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I've been buying Endura clothing for well over 10 years. Not a problem in my opinion with any of the bib longs, gloves, shorts, eVent jackets or tops. I think they're a good company.
In fact for what its worth I don't actually recall any problems with any of the clothing I've bought from Altura, Spesh or Cannondale.
Regarding equipment well the same really. The Hope mini's back in 2000 (sh*t was it that long ago) worked ok but just squealed. Avid Juicy 5 brakes were shonky.
I've bought new bikes approximately every 5 years from Marin, Spesh and Cannondale. I've loved them all.
From recent posts (and I'm not on here as much as I would like) it seems everything is going wrong on a catastrophic scale.
Some products undoubtedly work better than others, tyres being a good example but touch of hysteria pervades this forum. I suppose I asked for an avalanche of abuse by doing this.
**** it but I think caveat emptor needs to be applied. Take responsibility about your purchases.
Go to your LBS rather than online. My LBS always matches Wiggle or CRC prices. Inspect the goods and purchase according your opinion and your mates recommendations.
I'm not reading all that. Summary?
People remember and report when things go wrong - they rarely bother to post when things are OK. Events that stir emotions, especially negative ones, stick the brain much better than things that don't. All down to evolution I suspect 😀
I doubt that your LBS 'always' matches CRC and Wiggle. Some of the stuff on Sale at both those retailers is less than trade price.
everything I am currently using constantly surprises me with it's nonchalant longevity..
i only use stuff that works. if it fails i tell people. if it doesnt, i tell people! 🙂
I would hesitate to name my LBS but he has consistenly come up with equivalent prices on brakes, drivetrain components and clothing to name a few.
I think this is the central point I'm trying to make. Since we are increasingly buying eveything online if the Tesco apples delivered to your door don't meet your expecatations then the burden of blame falls mainly at the buyer.
Furthermore I think online purchases appear to be a classic retail trap. Some you win some you lose. More often and people are lulled by the bargain and fall victim to the overpriced 'other people bought this' stuff as retail endorphins kick in.
I'm finding it difficult to see the problem - the internet has not only created a freer market for the sale of bike kit, but also great resources like this one to learn about other people's experiences and get their advice on purchases.
To be honest, I'd prefer to use an LBS, but I'm not lucky enough to have one that stocks the range I'd like to see, offers prices approaching that of the online retailers or provides advice anything like as good as that I can get on this forum.
Well i,m all for resources that give an unbiased review on kit !
I cant see the problem with sharing in an open forum the fact that a pair of MTB specific shorts came out of the bag not finished with a hole where the stitching was missing !
Not only that but the shorts were to replace an already unsatisfactory pair of shorts.
Lucky you having all that kit and a new bike every 5 years without a glitch !
My LBS wont even fit decent gear cables to my pride and joy and have asked me to find out what size shorts i require for definate as ENDURA clothing is a bit hit and miss !
[edited to death] I was just going to say that I don't really agree with the original poster.
Ok if you don't agree and I'm all for unbiased reviews.
Simply this. Your defect shorts came out of a jiffy bag and your previously defect shorts likewise came out of another jiffy bag. Mine didn't. Well I had a look at them first.
Your LBS sounds rubbish and probably deserves to close. Is it an independent? Well who cares. You don't really have any alternative other than to shop online it sounds.
I trust the bloke in my local shop and I'm sticking with him.
If I had a LBS that was like the OPs, of course I'd never stray online
It's 5 miles to my nearest one (poorly stocked, fairly daft staff) and 10m to the next (not bad but have to drive into town to get there). I also don't have time during working hours to go to a shop so they'd have to be there after 6pm. My time (and online discounts) is well worth the minor expense of posting back stuff that doesn't fit, and they'll pay return post if it's faulty.
I do draw the line at trying stuff on in shops and then going online - that's not right at all
couldgetacarforthat, why are you so keen on telling everyone else what they should and shouldn't do?
IanMmmm hit the nail on the head.
On the other point bike shops and music shops (and a lot more) have the same problem with internet business, people trying stuff out in the shop then buying cheaper online. Best of both worlds for the buyer (or so they think!), online shop not affected, physical shop screwed.
I agree with the context of this thread, people run down lots of things I own myself, Endura clothing, crud products, Sealskinz, DHB bib as opposed to ones costing far more, Altura stuff, Wellgo MG1 pedals, the list goes on and on, well, I must be unusual, easily pleased or perhaps less picky as I am totally and utterly satisfied with everything. 😆