dhoward
new member
Reged: 01/31/04
Posts: 22
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I spoke to Stella today (03/16/04) and she advised me that her last day with Calfee Designs would be this Friday.
Even though I am a fairly new owner, this is very sad news. I could always count on Stella to return calls/e-mails in a timely manner with humor and precise information.
I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way and hope this medium will give everyone the opportunity to wish her the best of luck.
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KYCalfee
friend
Reged: 01/08/04
Posts: 35
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Stella is amazing. Calfee is losing an amazing asset. Stella's positive attitude and her attention to detail was the major reason I felt confident in purchasing a Calfee. I hope this is not a sign of things to come. I wish her all of the best in her future. She will be missed.
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vaxn8r
contributor
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 222
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Hmmmm...
I wonder what is happening at Calfee. I have to say I am less than thrilled with my experience over the last 5+ months.
I ordered a stock Tetra with custom paint in early October. Not finished until last week in January. Shipped the wrong fork initially (but quickly corrected within 2 days) AND did not paint as I ordered despite 3 phone calls verifying exactly what I wanted. There was no documentation at Calfee on the order form regarding those calls. Painter made an assumption...and got it wrong.
Initially got a big run-around from certain employees at Calfee when Craig finally stepped in and very graciously agreed to paint me a new TP. I have to say CC is all about making it right.
But....that was 6 weeks ago.....no word yet what the status of my new frame is. It's hard to find anything out about where it is in the production line. It doesn't seem to me like I ought to be kicked to the back of the line again.
The bike I ordered 5 1/2 months ago....still waiting....
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Max
journeyman
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 69
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I first met Stella at the 2003 LA Bike Show, when checking out the Calfees, and talked with her and Craig there. I knew my LBS got along with her great. I ordered my Tetra at my LBS with an extra stiff down tube, red cabernet fade, and stock geometry on 12/15/03, and it arrived on 1/25/04 ( in less than 6 weeks) with everything right (fork, frame, and paint). Plus through out 2003 I sent Craig 9 e-mails addressing various concerns, and he replied back with a very well written response to each and everyone of them. So far no complains here, and I am usually not an easy customer to please. I know change is constant, but I always hope Calfee will continue producing these incredible bikes.
Stella may your wishes always come true, and may the best of luck be with you. I know you will be miss dearly by the people that work with you closely.....Good Luck.
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MAX
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Jas0n
journeyman
Reged: 01/26/04
Posts: 62
Loc: Westchester, New York
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carbon bikes take a while to make, esp. when they are becoming as popular as Calfee has been. i known from experience that 2 years ago, you would have your calfee in 6 weeks. now, bc of thier volume, this isn't always the case. considering that they dont mess up very often, the odd occurance of a mis-paint, wrong fork is excuseable. how the deal with their wrong is the measure of a good company. as many calfee's as i have seen, we only had one which wasen't what we wanted. and this bike was caught before it left calfee. we were called and told that the wrong tubeset was used (should have been extra stif). needless to say, we had the right bike in two weeks. i think everyone needs to realize calfee is a compnany with alot of orders to fill. add into that the custom ascpect of many of theur frames, and it sounds to me like you have a compnay without alot going on. the wait really isnt that bad. look how long you have to wait for a rivendale! and they're steel. i know it sucks not having a ride (my d'fly is at calfee getting a makeover) but the bike is worth it without any doubt. as for stella, thanks for all the help all these times. we'll miss you on the phone.
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eat to live, live to ride
if it ain't rainin, it ain't trainin
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Kevan
journeyman
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 70
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Stella,
Best to you and your future. Thanks so much for being our light into the Calfee business and for participating in our pranks here.
Business is always evolving and with the best changes and improvements some disappointing events take place. Calfee has made great leaps since I've been a customer, but it's sad to read that the owner of a pokka dot D'fly is leaving the firm.
Let's lift our water bottles folks! Here's to Stella!
