too good to be true, bike nashbar

[mimitabby]

got my (really Raleighdon's) new bike nashbar catalog
and as always, I paged through it.
To my surprise i found the RED Sidi dominators. and they were for sale
for $69.00!!!!

Before you could say rumplestiltskin, I had them on the phone. They have them in my size!!
but wait,
let's check the color. Sorry; they only come in black..

sigh...

I guess I still want them; they're a very good deal for $69. (but i want the red ones)

okay, ready to ring them up? anything else?
no.
oh, excuse me, there's a typo. They're really $169.00

oh.

never mind.
I'll wait for the red ones to come back.

[snapdragen]

I saw those too, and went on their website - nothing there - if figured they had 1 pair and sold them.

[mimitabby]

nope, they have several sizes including mine, in black.
:(

[Velobambina]

A $100 typo? Sheesh. They should sell them to you for $69. That said, they are a steal at $169, even if you have to get the black ones.

[7rider]

Nashbar has the '04 women's Dominator mtb shoes (in black - size 35) for $59.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=1220&sku=20661&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Brand%3A%20Sidi

Sigh. I don't think I'd get that on my big toe!
Sidi doesn't even make women's shoes in my size. Drat!

[mimitabby]

I don't believe the price. I'm willing to bet the whole row of those SIDI's was
a typo.

[Tri Girl]

Even if it IS a typo- I'd argue to get the price they have advertised!! I managed a retail shop, and when we goofed, we had to honor the price (or risk losing customers and bad word-of-mouth). Then we'd change it immediately. I'd argue for the advertised price. If they need to fix it- then they should fix it.

[mimitabby]

Tri, i probably should have. I did say something like, couldn't i have it at that price, really timidly...
the sales person was going on and on about how she knew it was wrong because it was under cost (DUH!)

maybe i'll try again tonight. :confused:

[Tri Girl]

Yeah, I'd try again tonight (maybe you'll get someone different).
If they are reputable, they should honor the price (even tho it means losing money). If she refuses, ask politely to speak to a supervisor and let them know that you'll discontinue being a loyal customer, yada yada yada. You don't have to be jerky about it, because I used to do more for nice customers than jerky ones, but they need to understand that if they advertise, they should honor (and isn't that what they pay people to do- double check and edit things so mistakes like this don't happen?).
I'm not trying to buck the system, but you NEED shoes, right??? ;) (and if I needed them I'd be doing it right along with you).

[Adventure Girl]

It says "was $209.99 -- on sale for $69.99". But they are saying that it should have said $169.99?! It's on a page that says "At least 50% off all items on this page". 50% off the regular price would be $105. They shouldn't even be on that page unless they are $105 or less! Bring that up with a supervisor. Just dropping the "1" off of $169, but something else is wrong here!

[mimitabby]

good points, guys. i'll do it.

[Tri Girl]

go get 'em Mimi!!!! :mad:

[Voodoo Sally]

Me too! I saw those red Sidis in the Nashbar catalog on Tue. night, and jumped for joy. I have always wanted the red ones, for like, 4 years, but couldn't afford. On Wed. I went right online and saw that they only had the black, and only a size 35. And now I hear from you about the (huge) typo on the price, too. Uh, thanks for nothing Nashbar!

[mimitabby]

They were sold out by the time I called the next day. :(
I hope they decide to make some nice new ones soon.

[madscot13]

Correct me if I am wrong but $69 is 30% of $230, the original price. Nahsbar does say 70% off. I think the posted price is correct and the customer service person was wrong or at least in the wrong not to honor the listed price.

[mimitabby]

I agree, but i was not assertive enough while there were still shoes available.

[gozlin7]

Hi,

I remembered this post when I noticed that Nashbar has them on sale again. In red. Sizes 38-42. For $159.95. And they have a buy 5 items get 20% off sale that ends today. Add 4 cheaper items (pump straps are $1.95 and come in handy for all sorts of things) and it brings them down to a nice price - not as nice as 70% off :D But still not bad.

Patty

[Blueberry]

Oh - the temptation........

