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Message started by AustinSkater on Oct 1^st, 2012, 11:57am

Title: RBM - What happened?
Post by AustinSkater on Oct 1^st, 2012, 11:57am

I went to the main RBM location today, for my annual post Texas Time Trails "Spend the coupon trip", which is about the only time I go there and deal with the charm school at Joliet graduates that they hire.

I walked in the main door, and was greeted warmly (I almost looked over my shoulder to see if there was someone behind me with a platinum card out). Slightly confused I headed over to the tubes, where an employee asked if I needed help finding anything. I said "Nope, just need these tubes" and grabbed the last 3 29er Slime tubes. He immediately said that if I needed more he could check the back. I then headed to the Parts and No Service department, where I was promptly waited on. I asked for some Kool Stop brake pads and was handed some mtn bike ones (they guy had spotted the 29er tubes), and then he headed off to find the long derailleur cable I asked for. While I was waiting, another employee asked if I was being helped. When he came back with the cable I pointed out that I needed road brake pads, and he happily took care of that.

I then left the counter, and was looking at tools (a week spot for me). While I was standing there thinking about my budget, the guy from Parts saw how much stuff I was holding in my hands and got me a basket. I then added a pair of 650 wheels to my pile of stuff.

After having a friendly conversation with the cashier, who wanted to make sure that I didn't grab the wrong sized wheels, since they don't sell many 650s with 29er tubes, I walked out and looked back to make sure I really was at RBM.

So the question is, did I luck into the one day a year where they are friendly and efficient, or has the culture finally changed there?

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by Patti on Oct 1^st, 2012, 4:10pm

I'm hopeful that this is the beginning of change at RBM. I was there right before HHH because I was short on tubes and thought they might be the only store in town that would have the right brand and size. Not only did they ask if they could help me when I walked in ( a first) but when they didn't have what I was looking for, the guy gave me a slightly smaller tube to try and declined to charge me for it. Plus, he apologized for not having the correct size in stock. If they'd had a basement, I would have immediately checked it for pods...

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Oct 2^nd, 2012, 9:44am

Company cultures CAN change... let's see if it sticks, especially where the 'bent market is concerned... I'm willing to hope, because they certain have always had a buncha bikes on the floor!!!

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by kingjason on Oct 2^nd, 2012, 4:52pm

I have always been treated very well at RBM. I use to run into Woody all the time and he knows a good deal about recumbents. They even pulled parts off of a new bike that my mom needed one time. On another note there was a time when I was not a fan of B&B in Cedar Hill which is why I ended up at RBM and Plano a lot. Now I get along great with everyone there. I still ride several types of bikes so I use to try and shop around for price but now I am more interested in keeping who is local to me open. I understand now not everyone has a salesmans personality like myself. LOL

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by Mizta_Nice on Oct 2^nd, 2012, 4:59pm

I'm going to go out there and check out RBM, because I hear it's much more welcoming now. I haven't been there in years, because when I lived out that way I always got strange looks and no help when I went in. Do they have any bikes I can test ride? I'm just short of making a special trip to Austin to try out a Strada and a Catrike. Hopefully I can buy one here locally, because I am big on buying things in the area.

(However, I've heard so much good about Easy Street that I am still looking forward to dealing with them if I can as well.)

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by freakflyer9999 on Oct 2^nd, 2012, 5:08pm

Mizta_Nice wrote:

My wife and I bought a Catrike in April. RBM had a limited selection at the time and even my wife (who had never heard anything about RBM) thought they couldn't care less if she bought a trike from them. The trike she was able to test ride there had a misrouted chain. When I pointed it out, the salesman said something to the effect that "we don't work on many trikes". They also didn't have any chain tensioners on their demos. Since she is very short, she test rode the trike with the chain dragging the ground.

I have even been in there since that time (to meet another recumbent rider with a bike for sale) and still got the feeling that my business was unimportant to them.

Easystreet on the other hand was well worth the trip. Extremely knowledgeable and very friendly service. In my opinion Easystreet is worth keeping in business and Mike has been rumored to be considering a Dallas/Ft Worth Easystreet. A large portion of his business comes from DFW.

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by jayg on Oct 2^nd, 2012, 5:31pm

Mizta_Nice wrote:

If you're interested in a Strada, you might check out Plano Cycling and Fitness when you visit RBM. PC&F is not too far away from RBM, and is the Bacchetta dealer for this area. PC&F let me test ride a Corsa, which I subsequently purchased. I like their people and store.

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by Monkeywrangler22 on Oct 2^nd, 2012, 5:37pm

gmrviper on BROL is selling his Strada. I happen to have a spare new Euromesh seat that should fit it, if someone wants to buy the seat (and his Strada...)

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by rmillay on Oct 2^nd, 2012, 8:09pm

I've had mixed luck at Bikemart, but it seemed to be more connected to the individual than the store. The trike I bought there was properly built and adjusted closely enough to tweak without tools. When the color I ordered as "on sale" turned out not to be, Woody had them eat the difference in price. They have a recumbent guy, but he's not always there. If I feel I'm not getting the service I need, I find someone else--or go elsewhere.

Easy Street can't get dealerships for Catrikes, for instance, in Dallas, because of overlap in territory. Catrike watches that closely.