Kevan
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Stella
new member
Reged: 12/23/03
Posts: 6
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I can't thank all of you enough for the great conversations, from paint, to ride quality.
Your wonderful pictures and happy e-mails will keep me smiling for a long time. I also want to thank all the people that came for tours. Boy,was that fun!!!
Most of you didn't even get jealous when (In the middle of winter) I would tell you about my view of the Montery Bay and mild temperatures.:-}
Calfee is a great company so, I don't want to see any off the wall speculation!
I think that sometimes we need to understand the growing pains of a company like Calfee.
My decision has nothing to do with Calfee Design.
I am not sure what I'll be doing in the future but, I know, I will be riding a Calfee!!!!
Thanks again for everything...Stella
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SpinDoc
friend
Reged: 12/24/03
Posts: 35
Loc: Columbus,Ohio
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Good Luck Stella! We're sad to hear you're leaving but happy for you if it's onward and upward!
Stay in touch!
I have nothing but positive glowing things to say about this company across the board. Keep up the good work Calfee!
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1centaur
journeyman
Reged: 12/24/03
Posts: 126
Loc: Massachusetts
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There's a reason the Calfee forum has more posts than for any other bike - the "high touch" factor represented by Stella and, to a lesser extent, Craig Calfee. That factor helps us feel our bikes are special, made and supported by people who care about their bikes and care about their riders' happiness. I have not felt that about any other high end bike company with any appreciable volume. When Stella walks out the door, we already know she can't be replaced, and I fear a more generic replacement will create emotional distance from the customer base. That's too bad.
Good luck Stella, and thank you for guiding me from my first ranting e-mail about a Calfee dealer that laughed at my request for a test ride to a dealer that had painted tubes for me to look at and a Tetra to test ride. I bought from the latter, and went on to have two more bought/built there, but the Tetra remains my go-to bike when I want it all.
John
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"You never make a gift of Ventoux"
Eddie Merckx to Lance Armstrong
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Jas0n
journeyman
Reged: 01/26/04
Posts: 62
Loc: Westchester, New York
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this st. pats day, ill raise one (prob two or three or six) to stella! thanks alot. good luck, and don't forget to stop by the forum sometime. how about a post of your d'fly in the gallery for ol' times sake.
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eat to live, live to ride
if it ain't rainin, it ain't trainin
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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We'll all miss you Stella and that includes your dealers. I have seldom seen anyone so universally liked and admired.
Take care and all the very best.
Lon
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skagwayroadie
contributor
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 141
Loc: Alaska
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Best wishes to you Stella...you will be missed.
...Mark
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Gocycle
new member
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 11
Loc: Huntington, New York
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Stella deserves a lot of credit! I remember how she expedited my LUNA so I could use it on a Bicycle Trip I had planned. Best of luck.
Here's to YOU Stella!!!!!
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Lou Bruno
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rickrides
new member
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 8
Loc: SF Bay Area, CA
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STELLA'S GONE? I haven't been on here for a while and I come back to bad news. She will be missed. Good luck, Stella.
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Rebecca_Smith
new member
Reged: 12/24/03
Posts: 21
Loc: Pacific Northwest
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Suppose it’s too late to get a constitutional amendment forbidding Stella from leaving eh?
B.
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LKLuna
new member
Reged: 01/03/04
Posts: 24
Loc: Roslyn, NY
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STELLAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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vaxn8r
contributor
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 222
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Follow up to my post from 3/16 and the other thread on service. I got the new frame in today. That was relatively quick compared to first time around. First time about 3 1/2 mos. This time a shade over 6 weeks.
My only input might be to find a way to communicate by phone or e-mail with the shop to let them know where the frame is in the build-up process. Honestly the first time around I was set for a long wait but the second time was tough on me.
Anyway, it's a beauty and it's just how I wanted it.
Thanks Calfee Design Team!
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The Calfee Crew has been great!