militarycyclist.com
02-21-17, 04:31 AM
#1
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militarycyclist.com
Anyone ever use this? I would like to find out before I submit any info.
02-21-17, 07:39 AM
#2
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I did a whois search against the militarycyclist.com domain name but it is registered by a proxy privacy service and so there is no way to tell who owns it.
Manta shows https://www.manta.com/c/mhk5p29/militarycyclist-com
Manta shows https://www.manta.com/c/mhk5p29/militarycyclist-com
02-21-17, 03:11 PM
#3
Me duelen las nalgas
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They have a Facebook page. Good place to start to check 'em out, read the customer comments. And check LinkedIn, Arizona business records, etc., to see if they seem legit.
02-21-17, 03:36 PM
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I'm not too keen on their Return Policy. In short, only unopened accessories/gear that is in "saleable condition" may be returned- bikes can't.
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02-21-17, 04:35 PM
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Being in the USMC from 89-98, I get suspicious of anyone trying to sell things that target military members. They know our newbies are young, have spending money, and are sometimes susceptible to buying needlessly overpriced items.
We had a place outside Camp Pendalton, a slimeball place called Giant Jewelers. Too many boots taken in by smooth lines and pretty sales girls. I never fell for it or cared to buy anything there, but I knew a few that did. Most regretted the purchase the next day after sobering up.
So when I see something like this, my radar for scam detection goes into gear. Just some sixth sense I picked up from my military days.
We had a place outside Camp Pendalton, a slimeball place called Giant Jewelers. Too many boots taken in by smooth lines and pretty sales girls. I never fell for it or cared to buy anything there, but I knew a few that did. Most regretted the purchase the next day after sobering up.
So when I see something like this, my radar for scam detection goes into gear. Just some sixth sense I picked up from my military days.
02-21-17, 10:42 PM
#6
Me duelen las nalgas
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Ditto, friday's cautions. Every military town is full of those scam artists, from the brick and mortar shops to the door to door salespersons. Everything from jewelry to tattoos to by-the-minute girlfriends to encyclopedias to life insurance. It's a predatory environment.
I'd believe a business that offered special discounts to active duty military, law enforcement, etc., but one that claims to cater exclusively to military? Unless it's the base PX I'm skeptical.
I'd believe a business that offered special discounts to active duty military, law enforcement, etc., but one that claims to cater exclusively to military? Unless it's the base PX I'm skeptical.
12-20-17, 09:53 AM
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Hey All!
Sorry we’re a little late to the thread (make that more than a little late)!
We appreciate your concerns about MilitaryCyclist.com and would like to take this opportunity to reply!
We’re a military family ourselves (my wife is active duty USAF) and started this business out of our passion for cycling and the frustration of not seeing bike shops willing to work with those who serve or give service members and veterans discounts.
The bike industry is a bit of an odd duck in that it’s still very focused on brick and mortar and the concept of buying online is foreign and downright scary to many brands out there. To get our start, we had to agree to strictly work within the bounds of the military community. Since we can’t meet face-to-face, we devised a system that lets users quickly and easily verify their service status. We don’t ask for sensitive information such as SSNs, DOB, or anything else. Most people use a VA card, honorable service certificate, or if they’re still active duty, their .mil email address. It’s quick and works much like other sites such as govx who ask for service verification before providing military related perks.
We have our corporate home in Arizona with our main operations based out of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We hold licenses in both states and carry the same liability insurance as any reputable bike shop would.
Our domain is indeed registered through a proxy service. The reason for this is two-fold: 1) Spam reduction - there are companies whose sole purpose is to send spam mail and email to the WHOIS contacts and they send lots of it; 2) Security - besides reducing spam, using a proxy service adds an additional layer of security against bad actors who have nothing better to do than steal identities or hijack domains.
