All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

Ordered a Feedback Sports Stand.

Reasoning, they support the sport even if outsourcing.
Too hard to find anyone who doesn't outsource.

BTW, I'll probably go RideGG on next bike when they go carbon rear on the Gnarvana.
I think it's cool that they're made in house in Co. Honestly if I could buy the bike fly out there and get it enjoy the week that'd be the coolest vacation.

 

Good call on the feedback spots stand. That's what I have and it's super good quality and folds down pretty compact. I have the sport-elite one. or whatever you call it. With the quick release clamp

 

I’m excited to not flip bikes over when working on them lol.

I’ve been ordering from this company in CA on a few different things trying to help actual bike companies instead of REI and such. Plus no tax for me and free shipping this way.

bikebling.com

 

This is what I use: https://www.feedbacksports.com/product/pro-elite-repair-stand/

I've had the Park stands before (still have them actually). The Feedback sports are better for the home mechanic. FYI- I'm a bike tool whore and while a number of my tools are Park, i've begun replacing them with better quality tools made by Abbey or Wera.

 

So you have the Pro Elite model? My brother in law has that one. I borrowed it and loved it. I then went and bought the next model down and saved $100 bucks, the Sport Mechanic. They make great stands for sure.

 

Good on you! Buy with purpose! The world is drifting towards an Amazon economy...

 

I was there for their grand opening in 2008’ish when I lived in San Diego.

 

Being on the east coast, I cringe when I have to order from CA - only because it takes so damn long to get here. I don't mind REI - they're a decent company I think. Amazon to me is the root of all evil because they crush everyone who has brick and mortar.

My buddy runs a skate shop in Milwaukee and the stories of kids coming in, looking at it, then going home and ordering online are all too familiar. Does nothing for him, and hurts the community long term.

I've tried to cancel my Amazon account but during this damn lockdown BS, there's just some things I can't get anywhere else. I'll use Amazon to shop for the item, then buy it somewhere else online.

 

REI supports Sierra Club who wants to kick mountain bikes off trails.

 

They also support the MORE which builds trails on the mid Atlantic. I’d be curious to see what the local chain bike shop vs small shop vs REI breakdown of donations to cycling non-profits is like.

 

The Sierra Club is nuts.

The problem is, you can't find a morally ethically pure company - no matter how hard you try, if you shoot everything through a political prism you won't be able to shop anywhere. I shop where I get good service and if I can help my local shop owner, I'll do it in a heartbeat.

Millions of people say "Shop local" and still have Amazon accounts. I'm guilty too, BUT I do it as little as possible.

Bezos always claims there's competition to Amazon and points to Walmart. Walmart is hardly on Amazon's level when it comes to online retail.

 

A lot of brick and mortar stores sell ON Amazon.

a lot of small stores sell ON Amazon.

a lot of stores only exist because OF Amazon.




So before you all keep bashing Amazon and any of its customers, think a little.

I support Amazon because they actually have great customer service. If I find a small business competitive on price, same or better customer service, and not available on Amazon then I’ll go to them.

get off your high horses lol. Ain’t nobody gonna spend twice their money all the time to support small business, just not feasible.

 

This was really worth a read.

 

I'm also on the anti-Amazon bandwagon but this is correct. I just wish they were more vocal about supporting small businesses.

 

I honestly don't think you're saving 50% on most items by using Amazon. Maybe on some things. And yes a lot of "brick and mortar" supposedly sell on Amazon. We acknowledge the advantages of Amazon, but they're doing more harm than good. How big should we allow Amazon to get? They own Whole Foods, they do cloud and digital services - maybe in your mind we should let Amazon take over more industries?

I think you also forget that the algorithms Amazon use are pitted against these "brick and mortar" sellers.

Amazon's dominance makes the 90s Microsoft Antitrust case look like a joke by comparison - I'm not pro regulation for the most part but when does Amazon cross the line?

 

I feel like they are. I can sort by small business, they have small business day, and they don’t force their own Amazon products on me and allow the small business items to show up just as frequently.

 

Do we think Amazon is done expanding into diff industries? I'm old enough to remember when Amazon was JUST BOOKS.

How long before Amazon sells cars like Carmax aka Best Buy?

Talk to small business owners some time is my advice to pro Amazon people. Ask them if they feel harmed by Amazon.

Next time you're in your local bike store, ask them how their accessory sales are. Or your local ACE hardware. I personally like the personal in person service. That's just me. I also don't like that if I don't have PRIME, I buy an item, Amazon sits on my money for 3 or 4 days, then ships the item. I remember before PRIME - you'd order from Amazon and it would ship the same day.

 

No idea, and not my place to decide. I gave you my reasons for supporting them.

until someone can give me reasons to not support them that beat my reasons TO, I’ll continue to.

Take handup for example. They’ve got some stuff on Amazon. But it’s the same price, so why would I shop on Amazon? Then I’d pick the store.

but for a bike stand, I can get one really cheap on Amazon. Really really cheap. And it serve 99% of the same purpose a 200$+ serves. But I can’t find a really really cheap one elsewhere that does that. So you’re gonna say I’m a bad person for saving over 100$+? What if I spent that 100$+ at my local bike shop who doesn’t sell bike stands but instead they sell some parts I need immediately?

savings helps everyone. Amazon, small businesses. That’s just fact.

you could do the research on how much Amazon gives back, gives away, and whatever else. I bet it’s a pretty good number.

 

This is false - there were investigations that proved the alogrithms were pitted against the small business sellers.

https://www.mhpbooks.com/yet-more-e...sinesses-with-proprietary-ranking-algorithms/

https://stillnessinthestorm.com/201...-algorithm-to-favor-more-profitable-products/

"Amazon has steadily gobbled up market share even as small businesses around the country have struggled to survive the Covid-19 pandemic. Amazon's stock is up 77% over last year and it has already hired 175,000 people during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, according to Yelp, as of August 31, 163,735 US businesses have been forced to close, and some estimate that 60% will not reopen. The loss of a small business is never merely economic; it is a loss for the community. A thriving local community is inseparable from a thriving local economy." - Mark Mitchell-

 

Well it’s not false, for me. Your experience may vary. It’s easy for me to find small business on Amazon. Also, the pandemic isn’t a reason to hate Amazon. If mom and pop could provide an online presence and shipping as well, then they’d have a better chance. But most dont. So they’re stuck with people coming in.

was someone risking their life so that mom and pop could have a store worth it just to stick it to Amazon?