What a joke… My local Tri shop made this list and they are the worst retail organization I have ever done business with… In fact, almost everyone I have spoken with feels the same way. I guess because its the only Tri Shop in town it has to be the best.
I think the next List should interview 20 random customers and decide whether or not these shops really deserve to be on this list.
I read the list to see one of our New England area bike shops on the list, and was tempted to fire off a letter to Inside Tri. This particular LBS has a fabulous inventory, helpful and knowledgable sales personnel, and terrific mechanics with great turn-around time for repairs. However, they have absolutely horrible service for any item that fails during the warranty period.
Example 2: My Speedplay frog pedal broke while mountain biking only a few months after purchase. The LBS would not replace it. They said I had to buy a new set of pedals, give them the old pedals, they would send the old pedals to Speedplay to get me new ones, and when the new ones came in, I’d get a shop credit. I then phoned Speedplay to discover that this is not their warranty policy. Instead, Speedplay immediately sent me replacement pedals. Why would the LBS insist on such a contorted procedure while the pedals were clearly under warranty from a company that stands by it’s product?
Example 2. Purchased Continental Grand Prix tubulars for my race wheels from same LBS. After only one race season, the treads were separating horribly on both tires. LBS refused to replace. They said that Continental could not replace them even though they had only about 300 miles total on them (one season racing mileage). I am now boycotting Continental.
And, I’m really careful what I purchase from this LBS.
BrokenSpoke