REI rant
05-23-20, 01:23 PM
#26
Senior Member
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05-23-20, 01:29 PM
#27
Senior Member
REI generally does not have the greatest of bike departments. They may sell some quality brands and even their house brand is fine but they are not a great bike shop. Massive chain stores tend not to always focus enough on their mechanics and are usually a place to start for a lot of kids but not a place many want to stay or want to do the most quality work. There are of course exceptions to the rule in different areas. That being said most shops including REI offer a free tune up or checkover once you purchase the bike. Bring it back to them and they should be able to take a look at it.
They should have put your bike together and checked it over. Every new bike should always be checked over by the head mechanic and should go through an exit tune where it is again checked. I know right now every shop that is open is busy and everyone is stressed. Unfortunately mistakes are being made because so much is being put on us and we barely have time to breathe.
If you are currently on the frontlines you know your customers are angry getting angrier and maybe not specifically at you but certainly are taking it out on you. You gotta just back up and try not to take it personally and just do the best damn job you can. For those coming to the shop please take your anger somewhere else, be nice, be kind, be understanding. If you are out of work, I am sorry, things suck right now for everyone. I am glad to have a job but it is more stressful then it has ever been. Imagine the most popular store on Black Friday, every day for however long this has been going on, that is our life right now. Let's all try to get through this together and just treat each other as human beings and try to be as mellow as possible.
They should have put your bike together and checked it over. Every new bike should always be checked over by the head mechanic and should go through an exit tune where it is again checked. I know right now every shop that is open is busy and everyone is stressed. Unfortunately mistakes are being made because so much is being put on us and we barely have time to breathe.
If you are currently on the frontlines you know your customers are angry getting angrier and maybe not specifically at you but certainly are taking it out on you. You gotta just back up and try not to take it personally and just do the best damn job you can. For those coming to the shop please take your anger somewhere else, be nice, be kind, be understanding. If you are out of work, I am sorry, things suck right now for everyone. I am glad to have a job but it is more stressful then it has ever been. Imagine the most popular store on Black Friday, every day for however long this has been going on, that is our life right now. Let's all try to get through this together and just treat each other as human beings and try to be as mellow as possible.
REI will tune the bike. But if you don't live near anything then what? I mean if an LBS isn't near by, and an REI isn't near by then how would you do this?
I would never buy a boxed bike. I can order one of these, and pick it up even now. Although the store isn't opened. That's what the OP should have done.
You can return the bike.........
And this nonsense about typical bike owners.. REI sells bikes approaching $10,000. How it that typical.
Last edited by StarBiker; 05-23-20 at 01:32 PM.
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05-23-20, 02:41 PM
#28
Senior Member
The bikes shops around here cater to the very well off. I don't think all of the LBS's are dishonest, but I am not impressed with any of them.
If you want to buy a $6000 Santa Cruz, you go to the LBS. If you want to buy a $6000 Cannondale you go to REI.
One LBS is big on Soma, and Specialized, the others like Trek, and Cannondale. One shop is higher end. I can get just about anything of similar quality from REI in similar price ranges. I can't get the customer service, or return policy from an LBS that I get from REI. They even compete with that higher end shop I mentioned. Which is a small local chain.
The notion that REI is low end is absurd. Is REI like Dicks? Dicks would be a better comparison for lower end, average for a chain type sports store. Not REI.
The problem is people are bored, and not patient. I would not buy a new bike now. The CO OP's will drop much more latter in the year, or early next year. That's when I would buy!
I would never pay a lot of money for a bike. That's me though!
(I would have bought the 3.1, the OP wants the racks.......)
05-23-20, 02:45 PM
#29
Senior Member
I still like that Salsa Fargo. $2200........can run 27.5 though. I would pony up half that price for that bike!
05-23-20, 03:43 PM
#31
Clark W. Griswold
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And this is dependent on the REI. It's not remotely the case. where I am.
REI will tune the bike. But if you don't live near anything then what? I mean if an LBS isn't near by, and an REI isn't near by then how would you do this?
I would never buy a boxed bike. I can order one of these, and pick it up even now. Although the store isn't opened. That's what the OP should have done.
You can return the bike.........
And this nonsense about typical bike owners.. REI sells bikes approaching $10,000. How it that typical.
REI will tune the bike. But if you don't live near anything then what? I mean if an LBS isn't near by, and an REI isn't near by then how would you do this?
I would never buy a boxed bike. I can order one of these, and pick it up even now. Although the store isn't opened. That's what the OP should have done.
You can return the bike.........
And this nonsense about typical bike owners.. REI sells bikes approaching $10,000. How it that typical.
All bikes come boxed unless maybe you pick it up directly from the factory that made it and they haven't put it into a box yet.
I said nothing about typical bike owners. Not sure where you got that from? I re-read my piece and also double checked in my word processing software and found no mention.
