trentnix wrote:
karlaj wrote:
trentnix wrote:
exxxviii wrote:
trentnix wrote:
Saris has become the Rudy Project of power meters.
Meaning crappy, overrated products or shamelessly marketing at Kona?
My comment was probably meaner than is deserved.
I just find Powertap to be generally unprofitable products that are being given away to the "cool kids" to create a perception of value that is higher than is justified.
There's a lot rolled up in that one sentence. Your second comment comes across even meaner than the first. I'm surprised to read this coming from you, and not quite understanding the vitriol.
Yes, they're doing exactly what you said. But so? Their job is to sell product. Where's the crime?
They, like so many vendors, have confused their customers with their audience. The athlete is their audience, but the miracle pill of
omnichannel has them confused.
I do not enjoy dealing with them as a vendor to my shop, and this is another example of a behavior pattern that is contrary to their rhetoric. My reasons are probably not appropriate for the board and are very "inside baseball", so to speak. I just think the future their behavior creates is an unprofitable one, and therefore an unsustainable one. I don't think an unsustainable future is good for anyone: retailer, vendor, and consumer alike.
I am guessing you don't like them offering cheaper buying channels than what you can offer at your shop. I worked at two different large LBS in Dallas during college and we had very good interactions with PT/Saris, no problems at all, possibly this is isolated to your shop? This is a really smart move by getting some of the fastest triathletes on their products. Many times these people are coaches, group leaders, and or mentors to other people in the sport and this can potentially sway others to consider their products. The PT hub still is the most bomb proof PM on the market, crankset is priced well, and the pedals are competitive. I own a power beam pro trainer and had an issue last year, called and talked to a really informed individual. They paid to have it shipped both ways and had a new updated unit in 3 days. I would never hesitate to buy another product from them for the exceptional support. The same is true for Quarq, just incredible service and similarly had a new unit in 2 days. To me this is the kind of company that will be here for the long haul.
I say all this by the way as an owner of 3 quarqs, powerbeam pro trainer, and a PT hub.