An Idiot Apocalypse!

[CJB]

Someone, without my permission or knoweldge, borrowed my new fat bike, and put it back with the seat improperly adjusted, the front derailer bent, the right crank arm bent and the left bottom bracket bearing popped out of its cage. No major paint damage anyplace. Makes me wonder how in the world it happened.

Anyway, due to the nature of the ultra-z level bottom bracket bearing, and it fitting only that crank, and vice versa, I'll be getting a new SRAM crank. No big deal, and the parts are renewable, unlike the present parts.

Went to the local bike store. I want to order a bottom bracket and crankset. Its a SRAM X5, 100mm wide, english cups and 36/22 chain rings.

Them: What bike is it for?

Me: Motobecane fat bike

Them: We don't sell Moto parts

Me: I'm asking you for a SRAM part, not Moto

Them: Ok, what bikes it for?

Me: Like I said, its for a Motobecane fat bike, but I want a SRAM X5, 100mm width, english cups and 36/22 chainrings

Them: Its not made

Me: Trust me, its made, and guys put them on the Moto's all the time, they even come on new bikes by other folks, how about you look it up

Them: Where did you find it?

Me: I went to the SRAM website.... and to AMAZON

(they go to AMAZON)

Them: Well that looks like what you asked for.

Me: Ok, get me one

Them: We can't order from AMAZON for you....

Me: I'm not asking you to, I'm asking you to order one from your supplier

Them: We can't, we don't have the part number

Me: Its on the AMAZON page....

Them: Ok, there it is. Yup, distributor has several available for us too.

Me: Great. How much is it, and when can you get it.

Them: We can't find out the price until we place the order.

Me: Well its $169 on Amazon, and that happens to be MSRP on the SRAM page, so as long as its not more than that I'll take it, so place the order and lets get this going.

Them: They're open again on Monday.

Me: Ok, place the order Monday, call me up, and I'll come in and pay, or just leave you a hundred dollars now to show you I'm serious about needing it

Them: We can't order parts unless they're paid in full.

Me: Ok... let me get this straight. You can't tell me the price until you place the order, but you want me to pay in full in order to order it.

Them: Yeaup!

I walked out, and heard 'em say thanks for wasting their time! Needless to say, I called up Daytona Bikes, ten minutes before closing, the guy was smart and courteous, had all the part numbers in about 30 seconds, and told me it was ten till closing and his registers were shut down till noon tomorrow. He offered to call me back, tomorrow, to get all my information, but I told him I'd call, as my schedule was hectic. Said three days to get the parts.

And the guy at the bike shop was the same one that ripped off half his thumb by sticking it in a moving rear wheel to stop it during a repair. Brakes? or a SNEAKER even? Jeeze.

So, I'm reminded of a zombie apocalypse, except.... one full of idiots instead.....

[JohnR]

Wow.

just order from Amazon!

[ltxi]

Dude...WalMart is not to be confused with an LBS.

[CJB]

No, the LBS is run by rejects from "Idiots League for Today and Tomorrow", who couldn't make the grade.....

The place in Daytona has always been getting high praise, and my friend JN rides her bike everywhere as her main transportation, so she relies on them. She says they're good, they're GOOD. End of story.

I want to get the crankset at a bike shop, not online. The SRAM X5 is not really top of the line for them, more like lower middle end of their product line, but.... they all pretty much use the same bearing set, and the ultra snob "I saved 15 grams" crowd can buy the upper crust. I wanna save some weight, I can take a dump or skip lunch, ya know? SRAM has had issues with the bearings and/or crank spindles being not quite up to spec. They offer a very lame work around. Issue is the 22mm bearing on the non-drive side is more like 22.5mm . I'll be putting calipers to what I get, and want the local service to send it back until I get a good one. I think the first will be good though, as the problem was back in 2013... so the bad stuff should be out of the supply chain. Should....(ahem). We'll go in with both eyes open on that issue.

[yqtszhj]

Someone, without my permission or knoweldge, borrowed my new fat bike, and put it back with the seat improperly adjusted, the front derailer bent, the right crank arm bent and the left bottom bracket bearing popped out of its cage. No major paint damage anyplace. Makes me wonder how in the world it happened.

Anyway, due to the nature of the ultra-z level bottom bracket bearing, and it fitting only that crank, and vice versa, I'll be getting a new SRAM crank. No big deal, and the parts are renewable, unlike the present parts.

Went to the local bike store. I want to order a bottom bracket and crankset. Its a SRAM X5, 100mm wide, english cups and 36/22 chain rings.

Them: What bike is it for?

Me: Motobecane fat bike

Them: We don't sell Moto parts

Me: I'm asking you for a SRAM part, not Moto

Them: Ok, what bikes it for?

Me: Like I said, its for a Motobecane fat bike, but I want a SRAM X5, 100mm width, english cups and 36/22 chainrings

Them: Its not made

Me: Trust me, its made, and guys put them on the Moto's all the time, they even come on new bikes by other folks, how about you look it up

Them: Where did you find it?

Me: I went to the SRAM website.... and to AMAZON

(they go to AMAZON)

Them: Well that looks like what you asked for.

