Performance Woes

[Trekhawk]

Wow - I can't believe that you continue to do business with them. I can understand an error once in a while, but my patience disappears after one order with an error. You may be getting your items at a good price, but when you factor in the time and annoyance - well it wouldn't be worth it for me.
And I suspect that as long as people continue to buy from them, they have no incentive to fix their problems!

I agree with Denise. I refuse to offer patronage to a company that could care less whether I am happy or not. Plenty of places out there to spend my hard earned dollars and plenty that offer great customer service.

[Pax]

I placed a large order with Performance a few weeks ago, I was charged a bunch for shipping plus sales tax. The order took 13 days to get to my house with no mention of a backorder (since they chose to hit me up for sales tax maybe they could have shipped the goods from in-state?). I emailed my displeasure to Performance as well as my reasons for no longer doing business with them. As I told them, there are too many good compaines trying to earn my business (like TE) to spend my money with a company that seems to have lost their customer focus.

I posted this recently in the Apparel forum, I'm done with Performance.

[Irulan]

Bad customer service is one thing, but as a business owner who charges shipping, don't get me going. Shipping costs are skyrocketing. Even a light box going half a coutnry away is $8-10. Plus, you all want insurance, tracking and so on. That stuff isn't free. If your order gets lost en route, the business owner is the one who hears about it. If a business has a brick and mortar in the same state you live in, they are required by law to charge you sales tax.

Irulan

[snapdragen]

I've never had good luck with Performance. Even if I do overnite or 2-3 day shipping, whatever I order doesn't get to me for at least a week. There are plenty of other places out there to order from, so I've taken them off the list.

Yes, I'm posting from Maui - it's the crack 'o dawn and I'm still on west coast time!

[Susie]

About 8 weeks ago, I placed a web order with Performance. I had 3 items in the order and after 2 weeks, I emailed to find out where it was. I was told that 1 item was backordered. Another week went by and I was shipped the backordered item and one of the other "in stock" items, missing the 3rd item which was apparently "in stock". I emailed again and they had forgotten to include the 3rd item.. When they did ship the 3rd item, I was charged shipping again. I was really frustrated for getting double charged on the shipping when they had made the mistake and forgotten to include the 3rd item. Anyway, it took over a month to get my entire order and there was no communication on my order status until I questioned them. I'm never ordering from them again -- there's too many other places with good customer service out there.

[Nanci]

Wow, I have never had any trouble with Performance. I hope they haven't undergone some sort of change in management that is now being reflected in worsened customer service...

I always liked Supergo, too.

Nanci

[Crankin]

My family has been buying stuff from Performance since 1999. We have never had a problem. I don't buy as much stuff there, because they don't have a lot of extra small sizes or jerseys I like, but between my husband and son, who raced for 4 years, we have spent enough there to open our own bike store! My husband is a Team Performance member and we use the points to buy things like leg warmers, booties, etc. We also buy equipment there, as my husband does all the work on our bikes. When my son was racing this saved us tons of money; he bought all of his bike mechanic equipment from them.
I'm not pushing them, but we've never had an issue. I buy most of my stuff from Terry, even though the owner once had a political statement in the catalog that I thought was really obnoxious and had no place in a bike catalog. I wrote an email to her about that one.
As for the weather here in Massachusetts, it's the rain that has been a pain. Last weekend was ruined, but I did take a short ride Sunday in the 30 mile an hour winds. It's not that cold out, yet. I rode today after work for about an hour, but next week is the last week for that... Daylight Savings Time ends and even on my teacher's hours it will be too dark to ride when I get home. I am hoping to be able to ride on the weekends until the end of November, because I have about 270 miles to go to meet my goal for the year.

[eofelis]

We have ordered lots of stuff (and returned stuff too) from Performance, Nashbar and Supergo (all are owned by Performance). We have not had any problems.

My SO John actually worked as a mechanic at a Performance store in San Diego. He has plenty of horror stories about Performance. They fired him.....two weeks after he quit.