We tried to build our return policy as flexibly as possible, but realize with the feedback here that we need to do a better job communicating that. In short, we’ll gladly take a return, but draw the line at someone using a product for a few weeks and then returning it even though it’s not defective. We’re a small business and simply can’t absorb the losses involved with these types of returns like big-box stores can. Every product we sell is backed by the manufacturer’s warranty, and we stand behind that 100% and will do everything in our power to help the buyer with any claims. We’ve always worked with our customer's needs, whether that’s shipping a bike halfway around the globe or installing additional components at no extra charge.
Please feel free to ask questions and reach out to us! We’ll gladly answer them!
Daniel
Founder
Sorry we’re a little late to the thread (make that more than a little late)!
We appreciate your concerns about MilitaryCyclist.com and would like to take this opportunity to reply!
We’re a military family ourselves (my wife is active duty USAF) and started this business out of our passion for cycling and the frustration of not seeing bike shops willing to work with those who serve or give service members and veterans discounts.
The bike industry is a bit of an odd duck in that it’s still very focused on brick and mortar and the concept of buying online is foreign and downright scary to many brands out there. To get our start, we had to agree to strictly work within the bounds of the military community. Since we can’t meet face-to-face, we devised a system that lets users quickly and easily verify their service status. We don’t ask for sensitive information such as SSNs, DOB, or anything else. Most people use a VA card, honorable service certificate, or if they’re still active duty, their .mil email address. It’s quick and works much like other sites such as govx who ask for service verification before providing military related perks.
We have our corporate home in Arizona with our main operations based out of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We hold licenses in both states and carry the same liability insurance as any reputable bike shop would.
Our domain is indeed registered through a proxy service. The reason for this is two-fold: 1) Spam reduction - there are companies whose sole purpose is to send spam mail and email to the WHOIS contacts and they send lots of it; 2) Security - besides reducing spam, using a proxy service adds an additional layer of security against bad actors who have nothing better to do than steal identities or hijack domains.
We tried to build our return policy as flexibly as possible, but realize with the feedback here that we need to do a better job communicating that. In short, we’ll gladly take a return, but draw the line at someone using a product for a few weeks and then returning it even though it’s not defective. We’re a small business and simply can’t absorb the losses involved with these types of returns like big-box stores can. Every product we sell is backed by the manufacturer’s warranty, and we stand behind that 100% and will do everything in our power to help the buyer with any claims. We’ve always worked with our customer's needs, whether that’s shipping a bike halfway around the globe or installing additional components at no extra charge.
Please feel free to ask questions and reach out to us! We’ll gladly answer them!
Daniel
Founder
12-20-17, 12:03 PM
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Hey All!
Sorry we’re a little late to the thread (make that more than a little late)!
We appreciate your concerns about MilitaryCyclist.com and would like to take this opportunity to reply!
We’re a military family ourselves (my wife is active duty USAF) and started this business out of our passion for cycling and the frustration of not seeing bike shops willing to work with those who serve or give service members and veterans discounts.
The bike industry is a bit of an odd duck in that it’s still very focused on brick and mortar and the concept of buying online is foreign and downright scary to many brands out there. To get our start, we had to agree to strictly work within the bounds of the military community. Since we can’t meet face-to-face, we devised a system that lets users quickly and easily verify their service status. We don’t ask for sensitive information such as SSNs, DOB, or anything else. Most people use a VA card, honorable service certificate, or if they’re still active duty, their .mil email address. It’s quick and works much like other sites such as govx who ask for service verification before providing military related perks.
We have our corporate home in Arizona with our main operations based out of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We hold licenses in both states and carry the same liability insurance as any reputable bike shop would.
Our domain is indeed registered through a proxy service. The reason for this is two-fold: 1) Spam reduction - there are companies whose sole purpose is to send spam mail and email to the WHOIS contacts and they send lots of it; 2) Security - besides reducing spam, using a proxy service adds an additional layer of security against bad actors who have nothing better to do than steal identities or hijack domains.
