[sanjuro]

During lunch at my corporate job, I went over the new "Concept" bike store (no names), which sells only products from one particular company.

Now the staff were very junior, which is exactly the kind of people who make these kinds of absolute statements:

"These wheels are the most aerodynamic on the market."

"This carbon frame is better manufactured than its competitors, and I have never seen a frame break."

For some reason, I didn't have the heart to blow up the shop like I was planning on...

 

[Nobody]

Trek. I'll say it even if you won't.

Been in one, won't do it again unless i want to argue with a robot.

 

[Del]

I'm not sure I understand - bike companies are opening up shops?

 

[atrokz]

yes ..

 

[Del]

I've haven't seen one yet. That's really bizarre. Aren't they worried about pissing off the shops that have supported them for years or are they very careful about where they tread?

 

[bluebug32]

Trek pisses me off

 

[Changleen]

Trek pisses me off

That's cos they suck.

 

[HRDTLBRO]

That's cos they suck.

Here Here!

 

[robdamanii]

That's cos they suck.

They piss me off because I didn't win a bike in their TDF game.

 

[jdcamb]

I would never wear one of those silly uniforms. And those ghey golf/tennis hats. Oh my....

 

[Nobody]

Trek and Specialized want to maximize their profit margins and don't really care if they eliminate the LBS to do it.

I know this for a fact because I've been a 'fly on the wall' with both companies back in the late '90's when they first started to discuss it.

They often get ticked with LBS's that sell competing products in their stores because they know [duh] that it's splitting their market share for something called...

...wait for it...

...freedom of choice...

etc.

http://trekbikesofventura.com/index.cfm

I wonder how this positively impacted Bicycle Bob's and Velo Pro of Santa Barbara - Trek and GF dealers for decades...

Must be nice, pizzing in your own hot-tub...

 

[maxyedor]

Wow, I'll have to drop by the Ventura shop and rais a little hell. Trek and Special-Ed are horrible companies. They are truly a bunch of assclowns, and do not care about cycling, only profit.

 

[reflux]

Wow, I'll have to drop by the Ventura shop and rais a little hell. Trek and Special-Ed are horrible companies. They are truly a bunch of assclowns, and do not care about cycling, only profit.

Umm, the goal of a business is to make a profit. I don't know if I agree with their marketing and selling practices, but I'm not about to curse them for all eternity for making a profit.

 

[OGRipper]

There are probably some that are owned by the big companies, but my understanding is that the concept stores are typically created by partnering with existing shops. As the big guys increase pressure on dealers for huge preseason orders and to otherwise tow the company line, and as online sellers continue to cut into the business, more and more shop owners are considering this approach.

I have some good friends who own shops and each of them has, at one time or another, seriously considered accepting an offer to become a concept store.

 

[maxyedor]

Umm, the goal of a business is to make a profit. I don't know if I agree with their marketing and selling practices, but I'm not about to curse them for all eternity for making a profit.

I'm not hating on them for making a profit. Just that they put profit above all else, and infact just don't care about anything else other then profit. If you want to screw the consumer get into the diet pill industry, leave the bike industry for riders. Also farming out labor to underpayed Chinees children while increasing the retail cost for the consumer is not cool. Neither is trying to take over the local market with you "concept" stores and paying employees minimum wage, with no benifits, while you yourself garner higher nad higher profits. It's the same beef I have with Performance, and Supergo.

 

[bluebug32]

They piss me off because I didn't win a bike in their TDF game.

You won a vacuum, man. How much more do you want!?

 

[robdamanii]

You won a vacuum, man. How much more do you want!?

I can't ride a fricken vacuum unless I turbo charge it and strap it to a recliner.

 

[LordOpie]

You won a vacuum...

Is that a euphemism for blow job?

 

[robdamanii]

Is that a euphemism for blow job?

Not unless I'm sticking my junk into a Dirt Devil hose.

 

[mud'n'sweat]

Not unless I'm sticking my junk into a Dirt Devil hose.

Atleast you can vacuum up all that birdseed off the deck.

 

[robdamanii]

Atleast you can vacuum up all that birdseed off the deck.

After the 6-8 week delivery time. Fvcking trek.

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

trek is annoying as hell but the problem is that if you own a shop they make it very hard not to buy into their scheme...trust me...

very good business is being done in wisconsin...

 

[Ciaran]

After the 6-8 week delivery time. Fvcking trek.

"Dear Mr. Damanii,
We at Trek apologize for the delay in shipping your new Trek Vacuum. Please be assured that it will only take another two weeks before your new vacuum is delivered to you."


-Thank you,

Trek"

 

[maxyedor]

You won a vacuum, man.

And Treks do suck, so it looks like Rob came out a winner either way.

 

[MtnbikeMike]

Also farming out labor to underpayed Chinees children while increasing the retail cost for the consumer is not cool.

Trek's carbon bikes are made in China?

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Trek's carbon bikes are made in China?

Yes.....notice the similarities...everything starts with a 'C'....Carbon, China, Children.....it's sooooo obvious....

 

[jonKranked]

Yes.....notice the similarities...everything starts with a 'C'....Carbon, China, Children.....it's sooooo obvious....

you forgot "cannibalism" actually i thought trek still made some of the carbon frames in wisconsin?

ironically, c'dale has to outsource the building of their carbon bikes to china b/c one of the resins they use cannot be used legally in the US in the large quantities they need for production.

