Thomas
new member
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 12
|
|
I just got back from watching the racing in San Francisco - a great cycling event! While I was there I stopped by the Calfee "tent" at the “bike expo” and, as a Calfee owner and fan, I have to say I got a really bad impression. Apart from the Calfee logo on the tent, I don’t think there was any signage or “displays” of any kind. A few people seemed to be manning the tent (standing around) but whether or not they were Calfee employees was hard to tell (was one of them Craig?) since they were not wearing Calfee shirts or anything to identify them as such. I think there were three or at most four bikes standing there, including one of the wonderful bamboo bikes. The bikes were sort of stacked at the corner of the tent, with no signs or anything. The bamboo bike was not really “on display” as it deserves to be, but just leaning up against another bike. As I recall, there was no other merchandise in sight. There was a small stack of (last years?) brochures on a folding table toward the back of the tent. That’s about it.
Maybe Craig and Co. are doing so well they don’t need to sell any more bikes right now. If that’s the case, they should probably have stayed home instead of embarrassing themselves with such a pathetic showing. Most of the other small manufacturers looked much more professional.
I just stopped at the Calfee tent very briefly. If anyone else was there and got a different impression, I would be happy to know about it. Thomas
|
trikobe
friend
Reged: 01/02/04
Posts: 31
|
|
I was at the Interbike show in Las Vegas last year and got the same impression. Not exactly an enthusiastic set up. While other manufactures seem like they put thought into their showing, the Calfee set up was just bare bones. Nothing fancy, couple bikes and color palattes. Didn't matter to me though. I knew they were a small company so I couldn't look badly upon that. Purchased my frame a couple months after that and haven't regretted it.
|
beegeddie
new member
Reged: 02/24/04
Posts: 9
|
|
Doesn't sound like the best business practices. However, I'm much happier having them put their efforts into producing a quality product (substance) and not putting on a great show (form) than the other way around. But the best of all worlds would be to do both well.
|
rickrides
new member
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 8
Loc: SF Bay Area, CA
|
|
I was there, too. I introduced myself to Craig. There really wasn't much there. I planned to buy a t-shirt but as I said there wasn't anything to purchase. Luna was lying there so I gave him a couple of pets and went to the starting area. I saw Phil Liggett and my friend got his autograph. Saw Lance pretty close up. Also saw the Posties getting ready at their mechanics van. That was pretty cool.
Anyone who has a chance should go to a pro race and experience it. Last year had more European riders but it was still a good race. Check the T-Mobile web site.
|
Previous
Thread Index
Next
Threaded
Calfee at T-Mobile International
Edit
Reply
Quote
