RIP Agoura Cycles...

[Aggie_Ama]

I buy things online but I don't buy online if I can't put it on and I can't do much work on my bike (or chose not to). My LBS is putting a new seat post on my bike I ordered through them and are not charging labor. Works for me.

[evangundy]

I bought my bike used online (but it was from someone I knew) - the bike came with only frame and wheels, nothing else. So I took it to my LBS (Coventry Cycle Works) and had them order the parts I wanted and they built it up for me. Yes, I could have bought the parts cheaper elsewhere and had a friend put it together, but I wanted to give that business to the shop.

They don't keep a TiRush in stock on the floor, so they liked having it there for a couple weeks. A couple different customers saw my bike and ended up buying one for themselves, through the shop. I'm not too good working on my own bike, and neither is my dh - so we let Coventry do it for us. It's the only recumbent bike shop in Portland, we'd be in trouble if it closed down. So we all try to do our part to help keep them around. And now, especially since it has a new owner - a woman - who is a friend of ours - I really want to support her in her new adventure :-)

Edna

[crazycanuck]

Hey RM (& anyone else that has an lbs near them)!!!

Does your shop sell Pearl Izumi full fingered gel gloves? If you come across a pair, please contact me.... I could buy them online but i'd rather support a shop.

I am dying to buy a new pair of my fave PI gloves but can't find them anywhere in Perth!!! GAGHHG... All my favourite bike shops just don't have them

Our bike shop dude opened his shop late last year & is VERY VERY busy. He's a well respected roadie/mtb dude & overall one of the two best mechanics in Perth. Alot of folks who knew him from his previous shop followed him when he left..

[aly]

I was sad to see that Agoura Cycles closed. It was the only store around that had a WSD Lemond in my size when I was desperate to do a test ride, and it was in their parking lot that I finally felt what people meant when they talked about the right fit. I ended up buying my bike in Pasadena for a much, much lower price, but made many other purchases at Agoura since it's set right smack on my favorite loop.

However, I am very happy to hear that John will be moving into the spot. I haven't stopped into Bicycle John's lately, so I didn't know about this move. John's is my favorite store and he's been expanding like crazy. He is also currently expanding his Reseda store and has all sorts of fun plans for the space. I'm sure I'll be making plenty of contributions to the LBS as soon as the Agoura store opens.

[Aint Doody]

I'm sure I'll hear big time about this reply, but I cannot help it. It is WRONG to find an item at a retailer, try it out, use it and take up their time and then purchase the same thing elsewhere. If you think their prices are too high, don't fondle their merchandise--that they have bought--and then get the identical thing elsewhere.

[ridebikeme]

I totally agree with you Aint D!! I think it is very disrespectful to take advantage of someones time and expertise and then buy somewhere else. If the business with the lower price was so terrific, why don't people buy there orginally?

I read about people complaining about shops all the time on this forum. One of the reasons that people feel like they aren't being treated like a valuable customer is for this same behavior!! After countless hours of working with a customer, giving them all the information that you can etc.... how do you think these shops feel when you go somewhere else? You've certainly have wasted their time... and in todays world time is money!

I would remind people that regardless of what you are buying, service is also something that you are paying for. I personally wouldn't want to purchase something, knowing that the business doesn't have the ability to service it when I need help. I like the fact that my car mechanic, the person that works on my lawn mower, and the companies that I buy product from for the shop also know who I am and what it is that I am looking for. Perhaps they offer sales trends that I'm not aware of, or possibly a better alternative. The fact remains that you get what you pay for!! So, when we continue to shop in this current state... who will be around for you when you need service or have questions?

[Aint Doody]

Amen.

[Running Mommy]

aint D.... That is the exact reason why so many shops have stopped carrying shoes- esp sidi's. People come in, try them on, and then buy them online.
We watch online retailers to try to keep our prices in the ballpark. Sometimes it's hard, esp. with closeout stuff you see on Chain love, price point, and nashbar. But we are pretty competitive with current merchandise.

[aly]

I respect your opinions, and understand your point, but don't believe I was in the wrong. The price difference was about $400 and he knew that I had found it elsewhere before I even rode (as a side note, the bike I actually rode there wasn't the Tourmalet that I bought, but was an Etape, it was just the only Lemond around in my size frame).

I talked to the owner about the one I found and told him the price. As a new rider, I was probably telling him a lot more than he even cared to hear. He wasn't going to be able to match it. He didn't seem to mind. I became a somewhat regular customer because he was so helpful about the whole thing that I enjoyed going back in and making my smaller purchases, this was probably worth the 15 minutes we spent talking. When it came to test riding, I had to run around town and try what I could where I could. The only other option would be to have me LBS order bikes in my frame size that I wasn't certain I would buy. Most of the shops weren't thrilled about that either since small wsd frames don't seem too popular and, according to many of the shops I went to, sit on the racks and tie up money.

I have no problem paying a little more to support my LBS, but when it is a huge difference, I have to pay attention to that as well. And... I did buy my Sidi's at the shop where I tried them on.