Trek Bicycle Store on 97th and Riverside

[Ibanez]

Went there yesterday to purchase a new bike for myself and possibly one for my wife. Had been reading about two specific Trek models online for a couple of weeks and was ready to buy 1 and most likely 2 bikes.

Service was horrible. First guy I talked to was very condescending when he discovered I was looking to spend in the $400-$600 range each for either a cruiser style or comfort style bike. Kept trying to push me towards a mountain bike. He finally went off and helped someone else when I refused to look at anything other than what I went there for.

A girl came over and started helping us and was friendly enough but wasn't very helpful. When my wife was looking at a bike and the seat was too high for her the girl helping didn't even offer to help her lower it and acted somewhat put off that my wife was wanting to make a change to the bike before she test rode it.

At the same time I was asking questions about the gear mechanism, the pros and cons of rear coaster brakes, etc, etc, etc.... The girl helping us, wish I could remember her name, didn't seem to know anything and kept referring me to the product literature. I told her I had read the literature online but that I wanted to talk to someone with real world experience.

My wife and I finally left disgusted with the level of service and lack of knowledge by those at the store. Their loss....2 easy sells just walked out the door.

I know this store is part of Lee's Bicycles and in all the years I have been dealing with Lee's I have never had that kind of service. The people at Lee's have always been friendly, helpful and highly knowledgeable about the products they are selling.

Needless to say I will be going to the Lee's location on Brookside sometime this coming week. I'm just hoping they can get what we are looking for since they normally carry Cannondale and Elektra comfort bikes at their location.

[AngieB]

Tulsa Bicycle Club has a list of shops on their website. http://www.tulsabicycleclub.com/misc.php

We bought nice bikes several years ago from Larry at The Wheel -- a LONG time ago when he was there on the north end of Riverside. He moved downtown and I guess is just doing recumbents now, but you might give him a call anyway. Super nice man.

Glad you're keeping it local. []

[Ed W]

I've been in a lot of bike shops in various parts of the country, and I've worked in several.  The very best advice I can give is to buy from a shop that makes you feel comfortable, where the employees are friendly and knowledgeable, and at least one of them has some gray hair.  Getting a whiff of WD40 when you walk in the door is a plus, too.  

Shops have a better margin on accessories than they do on bicycles, so it's in their best interest to have satisfied customers who will come back for future purchases.  The market is so competitive that the local shop prices are comparable to the on-line stores.  Most of them offer free tune-ups on new bikes, because regardless of the purchase price, a new bike will need a little bit of attention as spokes settle in and cables stretch.  

Please let us all know how you make out on your new bike purchase.  I'm campaigning for a new commuter bike or at least a new back wheel for my existing bike.  She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed casts a dubious eye my way whenever I start talking about it.  "Honey, Wavoka got a new bike, so I should have one too!"  This is a good time to buy one as the shops are looking at going to the trade show next month to place their orders for next year.

[Wilbur]

I bought my road bike from Tom's at 69th and Peoria, and Tom was the one who helped me.  He spent a lot of time with me on various sized bikes to make sure I fit the bike I bought.

When I was out looking at bikes, I had the same experience with Lee's on Peoria as you mentioned above, which was before the Riverside store opened.  Needless to say, I didn't buy there.  I know you said you were interested in the Treks, which Tom doesn't sell, but the the Giants are pretty comparable in both features and price.

On the flip side, I've had to get a couple of tires repaired and went to the Trek store on Riverside.  I was well treated with quick service.

[brunoflipper]

well, i've never had anything that even remotely resembled good service at lee's... it has been "ok" and a couple of times "sucked"...

took my bike in last week to the guys at midtown bicycles (new cables, bent link, and spoke adjustment)... i've never been tothe original t-town locale, just too damn far out there... they were exceedingly helpful and friendly... the bike is perfect and the price for the work done was reasonable...

midtown bicycles has become my new bike shop...

[Breadburner]

I like G.Oscar myself.....

[Aa5drvr]

I had the same experience at Lee's when they were at 81st and Memorial.  
That building is now a liquor store which I can very much appreciate.

After that I can never say enough good things about T-Town Bicycles on 71st Street.

Most importantly is to keep these LBS (Local Bike Shops) in business, by patronizing them and leaving the big box stores bikes alone.

[Ed W]

I know Adam Vanderburg, owner of Lee's Bicycles, so I forwarded the original post to him.  Here's his reply.  And I have his permission to post it:

Hey Ed,
I appreciate you sharing this information with me.  I new one of my biggest
challenges this year with the new store was employee training and elevating
everyone up to standards.  I internationally took all my green horns to Trek
Store with me 12 months ago.  I left my core players at Lee's.  Some of
these employees have made the cut and others have not.  I'm hoping her encounter with the condescending guy was the one I fired on Wednesday.  The girl was Julie and she is new but eager to learn and still has a way to go. Hopefully this couple will have a more positive experience at Lee's. Anytime you want to refer someone for better guidance please don't hesitate to use my name at Trek Store or Jeff's at Lee's as a contact for help. Overall I'm very proud of our record but know that constant maintenance to the details of the business is critical.  We have over 20 employees over the season so sometimes we get one or two bad apples every year.   I've recently started a weekly staff meeting and don't even open until 12 on Tuesday's now to help elevate the standards so we can be better servants and leaders.
Thanks,
Adam

Jeff works at the Brookside shop and doesn't call himself a salesman.  Instead, he describes his job as a "tour guide to a bicycle store".  Like any good businessmen, these guys want to know that they're meeting their customers needs, and if they fail to do that, they want to know why.  That's a long-term view that keeps a good shop in business.

[Ibanez]

Nice to see that response from the owner of Lee's. I have dealt with them many times over the years, starting back when I was a teenager riding BMX bikes and nearly killing myself several times.

I have dealt with Jeff at Lee's before and he is always very helpful. Nice guy who actually listens to what you want and does whatever he can to make sure you are happy.

I plan on going by the Lee's store today at lunch. Will try Midtown as well. Although I think they only deal in Specialized brand bikes and I've had two friends have bad experiences with that brand. In fact when they found out I was looking to buy a new bike they both told me to stay far away from Specialized.

[tulsacyclist]

That is great to hear from Adam on the issue.

FWIW, I've had great success at Bicycles of Tulsa and the T-Town/Midtown shops. It seems the majority of the staff at each shop came across as very friendly and knowledgeable of the products they carried. I've had experiences similar to yours at the Trek Store on 97th/Riverside.

If I had to pick one, I'd say Bicycles of Tulsa would be my first choice.But of course if you are after Trek that won't do you any good as they do not carry Trek. =]

[sauerkraut]

Heck, I bought a bike in 1985 and I still have it. I paid around $100.00 for it. It's a 26" road bike. (Why buy a mountain bike when there's no mountains around?) I don't ride my bike much, I'm more into running. I just can't get into cycling. Also if your a jogger you don't have to worry about flat tires![]

[Sangria]

My husband and I both bought our bikes from the Trek store on Riverside. They were all very nice and helpful with us.

When I needed adjustments they did it without pause. That was last year. I love my bike.

Maybe the guys who were there back then have left. But they could answer all our questions.

I will go back there until they give me a reason not to.