The Path (merged threads)

Discussion in 'Bike Shop Reviews' started by guero, Feb 18, 2007.

  1. 333

    333 New Member

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    That's a bummer. I went there to pick up a ss specialized frame that was posted on this site last week, paid a deposit over the phone but when I got there they had told me it was going to be almost $400 more and that the price was a "you have to buy it the day day it's posted on STR" deal. Really? Is that in the posting? The guy that posts those deals decided after some back and forth to honor the deal, but then they charged me tax even though the girl I spoke to on the phone said that if I pad cash they would probably waive it. Whatever.

    Fast forward to this week, The Path is posting a tax free sale. Perfect timing. Well, I don't plan on buying anything there again.
     
  2. The Path Bike Shop

    The Path Bike Shop Your LBS in Orange County

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    If you saw an item on the "best price and cheap" thread, that means it's that price for that day. If the item isn't bought at that time, it goes back to its regular price. That thread is all deals that have a time expiration. Heard of the website "steepandcheap.com"? They do the exact same thing, and that's the inspiration for our thread here on STR.

    If you made a deposit on said frame during the posted time under the understanding it was the "best price and cheap" pricing, then we will honor that price if that is the case. If this is what happened, we are sorry for the mix-up and we want to make it right. Call the shop and ask for Neil (he's off today but will be back tomorrow).
     
  3. The Path Bike Shop

    The Path Bike Shop Your LBS in Orange County

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    I'm sorry you had a bad experience. We do get crazy busy quite often, and phonecalls can get missed despite our best intentions. Sometimes we leave voicemails that don't go through for whatever reason, that has been an issue on occasion as well. Employees have odd days off since we're open 7 days, so that can also be a factor in not getting a call back from them right away. We are working to get better with our communication system.

    All our employees care about doing a good job. I'm sorry you got the impression that the employee you spoke to on the phone didn't care, I can assure you that is not the case. We definitely care a lot, though it may not show in the way you expect, and we do want to make sure our customers are well taken care of.

    We do appreciate your feedback, since we are always trying to improve. That being said, we hope you'll try us again.
     
  4. proraptor

    proraptor The Bikes & Brew Crew

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    i just received a call from tani and dave from the path and feel a lot less emo now after speaking with both of them. i appreciate the calls guys. thank you
     
  5. 1x1clyde

    1x1clyde Inspired by SSer's

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    I absolutely apologize for your poor customer service as I was the one that helped you. I do my best to rotate the deals we post on STR so that just maybe it may make someones day to see what they want on STR for essentially cost.

    You are correct, it does not say on the post you have to buy it the day its posted on STR, that was my fault. I hoped by honoring the deal you'd be stoked. It seemed like it when we talked and when you left but now I am bummed by letting you down.

    I take a lot of pride in what I do here at The Path and I do appreciate the feedback but do give us another chance, it was dissappointing to me that your experience here let you down.
     
  6. El Immigrante

    El Immigrante STR's resident Coyote.

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    I've said it over and over again, there is no substitute for CS, PERIOD!
     
  7. gooseaholic

    gooseaholic Active Member

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    I dont understand the need to post these things. Talk to Tani directly next time. Thats the way I would have handle it.
     
  8. proraptor

    proraptor The Bikes & Brew Crew

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    feel free not to click on the threads, no one is forcing you to do anything here. the section of this website is mountain bike shop reviews. i posted one......whats the problem?
     
  9. firemedic85

    firemedic85 Member

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    funny you mention the Paths CS. Early this wk I called and asked about build kit options for a Blur LT. Whoever I spoke with seemed botherd by my questions and was very vauge in his attempt to answer them. Several times I was put on hold as he retrived answers from someone else. Finally after several questions someone more knowledgable took over for this guy who probably should not be answering the phone.
     
  10. proraptor

    proraptor The Bikes & Brew Crew

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    i love reviews especially bad ones......its all about how the shop handles the negative situation and the path handled this one beautifully.
     
  11. geek

    geek Member

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    I think most people like to read reviews, even if they are neg. It's when it turns into a shop A vs shop B and people get a little bent out of shape.
     
  12. gooseaholic

    gooseaholic Active Member

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    I dont care what shop it is. I handle it the same. Im not loyal to any shop. Im just a person who needs a bike part.
     
  13. U.A.V.

    U.A.V. New Member

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    I love the Path, they have so much eye candy and over 4 years of buying from them I only just now had my 1st bad experience. I wanted to build my 1st wheel but didn't know what length spokes I needed. I knew it was going to be a challenge since I'm using a rim from a '08 stumpjumper and nobody knew the specs. So I brought my rim and hub in so they could measure it up and they sold me spokes and nipples that I wanted (at a nice price I might ad) but I didn't realize until I tried to lace it up that they were to short. So no big deal, I'll bring them in and show them, and so I went back and they replaced them with slightly longer ones. So this time I got it all laced up and started to bring it into tension and realized that these are still to short. Ok 3rd times a charm, I brought everything back in laced up and talked to DS and he agreed that they were to short and he apologized and said to leave my wheel with them and they'll build it up and take care of it for me. So I went back today to pick up my wheel and guess what? Now it's the wrong spokes, I bought and paid for DT Swiss revolutions but now the wheel is laced up with competitions and on top of that I owed them $50 for the build. Now I'm just disappointed, they waived the $50 build fee but said they didn't have revolutions in that size and was told these would be better because they'll hold more tension, which is fine but that wasn't my original plan and I wasn't even notified of the spoke change until I was there to pick it up and I think the competitions are cheaper then the revolutions.