Me: Ok, get me one

Them: We can't order from AMAZON for you....

Me: I'm not asking you to, I'm asking you to order one from your supplier

Them: We can't, we don't have the part number

Me: Its on the AMAZON page....

Them: Ok, there it is. Yup, distributor has several available for us too.

Me: Great. How much is it, and when can you get it.

Them: We can't find out the price until we place the order.

Me: Well its $169 on Amazon, and that happens to be MSRP on the SRAM page, so as long as its not more than that I'll take it, so place the order and lets get this going.

Them: They're open again on Monday.

Me: Ok, place the order Monday, call me up, and I'll come in and pay, or just leave you a hundred dollars now to show you I'm serious about needing it

Them: We can't order parts unless they're paid in full.

Me: Ok... let me get this straight. You can't tell me the price until you place the order, but you want me to pay in full in order to order it.

Them: Yeaup!

I walked out, and heard 'em say thanks for wasting their time! Needless to say, I called up Daytona Bikes, ten minutes before closing, the guy was smart and courteous, had all the part numbers in about 30 seconds, and told me it was ten till closing and his registers were shut down till noon tomorrow. He offered to call me back, tomorrow, to get all my information, but I told him I'd call, as my schedule was hectic. Said three days to get the parts.

And the guy at the bike shop was the same one that ripped off half his thumb by sticking it in a moving rear wheel to stop it during a repair. Brakes? or a SNEAKER even? Jeeze.

So, I'm reminded of a zombie apocalypse, except.... one full of idiots instead.....

Thats crazy. Another day in the life of CJB.

I have to say though I run into the same thing. The wife tells me I'm anal when I'm researching and buying something but I tell her that I'm required to learn everything and know everyones job because 80% of the people out there don't know what they are doing and I know what I want. Frustrating to say the least. One good thing is when you run into one of the 20% that know their stuff and you get something better for a cheaper price. It doesn't happen often but it does happen.

[RRP]

One gets the feeling the guys at the local bike shop were not idiots after-all.

[Bobshouse]

In these modern times, I usually walk into a parts store with the part number in hand, and that's only after I can't find it on the internet.

"Specialty" stores can't always find an expert in the field willing to work for minimum wage.

[ltxi]

I feel your pain CJB. Actually, I don't as I have an excellent LBS run by and largely for cyclists. But I definitely/surely do sympathize.

[b4uqzme]

Back in my mountain biking days I had a great LBS. Anytime something broke they would teach me how to fix it and sell me the special tools and/or parts. It was a lot of fun I'll tell ya. They always had what I needed in stock.

[jocko]

Someone, without my permission or knoweldge, borrowed my new fat bike, and put it back with the seat improperly adjusted, the front derailer bent, the right crank arm bent and the left bottom bracket bearing popped out of its cage. No major paint damage anyplace. Makes me wonder how in the world it happened.

Anyway, due to the nature of the ultra-z level bottom bracket bearing, and it fitting only that crank, and vice versa, I'll be getting a new SRAM crank. No big deal, and the parts are renewable, unlike the present parts.

Went to the local bike store. I want to order a bottom bracket and crankset. Its a SRAM X5, 100mm wide, english cups and 36/22 chain rings.

Them: What bike is it for?

Me: Motobecane fat bike

Them: We don't sell Moto parts

Me: I'm asking you for a SRAM part, not Moto

Them: Ok, what bikes it for?

Me: Like I said, its for a Motobecane fat bike, but I want a SRAM X5, 100mm width, english cups and 36/22 chainrings

Them: Its not made

Me: Trust me, its made, and guys put them on the Moto's all the time, they even come on new bikes by other folks, how about you look it up

Them: Where did you find it?

Me: I went to the SRAM website.... and to AMAZON

(they go to AMAZON)

Them: Well that looks like what you asked for.

Me: Ok, get me one

Them: We can't order from AMAZON for you....

Me: I'm not asking you to, I'm asking you to order one from your supplier

Them: We can't, we don't have the part number

Me: Its on the AMAZON page....

Them: Ok, there it is. Yup, distributor has several available for us too.

Me: Great. How much is it, and when can you get it.

Them: We can't find out the price until we place the order.

Me: Well its $169 on Amazon, and that happens to be MSRP on the SRAM page, so as long as its not more than that I'll take it, so place the order and lets get this going.

Them: They're open again on Monday.

Me: Ok, place the order Monday, call me up, and I'll come in and pay, or just leave you a hundred dollars now to show you I'm serious about needing it

Them: We can't order parts unless they're paid in full.

Me: Ok... let me get this straight. You can't tell me the price until you place the order, but you want me to pay in full in order to order it.

Them: Yeaup!

I walked out, and heard 'em say thanks for wasting their time! Needless to say, I called up Daytona Bikes, ten minutes before closing, the guy was smart and courteous, had all the part numbers in about 30 seconds, and told me it was ten till closing and his registers were shut down till noon tomorrow. He offered to call me back, tomorrow, to get all my information, but I told him I'd call, as my schedule was hectic. Said three days to get the parts.

