[crossboy]

For 2 years our team was sponsored by them. We had them on our jersey and website. I have emailed them 3 times and left 2 voicemails in the past week and not one single person has contacted me. Are they still in business? We never had a problem in the past, but it seems like they don't care about their target market anymore, endurance athletes.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Do anyone work for a competitior and can hook our team up with some discounts, we don't want free, just discounts. Thanks.

 

[Bocephus Jones II]

For 2 years our team was sponsored by them. We had them on our jersey and website. I have emailed them 3 times and left 2 voicemails in the past week and not one single person has contacted me. Are they still in business? We never had a problem in the past, but it seems like they don't care about their target market anymore, endurance athletes.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Do anyone work for a competitior and can hook our team up with some discounts, we don't want free, just discounts. Thanks.

I hear you and I think sponsorship of athletes is a good thing to be encouraged, but for this level of sport there really isn't money in it for the company--I imagine they get requests like this all the time. Seems a bit harsh to diss them before you hear their side of the story. Maybe they are busy securing sponsorships for teams that will actually get them real publicity? It's not like they owe you discounted stuff. Seems to be a bit of that entitlement mentality in low-level cycling. Why do you deserve stuff at cost when all the rest of us have to pay full price? Sure...sometimes it works well for all sides and they get advertising and you get free or cheap stuff, but if I was in that biz I can see how it wouldn't be my first priority to respond to everyone that wanted to be sponsored or get my product at cost.

 

[stevesbike]

I'm amazed at how bad many companies are with basic customer service. I've been trying to get some fit info from a web-based frame seller. My emails starts with "I'm interested in purchasing" then ask a couple of questions about fit. So far, nothing after 2 emails. That's a customer lost over something as basic as an email reply...

 

[tone12]

On the flip side, I emailed Neuvation with a couple questions and John replied within 10 minutes. Seriously.

 

[crossboy]

I hear you and I think sponsorship of athletes is a good thing to be encouraged, but for this level of sport there really isn't money in it for the company--I imagine they get requests like this all the time. Seems a bit harsh to diss them before you hear their side of the story. Maybe they are busy securing sponsorships for teams that will actually get them real publicity? It's not like they owe you discounted stuff. Seems to be a bit of that entitlement mentality in low-level cycling. Why do you deserve stuff at cost when all the rest of us have to pay full price? Sure...sometimes it works well for all sides and they get advertising and you get free or cheap stuff, but if I was in that biz I can see how it wouldn't be my first priority to respond to everyone that wanted to be sponsored or get my product at cost.

I don't think you read my full paragraph. We had been sponsored by them for 2 yrs and never had any problems with them. Now I am trying to get a hold of them and they won't even respond. I can see if I am some Joe Bike Racer wanting stuff for free, but I simply asked for the same deal we had the past 2 years, which obviously was not a problem and we had 20 guys every weekend wearing their logo and using there product. I guess 20 cat 2/3 racers are not any prioroty to them.

Looks like I need to buy them in full and I can easily make the decision to use a competitor as well as all my teamaates. So in reality, our 20 guys may be nothing, but if they do this to enough people, it starts to catch up to you real quick.

 

[Bocephus Jones II]

I don't think you read my full paragraph. We had been sponsored by them for 2 yrs and never had any problems with them. Now I am trying to get a hold of them and they won't even respond. I can see if I am some Joe Bike Racer wanting stuff for free, but I simply asked for the same deal we had the past 2 years, which obviously was not a problem and we had 20 guys every weekend wearing their logo and using there product. I guess 20 cat 2/3 racers are not any prioroty to them.

Looks like I need to buy them in full and I can easily make the decision to use a competitor as well as all my teamaates. So in reality, our 20 guys may be nothing, but if they do this to enough people, it starts to catch up to you real quick.

I agree this is bad biz practice, but I have to say that you probably aren't a priority to the company. Might sound harsh, but probably true. Maybe they are a small compnay and are just out at some conference? I'd give em the benefit of the doubt before dissing them in public as they have sponsored you in the past.

 

[crossboy]

It is bad business. Every unsatisfied customer tells 10 people. How many people does a satified customer tell?

 

[guelch27]

Forums are really bad for companies that get bad comments. It used to be you would complain to some local friends, now it travels the entire world with just the click of "Submit Reply".

