Strange All3Sports Experience. Need Opinions...

I was shopping recently for a tri bike there and asked them if they had closeouts (they had some 07 duals and p2's) but they were guarded aout what sizes they had and said I would need to be fitted first. I thought it was silly that they wouldnt even tell me what sizes they had.

I understand the need for proper bike fit, but I think it is really just a ploy to keep you from shopping elsewhere having invested ahead of time for the fit. The funny thing is you can buy thier bikes on the internet no questions asked. That is why I will probably never buy a bike from them. They are a good store with great service, but they really turned me off from bike shopping with them.

 Roswell Bikes has always been very acommodating with that sort of thing, so my new bike money will go there next time. 

I've never been impressed by their customer service, which is too bad, since it's not exactly on my way to/from anything... meaning, whenever I stopped in, I was there with a purpose and ready to buy.  I simply don't go anymore.  They aren't the only game in town. 

I've gone there specifically to shop for things - clothing (which is easier to try on there), wetsuit (again, easier to try on) and other random things.  I've always had someone very helpful, which surprised me given the negative feedback I usually hear about them.  Then again, I've never shopped for a bike there.

Some of my other friends have had more negative experiences.  I mean, look at where they are.  It's pretty out of the way.  Almost like they don't really want to have a walk in store, but will take it if you can find them.  Of course, I heard that they are moving, so not sure if that will help.  

I definitely don't feel like they are my LBS, just from the feedback I've heard from everyone else.  Which sucks because I'll be in the market for a tri bike in the next 2 years and they carry some great brands.   

Do you really think you can tell much by riding around the parking lot or a couple of miles on a new bike? You can't.  It takes miles and miles to figure out if the bike is the right one for you (a bunch of research can get you close). 

That is All3's approach and I can understand their dilemma given the high end bikes they sale.  Clearly Roswell has a different approach to that.  But I would ask if a mediocre five minute fit at Roswell tells you what you want in a bike?  You position will likely change when you get the actual fit.  

This coming from a guy who has purchased two HIGH end bikes that I had never ridden prior to purchase.  

THE BICYCLE LINK
800 Miami Circle
Suite 160
Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 233-4103
www.bicyclelink.net

WHat I liked was the Serrotta fit cycle done by Will to dial in the geometry to custom. Thats not to say a fitting at a top rated store on the top rated models wouldn't have sorted me out. But when your spending the geetahs, why not figure out the precise measurements that maximize aero/comfort/power? Then you dont need to ride it around the parking lot.

I agree 100% that you can tell next to nothing about riding a bike in a parking lot... and I am currently looking at purchasing a high end bike.  Guess what?  I am having that bike built and am able to test ride it for a week... at no charge.

With that said, I'll point out that I went to Roswell Bikes, too.  They gave me a preliminary fit to make sure they got me on the right sized bike and they didn't charge me for this.  I didn't end up going with them because they didn't have what I was looking for and, frankly, through work, I had a better option... but still, the fact that they were willing to size me and put me on a bike at no additional charge vs. the deal at All3 was impressive.

Bicycle Link is the sh*t.  I love them! 

I am not going to get in the game of defending them but search slowtwitch and see how many shops have had people ride off on brand new bikes because of this.  See how many people get on a tri bike for the first time and it falls over in the parking lot.  It isn't 'everyday common' but it happens more often than not.   Patrick chooses to employee the no ride model and it works for them.   If you don't like it, then don't buy from them.  That is the consumer choice.   (And I would argue that All3 is probably less interested in local sales as I might estimate somewhere between 2/3-3/4 of their sales are online.  This is a figure I actually want to know)

If you read their refunds and exchanges, you have 30 days from the time you buy the bike until you return it.  This was the same philosophy at Atlanta Cycling.  Guess what?  I used that 30 days to determine if the bike was for me.  I went back in 2-3 times to have it refitted to make sure it was specifically dialed in for ME.  

I am not the biggest All3 fan in the world.  However, I understand their policys and make the best consumer decision for myself.  

