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?

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!!!

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.)

Quote from Mizta_Nice on Oct 2^nd, 2012, 4:59pm:

 
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.

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.

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

Quote from AustinSkater on Apr 22^nd, 2013, 12:01pm:

 
 
Were you wearing your Larry Varney disguise?  

If my store sells em, then I'm paid to like em and not badmouth em.
 
Quote from jcsadowski on Apr 22^nd, 2013, 2:49pm: