As somebody who's worked with customers on builds, MOST people don't have super specific preferences - they just want a configuration that will work and have an overall aesthetic, possibly with a few minor personal touches. The advantage of having a "kit" is that it shortens the phone conversations considerably. When I do this, at least with some customers, I often feel like I have to sell them on every little part. Me: "I suggest the SRAM chain." Customer: "Would I be better off with a Shimano chain?" Me: "Well, Shimano is fine, but we usually use SRAM." Customer: "Oh, well, I've always used Shimano." Me: "I will be happy to use a Shimano, if that's your preference, but SRAM has that cool master link, so we like it." Customer: "Jeez, now I'm torn."
Obviously, some, even most, are calling me because they like the bikes I have built in the past, and are happy to trust my knowledge on their own bike build. But the indecisive micro-manager type above absorbs a huge amount of time, and all too often, can't pull the trigger when it's time to give me a credit card number. The kit approach may not satisfy the micro-manager, but it at least gives him a foundation of info to consider before he picks up the phone. With the posted kit, the customer can call the order in and say, "listen, this kit looks good and I can easily see the price, but I REALLY need the 12-36 cassette, and can I upgrade to indexed shifters?" I can't say for sure, because I don't work there, but I'm guessing Riv is willing to make small, simple substitutions like that (with appropriate upcharge, if needed), as long as they don't cascade into a major revision of the kit. Sometimes, a single substitution is not as simple as it sounds. That guy who is "awfully fond of STI" (there must be a script for how to say these things) and Phil Wood freewheel hubs is probably in for a disappointment. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/XtzmadLvZaIJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
