I know Performance Bike has been around for a long time (I've been a customer for 15 years), but I'm never spending another dollar there.

These days, a retail store cannot afford to treat their customers poorly. It's too easy to find an alternative, or just shop online (great prices, limitless possibilities). Most businesses seem to have a handle on this.

The customer is always right

But Performance has demonstrated a few stunning moves that show they're still behind the times.

1. They sell your name+info to 3rd parties, possibly without informing you. In my case, they signed me up for a magazine subscription that I did not want (I cancelled it), and I've received new kinds of junk mail that seems suspiciously related (although I do concede this last point is speculatory).

2. No matter how many times you request it, they will never stop sending printed catalogs to you. I was signed up (against my wishes) ~6 months ago, and they just keep coming. And if you have a local Performance store, the store will send you crap, too. Catalogs, sales flyers, upcoming bonanzas, whatever... you'll know about it. I've been averaging about one catalog per week, and I've called at least twice asking to be removed. I get the impression the only way Performance can survive is by beating their customers over the head with another sale. Thanks guys. Can I send my trash bill to you, since that's where your catalogs end up? How many other hundreds of thousands of Performance catalogs end up in the trash each month?

When someone gives you a flyer, it's like they're saying, "here, you throw this away." -- Mitch Hedberg

3. Their "Team" membership thing is another sneaky piece of work... when they pitch it to you, you think it's a great deal, but you probably miss the "one year" part and how it automatically renews itself every year. What kind of bullshit tactic is that? Auto-renewal anything is annoying and sneaky. Full disclosure, let the customer know what's happening and give them a choice.

So there you have it. If you need bike stuff, spend your money somewhere else (local shop, perhaps?) and skip Performance. They just don't get it.