We tried to build our return policy as flexibly as possible, but realize with the feedback here that we need to do a better job communicating that. In short, we’ll gladly take a return, but draw the line at someone using a product for a few weeks and then returning it even though it’s not defective. We’re a small business and simply can’t absorb the losses involved with these types of returns like big-box stores can. Every product we sell is backed by the manufacturer’s warranty, and we stand behind that 100% and will do everything in our power to help the buyer with any claims. We’ve always worked with our customer's needs, whether that’s shipping a bike halfway around the globe or installing additional components at no extra charge.
Please feel free to ask questions and reach out to us! We’ll gladly answer them!
Daniel
Founder
Sorry we’re a little late to the thread (make that more than a little late)!
We appreciate your concerns about MilitaryCyclist.com and would like to take this opportunity to reply!
We’re a military family ourselves (my wife is active duty USAF) and started this business out of our passion for cycling and the frustration of not seeing bike shops willing to work with those who serve or give service members and veterans discounts.
The bike industry is a bit of an odd duck in that it’s still very focused on brick and mortar and the concept of buying online is foreign and downright scary to many brands out there. To get our start, we had to agree to strictly work within the bounds of the military community. Since we can’t meet face-to-face, we devised a system that lets users quickly and easily verify their service status. We don’t ask for sensitive information such as SSNs, DOB, or anything else. Most people use a VA card, honorable service certificate, or if they’re still active duty, their .mil email address. It’s quick and works much like other sites such as govx who ask for service verification before providing military related perks.
We have our corporate home in Arizona with our main operations based out of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We hold licenses in both states and carry the same liability insurance as any reputable bike shop would.
Our domain is indeed registered through a proxy service. The reason for this is two-fold: 1) Spam reduction - there are companies whose sole purpose is to send spam mail and email to the WHOIS contacts and they send lots of it; 2) Security - besides reducing spam, using a proxy service adds an additional layer of security against bad actors who have nothing better to do than steal identities or hijack domains.
We tried to build our return policy as flexibly as possible, but realize with the feedback here that we need to do a better job communicating that. In short, we’ll gladly take a return, but draw the line at someone using a product for a few weeks and then returning it even though it’s not defective. We’re a small business and simply can’t absorb the losses involved with these types of returns like big-box stores can. Every product we sell is backed by the manufacturer’s warranty, and we stand behind that 100% and will do everything in our power to help the buyer with any claims. We’ve always worked with our customer's needs, whether that’s shipping a bike halfway around the globe or installing additional components at no extra charge.
Please feel free to ask questions and reach out to us! We’ll gladly answer them!
Daniel
Founder
Do you run a larger business with a more open model and have the military section as a separate entity that offers discounts to the 1% but draws from the same inventory? That would make more sense. But then, why just just offer a military discount?
12-20-17, 12:24 PM
#9
Banned
the LBS here , has a former part time Guy who was Career Coast Guard, now They Ship to the Kodiak Island Base,
he got his fellow Coasties interested in Fat Bikes and riding year around.
he got his fellow Coasties interested in Fat Bikes and riding year around.
12-20-17, 01:03 PM
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Does anyone have a login that can actually look at pricing?
Doubt it is a scam, more likely just a place that gets people to think they are getting the best price because they are a "member", when in reality others may be cheaper, because they know they will never price shop. I.e., the Amazon approach...
Doubt it is a scam, more likely just a place that gets people to think they are getting the best price because they are a "member", when in reality others may be cheaper, because they know they will never price shop. I.e., the Amazon approach...
12-20-17, 01:16 PM
#11
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If you're getting all sorts of perks, is it really "service"?
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12-20-17, 01:43 PM
#12
Hear myself getting fat
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Does anyone have a login that can actually look at pricing?
Doubt it is a scam, more likely just a place that gets people to think they are getting the best price because they are a "member", when in reality others may be cheaper, because they know they will never price shop. I.e., the Amazon approach...
Doubt it is a scam, more likely just a place that gets people to think they are getting the best price because they are a "member", when in reality others may be cheaper, because they know they will never price shop. I.e., the Amazon approach...
