Anyone else having significant issues with TBT, going to IMFL from Toronto (Endurosport is the partner shop)???
Endurosport says they know NOTHING about TBT transport from their location. I have talked to the floor manager and the owner. This is very, very concerning for me. Between myself, my wife, and two friends, we’ve already paid Cdn $ equivalent of $1,500 (which has been charged to our respective credit cards), and Endurosport know nothing about this. The race is 13 days away, and the drop-off deadline is 3 days away.
My friend and Endurosport has already contacted TBT since Friday, and there has been absolutely no response.
Endurosport has advised us to not drop off the bikes in the meantime, but how can TBT run a service, charge $325 per bike, and not actually let the facilitating bike shop know that they are doing this?
This is stress that we do not need. Has anyone else booked their RSVP with TBT from Toronto, and, actually got confirmation that they are coming to Toronto to pick up the bikes?
If you keep the weight under 50lbs and under a certain size it’s only $50 plus $25 for the extra checked bag each way (Air Canada). Only downside is you have to disassemble/reassemble but I’m sure Endurosports and an IMFL LBS would help.
If you keep the weight under 50lbs and under a certain size it’s only $50 plus $25 for the extra checked bag each way (Air Canada). Only downside is you have to disassemble/reassemble but I’m sure Endurosports and an IMFL LBS would help.
Unfortunately we’re flying Delta and I believe the charges are much higher. AC does not fly to PCB.
No issues disassembling/reassembling but we are so close to the race now… and having to find 4 bike boxes for the group of us at this late stage is going to be difficult, if we need to enact a plan B.
Also, Scicon Aero Comfort 2.0 available here if you’re still stuck. Minimal disassembly. Hamilton. Hopefully you get it all sorted out - if not, ST has your back
I’m surprised there is a Toronto pick up. I know on the website it says (said) Endurosport is a partner, but when I contacted TBT last December about setting up a T.O. pick up, they said there wouldn’t be one in TO, and that Buffalo/Detroit were my options.
Good luck! I hope it works out for you and I see you on the bike course with your bike
I’m surprised there is a Toronto pick up. I know on the website it says (said) Endurosport is a partner, but when I contacted TBT last December about setting up a T.O. pick up, they said there wouldn’t be one in TO, and that Buffalo/Detroit were my options.
Good luck! I hope it works out for you and I see you on the bike course with your bike
Exactly, I was surprised too! So when I saw it, I emailed them three times to confirm that they sorted out their customs and border issues.
Thanks for the well wishes. Hope to see u out there too! All the best.
We will be picking bikes up from Endurosport this week, as scheduled. I’m sorry for the confusion with the shop. Unlike most of our other partner shops, where we pick up bikes for dozens of events during the year, we pick up from Endurosport for a couple of events with enough demand to make it feasible. It appears that some at the shop were not aware that we will be coming in this week. We will contact them first thing tomorrow to make sure everyone is up to speed.
We have also left you a vm in response to the message you left us earlier today. Please call us after 9am tomorrow if you have any further questions or concerns.
Last year for IMTX I signed up for TBT, and they backed out with about 1 week to go. Same story: Endurosport didn’t know anything about it. I have a feeling they put the opinion on their site hoping they get enough people signing up and then claim “oops, our error” when it doesn’t work out. When they backed out, I used:
We will be picking bikes up from Endurosport this week, as scheduled. I’m sorry for the confusion with the shop. Unlike most of our other partner shops, where we pick up bikes for dozens of events during the year, we pick up from Endurosport for a couple of events with enough demand to make it feasible. It appears that some at the shop were not aware that we will be coming in this week. We will contact them first thing tomorrow to make sure everyone is up to speed.
We have also left you a vm in response to the message you left us earlier today. Please call us after 9am tomorrow if you have any further questions or concerns.
Thanks,
Appreciate the response, Marc. I called your employee back to thank him for reaching out on a Sunday evening.
On another note, I wish you guys would come up to Toronto to transport our bikes for more races actually. I remember using your service in 2009 to travel to Florida 70.3 (Walt Disney) and we had such a great trip precisely because we didn’t have to lug our bikes everywhere. I would absolutely love for you guys to consider Toronto more often. Toronto is actually an amalgamation of different cities and townships (Greater Toronto Area - “GTA”). There’s 2.6 million inhabitants within the GTA, and with a bit more research, plus a bit more targeted marketing, you might be able to see that a lot of athletes from these different areas within the GTA have signed up for the races you are servicing from the U.S, and could present a viable and sustainable source of business going forward.
Some of the athletes I train with don’t actually sign up for races unless they can get their bike to the race without having to pack it in a box. This is for a variety of reasons; lack of technical know-how in assembling/disassembling, wanting to travel after the race, or having a big family (making it impractical to lug a big box around after the race). I think there’s a huge opportunity here. So when you guys decide whether or not to come up to Toronto, don’t just look at the name “Toronto” in the sign-up lists that your race partners provide. Make sure you look at all the neighbouring regions as well!
Make sure you look at all the neighbouring regions as well!
I am sure that Marc/TBT, would be happy to do more up here, but I suspect strongly that the border is a big problem, and adds a layer of costs and hassle that may limit what TBT can do in and out of Canada.
Politicians love to go and on about the great friendship between Canada and the US and the fact that we have the longest undefended border in the world between us. It’s all friendship and no defence until you try and legally ship something across the border - either way, and it can become a complete pain in the ass and ridiculously expensive.
I just heard of one online seller in this market who essentially gave-up on selling into Canada - the costs were ridiculous!
Neither border service seems to understand the concept of goods that cost nothing crossing the border. Wholesalers retailers get into the same fix on returns - it’s not uncommon to have to pay duties and taxes north-bound when sold initially and then southbound (or vice-versa) when returned for warranty, or other issues!
I’ve also used BikeBoxRentals.ca as well - highly recommended. Besides I didn’t want to give up my bike so much in advance like what’s needed if transported by TBT.
I used their packing services, well worth it, with my bike packed really well, they take really good care with all the details and bonus I watched the whole thing so I knew how to reassemble and repack.
Traveling with the bike case was pretty easy without any issues. I travel for business so used to the whole process.
