Anyone else frustrated with Loose Screws
#1
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Anyone else frustrated with Loose Screws
I used to enjoy going to the Loose Screws website to order small parts for my bikes. The website with the prior owners was broken down by category and it was relatively easy to find parts. The new website is a royal pain in just scrolling through page after page or hoping to get lucky in a search. You would think that an owner of parts from the original Loose Screws site who had reported ecommerce experience would have a more user friendly website. As such, I continue to use the ISO thread here and hardly ever use their website. Anyone else have this frustration?
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never heard of them but I certainly have a cpl screws loose! thanks for the negative referral, guess we won't be checking them out! other BFers know of other on-line screw, bolt & small parts suppliers. maybe they will chime in. anything in particular you are looking for immediately?
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I agree that searching through the current Loose Screws website can be challenging. Having said this, Loose Screws has been my go-to resource for Dura-Ace 7400 Uniglide free hub small parts......cog spacers and 32mm first position cogs. Amazing communication throughout the sale process. Many (most?) eBay suppliers could learn a thing or two from Loose Screws.
Dean
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It is not quite the same, but I have found https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi to be useful for some of the stuff that used to be available on Loose Screws and/or The Third Hand.
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The change in Loose Screws ownership was a real loss. I used it frequently on the past, and then got to know the owner and his wife when we were considering a bike tour in his area (southern Oregon), even doing a ride together and enjoying a lunch together at their home. But he was getting burned out back then, and I understood his desire to sell. The buyer maintained the site and its capabilities for a while, then seemed to change interests and products.
Maybe I should check back if it’s back to bike parts.
Maybe I should check back if it’s back to bike parts.
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After the company was sold, I seem to recall a big reduction in listed inventory from the original owners and the website went down the tubes. You couldn't easily easily find things and it didn't lend itself to browsing, like the original site did. Then the whole thing became firearms oriented, with bikes as an afterthought.
The current site seems slightly improved from the 1st post-sale site, if you're looking for something specific and can use the search function. But it still lacks the ability to browse broad categories of parts that the original owner's site had.
I don't know if they still list on eBay, but at one point their eBay store generally had free shipping, unlike their website.
The current site seems slightly improved from the 1st post-sale site, if you're looking for something specific and can use the search function. But it still lacks the ability to browse broad categories of parts that the original owner's site had.
I don't know if they still list on eBay, but at one point their eBay store generally had free shipping, unlike their website.
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Things are not really categorized
i did have some success using google and the web address
locally there was an art supply store that morphed quite a bit- last version a " tactical supply store or as my wife calls it -war world.
my guess the current owner does not really know how to give placement to things - parts are parts.
i did have some success using google and the web address
locally there was an art supply store that morphed quite a bit- last version a " tactical supply store or as my wife calls it -war world.
my guess the current owner does not really know how to give placement to things - parts are parts.
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So he has included bike parts back into his gun parts inventory now?
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#12
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Are we seriously going to go down this rabbit hole again?
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#14
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Loose Screws Toulouse
The original Loose Screws Bicycle Small Parts was located in Ashland, OR, near Bike Tools Etc. NOT in Washington state or Irvine, CA as the current proprietor claims!
https://16incheswestofpeoria.wordpre...-future-again/
Mo betta history:
https://products.kitsapsun.com/archi...cycle_hub.html
As I recall, In 2012 the original owners of Loose Screws decided to hang it up. There was a period of time when they tried to sell things off at clearance prices. After the takeover clearance sale in 2015 ??? most of the left over bike stuff was sold off en mass. I'd heard that Bike Tools Etc. bought the remaining inventory, also Mike Kone in CO and Barry at pb*bikes on eBay. Who knows?
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/
@nesteel Yes no more rabbit hole! They're a done deal!
EDIT
There are a few left overs on the new Loose Screws website. If you don't see what you are looking for don't waste your time! They also offer NOS items with 2-4 weeks delivery that they [may] buy from wholesalers. Any LBS can do better than that!
I'm always wary of buying hard to find items from someone that doesn't have it on the shelf for immediate shipping.
A 1911 is a Colt 45 Auto pistola....
verktyg
https://16incheswestofpeoria.wordpre...-future-again/
Mo betta history:
https://products.kitsapsun.com/archi...cycle_hub.html
As I recall, In 2012 the original owners of Loose Screws decided to hang it up. There was a period of time when they tried to sell things off at clearance prices. After the takeover clearance sale in 2015 ??? most of the left over bike stuff was sold off en mass. I'd heard that Bike Tools Etc. bought the remaining inventory, also Mike Kone in CO and Barry at pb*bikes on eBay. Who knows?
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/
@nesteel Yes no more rabbit hole! They're a done deal!
EDIT
There are a few left overs on the new Loose Screws website. If you don't see what you are looking for don't waste your time! They also offer NOS items with 2-4 weeks delivery that they [may] buy from wholesalers. Any LBS can do better than that!
I'm always wary of buying hard to find items from someone that doesn't have it on the shelf for immediate shipping.
