When should we “CLIP” a dead branch?

We are coming up on another store inventory, and this question is becoming more popular again. In the store operation process, you have an item that has been damaged and is still in your store inventory. What should you do?

Option A- Contact the Vendor and get the parts replaced if under Warranty status. If it does not qualify as a Warranty item go to Option B.
Option B- Make a list of parts needed to restore the product back to it’s state as built by the manufacturer. Order those parts by way of the Small Parts Program, and be prepared to absorb the invoice amount as a “cost of doing business”.
Option C- We don’t like this option, but still have to use it sometimes. If the cost of the restorative parts are far beyond the profit margin of the product, or the parts are not available, we may need to 100% discount the item and destroy it. For some items, we may be able to use it in training classes. Before destroying any bicycles or new/fairly straight wheels, please email your Bike Trainers and ask if they can use it.

I have heard rumors of sales to employees, for those items that are returned "used" or functional but clearly not new. It could be a fair resolution for the store and an employee who is looking for that item to sell it at a reasonable price. I cannot suggest that as an option, as it opens the door to fraud and possible loss prevention issues.

It can be very difficult to destroy an item for what we see as a minor issue. The alternative is to use a never-ending downward spiral of payroll hours on a product that won’t ever be sold for full price. Sometimes we just have to clip a bad branch, and get back to business. Use your best judgment, work with your Bike Dept Head, Trainers and District Managers.

Please remind me of "Non-Winter"!

There is a rumor going around that a trip to Moab "could" get organized. This picture is only for scenery, we'd be going on regular trails around big drops like this. I've got "Porcupine Rim" trail on my brain, and would like to go this year. Best times are late May or late September, as it's quite hot between those dates.

Small map to give hint of the ride quality: http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/porcup-tg.htm

We'll talk!

"Cheers" from England!

When you are working in the bike dept day-after-day, it can be easy to forget the effect we have on our customers. Our customers really do enjoy their bikes, and travel with'em. I got a letter today from our store in Torrance.

"To my friends at the Bicycle Department of Torrance Sport Chalet,
This is John, a recent customer and as you may know I am in England. Well, thanks to you guys and the bike set up I can take these pictures of me with my bike in the Yorkshire Dales of England.
... edited for length...
Well, I have many more miles to ride thanks to you guys and the people of the Diamondback Company for making my 2006 Topanga.

Gratefully Yours, John Koler"

His report details his rides in the area around All Saints Church, Ripley Castle, Bolton Abbey, and around Fewstone Reservoir. It may seem a bit disjointed, but there were eleven pictures with descriptions so I've used his open and closing sections. I have included the best scans possible from his pictures. He sounds like a very kind person, and it takes that quality to sit down and print out his pictures and write it up.

For someone to take that time, we must have treated them right. Congratulations to Store 18 for their quality of business!

Status Update on Inventory Projects

Small Parts- SKU's are now being assigned, and are likley to be distributed next week.

Tool Inventory- PO for all locations is under review, and sign-off is anticipated soon.

Also, Master Mechanic Shirts- PO has been signed, production is expected to be within the next two weeks. A size/quantity inquiry will go out to all stores when they are ready for distribution.

Cannondale Recalls 2007 Model Road Bikes Due to Brake Failure

We are not a dealer for this brand, but we know owners of them. Please share your knowledge and keep them safe.

JANUARY 10, 2007 -- BETHEL, CT (BRAIN)--Cannondale and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission are recalling 2007 road bikes made from aluminum and carbon, or all carbon fiber.According to Cannondale the bicycle’s front brake can fail causing the rider to lose control and fall, though the company reports no injuries. The recall affects about 700 bikes and Cannondale is requesting that consumers stop using the bicycles immediately until inspected or repaired.The recalled road bicycles are the Six 13 Team 1, Six 13 Team1/Compact Drive, Synapse Carbon SL1 compact Si crank and standard bottom bracket Dura Ace crank. And were sold by Cannondale dealers from July 2006 to November 2006 for between $3,200 to $4,500.

