Hi CR folks,
Ken's comments have motivated me to announce that Bicycle Classics is back in full time action - the only exception to "regular" hours being March 9-10 when we'll be closed. Otherwise, we're open for mail order M-F 1-5 Mountain time. Importantly, either myself or our employee David Paranka will do whatever we can to be of assistance. Our retail shop is now open as well. David is a former cat 1 racer who grew up with the older bikes and is a great asset. He has been on staff for awhile here - therefore insuring that "we" are not making a grammatical error (in addition to the countless others we do make).
As a bonus to CR members, we're going to offer free shipping for orders placed until March 15 to CR folks - but do say you're a CR person to get this. We will update our website by March 5th as its a bit "old" right now.
And now a request - there seems to be a lot of bickering going on here. I'm as guilty of this as anyone. But the reality is that we're all in this hobby together and we all go to the same events - so lets all keep it friendly as the CR list guidlines recommend and we'll all be better off. Mike Kone
>Gee Mike. You seem to have kudos for Ray. Good for you. I have had many
>dealings with him over the last decade, and as you know, it was I that
>introduced you to him. Yes, he has provided me with quite a few good things
>over the years, but I am honest when I say that he often treated me with
>impatience and poor response, and more often than not, obvious frustration
>with the vintage market. Well, if you can't stand the heat, get out out the
>kitchen. That's business. In addition, I feel that it is highly unethical to
>produce a "ghost list" of vintage goods, of which the real intent is to
>attract a broad customer base.
>
>And let's not leave out the fact that Ray sold many things to you wholesale,
>in large quantities, only so that you could mark them up and resell them to
>many of us in the US.
>
>I guess for a guy who has been in and out of the business at least a dozen
>times in the past year, you probably know the salient characteristics of a
>fickle customer base more than I, and vicariously share Ray's attitude.
>
>By the way, you often use the phrase " 'We' at Bicycle Classics". Please be
>honest here - unless you're counting your wife and kids, is BC really more
>than one person - you ?
>
>Ken Denny
>Boston
>
>>From: Bicycle Classics inc <bikevint@tiac.net>
>>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>>Subject: Re: [CR]Ray Etherton
>>Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 15:52:01 -0700
>>
>>Hi CR gang,
>>
>>Seems like there is a bit of Ray bashing going on - but lets look at the
>>facts. Ray sold many goodies to us that were unobtainable anywhere else -
>>at any price!. He also produces a great frame for a reasonable price. Ray
>>also led a crazy life - he was driving all around Europe and going to
>>numerous swaps on the weekends (jumbles). For anybody this is a nearly
>>unsustainable existence.
>>
>>Now, Ray did make lots of mistakes - and right now I'm dealing with the
>>mother of all mistakes that happened a few days ago. But, Ray has always in
>>the end made good - he always makes sure that the end result is that your
>>made whole and satisfied - and sometimes he goes overboard making it up!
>>That is the price that we pay for his services. At Bicycle Classics we
>>bought a lot from him, but we had to screen the stuff and "make it right" -
>>but in the end we're very pleased with what transpired over the years. I
>>hope others can appreciate his efforts.
>>
>>Regarding the Bates frame liability issue, it is quite possible that a
>>conversation I had with him regarding US liability law made him nervous.
>>It isn't that he did anything devious - he just wanted to act with
>>reasonable caution to protect himself and his family.
>>
>>As a seller of vintage goods that has been around a bit, I know how rough
>>it is. Ray chose to run his business in a way that maximized effort and
>>minimized profit. Please cut him some slack - he tried hard and when
>>things went wrong he did his best to keep folks happy. In this modern
>>information era we expect and in most cases deserve more efficiency - but
>>for goodness sakes, Ray used to type his list with a typwriter! Lets try
>>to be nice.
>>
>>Mike Kone - grinning while sitting on a pile of "wrong stuff" next to an
>>NOS 1955 Brooks Swallow saddle and unobtanium 1st generation Campy hubs -
>>all from Ray.