(this is just a general response to Greg's post, not arguing with him)

ETS: double post ... hiccup

I dunno, Dollar, I have to agre with Greg in that you can tell a lot about a bike when riding around the parking lot.  A simple 5-10 minute fit (adjust saddle height and back + forth on the saddle rails) is really all that you need for a test drive. 

It is from here that you can get a feel for the responsiveness of the steering, for the acceleration, for the stiffness of the frame set.

Without testing out the difference between say a Felt vs. a Cervelo, how would you know the difference and make the distinctive choice?

All3Sports has a store front only because there are required to by the common bike manufacturer policy of LBS' being able to sell bikes via the internet only if they also sell them to walk-in customers.  This is to keep the frame from being priced as a commodity and dominated by a few bulk sellers. (And it is for this reason that most manufacturers have a minimum amount that can be charged for each bike as well.)

Don't get me wrong, we are lucky to have All3Sports in our backyard ... just wish that they felt like they were lucky to have us too.

It was precisely for this reason that I purchased my first Cervelo (a 2007 Dual) from Cahaba.  Great fitting service as well.

Watch the components and wheelset they quote you on, though.  I got a downgraded wheelset vs. what All3Sports was offering for the same model for roughly the same price.

Full Disclosure:  I am sponsored by A3S

I can tell you that they are not going to build up bike for you so that you can try it out.  That much I know.  But if they have one built up in your size, I think they will let you put it on the trainer.  I also know that they will take the time to measure you and figure out what bike is for you.  That is free.

If you are buying a bike over the internet, of course they are not going to worry if it fits you.  That's why they have the tools on their site for you to do your own "checking".  If you walk in, they would be remiss if they just let you pick a bike and walk out.  They want to make sure you are happy with it and that takes time.  Not 15 minutes.

I have never had a problem getting an internet price at the store.  Actually, I think that the prices are synomis.  No difference.  In regards to what size frames they have in stock or closeout, I can say that they don't know from time to time.

Why don't they know?  Because they do a ton of internet sales.  If you call and they say, "Yes, I have a 56 P2C, come on in.  Now you drive an hour to get there and it's been sold online.  What kind of customer service is that?  I am ASSUMING that is what may have occurred. 

I was weary about A3S at first because I had heard about their customer service, etc but after doing my research and meeting them, I changed my mind.  It was NOT because they chose to sponsor me, I chose to ask them for a sponsorship because I believed in their brand and what they can offer not only me but my athletes in terms of Customer Service, Product reliability, ease of access and price. 

I am going into the shop today and I will ask about the policy.  So I will get the answer directly from the Horses mouth.   

Dan,

It seemed odd to me.  I go in there probably once a month and I have never seen the guy who helped me that day on any other visit so my guess is he was new or just helping out up front.  I've noticed there are some really nice people who work there and I wouldn't want to lump everyone in the same boat. 

Point is is that they are developing a negative reputation for this. This subject comes up often. They spend a lot of time and money locally, and all those marketing dollars go to waste when a qualified customer walks through the door and gets this experience. it takes a lot of marketing money to get one customer, so they have to ask themselves what the lifetime value of an average customer is. My Guess $1000-$5000, depending if they buy a bike or not, and then factor in referrals.

It's a lot of money that will get spent elsewhere.

 I will shut up now and let this thread die  

I was a total newbie babe in the woods, walked in, four hours later came out with a Cervelo...It fits great and I would have made me pay first too based on the fact I had never even ridden a road bike before.  I think the guy literally was holding his breath as I wobbled around the parking lot "testing" out my new bike.  Should he have encouraged me not to buy a bike?  Should he have said 'nah, you don't really need a cervelo"...I feel like their business is to sell bikes to Tri crazed newbies like me who are ridiculous enough to spend our last dime on a fancy bike and that is exactly what all three sports did...My LBS wanted me to order a Orca sight unseen so I don't really see the difference...

PS  I LOVE my new bike and I am slowly but surely learning to ride it..They put me in the least aggressive position possible which for me is just right.  I can't wait to use my new bike in a sprint this spring!