[caligurl]

OH! i have a performance store tale!

when i was looking for a bike last year.... when performance still sold giant's... we went to supergo to look at the speicalized and performance for the giant ocr (the silver w/pink highlights that they has some WDS stuff on)... (i've since learned about buying a bike from either of those places! so no lectures!)

i liked both bikes (but leaned toward liking the look of the giant)... so we walked back over to performance (in huntington beach they are both right there on the same corner/shopping plaza)... hubby asked to have me fit to the bike.. to make sure it did, in fact fit me.... (as in adjust the handle bars, seat, check leg plumb.. you know... basic stuff).. the JERK.... said "you have to buy it first." my hubby said "i have to buy a bike that i don't know if it fits her or not?"

we walked out and went back over to supergo and bought my dolce.... (granted.. supergo wasn't that great of a place for fit either.. we found out after the fact my reach was too far... but at least they were willing to help out... put it on the trainer... check plumb.. etc.... heck.. they even taught me about shifting! )

and "funny" thing... i NEVER see any bikes in the repair area at performance?????

[caligurl]

[QUOTE=surlypacer]We have ordered lots of stuff (and returned stuff too) from Performance, QUOTE]

that's one of the BIG reasons i buy from performance... no matter WHAT... i can return it! if i buy shorts i hate after wearing them one (or two) times.. i can return them.... if i buy a shirt i hate.. i can return it.. if i buy a component i change my mind on.. i can return it! NO QUESTIONS ASKED!

they have the BEST return policy (along with their CHEAP prices!) i don't know of ANY other bike store.. on or off line that allows that!

it's handy for us too a lot of times.. if we are driving down to huntington beach.. we just take our returns with us and return them in the store! occasionally they won't take an item (we bought the wrong torque wrench.. and they don't stock them.. so i have to send it back)....

[AutumnBreez]

Airbomb is worst of worst! Gave them several chances and each time was headache and stressful!

Gear Direct is getting on my nerves a bit, but getting my polar at a great price.

[eofelis]

[QUOTE=caligurl]

We have ordered lots of stuff (and returned stuff too) from Performance, QUOTE]

that's one of the BIG reasons i buy from performance... no matter WHAT... i can return it! if i buy shorts i hate after wearing them one (or two) times.. i can return them.... if i buy a shirt i hate.. i can return it.. if i buy a component i change my mind on.. i can return it! NO QUESTIONS ASKED!

they have the BEST return policy (along with their CHEAP prices!) i don't know of ANY other bike store.. on or off line that allows that!

it's handy for us too a lot of times.. if we are driving down to huntington beach.. we just take our returns with us and return them in the store! occasionally they won't take an item (we bought the wrong torque wrench.. and they don't stock them.. so i have to send it back)....

That's why we buy there too. REI is good for that too. John says that I don't buy things from REI, I borrow them. Actually, We've kept most of what we buy from REI. We have a small REI store just a few blocks from where we live. Hazzah! (They carry bike stuff, but don't sell bikes)

[pkq]

I love the support I've gotten from my local bike shops. Over the years, they have given me great discounts, even on bikes. Occasionally, I have been given gear. I've gotten lots of free wrenching despite my protestations. I know those guys don't make much money so I don't mind paying full price, and they've always been real good and quick on service. They order items I want to try and return them, if I don't like them. When they prefer me to order, they tell me. The flip side of their support of me is they know I prefer not ordering from catalogs; I prefer supporting them. I have ridden with them many times and drop in for visits during dull winter evenings. We trade barbs, which get hilarious most of the time. We trade movies and socialize occasionally. I know what goes on in their lives and they know about mine. You can't get that from a catalog.

Dealing with customer service can be a most unpleasant, frustrating ordeal. I feel for those who endure it. It's good to hear no one is having trouble with TE. They do carry some stuff the local shops don't, which I may order in the future.

[kmoty]

From Maryland...my husband has bought from Performance online with no touble so far in about a year, but we were in the local store a couple of weeks ago, and staff (very young) seemed to know little and care less. I'm happier with TE (*xcellent* service) and others, like my LBS, who seem interested in keeping their customers. A couple of dollars seems a small price to reward good service and reduce my agida (I know I'm privileged to be able to say that).

I have a friend who says "50% of people can't do their jobs. Of the remaining 50%, 25% won't." Pretty much my experience, which makes me try all the harder. Sigh. Reward those who can and will.

K