A 1911 is a Colt 45 Auto pistola....
verktyg
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
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Last edited by verktyg; 10-15-18 at 12:24 PM.
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#15
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I'm not so sure they're ordering NOS stuff from wholesalers. When they were selling a few years ago I actually contacted them and got details because I was interested. I got photos of their inventory and it was an incredible amount. I have no doubt much of the NOS stuff they list was in those photos that I saw.
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1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
#17
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I'd heard that Bike Tools Etc. bought the remaining inventory, also Mike Kone in CO and Barry at pb*bikes on eBay. Who knows?
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/
Update: And now my credit card has been 'restricted' for 'irregular activity'... @verktyg, is this site legit?
Last edited by SeanBikes; 10-15-18 at 11:24 AM.
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I'm not so sure they're ordering NOS stuff from wholesalers. When they were selling a few years ago I actually contacted them and got details because I was interested. I got photos of their inventory and it was an incredible amount. I have no doubt much of the NOS stuff they list was in those photos that I saw.
I think after he established himself in Loose Screws, he divested the majority of the bike stuff. I seem to recall he said he had a whole, huge U Haul filled to the limits full of parts. After he established Loose Screws as a gun site- it seems the majority of the bike stuff was scattered to the four corners of the globe.
So now, if bike stuff gets ordered thru him, I’d guess he has to acquire it from somewhere.
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
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Put some Locktite on them before you retighten?
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I gave up on Loose Screws too. Or I should say I too gave up on Loose Screws. The gun focus seemed stronger than the bike focus, and the user interface for finding bike parts was ridiculous. Yes it is a real loss.
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#22
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Outsourced Stuff with long deliveries
I'm not so sure they're ordering NOS stuff from wholesalers. When they were selling a few years ago I actually contacted them and got details because I was interested. I got photos of their inventory and it was an incredible amount. I have no doubt much of the NOS stuff they list was in those photos that I saw.
Maybe not wholesalers but the current owner bull shat about the company's origins on the new website....
Also here's what he says about the 484 items in the "Special Order" section:
"Special Order NOS Bicycle Parts"
"Parts in this category are in deep warehouse storage, so please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. We batch orders together when pulling from the warehouse. "Different seller but similar MO:
There was an eBay seller down in SoCal by the name of Barron something or other who went by half dozen different handles including his wife's nick name "Banana Brain". He and his wife used to go to Europe several times a year and clean out old bikes shops. They had shipping containers full of classic cycling stuff. Eventually they had a storefront business in Santa Barbara but it faltered too.
Prices were great but sometimes you had to wait for months to get your order! Sometimes you would get a refund with no explanation. Last heard of, his son was selling out of Paso Robles, CA,.
verktyg
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
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Last edited by verktyg; 10-15-18 at 11:36 AM.
#23
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Credit Card Restricted
Thanks for the tip! They had the 9.3mm cotter pins I have been searching for
Update: And now my credit card has been 'restricted' for 'irregular activity'... @verktyg, is this site legit?
Update: And now my credit card has been 'restricted' for 'irregular activity'... @verktyg, is this site legit?
You should probably contact your CC company. Some card issuers have their fraud detection programs set for very narrow parameters. I'd call them and find out what's going on.
Recently one of my cards was "restricted for irregular activity" too. That meant I couldn't use it at all! It can be embarrassing when you go to pay for something and your card is declined!
verktyg
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
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#25
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I knew Steven (Mr. Loose Screws) when he lived down here in Irvine. I bought some stuff from him and we did a couple rides.
He bought out the original proprietor's stock and relocated it to socal, hoping to make a go of it part time. (being a manufacturing engineer full time - hence the time delay for him to go to the storage unit and dig out the parts).
He's younger, by our standards and we spent quite a bit of time talking about how to get the younger folks into vintage bikes - he didn't hold out much hope, but was trying to do his part.
He got into branding parts (sand canyon and swift 27x 1-3/8 and some similar experiments) plus I believe he bought out a manufacturer of racks and such - looking for a line to allow him to transition to full time bike-related work.
Eventually, he decided to move back north and cleared out quite a bit of his inventory, so he wouldn't have to haul so much. I can't comment on the guns.
If you have any issues or questions, I'd suggest you shoot him an email from the site. He usually gets back to you, maybe give it a few days.
Joe
He bought out the original proprietor's stock and relocated it to socal, hoping to make a go of it part time. (being a manufacturing engineer full time - hence the time delay for him to go to the storage unit and dig out the parts).
He's younger, by our standards and we spent quite a bit of time talking about how to get the younger folks into vintage bikes - he didn't hold out much hope, but was trying to do his part.
He got into branding parts (sand canyon and swift 27x 1-3/8 and some similar experiments) plus I believe he bought out a manufacturer of racks and such - looking for a line to allow him to transition to full time bike-related work.
Eventually, he decided to move back north and cleared out quite a bit of his inventory, so he wouldn't have to haul so much. I can't comment on the guns.
If you have any issues or questions, I'd suggest you shoot him an email from the site. He usually gets back to you, maybe give it a few days.
Joe