good bash session, so I'll throw in my two cents.

    I used to work up the street from the Bike Co, and I passed there every day (about 2001-2003). Because they were on the way, I went in there frequently. I bought enough parts to build a bike and a half. I won't go into all of the same complaints that have been covered, but I did experience all of them. Many times. Especially the part of being ignored, not receiving promised calls, talked down to like I was a noob, etc. Over time, I became so pissed off at that place that I vowed to never go back.

    And since that time, I've assembled probably 6-7 high-end bikes for myself, without any parts from them.

    However, a few months ago, I was in the area, so I stopped in to see if anything had changed. Admittedly, I was pleasantly surprised. I immediately was helped by one of the guys who I thougth was a total a-h... before. I don't know his name, but he races DH. Now, he was really cool.

    I went in a couple weeks later on the way home from Whiting. At the time, I was working on a friend's bike that had frozen bottom bracket bearings (outboard type). I mentioned she was on a budget, and I think it was the owner (drives a gray van), simply gave me a set of used bearings/cups. This guy didn't know me at all! I thought that was very cool. All of the guys in there have been really cool - quite a turn-around, in my opinion. Although I'd have to say I'm a Path regular, if they don't have what I need (when I'm in a time crunch), I won't object to going to the Bike Co. My recent experience has shown that all of the complaining over the years has been listened to.

    Damn...I was in a rush when I wrote this. Sorry for all the errors in my writing. The end result I was trying to portray is that my recent experiences were completely opposite from before, and they were very positive.

    As I've said in other posts, us complaining about shops is the best thing that could ever happen to that shop. Why? Let me explain: The worst customers are the ones who go away quietly. The store doesn't realize why they are losing customers. The best customers complain, and if the store is listening (or reading posts), they can learn how they can help their customers better and improve their shortcomings. I think that this bash session won't go un-noticed (partially thanks to Jason, I'm sure), and the Bike Co will take notice and further improve their processes and customer service. Good luck guys!
     
  12. DownhillWebKook

    DownhillWebKook l'homme plus

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    Another 2 Cents

    Bike shops are a difficult racket, probably like the restaurant business. Cost of goods is pretty high, the margins are not particularly stellar, and staffing is a nightmare. Typically, people that open the kind of bike shops we want to go to are not business people first and foremost. Rather, they are just like us: people that really have a passion for riding bikes and sharing the experience with others. By opening a shop, these people are really hanging it out there financially because they really aren't business people. They have a lot to lose. So, I am always stoked that we have these shops and I am willing to cut them some slack on this kind of stuff.

    Nevertheless, I do believe that customer service is not rocket science or something you need a business degree to exercise. There is absolutely no excuse for poor service. It's really about manners and, hell, the "golden rule." If you dropped your bike off what would you expect for service? Just do that and people will be tolerant if parts are out of stock or it takes longer than anticipated. Or, how would you like to be greeted when you walk into a shop? How do you greet someone when you bring them into your home? As an esteemed guest is how. Glengary Glenross: "...Man does not walk on the lot lest he wants to buy..." Think about it. You wanna sell? Start with customer service and the rest will follow: more customers, more money, more cool merchandise and the story goes on. Easy.

    As for myself, I ride on the Bike Co. team, but I will probably take my bike to the Path today to get work done on it. Why? Because the Path is another great shop, they're a bit faster with rush jobs, and I haven't been there for a while. I might even head over to Adrenaline to pick up another SDG "potato chip" seat because they have Ti rails and are only $39 in the bargain basket. That's what I love about Adrenaline. Odds are, I'll end up over at Bike Co. to shoot the s**t and buy some new white gloves because they have the most baller kit of any shop anywhere.

    Remember 'Falling Down' with Michael Douglas? He walks into "Wammy Burger" and they have stopped serving breakfast and he replies with, "Have you ever heard the saying the 'customer is always right'? Well, here I am...the customer." I think he has something there.

    Let's help our local shops by demanding excellent service. Be vocal, don't be afraid to get in there and be aggressive and assertive. I don't want my only choice to be Performance or Sport Chalet...or worse.

    I'll miss Kevin, too.

    Cheers.
     