How is Nashbar about returns (I've read the policy - but wondered about real life experience....) I REALLY wish I had bought the ruby slippers when TE had them:(

[mimitabby]

can't find those sizes for sale in red. do you have a link? (it's probably too late anyway :( )

[gozlin7]

Here's the link:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=21169&storetype=estore&estoreid=986&pagename=Estore%3A%20Sizzling%20Hot%20Shoe%20Sale

The code for the 20% on 5 items is 520JUL.

I ordered a pair of too big sandals from them and sent them back for a different size and didn't have any problems. (No affiliation, etc.,etc.,)

Hope this helps,
Patty

P.S. I got 4 pump straps (really, I do find them useful :rolleyes: ) and the shoes. The shoes were just to get 5 items.... ;)

[Blueberry]

I finally gave in:) My size mysteriously sold out during the 20% sale, but came back in after it was over. So, the ruby slippers are on their way:D :D

(it take a lot to justify 2 pairs of Sidis, but my other pair are the lower end model with only 2 straps - I've heard the 3 fit better. That makes it OK, right?!)

[SadieKate]

Friends don't let friend drink Starbucks. Oops, I mean "shop at Nashbar or Walmart."

I really dislike buying anything from somewhere where the phone reps are completely ignorant of the products and are just collecting a paycheck. The shipping department has a different schedule than customer service and isn't linked to the customer service emails, so if you've made a mistake, give up. It's cheaper in the long run to support your independantly-owned LBS (frequent buyers will get discounts) or a company like TE which has staff that will research the minutia for you and know the products inside and out.

[mimitabby]

SK
some of us do both. our family throws a lot of $$ at LBS's AND we shop at bike nashbar from time to time.

[SadieKate]

I'm not sure what your point is, mimi. I know people shop at both. I choose not to because of the hidden costs.

[Blueberry]

I ordered my shoes from Nashbar solely because they are the last place I could find last year's color. I am *still* kicking myself for not ordering them when TE had them on closeout. I'd gladly pay more to be able to get them locally or from TE (but try as I might, I didn't like the color this year as much....and even my size in that is sold out). So...I didn't want to order from Nashbar (and don't make a habit of supporting businesses that have a reputation for poor customer service), and only did so to get a product I couldn't get elsewhere.

98% of my bike dollars are spent at TE or locally. I quite frequently pay $5-10 more for the same product at my LBS. We have a great relationship with our local wrenches and other shop employees. Shoot, hubby swept the shop ride yesterday riding with a couple of folks who were riding much slower than the advertised pace as a favor to the organizers.

I don't plan to make a habit of it (fwiw I rarely shop at wal mart either, but there are a few things I can't seem to find elsewhere...)

CA

[mimitabby]

my point? Same as CA, I wanted that color.

I spend lots of money at my LBS, but they don't carry everything, and they themeselves wouldnt hesitate to buy from Nasbar or whatever to get those sorts of things. Living
in a city, sometimes, it's not worth the hassle, gas, and time to get to the LBS to get something.

Our LBS is getting about $8000.00 from our household this year, i'm sure they don't care if we also spend $500 a year at nashbar, which honestly is just one more industry created by us bikers!
(there are worse things, like Walmart!)

[Tuckervill]

Some of us don't have bike shops on every corner. Nashbar fills a need.

Karen

[SadieKate]

Well, of course. If we had a bike shop on every corner that filled every need we wouldn't need Team Estrogen either. I've just found that of all the big name on-line retailers Nashbar comes with the most hidden costs due to inaccuracies and poor customer service.

If you know exactly what you want and are absolutely sure of the product order you can do okay with Nashbar. If you need advice, stay away. The people on the phone are order takers and inaccuracies are handled through the corporate bureaucracy rather than with a genuine desire to please the customer. A small on-line retailer I know published a big price mistake on Sidi Dom 4s a while back and I ordered a pair. They not only made good on the price they ordered the newer Dom 5s because they didn't have my size in stock.

[Blueberry]

SK - Thanks for the additional feedback! It's always helpful to know which online retailers provide good service and which don't:) I've had great experiences with some smaller online retailers (and some not so great experiences.....).

TE, of course, seems to be heads and tails above everyone (not that I've had to return anything - the sizing info has been accurate enough and the products described well enough that I've kept it all!).