05-23-20, 03:48 PM
#32
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Thread Starter
I think New Castle PA is where it shipped from.
05-23-20, 03:54 PM
#33
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REI is not a big box store by any stretch of the imagination. To compare them to Walmart is so absurdly uninformed and idiotic, it borders on slander. I've been to FAR worse LBS.
Unlike Walmart and box stores, they tend to be a bit over-priced. Also unlike Walmart and box stores, they sell quality stuff and back it up with an extremely generous return policy. Unlike Walmart and box stores, they have many and varied member services, organize outdoor expeditions, etc.
We booked our family trip to the Galapagos through REI. It was an exceptional experience, and everything went very smoothly. It cost more than a mid-tier family car, but it was worth it. I defy you to find any big box store that does anything like that. The comparison is totally asinine.
REI is also a co-op, and pays its members dividends. The ones I have been to all have a bike shop within the store, and do most routine repairs. I've had my bikes worked on there, and I have purchased a bike for my kid there. They stock quality brands, including Cannondale and Bontrager, for example, as well as some unusual brands like Ghost (a German mountain bike company). Their own brand of bikes are also very solid and reasonably good value.
Unlike Walmart and box stores, they tend to be a bit over-priced. Also unlike Walmart and box stores, they sell quality stuff and back it up with an extremely generous return policy. Unlike Walmart and box stores, they have many and varied member services, organize outdoor expeditions, etc.
We booked our family trip to the Galapagos through REI. It was an exceptional experience, and everything went very smoothly. It cost more than a mid-tier family car, but it was worth it. I defy you to find any big box store that does anything like that. The comparison is totally asinine.
REI is also a co-op, and pays its members dividends. The ones I have been to all have a bike shop within the store, and do most routine repairs. I've had my bikes worked on there, and I have purchased a bike for my kid there. They stock quality brands, including Cannondale and Bontrager, for example, as well as some unusual brands like Ghost (a German mountain bike company). Their own brand of bikes are also very solid and reasonably good value.
05-23-20, 03:57 PM
#34
Full Member
REI can't compete on prices but their service and return policy are first rate. I spent hours at my local store testing hiking boots. I could have bought the boots online for a little bit cheaper but that would be rotten. If I take up REI's customer service--I buy in store. If I'm comparison shopping, I'll buy the cheaper alternative, within reason. If it's something I'm not sure about or need time to test, I'll buy from REI. Plus, their member discounts make them competitive with online prices.
I also appreciate membership is a one time fee. I wouldn't be a member if it was an annual fee--I don't shop enough there to justify an ongoing cost.
I also appreciate membership is a one time fee. I wouldn't be a member if it was an annual fee--I don't shop enough there to justify an ongoing cost.
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05-23-20, 04:06 PM
#35
Senior Member
Glad you have a good REI bike department, if that is all you have, that is fine. Go with what you got.
All bikes come boxed unless maybe you pick it up directly from the factory that made it and they haven't put it into a box yet.
I said nothing about typical bike owners. Not sure where you got that from? I re-read my piece and also double checked in my word processing software and found no mention.
All bikes come boxed unless maybe you pick it up directly from the factory that made it and they haven't put it into a box yet.
I said nothing about typical bike owners. Not sure where you got that from? I re-read my piece and also double checked in my word processing software and found no mention.
Of course they all come boxed, the difference is the OP is clueless, and a good mechanic would resolve the problem. Unless something is damaged which the OP can't help.
I have been stopping in my local REI for 10, of the 20 years they have been here. I have seen the bike shop filled with boxed bikes that the techs assemble........
The OP is in the middle of nowhere. That's what it sounds like at least.
05-23-20, 04:09 PM
#36
SE Wis
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I often buy wear items at REI like tires, tubes, chains, cassettes, brakes, cables, BB etc. They're competitively priced, free ship to store if not in stock, plus the dividend.
I bought a crap load of cables and cable kits when they were phasing out the Novarra brand. When I lost a rubber strap for my Yakima rack, they pulled one off a display model and gave it to me. While I do most of my own work I'll still opt for Ben's if I need specialized service like a chase & face.
I bought a crap load of cables and cable kits when they were phasing out the Novarra brand. When I lost a rubber strap for my Yakima rack, they pulled one off a display model and gave it to me. While I do most of my own work I'll still opt for Ben's if I need specialized service like a chase & face.
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05-23-20, 04:12 PM
#37
Senior Member
REI is not a big box store by any stretch of the imagination. To compare them to Walmart is so absurdly uninformed and idiotic, it borders on slander. I've been to FAR worse LBS.
Unlike Walmart and box stores, they tend to be a bit over-priced. Also unlike Walmart and box stores, they sell quality stuff and back it up with an extremely generous return policy. Unlike Walmart and box stores, they have many and varied member services, organize outdoor expeditions, etc.
