Things the LCC 10% discount won't work on at Condor

David K Today I quit shopping at Condor

Join the club!

I agree with lpg about the comment regarding Brick Lane Bikes - yes, that's really kind of them - some bikes shops don't even lend you use a track pump!!!

I used to defend CONdor, but lately they've taken to sucking out loud.

That said, most of the big shops are getting lazy. Perhaps the increasing popularity of cycling means they don't have to try.

Laziest of all is Mosquito, who do a great impression of just not giving a toss about you or your money. Spoken to them twice in the last couple of months (they "stock" some nice stuff) but kept my wallet in my pocket.

Brick Lane have twice failed to take my cash when I was trying to spend it. Not in a nasty way, they just didn't seem very interested.

Ditto DK's beloved CycleFit. I presume it was the bird with the hideous bike I spoke to. I wanted a headset: delivery was "about", price was "around". Could have guessed as much meself.

Best service has to be Will at Hubjub by a long way. Ditto the boys at chainreactioncycles.com

And of course a big shout for Barrie and Ernie Witcomb. Perhaps not customer service in the accepted sense, but always happy to spend my money with them ;-)

[quote]epburet 'Morning All!
I ordered a one-off Pista in April '07 and it came as promised 12 weeks later.

Three months! And I thought i had it bad having to wait six weeks for my Wilier.....

epburet 'Morning All!
Thought I'd try to put the record straight regarding Condor.
I ordered a one-off Pista in April '07 and it came as promised 12 weeks later, I was kept informed on a regular basis by Adri and Grant, both calling and leaving messages to let me know about the progress.
Now, for those who know a little about hand-made products from Italy (and God knows I remember all the times I waited for Ducati parts when I still had an engine under my legs)... PATIENCE is what you need the most. It takes time. And that's it, 'nough said.
Now, about the aforementioned shop, every time I go there I don't notice anything different from any other shop in the City, business is business and if the shop is chock-a-block with punters it's obvious that staff will not have as much time as usual to give advice. And they won't bring you tea and scones. Go to Harrods for that!
But if you go there on a quiet day you can ask any of them and they will take time to answer and talk with you. Maybe too many people go there with ready-made negative vibes... "Tension brings tension"...
Well, anyway, so much for my opininon, I'm sure nobody will change their mind, just thought a little bit of fairness and positive attitude would do good.

PS: Has anyone specced-up a Pista with different wheels??? (Ksyrium or others...) Thanks!

Do you work for Condor? ;-)

Yeah Condor don't actually need businss from us lot, people who know stuff about bikes:-) they make enough money from loaded City noobies. To say they offer the LCC discount and then say it doesn't apply to this and that seems dishonest, unless of course LCC actually says eg in their list of shops offering the discount: "Condor (selected goods only)".

From what I've heard it's the margins on complete bikes (from big companies) that are small, the main profits are made from selling parts and accesseries, and repairs.

That doesn't surprise me, actually. From my past experience of the electrical goods industry and in retail generally, accessories have always been the real money makers, e.g. selling an iPod doesn't make much money (couple of quid, a fiver at most) so instead you sell an iPod, with a case, mains charger, FM transmitter for your car, in-car charger and so on (start to make, say £5 on each of those items, yet they only cost between 10 and 20 each)

Re Condor: just a thought but if you spent your days selling stuff you couldn't afford w/o the discount, to a customer base that you broadly don't respect (rich, clueless, newbie - i.e. '16st Carbon Seatpost guy') wouldn't your world view and approach to service get a bit bent out of shape?

It doesn't help that there are a truck load of these guys queuing up at Condor to part with serious cash. Since most of you sit outside of that bracket, it galls even more to get treated the same way. It's like the "Flaming Moes" episode of the Simpson's where Homer says he's going to drink somewhere else and Moe can't hear him over the ringing of the till.

I'm not excusing the behaviour, just trying to understand where it comes from. I love/hate Condor (& Rapha for that matter) in equal measure. It's the nearest place and the quickest I can get the kit I want. But damn, sometimes I wish they'd kiss me when they're f*cking me (to use a metaphor horribly).

Mouse Re Condor: just a thought but if you spent your days selling stuff you couldn't afford w/o the discount, to a customer base that you broadly don't respect (rich, clueless, newbie - i.e. '16st Carbon Seatpost guy') wouldn't your world view and approach to service get a bit bent out of shape?

It doesn't help that there are a truck load of these guys queuing up at Condor to part with serious cash. Since most of you sit outside of that bracket, it galls even more to get treated the same way. It's like the "Flaming Moes" episode of the Simpson's where Homer says he's going to drink somewhere else and Moe can't hear him over the ringing of the till.

I'm not excusing the behaviour, just trying to understand where it comes from. I love/hate Condor (& Rapha for that matter) in equal measure. It's the nearest place and the quickest I can get the kit I want. But damn, sometimes I wish they'd kiss me when they're f*cking me (to use a metaphor horribly).

Haha, that's a perfect example! :)

re; LBS in west London - Holdsworth in Putney is pretty good- helpful with their tools, the younger guy in there is chatty and knowledgeable ( at least to me), and it has quite a nice vibe with vintage cycling jerseys on the ceiling etc.