Conference noted::bicycle

>    Any comments on BIKE NASHBAR and their prices?
    
     My experience: prices at or below Performance, quite a bit lower
     than others such as Palo Alto, etc.  The Nashbar-brand stuff is
     especially good value for money, if the items suit you.  Example:
     their $5.50 and $8.00 clincher tires, used to be light and durable,
     excellent values (now they've switched models/mfrs., and I buy elsewhere).  

     Customer service and order entry excellent - good computer system,
     it seems.  Shipping times are excellent - often faster getting
     to Charlotte NC than Performance is (out of Chapel Hill NC).

     As with any mail-order place, you need to know what you want, and
     what would be better bought in person, custom, name-brand, etc.
     But I've never had any problem with Nashbar.  -john

> Any comments on BIKE NASHBAR and their prices?

I second the positive vote.  I've been doing business with Nashbar
forever - the first catalog I got was number 7.  They were called Bike
Warehouse then, and in the winter they were Ski Warehouse.  They were
one of the first to sell Trak XC skis nationwide, but that's another
notesfile.  Besides, I have a nice pair of Rossignols.  :-)

I have always had *super* service from them - when I lived in southern 
Florida, they got stuff I ordered on Monday morning to me on Thursday 
afternoon.  Now that I'm in New Hampshire, stuff comes as quickly as two 
days sometimes.

Their customer service and returns policies are immaculate.  They stand 
100% behind everything they sell - if you're dissatisfied, return it for 
exchange or refund.  My daughter bought a pair of their aero lycra 
shorts last June for her brother's birthday.  They were a size too 
large, and we wanted to exchange them but had misplaced the invoice.  We 
found the invoice two weeks ago.  I called and was told "Send them back.
We guarantee what we sell."  I had a Rhode Gear computer, bought in
September.  With <200 miles on it, the mounting bracket broke.  I called
RG and was told they'd discontinued it, maybe Nashbar could help.
Nashbar said send it back, and what would I like in exchange?  I chose a
Vetta C2, and they gave me a $14.00 refund check for the difference in
price. 

Nashbar brand stuff is good hardware.  I have a pair of their Advantage 
lycra shorts (more $$ than the Aero model), and I'm eminently pleased.  
I've used their gloves and other software, too.  No complaints.  I 
bought one of their $280 mountain bikes for my son a couple of years
ago.  Good value, even if not loaded with top-grade components.  My 
closet is full of Nashbar waterbottles, seome even old enough that they 
say Bike Warehouse on them.

Their ordering system is, as stated in .1, quick and efficient.  I do 
all phone ordering - I've never filled out an order blank for Nashbar. 
The order taker does a stock check on each item you order, as you order
it.  Colors, sizes, and everything important are keyed - the order taker
will ask you the right questions, so nothing gets dropped in the crack. 
They are also on line for phone orders 24 hours a day.  1-800-345-BIKE.

(Yeah, that phone number is a plug.  I have no business relationship 
with Nashbar other than as a very satisfied customer.)

- Dick

The outlet store in Needham Mass is a worthwhile stop if you happen to 
be in the area. The carry most of the catalog merchandise on the shelf 
at the outlet. I understand that they don't have every item all the 
time. I got their $85.50 bike rollers a couple of weeks ago. They are 
the same as Performance's $99.99 model.

The only advantage to going to the store is convenience and being able 
to check out the stuff before you buy it. They also had a lot of the out 
of season stuff on "clearance" racks. There were some good deals, but 
not in my size :-(.

Any money saved in shipping will be caught in sales tax.

JC

    contrary to what others have said I have had several problems with
    them. One in particular was trying to return some defective merchandise
    which they refused to take back and I ended up canceling the check
    and eventually had my lawyer write them a letter before it was
    resolved.  
    
    Their prices may be better than most but it is no replacement for
    the service I can depend on when I walk into my local (Frank's 
    spoke n wheel) bike shop.

    Paul

    Bike Nashbar charges you sales tax, whether you phone the order
    in or goto the outlet store, if you live in a state that has an
    outlet store in it. As soon as the Needham store opened, Mass
    customers phoning in orders to Ohio were charged 5% sales tax.
    Previous to the store opening there was no tax...
    
    The shipping savings by going to the outlet store is not offset
    by tax if you live in a state that has an outlet store, since both
    phone orders & store charge the tax ... the shipping savings is
    a true savings.
    
    I periodically goto the Nashbar store to look for clearance deals.
    Last trip I bought EIGHT winter training jackets @ 12.00/ea.
    I remember paying over $50 for the exact jacket a year ago!
    My friends & family benefit from the occasional steals at Nashbar.
    