  13. foofighter

    foofighter Ride More Talk Less

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    im curious; do the bike mechanics get a cut in the service write up like they do in the car repair/dealerships. if you do a PDI or tune up you get x dollars from the bill. I think if this is managed well, George would probably not have run into this problem. The checks and balance of this is customers get surveyed after the service to see if they were satisfied so that it keeps them honest so that they're not rushing through cars in this case bikes to start the next job.
     
  14. 2wheel_lee

    2wheel_lee Active Member

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    You're refering to Flat Rate Time (of FRT). FRT isn't always in the best interests of the customer. The experienced guys always pick the gravy jobs (easy) that they can flip the quickest using the best shortcuts they know. The more difficult jobs often end up going to the rookies. FRT on a typical PDI can be 1.4 hours, but some technicians do it much quicker...how? What do you think was missed? Do you think they do the PDI procedure as specified by the manufacturer? That number wasn't plucked out of mid-air, ya know. Not that I know anything about FRT or PDI procedures.

    There are other advantages and disadvantages to FRT, but they depend on who you are (dealer, technician, or customer). As a side note, although most technicians at dealers in the US get paid by FRT, Honda auto technicians in Japan are paid salary, not FRT. Who do you think makes out here? I'd say the customer.
     
  15. foofighter

    foofighter Ride More Talk Less

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    i've seen that happen as well w/ the experienced techs wanting to make a quick buck and taking the PDI's. It's a thought though that could help a shop that see a lot of incoming work from customer bikes; even if the tech gets a 30% cut in the charge ontop of their current base wage it's definitely a motivator? Food for thought anyway.
     
  16. 2wheel_lee

    2wheel_lee Active Member

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    The best solution is effective management.

    The other details are decided based on what the manager feels works best for that particular situation. There is a learning curve, so constant changes should expected.
     
  17. RacinJason

    RacinJason Banned

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    The lag time was hope .

    The service was no big deal the shop is real fast when they have all the parts they rock. If I was having my bike worked on I would rather the whole job be done at the same time for many reasons. One reason is nothing is forgot. Have you ever started a project and stopped half way and lost your momentum. This can makes it easy to lose track of what your doing. They like to stay focused. Two- It is hard to test the set up when your rear wheel is missing. Three- All the other tune up problems only take Tracy or Terry minutes so why mes with the bike till it's time to complete the job.
    Hope is in the process of moving mistakes have been made. So shipping can be a pain. We just got back the wrong hub body the other day that sucked. We are bummed on things like that. Joe and Mike do whatever it takes to fix the problem every time I have witnessed that. We are lucky to have high end bike shops. Being the sales MGR of Chumba I get calls all the time from all over the world with customers complaining that there is no high end bike shops where they live and they want a Chumba. What do I do?
    This shop is working hard at fixing the problems.
    It's not just me in there doing it either. If I am not there they are still going to give great service.
    You all know me and I wouldn't back anything that wasn't legit. I think that the shop has made some great changes. Don't take my word for it check it out.
    :welcome: Don't be afraid to mention the deal you saw somewhere else we are here to help make your biking experience the best it can be.
    Let me know if you think things are getting better.
    PM me or write me at [email protected] I would love to hear from you.

    BTW I am all broken up I ate it hard at RPV / del cerro today and I can't use my arm at all so typing this has been a pain. I cant hardly walk my right big toe is the size of a melon so I cant put shoes on. I won't be out and about for a while.

    TTYL

    J


     
  18. el cap

    el cap Active Member

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    Kevin is good to work with. When I got my Turner rebuilt last spring, they got her rebuilt really fast. I took it back for a brake adjustment a week later and a fork replacement. They did it very fast with no charge. No problems since. I totally recommend the store for a bike built. I just don't recommend bringing junky parts in there, they may not get to it for a long time.
     
  19. RFXIbibisTom

    RFXIbibisTom Wow, how Rad!

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    WOW!! look at all the attention!!

    Over 2000 views, insane!!
     
  20. rushak

    rushak Huge Member

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    My experience with the Bike Co has always been pleasant. Everyone there is really cool and the service is usually outstanding. I dropped my bike off for a tune up and to my surprise it was ready the next day which was a Friday. Just in time for the weekend rides. This was in August, but they do get backed up with work from time to time and that's understandable. That's why I have a backup bike to play with. Mike always hooks me up with prices and freebies to try out. Overall, I think it's a great shop!
     

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