They have a closeout on a 2017 Merckx San Remo 76 with Ultegra DI2 for $2600. Same price you can get from Colorado Cyclist.
Not much selection, better prices on certain things can easily be found elsewhere.
12-20-17, 01:46 PM
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Hear myself getting fat
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The perks are for those of us who don't deserve them, to be sure. The ones that do deserve them are no longer with us. I buried a few of them in my time, all of them younger than I was at the time.
"Service"? No, I guess it's a benefit for signing up for something that can cost you your life I suppose If you want to be pedantic about it.
To your point...I'm sheepish enough about these "perks" resulting from my "service" as it were, that is for sure.
12-20-17, 02:29 PM
#14
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12-20-17, 03:08 PM
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Gentlemen, there's no need for the overreaction, it was a simple misunderstanding. Aplcr0331 is simply saying the US soldiers who really deserve the perks are no longer with us. No need to take the politics any further, thank you!
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12-20-17, 07:04 PM
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12-20-17, 07:09 PM
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Well I don't know anything about this business but Ocean Springs, MS is right outside Keesler AFB. I spent 3 weeks there TDY a couple of years ago and the riding around Ocean Springs was great. Only real time I've had on miles and miles of smooth pavement vs chipseal.
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12-21-17, 11:35 AM
#18
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It seems extraordinarily limiting to only offer your business to 1% of the US population.
Do you run a larger business with a more open model and have the military section as a separate entity that offers discounts to the 1% but draws from the same inventory? That would make more sense. But then, why just just offer a military discount?
Do you run a larger business with a more open model and have the military section as a separate entity that offers discounts to the 1% but draws from the same inventory? That would make more sense. But then, why just just offer a military discount?
This largely goes back to the industry quirk where some do not want to have their products sold online to the general public, but only delivered through a brick and mortar store (this is a controversial subject with many strong opinions out there).
Marin Bikes is a perfect example where we're the ONLY authorized online dealer in the country with direct shipment to the customer's doorstep. We were able to secure that partnership, among others, only because of our niche market focus. I'm not saying it's been easy, but it's how we got our start and are able to work with a community we're deeply passionate about.
12-21-17, 11:40 AM
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If you're ever back at Keesler AFB again, drop us a line! There is a great cycling community here with some incredible places to ride where you can easily go for a hundred miles on smooth roads without a traffic light in sight. Mountain biking isn't half bad either.
12-21-17, 02:24 PM
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I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
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I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
12-24-17, 01:35 PM
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If a particular retailer, on line or otherwise, does something to warrant criticism then so be it, military affiliated or not. However, broad stroke criticism of companies operated by veterans, or offering perks to veterans and/or active duty military is shortsighted and uninformed. In case no one noticed, there’s a heap of folks out there who have served, esp in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks who are doing great things, in business and government. Anyone try Black Rifle Coffee? Ever hear of Senator Cotton, the guy who served as an Infantry Platoon in Iraq leader AFTER he got his Harvard law degree. Or maybe Gov. Eric Grietens, the Rhodes Scholar Navy Seal Officer. (Wait didn’t John Kerry say only stupid people joined the military, like him I suppose). Or Rep. Tammy Duckworhh, who got her legs blown off by an RPG while landing the Black Hawk she was piloting.
Many non veteran businesses offer discounts to vets, Lowe’s for example. Even famously liberal Starbucks had an initiative to hire veterans.
So give these guys chance to succeed. You too could could have been one of that one percent you comment on, all you had to do was enlist or take a commission, spend a few years away from your town, have a haircut and make you bed.
Many non veteran businesses offer discounts to vets, Lowe’s for example. Even famously liberal Starbucks had an initiative to hire veterans.
So give these guys chance to succeed. You too could could have been one of that one percent you comment on, all you had to do was enlist or take a commission, spend a few years away from your town, have a haircut and make you bed.