We booked our family trip to the Galapagos through REI. It was an exceptional experience, and everything went very smoothly. It cost more than a mid-tier family car, but it was worth it. I defy you to find any big box store that does anything like that. The comparison is totally asinine.
.
Unlike Walmart and box stores, they tend to be a bit over-priced. Also unlike Walmart and box stores, they sell quality stuff and back it up with an extremely generous return policy. Unlike Walmart and box stores, they have many and varied member services, organize outdoor expeditions, etc.
We booked our family trip to the Galapagos through REI. It was an exceptional experience, and everything went very smoothly. It cost more than a mid-tier family car, but it was worth it. I defy you to find any big box store that does anything like that. The comparison is totally asinine.
.
I don't think you know what a big box store is
Is it a big chain?
are the stores enormous?
Loving the business doesn't make it not a big box store
05-23-20, 04:19 PM
#38
Senior Member
Sounds like the issue is if you order a bike does REI just take the unopened box straight from the manufacturer and send that out in the mail OR do they set the bike up properly then dis assemble repack and ship?
That's a lot of work to unpack, test adjust and repack so it's entirely likely they skip those steps rather than paying a tech for an hour or so.
Not all customer will be able to properly set up a bike
That's a lot of work to unpack, test adjust and repack so it's entirely likely they skip those steps rather than paying a tech for an hour or so.
Not all customer will be able to properly set up a bike
05-23-20, 04:21 PM
#39
Senior Member
This may seem like a sensible idea, but I like to read other peoples reviews BEFORE I buy from a store. That way I can make up my own mind and then, if I have a bad experience because I chose somewhere with a lot of bad reviews I know what I was getting into.
Then if it arrives in a poor state I can look it at it and go 'what oh, spiffity spiff. Looks like they gosh darn done a predictable job. Mighty fine. Lets fix their mess'
Remember also to compliment good service as much as berate poor service - Takes but a minute, what, what.
Then if it arrives in a poor state I can look it at it and go 'what oh, spiffity spiff. Looks like they gosh darn done a predictable job. Mighty fine. Lets fix their mess'
Remember also to compliment good service as much as berate poor service - Takes but a minute, what, what.
05-23-20, 04:40 PM
#40
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Walmart, Home Depot, Best Buy and Ikea are examples of big-box retailers.
Nor does completely mischaracterizing it make it one.
I don't think you have any idea what you are talking about.
Loving the business doesn't make it not a big box store
I don't think you have any idea what you are talking about.
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05-23-20, 04:46 PM
#41
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I am still waiting for something that resembles a rant from the OP.
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05-23-20, 04:53 PM
#42
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05-23-20, 05:43 PM
#43
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05-23-20, 05:46 PM
#44
Senior Member
[QUOTE=Tacoenthusiast;21493073]Sounds like the issue is if you order a bike does REI just take the unopened box straight from the manufacturer and send that out in the mail OR do they set the bike up properly then dis assemble repack and ship?
That's a lot of work to unpack, test adjust and repack so it's entirely likely they skip those steps rather than paying a tech for an hour or so.
Not all customer will be able to properly set up a bike[/QUOTE]
That's a lot of work to unpack, test adjust and repack so it's entirely likely they skip those steps rather than paying a tech for an hour or so.
Not all customer will be able to properly set up a bike[/QUOTE]
05-23-20, 06:18 PM
#45
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05-23-20, 06:30 PM
#46
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Walmart is a discount retail store with low level customer service and product knowledge.
REI is a more specialized store with a much higher level of customer service and product knowledge.
This doesnt even get into the difference in product quality overall.
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05-23-20, 06:34 PM
#47
Sunshine
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They fill a space in the retail segment between general sporting goods and local bike shop. I use my local REI for very specific cycling needs since the in store inventory doesn't match much for how I ride. But to be fair, I also rarely use a couple very good local bike shops for the same reasons. Inventory is limited in person at both types of locations, but REI has what I need for tools and consumables.
05-23-20, 06:40 PM
#48
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Big box retail is typically seen as more generalized instead of specialized inventory. It also typically has lower levels of customer service and product knowledge. Low priced are also often a driving force for business.
Obviously there can be more specialized big box retail- best buy being an example. But even then, the inventory, selection, and product knowledge there is usually lower than speciality stores.
I wouldn't say REI is the same style of store as walmart, target, or fleet farm, etc.
05-23-20, 06:42 PM
#49
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Before the pandemic, did REI ship bikes directly to consumers or was it pick up in store only? Maybe this sales model is new to them. It's good to know how to fix your own bike, you can avoid a lot of drama.
05-23-20, 06:48 PM
#50
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No I think you had to pick them up, assembled and tested.