    In the end I'm fine with what I have, the difference in money couldn't of been very much, its just my whole intention was to build my own wheel using parts that I think were the best for me and my budget and it looks like I didn't achieve that.

    I really don't like writing reviews like this and The Path is still the best bike shop in town by far and I'll always be giving them my business. I'll just have second thoughts when it comes to them working on my bike.

    Sorry for the complaint

    Josh
     
  14. me and my bike

    me and my bike New Member

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    hey man thats a bummer. sorry to hear that. Just curious though if you brought up your dissapointment when you were there. Sometimes im put in situation, not specifically at the path, where I feel pressured to take what is given to me because Im to shy to speak up, thus letting other people make the decision for me. Most of time I get in these situation because I dont want to sound like a d***. What I have learned is that when its your money it doesnt matter if your a d***, it just matters if you are satisfied. And you never know, if you bring it up it might not even be that big of a deal to them. Ive had that experience at the path changing my mind a million and one time on what bike I wanted. There were times I thought neil was going to chop my head off for changing for the millionth time, when in reality he didnt even care and just wanted me to be happy. Remeber man, your spending your money , you should be happy.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 10, 2012
  15. ladera Dave

    ladera Dave New Member

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    I love the new store in live oak, thanks Tani
     
  16. U.A.V.

    U.A.V. New Member

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    I hear ya and totally agree. I'm happy with what I got and I was going to bring the wheel in to get the tension right. My disappointment comes from not being able to build my wheel myself and that I trusted them to help me get it right.


    Cheers
     
  17. U.A.V.

    U.A.V. New Member

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    Update: Just got of the phone with the Path and they called me to apologized again and they want to make it right and replace my spokes with the correct ones that I originally asked for. It's rare you get that kind of customer service from anywhere these days.
     
  18. Wrecker

    Wrecker Member

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    I hear so many people who love the Path, it's like a damn cult. Path this and Path that, whatever. However, from reading a few of these posts and my recent experience with them, they seem to have really stepped up the customer service and welcoming vibe because I feel like I have been indoctrinated now. The Path is a wonderful shop.

    About me: I am picky about my bikes, the set-up, and the service. I have taken my bike in to other shops for various reasons, like a bubble in my tubeless tire or mis-shifting/clunking issues (don't ask me to be specific, my bike runs perfectly and when it doesn't, I take it in expecting it to come out once again perfect, that's all I know about it). A different shop diagnosed the bubble in the tire as being my fault because I put too much air in it (32-35psi on a 30-50psi tire); I didn't really care, I just wanted the tire changed so I could ride that morning. As for the shifting, I was told it was from a chain, even though it only occurred in one rear ring despite changing the front gear (without cross-chaining). The shifting was so bad that I couldn't use that ring at all, which sucked on the uphills.

    Long story a bit longer, I do not feel that I am always taken seriously when I walk into a shop seeking help. So, I tend to stick with mechanics who take their time to understand me and my riding/bike needs. Unfortunately, when these mechanics leave I am once again helpless while searching for and building a relationship with another mechanic. This usually takes a little bit of time, during which I may be a bit frustrated (and frustrating).

    Imagine my surprise when I walked into the Path with a generic "I don't think my fork is working right," and right away, got the attention of the mechanic, who took the time to look at my bike and work with me until it seemed to be just perfect. I wasn't brushed off at all. He made it seem so easy, yet did not just do it and toss me out the door. He genuinely took time and effort to make sure it was done right and that I was satisfied.

    I fear that now I too must admit that the Path is one of the best shops and totally worth the drive from LB/HB (and hell, the Oaks -just down the street- is one of my favorite trail systems).

    Of course, I feel like an idiot when I go in there, but this is through no fault of the employees (and is par for the course of my daily life, especially with mechanical things). It's like thinking you have an understanding of brain surgery from reading an article in Newsweek and finding how little you know when you talk to an actual brain surgeon. The Path seems to employ the brain surgeons of bike technology.
     
  19. speckledtrout

    speckledtrout Active Member

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    Rachel, what did they say was the problem with the fork?
     
  20. Wrecker

    Wrecker Member

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    The set-up - no air needed, adjusted the rebound, then adjusted the rear shock. He totally set-up the whole bike. You know, those suspension things with air assist are a bit different from my hardtails and XC shocks. There are too many options: rebound, preload, afterload, interload, my load, laundry loads, etc.
     

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