    There's still nothing like curling up under the covers at night
    with the latest copy of bikers 'penthouse' ... Bike Nashbar
    magazine!
    
    

>    The shipping savings by going to the outlet store is not offset
>    by tax if you live in a state that has an outlet store, since both
>    phone orders & store charge the tax ... the shipping savings is
>    a true savings.


Interesting. I haven't ordered anything from them in a while. Now I have 
to decide if it is worth the drive vs. shipping. ;-)

JC    
    

Re: .5

>> The shipping savings by going to the outlet store is not offset
>> by tax if you live in a state that has an outlet store, since both
>> phone orders & store charge the tax ... the shipping savings is
>> a true savings.

They can't legally charge you sales tax for phone (or mail) orders
unless the state in which you are located has a reciprocal sales tax
agreement with their state (Ohio).  Taxachusetts, being tax-hungry,
does.  I suspect that the mail-order tax probably started because they
discovered in getting the Needham operation going that they were
violating the laws of two states by not charging the tax, and that they
had damned well better start charging it before the dirty revenooers
caught 'em. 

Of course, I don't have the problem.  I live in New Hampshire, the only 
state in the USA with neither a sales tax nor a personal income tax.  
For me, there is a balance to be checked before I shop in the Needham 
store - will the sales tax exceed the shipping cost, or vice versa?  
Here are two fairly extreme scenarios that illustrate the point.  The
Campy brakes in the second example are Deltas.  Prices are from catalog
number 57.

	Tax is less			Shipping is less
	------------------------	------------------------
	Grab-On grips	 $  5.80	Campy brakes	 $325.00
	Sales tax	     .29	Sales tax 	   16.25
	Shipping	    2.65	Shipping	    4.65

	Savings by going in:		Savings by phoning:
			 $  2.36			 $ 11.60

If I add the cost of gasoline to the first example, it's almost exactly 
a wash - but if I was going to be in or near Needham anyway, it's
cheaper to go in. 

I just wish they had all the stuff I want in the outlet stores.  The
last two times I've been to Needham, they were out of stock on the
primary item I came for. 

- Dick

    Check one more FOR Nashbar...... Even if i give them a personal
    check, turn around time is has been one week from the time I send
    the check to the time I receive the order.....and I live in Atlanta.
    The are at least 30% cheaper than the local bike shops on nearly
    every item that they sell.
    
                                                   

    The change is charging was mandated at the ferderal level.  Supreme
    Court I believe.  Rulling was that any mailorder company would have
    to charge and pay the tax to any state where they had a presence,
    whether that presence was related to the mailorder or not.
    
     

       Not only have I saved money on parts at NASHBAR, I saved a 
bundle on one of their bikes.  Several years ago I purchased a
Nashbar "Tour XC" at about $150 less than a comparable touring
bike with a Tange frame and Suntour (pre SIS) components.  I've
cherished it ever since and have chosen to ride it more often
over my SR600 Cannondale.  As for bargins in the Boston outlet,
I once picked up a set of brand new Shimano 600 wheels with
Panracer Tubulars included for $50.00.  Now I wish I had bought
the other three pairs they had in stock.  BTW, when I received 
my bike from NASHBAR the front wheel had become damaged in shipping.
I brought it down to my local shop for truing and they indicated 
that it was beyond repair (two much time trying to get the rim 
straight).  I called NASHBAR and they FEDEXED me an entire new
whell....no hassle, and I have since learned how to true my
own wheels and now have a spare front wheel, complete with clincer
and tube compliments of NASHBAR.

       I've had pretty good luck with Performance also but there
delivery times are consistantely longer than Nashbar and several
times I had to wait weeks while popular low priced items were on
back order.  I stick to them pretty much for "clothes" only now.

       In another note that I recently responded to I just
reported that I'm really happy with the quality, price and
service I received on a set of Mavic MA40's with 600 EX hubs
for $119.00 from Colorado Cyclist.  They don't have a catalog
yet but you can see there offerings in the back of Bike Rags
like BICYCLE.  I'm still going to purchase my individual wheel
components from NASHBAR but will consider Colorado Cyclist if
I ever order pre built again.
       						Jerry

I've been to the Needham, MA Nashbar store a number of times.
Find it to be more like an outlet store ---  that is they might have 
good prices on what is there (clearance, etc); but any relation 
between what is there and the catalog is strictly coincedental.

I also believe it's good to use your locally owned shop when ever 
possible - I'd hate to lose them!

