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New Gloves
I've been riding with Fox Sidewinder gloves for a ages now. Can't really remember when I bought these but must be well over a year ago. At some point back then I decided that wearing fingerless gloves was a bad idea and began using them on every ride.
Anyhow, so they are beginning to split where the main leather (artificial?) palm meets the reinforced plastic type material on the outer (little finger) side.
Picked up some Fox Static gloves (size - L - feel a little tight but should bed in nice) as replacement yesterday. They have a Kevlar palm panel where the others had that plastic type stuff. But the main reason for this choice though was double thickness panelling and double stitching on the palm - should be more comfortable and last longer.
Not that any of this is particularly interesting, but at least I will have a record of when they were purchased and will be able to gauge how they last.
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Sorry to say that these 'Static' gloves didn't last long at all. Maybe three or four rides before one began to split on the outer side of the palm. Even more annoying because I picked this pair as they had double stitching there and some kevlar looking reinforcing pad.
So I take them back to the store (a certain place in Chatswood) and explain after a couple weeks this just isn't good enough, totally expecting them to be replaced (I had a similar short lived experience with some Scott gloves which were instantly exchanged elsewhere). The store wouldn't exchange but instead said the Fox rep. would have to take a look and advise.
Week or so passed, Fox rep. looked, said they would take them back but not in the after-ride mess they were in. What? You have to be kidding! So I go back and collect gloves, and wash them, and return again.
A couple weeks more passed so this evening I dropped in to see how the replacement was going. And get this - Fox had told the store that this style had been retired and had refunded them the cash. Nice of said store to call me, eh? Oh well, so I get free reign to pick out some others and eventually went for old faithful, back to Sidewinders.
Dull story, I know, but wanted to comment on service, or lack thereof - hopeless.
Service? Well, we already knew that about the certain 'said' place, didn't we? It's a shame, as it is your local shop. Instead, its better to go someplace else that cares about their customers.
From the perspective of a newbie, this kind of sensible review is handy.
My 1st pair of gloves (full length) are starting to wear. They are 611 nasty with the super thin palm. I do sometimes jar my palm or a finger from riding down lots of steps etc, but the padded palm ones feel too bulky and thick (smallish hands*).
*does not mean everything is small!
i know 'said shop' and agree to a point. nathan who works there is excellent and should in my opinion have his own shop. there are a few decent guys in there but a few shouldnt be working in retail at all. ive encounterd a few that should be working in a cancer clinic or a morgue. at the end of the day, we all part with quite a lot of cash in this sport and if we were spending the same amounts each year in a jewelers then im sure we'd be greeted at the door and treated like kings. to me, service is 50% of the game and if i dont get it then i simply go somewhere else. if someone from 'said' shop is reading this then come on guys, buck your ideas up. reputation IS nearly everything!
I think one thing that makes a huge difference in that shop is if they know you. I know of one other person on this site that I am pretty sure bought their bike from there and have had great service ever since and have spoken of the quality of their service.
When I first started going in there I always left feeling like I had just walked out of the shower block at Long Bay, if you know what I mean. My impatience, and the fact they are my closest specialized dealer, saw me return many times. I am atleast now a semi familiar face and the level of service I receive has risen accordingly. This obviously should not have been the case as with what Gazza said, the amount of money we spend on our sport we should be treated like old friends everytime we walk into a bike shop.
FWIW the last few times I have been in there I have sought out "Rob", one of the mechanics that works behind the counter at the mountain bike end of the shop. He has given me great advice and service everytime, one of the reasons I now do go back by choice.
I have tried a few stores to find "my favourite" for my new sport:
Bought my bike at Brookvale Bike Factory in Jan 2007. A young BMX dude did the sale and he was great. The boss was riding the young dude a bit tho, (constantly watching him) and I felt sorry for him. You could tell the young dude was trying hard, and he was really helpful. Boss was kind of short with me tho. Watched everything like a hawk. I could not be stuffed going to Brookvale to get my warranty services.
Browsed in Hornsby Cycles and the boss kept sending the two young dudes out to harass me. I don't want to be harassed like it's Strathfield Car Radio or Parramatta Road used car sales, I told them this. I avoid the store as it is a bit out of the way.
Browsed Turramurra Cyclery and the people who work there seem really good. Nice mature aussie lady and good dudes on the floor.
I got services done at Kurringui Cycles. Bloke shortened the chain. 2 rides later the chain broke. The service dude could not see a relationship between working on my chain and my chain breaking, so new chain, but the service was kind of good. I bought a bunch of stuff during the sale. Some of the young dudes are pretty cool.
Thornleigh (my LBS) now does all my service and is my first point of call. The other day I walked in there and explained to Anthony than I had talked to John about some giant duelies and that I expect to upgrade mid 2008. Well he dropped everything and then spent 45 mins at least showing me stuff in trade magazines and sitting in his workshop while he showed me stuff on the giant trade website and then the differences between the various Trances and Reigns and I was just amazed. He was so helpful and he knew I was just thinking it over a bit and needed more info. Very impressed! Also, all the services they have done (i am basically trying to kill my bike) have been top notch.