Employee Purchases, Taxes and QBP

Sport Chalet has a policy that employees in good standing and past their 90 day probation period may make Employee Purchases from our vendors and distributors with Manager Approval. This is a benefit that most bike-junkies really enjoy. The issue to the state governments is that ALL of those direct payments generated no tax revenue. QBP is the first distributor to respond by not accepting Credit Cards from employees. QBP's intention is that all EP's are to be rung through the receiving store's register, with the taxes added there. What does that mean to us? The fallout from that is if an employee’s part order is processed thru Sport Chalet a 10% charge is added to pay for the store/corporation costs. Oh, and you’ll get charged the normal tax rate too.

This is resulting in some "discussion", which is understandable. That parts kit for your new bike may have just jumped in price from $1000 to $1188. Yes it’s only $188, but that can be a deal breaker. They are still working on the details, as it kills EP's on SRAM/Truvativ/Rock Shox items. Changes are expected in the future on this.

Paying less than retail is still a benefit. If you don't like QBP's policy, go somewhere else. Check other distributors, there may be another way!

Bike Shipping Costs Go UP!

Received yesterday. This is why we encourage bike deliveries to come from our supply in the Warehouse before anyone sends a Special Order out.

Dt: 01/03/07
To: All Bicycle Dealers
Re: BIG CHANGES to small bicycle & oversized box shipments

As you may be aware, UPS & FEDEX are changing the way they process shipments from generalized package sizing to a “Dimensional” system for large packages. The UPS rates are effective as of January 1, the FEDEX rates go into effect on February 1, 2007.

What does this mean? - SMALL BIKE SHIPMENT FREIGHT AMOUNTS WILL SKYROCKET!

For example, a single large Mountain Bike shipped from California to NYC will go from $37.61 to $61.32!!! with UPS.

Starting IMMEDIATELY, we are switching all oversized box and small bike shipments from UPS back to FEDEX. This will remain in effect for all of January. After the rate increase from FEDEX goes into effect, it may make more sense to send all small bike shipments by trucking companies instead of UPS or FEDEX. We are still evaluating the effect these “Dimensional” rates systems will have on total freight costs, and will make more announcements regarding our chosen shipment methods for oversized box and small bike shipments in the near future.

PLEASE BE AWARE OF THESE CHANGES. IF YOU STILL PREFER UPS FOR YOUR SMALL BICYCLE SHIPMENTS EXPECT HIGHER FREIGHT CHARGES THAN YOU ARE USED TO. AS FOR FREIGHT ALLOWED ORDERS, YOU MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIFFERENCE IN COSTS BETWEEN FEDEX AND UPS.

We will avoid causing these additional charges wherever possible, but be aware that a Special Order bicycle may have an additional painful freight charge.

Diamondback Mission Frame News!

Replacements arrive for distribution by DB January 22. If we have a dry winter I’ll try to post more video once one in particular gets rebuilt…

Bicycle Rim Straight Truing Stand Video

Video shows a rim in a truing stand with a half millimeter lateral wobble. For a rim to be considered "true", this is the maximum. A business card is generally that thickness, and is used as a feeler gauge reference. There is a very small amount of vertical runout, which was due to a rim manufacturing variance.

Bicycle Rim Bent Truing Stand Video

Deciding whether to fix or replace a rim can be a tough decision due to the cost. The price always becomes affordable once you have seen a wheel collapse at moderate speeds, and the damage that occurs to the rider. A rim-braked wheel has more urgency in this matter than a disc-braked rim, but "safe is safe". This video shows a rim in a truing stand with MORE than a half millimeter lateral wobble. For a rim to be considered "true" an 0.5mm deviation is the maximum. This rim also has it's issue in a short section of rim which indicates it is bent. This rim is beyond correction by spoke tension changes and should be replaced as imminent failure cannot be ruled out.