An’s Most Visited Bike Store in Boulder
Seattle Bike from Specialized - Complete w/ wood fenders & coffee cup holder
University Bicycles, in Boulder Colorado, gives great customer service. The quality of customer service there makes me wish for the impossible, just so I can hand over more of my cash.
Let’s Start at the Beginning
An is SHORT. Not 5′2” short, but not even 5′ tall. My stature is such that I ride a 38cm bike with 650c’s*, a kid’s bike. Bikes are great - they can be used for recreation, transportation and recreational transportation. Well, knowing I was going to be in Boulder for quite some time, I wanted a greener way to get around and a bike addresses the need for speed in a way that feet just can’t.
So I march myself down to University Bicycles - I’d been down there previously and like the staff. So far, so good - I drool over bikes, oohing and ahhing over the Specialized Seattle edition bike - complete with wood trim fenders (for the rain) and a cup holder on the handlebars (for the coffee). Bicycle deliciousness time ended and I needed to grab a bike. The guys at the shop showed me the smallest size they had - a 44cm with 700c’s. Previous experience taught me that a bike that size fits most petite women, but not me not matter how much I pray for a few extra inches of height. There are small bikes and then there’s an An-sized bike.
What does a bike have to do with Customer Service?
I went to University Bicycles to rent a bike. They had no such bike for me (as Tim Jackson would say, it’s a tiny market) but they did something unexpected - they called other bike stores in Boulder to see if I could find a bike. University Bicycles exceeded my expectations by seeking to solve my problem, even if it did not result in a bike rental or sale for them.
I’m sure the other bike stores in Boulder are amazing as well, but I’ll support Boulder’s University Bicycles when I can because amazing customer service matters to me.
*The first number refers to the frame size; the second number refers to the wheel size.
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:20 pm
AND… U-Bikes is where a very good friend of mine works… which makes them even cooler!
Good customer service like that is awesome. Like you said, they didn’t directly help themselves by helping you, but they still managed to gain you as a loyal supporter/ customer. That is what good customer service is all about; winning the battle around the soft edges and quietly making it known; “we’re better”.
(I saw tons of bikes at the Taipei show that would be perfect for you.)