	~Mike

		now at FSTVAX::HANAUER

    Here in Phoenix, Arizona, we have a large supply of bike shops and
    I still find the saving worth the order through the mail. I have
    used both Perf and Nashbar and have been happy with both. One day
    I ordered from both companies and I did recieve the items from Perf.
    2 days earlier than Nashbar..Generally speaking, if I call in a
    order to Nashbar on Sunday, I will have it delivered on Friday.
    No complaints as of yet, both are very helpful...this sounds like
    a survey note.....
    

    Can someone please supply an Address/directions for the Nashbar
    store in Needham?
                                     
    Thanx,
    
    Ed_who_would_like_to_check_it_out

    I was in the Needham store last night and noticed that they
    still have a lot of Mens Extra Large Cannondale Shoe Boots
    left at $7.50.  The original price for these was about $25
    and they are just right for keeping your feet warm this time
    of year.  I also noted that you can buy a trunk rack similar
    to the Rhode Gear $50 model for $19.95 in the store, but its
    about 10 bucks more in the catalog.  Finally, if your looking
    for sunglasses, almost there entire stock has been marked
    down.  I picked up a pair of Jones Malibu for 9.95 as an example.
     I don't work for Nashbar, just love shopping there.  Its really
    the Jordan Marsh Bargin Basment for bikies.
    							Jerry

    I was in the BOSTON (Needham) Nashbar store yesterday; they are
    selling SILCA PUMPS for $19.95. This is one of the best presta pumps
    around, and normally sells for more than $30 I think.
    
    They had about 15 in stock yesterday.
    
    Mark
    

>    I was in the BOSTON (Needham) Nashbar store yesterday; they are
>    selling SILCA PUMPS for $19.95. This is one of the best presta pumps
>    around, and normally sells for more than $30 I think.
    
Floor or frame pumps? What head?

    Silca Floor pump, presta head (no adapter for schraeder).
    

    Bike Nashbar has a soon to be advertised special on wheels...
         Campy C-Record Hubs
         Mavic MA40 rims
         Assembled & trued
         both 27" & 700C
    
    For only......$129.95 for a pair (at Needham store)
                                                 
    Mike S.
    
    Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me...

    if this sale is just in the store or in the catalog also?
    
    Joe

    It looks like a good deal but consider who is making the wheels.
    Most nashbar wheels are machine built and are not stressed or tensioned
    after being built. I bought a set of wheels from them two years ago and
    have had nothing but trouble. 
    
    After many phone calls to nashbar Needham and to their corporate
    offices they finally told me that the reason they can sell them
    at the price they do is because they are machine built and virtually
    no labor is involved. The fine print they don't point out is that
    you are supposed to stress, tension and true the wheels, yourself,
    before riding. 
    
    Being stranded 20 miles from home with a couple of pringle shaped
    wheels is not the way to spend an afternoon. 
    
    Paul

    
    There's always 2 sides to every story....  I've had a pair of Nashbar
    built wheels on my bike for 2 years and have had no trouble with 
    them.  
    
    I've never had to do any work on them at all.
    
    Stew

    Catalog vs. in store sale on tires:
    
    I purchased my set in Needham, they were send by the home office as
    a special promotion.  I am assuming that the sale will be in a catalog
    in the near future.  Knowing Nashbar, an "out of stock" condition
    will then occur almost immediately.
    
    The wheels trued out fine and the tension sounds okay.  
    
    The best price that I have seen on this combo is $165 from Performance.
    
    Mike

    I'm thinking of buying a pair of Nashbar wheels, specifically, 28mm
    rims (their own) mounted on their own loose-bearing hubs.  I know there
    are several notes addressing the quality of their wheel building, but 
    I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with Nashbar's
    components.  The 25mm rims that came with my bike are bent to the point
    where I'm told they can't be trued, and I'd like to go to something a
    bit sturdier.  At $57.00/pair, Nashbar's wheels look like a reasonable
    quality match for my Shogun.  (Of course, I'd LIKE to go for top of the
    line wheels with the intention of moving them to a better bike
    eventually, however, the reality is cheap new wheels or no new wheels)
    Thanks.

    	Nashbar's rims are Sun Mistral with new labels.  Sun is providing 
    rims to a variety of USCF clubs.  The price was so good that I HAD to
    buy a pair.  I haven't laced them up yet, but the finish and the seams
    look better than some (but not all) of the Mavics that I've had.   

    I'll probably have bought mine by then, but I will look forward to 
    hearing what your experience is them.

My brother bought the same wheel for his commuter and it has held up fairly
well. I held the hub in my hands and spun the wheel and there was very little
resistance. Much better hub than the one that came with my Centurion (Sakae
cheapy).

Tom