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by Joan1708 on Oct 10^th, 2012, 9:44pm

I bought my Catrike Expedition from RBM. They had a bunch of trikes to try when I was there. They had a terratrike tour II, a full suspension trike (scorpion?- $6000.00 so I didn't look to hard at it), Catrike villager, Catrike Roadie, Catrike 700, Catrike expedition and a couple delta trikes if I remember correctly. They were helpful to me. I went there 3 times to test ride trikes, and was treated well everytime I went. I ordered my trike and it arrived sooner than expected. They assembled it promptly. I took it back twice, once to have the back wheel trued, and once to fixed the fender rattle and help me with a Springer dog walker. The guys in the back fixed everything quickly, and couldn't have been anymore professional.

I have also been there in the past and was underwhelmed with them and went elsewhere to buy my bike. I think the guy at Performance bike in Dallas is very nice and would have gone back to him if he sold any trikes. I went to RBM because they had the trikes and was pleasantly surprised with how well I have been treated.

I read lots of very good things about Easy Street Recumbents in Austin, and would make it a point to check it out if ever in the neighborhood. But Geez, I don't want to have to go to Austin to buy a trike or have it worked on!

Title: Some things never change.
Post by AustinSkater on Apr 22^nd, 2013, 12:01pm

I went to RBM today to pickup Germenfest packets, and was promptly helped, but they still don't get it. My exchange with the worker went something like this:

Worker: Are you ready for the ride.
Me: Yeah, just not sure which bike I'm going to bring

Worker: Oh
Me: Yeah, not sure if I want to ride my mountain bike, single-speed or recumbent

Worker: Don't bring the recumbent, there are hills on this ride
Me: [smiley=jawdrop.gif]

I guess he figured that a recumbent must climb worse than a single-speed.

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by aikigreg on Apr 22^nd, 2013, 12:14pm

Yup, apparently there is only one question on the employment application. "Are you an asshat?" if yes, hired on the spot.

Title: Re: Some things never change.
Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Apr 22^nd, 2013, 1:43pm

AustinSkater wrote:

I went to RBM today to pickup Germenfest packets, and was promptly helped, but they still don't get it.

I guess he figured that a recumbent must climb worse than a single-speed.

Were you wearing your Larry Varney disguise? ;D

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by jcsadowski on Apr 22^nd, 2013, 2:49pm

Face it, not everybody likes recumbents.

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by aikigreg on Apr 22^nd, 2013, 4:38pm

If my store sells em, then I'm paid to like em and not badmouth em.

jcsadowski wrote:

Face it, not everybody likes recumbents.

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by shellbear on Apr 22^nd, 2013, 5:42pm

Ding ding ding!

aikigreg wrote:

If my store sells em, then I'm paid to like em and not badmouth em.

[quote author=jcsadowski link=1349110637/0#13 date=1366660178]Face it, not everybody likes recumbents.

[/quote]

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by Phantom Rider on Apr 23^rd, 2013, 12:13pm

I've never had the pleasure of visiting RBM and have no plans to based on the feedback on this forum. Thursday morning 11am I will be standing in front of Easy Street when Mike opens the door, its worth the drive to me. I know what I get every time, quality service at a fair price and an opportunity to ride lots of cool toys.

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by rmillay on Apr 23^rd, 2013, 3:31pm

aikigreg wrote:

If my store sells em, then I'm paid to like em and not badmouth em.

Well said, Greg.

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by jayg on Apr 23^rd, 2013, 3:40pm

I have to commend RBM for sponsoring monthly trike rides and furnishing food and drinks to the riders at the end of the rides. Depending upon the number of riders, RBM assigns one or two employees to leading and sweeping duties. One of the employees pulls a RideKick trailer, which is available for use by any rider that becomes gassed. If anyone in the DFW area is interested in TerraTrike or Catrike trikes, RBM is the closest place to go for a test ride. If one wants to test ride high performance recumbent bikes, then they need to head for Easy Street Recumbents. I remember standing outside Easy Street in 2011 with some buddies, waiting for them to open, so I could test ride a Musashi. I rode the bike around in the parking lots, then wheeled up to the front door and told Mike: "I want this bike." He prepped it, and we were on our way back to Dallas in less than an hour.

IMO not worth driving 400 miles round trip, and $60 or more for gas, just to have a bike or trike serviced by Easy Street, unless you love Austin. :)

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by Denman on Apr 23^rd, 2013, 7:30pm

RBM has always done right by me, and I'm a customer who does not tolerate mediocrity.

Title: Re: RBM - What happened?
Post by Patti on Apr 23^rd, 2013, 11:49pm

Denman wrote:

RBM has always done right by me, and I'm a customer who does not tolerate mediocrity.

I wish I could feel that way but time and again, they have treated me with a range of behaviors from complete indifference to utter contempt. It is really hard to overlook that. I appreciate the trike rides and feel that there have been some improvements although it is clearly not consistent throughout the store. Perhaps it will continue to get better but I won't be holding my breath. I think I prefer to keep my expectations low and hope they will exceed them.

Title: Re: Some things never change.
Post by Action Lad on Apr 28^th, 2013, 12:00am

AustinSkater wrote:

Oops, there goes my blood pressure again! Here's the cure: (start watching at 8:50)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KciNCAwpri0 Tepee is just a short hill, but with the same technique I shoot up hills several times the length when 'bents...especially trikes...are supposed to choke.

Title: Re: Some things never change.
Post by Bud_Bent on Apr 28^th, 2013, 9:51pm

AustinSkater wrote:

LOL @ that. You would think that even a dim witted bike shop employee could figure out that gears would be easier on hills than a single speed.