CA

[ridebikeme]

have to admit that I without a doubt agree with Sadie Kate... I do not support anything online regardless of what product it is. Several of you are right, a lot of us don't have shops on every corner... however the reality is that the more that we all shop online the more shops will close... that's a fact! The other thing that I value as a customer is service and the relationship I have with a shop(whatever type of shop that may be). I want to go where someone knows and understands what I'm looking for, and I want to expect that the person on the other end of the phone or in the shop can answer any question I may have. I have seen too many instances where someone ordered something online, only to find out that it is not compatible with what they already have. ...Either way, we all have the abillity to make choices, and I choose to support my local business.

One of my customers this winter ordered a race bike online from a shop... not only to find out that the frame is out of alignment... which of course adds all sorts of other problems. Extra cost associated with sending it back, time without the frame... is it worth it? I don't think so...

[SadieKate]

Now, wait a minute. You don't support Team Estrogen? Next best thing to an LBS when most LBS don't have a good selection of women's clothing?

[Tuckervill]

I've spent about $500 in the past couple of years at Nashbar. Never once have I had a customer service problem. I don't usually ask them questions, because I know the answer before I order. If I want expertise, I go to forums and other people online. It is very likely that the bike shop closest to me (45 minutes) will not have what I want and will not even speak to me when I enter. (I know this from hard experience.) The other closest bike shops will speak to me, but rarely have what I need, either. I'd rather sit in my kitchen and order than drive 45 minutes or more to do so.

Again, I've never had a problem with Nashbar...but don't get me started on Performance.

Your mileage my vary. :)

Karen

[SadieKate]

I think my mileage is also the same as yours when it comes to Performance.

Essentially it comes down to Buyer Beware if you're ordering on-line and the bigger and more faceless the retailer the more you need to know your product.

[mimitabby]

we definitely support TE. Some of my nicest articles of bike clothing I bought from TE.

[short cut sally]

the quickest bike shop for me is 1 hour away. They carry minimal womens clothing. Sidi shoes are order only but you have to show up and order them even though a deposit is not required, if they don't fit, they order another, you go back and try them on. No ordering both. The shoes in stock are older and full of dust. And they are my favorite bike shop to go to. The other bike shop that carry's womens clothing is 2 hours away (1 way), they have shoes of all brands in stock, some womens clothing. The price of fuel/gas I use TE, Terry, performance and nashbar, alot. In fact, performance delivery today for DH, TE delivered to my house last week and Terry items should be arriving soon. I have not had one ounce of problems with returns from any of these above mentioned online stores. (I however, am not a wal-mart supporter.) I do agree that TE salespersons are the most helpful when I ask for advice, I like the fact that they say, hold on while I go get that item and we'll check it out. NOW that is real service.

[crazycanuck]

I would use TE but the shipping costs are a bit high plus the exchange rate betwn the US/AUssie $$ isn't appealing at the moment. I love TE Jerseys and would love to buy one but i'll stick with my AV one(s) for now.

If i do shop online, it's only @ ground effect.

I normally only visit one bike shop & bike/running/tri shop here in Perth as they're reliable & have exactly what I want.

I can't be bothered to shop online..

C

[Zen]

I can't be bothered to shop online..

C

That's the very first way I learned to use a computer :D

[Crankin]

I hardly buy anything at my LBS, except, of course, our bikes. The main reason is, that it is sort of a "boutique" shop that doesn't have a lot of the type of clothing I would buy. And the stuff they do have is outrageously expensive. I have a good relationship with them, have gone back for various fit related issues and recently bought a pair of shoe inserts that they are working with me on. My husband does all of our mechanics and he orders everything from Performance. Once in awhile he'll run in there to buy something that he needs "right now." He also had them tune up and fix our mtbs, since his had a hydraulic issue and we don't have the tools for that. I basically order everything from Terry. I have ordered from TE (when they have a Terry item I want or some other weird thing), but mostly to try out a different brand that i end up not liking.
I haven't had any return or shipping issues from any (Performance, Terry, TE) of these on line companies. Once, Terry sent me half of another woman's order and part of mine was missing. They were very good about getting that fixed.

[mountainchick]

I shop online at Performance (never had any problems) but that's because the LBS here doesn't speak my language (literally!) and Japanese stores are often almost twice as much as online or shops in the US.

Even when I was visiting CA I'd stop in the Performance store, with everything that goes on with our spending it's nice to save a little bit of $$.

Just my $0.02