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?
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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?
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
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.
we definitely support TE. Some of my nicest articles of bike clothing I bought from TE.
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.
I would use TE but the shipping costs are a bit high plus the exchange rate betwn the US/AUssie $$ isn't appealing at the moment. I love TE Jerseys and would love to buy one but i'll stick with my AV one(s) for now.
If i do shop online, it's only @ ground effect.
I normally only visit one bike shop & bike/running/tri shop here in Perth as they're reliable & have exactly what I want.
I can't be bothered to shop online..
C
That's the very first way I learned to use a computer :DQuote:
Originally Posted by crazycanuck
I hardly buy anything at my LBS, except, of course, our bikes. The main reason is, that it is sort of a "boutique" shop that doesn't have a lot of the type of clothing I would buy. And the stuff they do have is outrageously expensive. I have a good relationship with them, have gone back for various fit related issues and recently bought a pair of shoe inserts that they are working with me on. My husband does all of our mechanics and he orders everything from Performance. Once in awhile he'll run in there to buy something that he needs "right now." He also had them tune up and fix our mtbs, since his had a hydraulic issue and we don't have the tools for that. I basically order everything from Terry. I have ordered from TE (when they have a Terry item I want or some other weird thing), but mostly to try out a different brand that i end up not liking.
I haven't had any return or shipping issues from any (Performance, Terry, TE) of these on line companies. Once, Terry sent me half of another woman's order and part of mine was missing. They were very good about getting that fixed.
I shop online at Performance (never had any problems) but that's because the LBS here doesn't speak my language (literally!) and Japanese stores are often almost twice as much as online or shops in the US.
Even when I was visiting CA I'd stop in the Performance store, with everything that goes on with our spending it's nice to save a little bit of $$.
Just my $0.02