And the guy at the bike shop was the same one that ripped off half his thumb by sticking it in a moving rear wheel to stop it during a repair. Brakes? or a SNEAKER even? Jeeze.

So, I'm reminded of a zombie apocalypse, except.... one full of idiots instead.....

ARE U sure u werent in a Harley dealership trying to order a part??? Just sayin

[CJB]

I feel your pain CJB. Actually, I don't as I have an excellent LBS run by and largely for cyclists. But I definitely/surely do sympathize.

I googled the shop.... they have 11 one star and two five star reviews. The one star's have detailed accounts of how they suck - like not meeting deadlines, like not fixing things correctly, like being rude and treating the customer like crap. The five stars were both the same "They rock! Best shop ever!" Makes one wonder about the validity of the reviews.

The shop my friend told me about does in fact rock. Got the order all done today, paid for, they confirmed stock, and said it would be in their hands Wednesday. I'll be there Saturday to pick it up. I asked 'em to verify the bearing size as SRAM has shipped some oversize bearings by mistake. They're already onto that issue, and will gladly verify.

Best of all, no crap, no looking down their nose. Just guys who know their stuff and don't mind helping a customer. That's what I do with my own customers - inject a good friendly attitude and put the customer first.

[CJB]

ARE U sure u werent in a Harley dealership trying to order a part??? Just sayin

Well, Jocko... my closest dealer is Palm Beach Harley, and they in fact suck. "Stealer-dealers". For instance, the original receipt of the bike I bought used, was at $25,500, when infact the bike MSRP was $14,500. They listed every piece of standard chrome (primary cover, timing cover, rocker boxes, standard forward controls, belt guards, etc, etc.) as additional accessories. Those were stock, and listed as so on the all the sales sheets and webpage (which is archived). So, they nailed the original purchaser for $11,000 over list.

They don't have parts in stock, and treat you like a dolt for attempting to repair your own bike. And they give out and out incorrect advice and instructions...ie "You can't clip out the old pushrods in order to avoid removing the heads to change cams, the seals will all leak and you'll be in bad shape" - when in fact the MoCo instructions say... "use bolt cutters to clip out the old pushrods, being careful to not get debris in the lifter assembly...."

However, I'll happily drive 75 miles each way, to get to Treasure Coast Harley. Staff knows their stuff, and if they don't they get on the honker to the mothership and get the right info as you stand there at the counter. They actually have parts in stock. They'll tell you how to put 'em in. They'll print out the manual pages for you, and make sure you have the oddball seals and gaskets and little overlooked items. Donny there is as customer oriented as anyone I've ever dealt with, and so are the rest of 'em.

My money's with the folks who do me right - which is why I've got THREE KAHR PISTOLS!!!!!!

[yqtszhj]

Well, Jocko... my closest dealer is Palm Beach Harley, and they in fact suck. "Stealer-dealers". For instance, the original receipt of the bike I bought used, was at $25,500, when infact the bike MSRP was $14,500. They listed every piece of standard chrome (primary cover, timing cover, rocker boxes, standard forward controls, belt guards, etc, etc.) as additional accessories. Those were stock, and listed as so on the all the sales sheets and webpage (which is archived). So, they nailed the original purchaser for $11,000 over list.

They don't have parts in stock, and treat you like a dolt for attempting to repair your own bike. And they give out and out incorrect advice and instructions...ie "You can't clip out the old pushrods in order to avoid removing the heads to change cams, the seals will all leak and you'll be in bad shape" - when in fact the MoCo instructions say... "use bolt cutters to clip out the old pushrods, being careful to not get debris in the lifter assembly...."

Sounds like those guys prefer the customer that doesn't know much and buys a harley as a status symbol to show off to their friends but they don't really ride or know how to fix anything. They can then drain them of all their money.

[CJB]

Those in the fold know this, and thats why they call some dealers "stealer dealers".

We've got two good dealers, Treasure Coast HD and Palm Bay HD, the latter will discount bikes below MSRP on a regular basis, and at last look they had about 200 bikes on the floor of their showroom. The dealer I spoke of has maybe 50.

[jocko]

Sounds like those guys prefer the customer that doesn't know much and buys a harley as a status symbol to show off to their friends but they don't really ride or know how to fix anything. They can then drain them of all their money.

not realy as a status symbol but as much as TRUSTING THE SALESMAN. Most people don't wrench their bikes, no matter what brand. Try wrenching a Goldwiner and u will get my point. But people get very pissed when they find out downt he road that their dealer lies to them. Mskes no sense . I was in the tire,gun,bikes, lawnmower, yadda business with my father for 70 years, and if my dad caought me lying or b-sing a customer, I certainly heard about it and fast to. Today I think these dealers and it just ain't Harley dealers either have the ol barnum bailey motto, A SUCKER BORN EVER MINUTE.

I was with my brother someyears back on a crusie with teh wives and we were in St. Thomas at a nice jewelry store and he was buying her a diamond tennis bracelt. It looked realy nice to so when the dealer put it in the box for him and wreapped it, the fokker switched the bracelet and when we got back on the ship and sailing he gaveit to his wife as a gift, and damn there was 4 dieamond missing from the bracelt. hE WAS fokked..