 

[trener1]

So lets see, they were good to you for what two years, then they don't answer your emails for two days and you go bad mouth them on a public web forum?
man I feel bad for the rest of your sponsors, I think I am going to go over to Carb Booms site right now and order some product, and thank them for not sponsoring some self righteous cat 3.
Just FYI, I run a cat 2/3 team, so I know how sponsorship works, and I would never bad mouth a sponsor, I still recommend companies that used to sponsor us in the past, it's guys with attitude like yours that hurt all racers.

 

[crossboy]

So lets see, they were good to you for what two years, then they don't answer your emails for two days and you go bad mouth them on a public web forum?
man I feel bad for the rest of your sponsors, I think I am going to go over to Carb Booms site right now and order some product, and thank them for not sponsoring some self righteous cat 3.
Just FYI, I run a cat 2/3 team, so I know how sponsorship works, and I would never bad mouth a sponsor, I still recommend companies that used to sponsor us in the past, it's guys with attitude like yours that hurt all racers.

So not returning multiple emails and phone calls is good business. Am I not understanding the concept? If someone wants to pay for a product, they should be ignored. I guess from now on when my clients call me, I won't return their phone calls and they should be even more willing to now want to work with me and call me. I like this concept. I bet my sales will really take off.

And yes, you should be sponsored by Carboom, since it is the self-gracious individuals like yourself that keep the wheels turning. Since you only have 2 hands, I can lend you 2 more so you can pat yourself on the back a little more.

If you actually read my posts, I never bad mouthed Carboom or their product. I actually like their product, but their customer service is poor. Oh, maybe I need one of my hands back to pat myself on the back. You can keep the other hand to call Carboom. Such a great contributor to the cycling world like yourself should call them direct and I bet they will answer TO you. If you get through, tell them I want some free sh$t ASAP

 

[den bakker]

For 2 years our team was sponsored by them. We had them on our jersey and website. I have emailed them 3 times and left 2 voicemails in the past week and not one single person has contacted me. Are they still in business? We never had a problem in the past, but it seems like they don't care about their target market anymore, endurance athletes.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Do anyone work for a competitior and can hook our team up with some discounts, we don't want free, just discounts. Thanks.

well, they do say they will respond to sponsorship applications within 6 days... They still have some hours

 

[Sub]

I agree with the others.. you have a severe case of the "what have you done for me lately" itis. Give em a little time. Worst case is they don't get back to you and you lost your discount. Thank them for their involvement with your team and move on. IMO, you shouldn't be bad mouthing them period, for product or service. Hammer use to sponser us and then they dumped everybody.. no biggie, I still use their stuff and we have another sponsor also now.

 

[jabpn]

Wait until you've heard back from them, longer than two days that is.<img src="https://smilies.vidahost.com/otn/angry/plthumbsdown.gif"> You are bad mouthing them even if only by means of implying it. For all you know, maybe their business had a fire or something. Two days isn't that big of a deal and I would suggest that because of the past two years you should give them the benefit of the doubt for now.

 

[de.abeja]

. You can keep the other hand to call Carboom. Such a great contributor to the cycling world like yourself should call them direct and I bet they will answer TO you. If you get through, tell them I want some free sh$t ASAP

You seem easily agitated my brother.

 

[crossboy]

I am going to start making my own gel. It's much cheaper.

 

[JayTee]

I guess it depends what the complaint is. If the complaint is about product quality, or about something really offensive (like a company discriminating or something) then yes, it might influence lots of people's purchasing decisions. I'd be surprised if a complaint about sponsorship of an unnamed local bike team would influence the buying decisions of those other than the people affected.

 

[JayTee]

Whoa, let's take a deep breath and back off. I think the post to which you are responded was in jest. If it really bothered you, report it to moderators via the "bad post" function (though I think that might be overkill). In any event, responding in personal attack is bad form.

Agree or not, you can see that most folks responding to your thread aren't feeling your pain. That's the risk of posting on an internet board... you'll hear contrary opinions. But there's no reason to start flinging chairs.

 

[Sindic]

I can't imagine why someone owning a company wouldn't want to be associated with crossboy.

It boggles the mind.

 

[TCR1rider]

Wow Crossboy, like many others who have read this post, I simply can't understand why anyone (potential sponsor or otherwise) wouldn't want to return your calls or emails with a personality as gracious and accomodating as yours.

 

[uzziefly]

I like Carb Boom gels. They taste gooood. mmmm.

Ok nevermind, not the point. Maybe I'm just real sleepy.