 

[MtnbikeMike]

you forgot "cannibalism" actually i thought trek still made some of the carbon frames in wisconsin?

ironically, c'dale has to outsource the building of their carbon bikes to china b/c one of the resins they use cannot be used legally in the US in the large quantities they need for production.

Their carbon bikes are made in wisconsin. And the new carbon Rush is being made in the same factory as Scott's bikes.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

you forgot "cannibalism" actually i thought trek still made some of the carbon frames in wisconsin?

ironically, c'dale has to outsource the building of their carbon bikes to china b/c one of the resins they use cannot be used legally in the US in the large quantities they need for production.

Heh...kinda sounds like some tequila I drank about 2 weeks ago....A buddy of mine comes up for the weekend and busts out an unmarked bottle. He pours the shots...down the hatch...*W0W*....I asked him what the hell that was....And I quote, "You can't get this tequila in the states..." My response was, "Yeah! There's probably a really good FDA reason for that, too!"

But it was sooooo good....just had to kill the bottle!

 

[MtnBikerChk]

Remember when Gateway opened up their own stores..?

Yeah, they're gone now.

 

[jonKranked]

Heh...kinda sounds like some tequila I drank about 2 weeks ago....A buddy of mine comes up for the weekend and busts out an unmarked bottle. He pours the shots...down the hatch...*W0W*....I asked him what the hell that was....And I quote, "You can't get this tequila in the states..." My response was, "Yeah! There's probably a really good FDA reason for that, too!"

But it was sooooo good....just had to kill the bottle!

a friend of mine recently moved into a house in which the previous residents left some noteworthy things:

-old porno mags. like 1980's old.
-a weed pipe on top of the kitchen cabinets. with some matches. packed and ready to go.
-an unopened bottle of tequila with a f***ing SCORPION in the bottom.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

a friend of mine recently moved into a house in which the previous residents left some noteworthy things:

-old porno mags. like 1980's old. Were there ads for the "I choked Linda Lovelace" T-shirts in 'em??
-a weed pipe on top of the kitchen cabinets. with some matches. packed and ready to go. Now that's a great housewarming gift!
-an unopened bottle of tequila with a f***ing SCORPION in the bottom.

The last one is hardcore....I can see not remembering eating the worm...but...a scorpion??!!? Yer gonna remember that!

 

[jonKranked]

i never personally saw the mags, so i dunno about the ads.

the weed was disgustingly stale.

the tequila is questionable. dunno about eating the scorpion.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

i never personally saw the mags, so i dunno about the ads.

the weed was disgustingly stale.

the tequila is questionable. dunno about eating the scorpion.

Just thought about it for a second....how'd the scorpion get in there??? Was it full size?? or was the opening to the bottle big enough...?


Oh yeah...to stay on topic.... Boo Trek!!

 

[jonKranked]

smaller scorpion combined with slightly larger bottle finish.

 

[Jeronimo]

You just gotta love all of the hate in this thread.

 

[robdamanii]

I hate in general.

 

[sanjuro]

There are probably some that are owned by the big companies, but my understanding is that the concept stores are typically created by partnering with existing shops. As the big guys increase pressure on dealers for huge preseason orders and to otherwise tow the company line, and as online sellers continue to cut into the business, more and more shop owners are considering this approach.

I have some good friends who own shops and each of them has, at one time or another, seriously considered accepting an offer to become a concept store.

According to what I read in Bicycle Retailer, it does seem to be a mix of existing retailers and "franchises".

For one thing, shops like these tend to make waves, because they usually come at the expense of other dealers in the area. Some shops are happy to stock only one manufacturer, typically Trek dealers, without calling themselves "concept".

There is all kinds of ways to make a buck, but logically there is no one anyone could convince me that one company makes the best bikes period. That is why I own a Seven road bike and a Santa Cruz mtn bike...

 

[Secret Squirrel]

According to what I read in Bicycle Retailer, it does seem to be a mix of existing retailers and "franchises".

For one thing, shops like these tend to make waves, because they usually come at the expense of other dealers in the area. Some shops are happy to stock only one manufacturer, typically Trek dealers, without calling themselves "concept".

There is all kinds of ways to make a buck, but logically there is no one anyone could convince me that one company makes the best bikes period. That is why I own a Seven road bike and a Santa Cruz mtn bike...

:hot: Heathen!!! Blasphemer!! You know not the cost this will have on your soul!!

Side note....Out of my 5 built bikes, I don't have two form the same manufacturer....I'm going to hell...w00h00!

Edit: Sorry....forgot to put rolleyes smiley! I was kidding....

I just love the guys that aren't sponsored and they only ride one brand (NTTAWWT) but can't see anyone elses' bikes being worth anything....kinda like the dudes in your original post.....

 

[sanjuro]

:hot: Heathen!!! Blasphemer!! You know not the cost this will have on your soul!!

Side note....Out of my 5 built bikes, I don't have two form the same manufacturer....I'm going to hell...w00h00!

Which one is evil, Seven or SC, or the combination of the two?

I also have a Kona, Norco, and Surly, so I also support my homeland, Taiwan.