GoLefty!! Posted February 24, 2015 Posted February 24, 2015 Thank you Master of the Vague Pearls of Wisdom Dispenser. Go buy a concept store owner a beer after the shop has been converted for more than a year...
SiriS Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 Go buy a concept store owner a beer after the shop has been converted for more than a year...More vague pearls of wisdom. Why don't you just articulate what you mean? _David_, GLuvsMtb, Brian Fantana and 2 others 5
tsdutweet Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 Personally never felt welcome when I've been there, maybe I'm not "local" enough for them to take my money Benny 748 and VeloRacer 2
Cam182 Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 I can only give good feedback on revolution cycles... Which is strange because i own no specialized bikes. Stirling junior helped me get a niner frame i wanted for a fairly competitive price. And then as i was building up the bike, one of the mechanics there has always been helpful when i have went in to learn how to do something. Helpful as in stopped what he was doing and shown me what to do and for free because i had bought the frame there. And they weren't always quick tasks, one of them was helping me to cut the fork and install the headset so i appreciated his help along the way. I also think the new store looks good. Full of specialized gear and a decent amount of parts in stock for when you need something. Price wise, they may not be the cheapest vs online but i think they are there or there abouts compared to the other lbs i use and i'm happy to pay slightly more for service and being able to walk in and get what i want if i need it urgently, rather than saving 5-10% and waiting to have it shipped from overseas. I might also be wrong here but i think specialized has a linked system between all its shops in south africa, so if you are after something and the shop doesn't have it it can see whats in stock around the country and get it in for you. Again i could be wrong here but if its true i think that's great from specialized and I wish some other big brands like trek would offer the same. Nothing worse than wanting something and then having to import it because no one locally can tell you if its available or not LOOK695 1
Benny 748 Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 Apart from being so pretentious, whats the difference between a concept store and a bike shop??
GLuvsMtb Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 Apart from being so pretentious, whats the difference between a concept store and a bike shop??A bike shop sells as many brands as they can squeeze onto the sales floor, like say Edgars, while a concept store only sells a particular brand, like say the Levi's store.
GLuvsMtb Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 Apart from being so pretentious, whats the difference between a concept store and a bike shop??Another aspect of concept stores is that staff are trained on a specific range of bikes and components. They generally also have more depth in what is on the floor in terms of sizes etc. A concept store should have all the main bike models in all available sizes, provided hat there is stock in SA, while a normal bike shop typically only have one of each model and have to source any deviation in size requirement from Specialized HQ. Some concept stores work, some don't. Sales and service staff and management all have to buy into the brand 100% and location plays a huge role too. Captain Fastbastard Mayhem 1
NotSoBigBen Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 I have never been in a concept store doesn't interest me. Wyatt Earp and Vangar 2
andretraut Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 Great shop, run by great people. I always get great service from both Stirlings and Justin! I will keep on going back. Godzilla 1
MTBeer Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 Personally never felt welcome when I've been there, maybe I'm not "local" enough for them to take my moneybru, first rule of shopping in Bree Street - you gotta be hip. No hip, no joy. This rule is multiplied exponentially by the Spaz factor.
Guest Smimby Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 A friend of mine had her bike serviced there, only for a "mysterious" scratch to appear on the front Maxle. They denied it, and I ride with her and I am sure that it is NOT even the Maxle that was on her bike before the service. Another friend was in the shop for ages and eventually walked out when no one assisted him So I really hope they make this concept work
BDF Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 I was in the Specialized Concept store that opened in Somerset West a couple of years ago. While I'm not against the brand, I am against the snobbery that was obvious. I hope they don't become like that... Is that store still open? akneethling 1
GLuvsMtb Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 I was in the Specialized Concept store that opened in Somerset West a couple of years ago. While I'm not against the brand, I am against the snobbery that was obvious. I hope they don't become like that... Is that store still open?snobbery is subjective and not limited to any brand / type of store. I cannot recall ever feeling unwelcome in any bike shop before. Maybe I am just thick-skinned or maybe I engage with people differently to how others engage them. Oh, and just for the record, I am a guy in my late 30's with a beer gut weighing about 100kg, so I don't even look the part either. I often go into shops just to have a look and I don't have a Tag on my wrist or wear an Armani suite either. Captain Fastbastard Mayhem and BDF 2
American Flyers Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 I like this shop, very clean and tidy. I know most specialized owners will love that shop, but I am not specialized owner and I will prefer a shop that sells at least 5 branded bikes, so that I can compare and test them before I buy it. How can I compare if they only sell Specialized bikes? Brawler and Godzilla 2
wolver Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 Great shop, run by great people. I always get great service from both Stirlings and Justin! I will keep on going back.+1 Godzilla 1
'Dale Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 I'm glad there's no Cannondale Concept StoreMy credit card will be black and blue Hehehehee Marius and Mopkop 2
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