You reckon?
Sound like a bunch of d1x who are prime for a wind up or 2!
It's a big meh from me, but I'm not niche enough for them.
Trying to make out that they are somehow alternative is a bit off.
Especially when they are part of the QBP group (quality bike products a $150million business) yet try to maintain an illusion of a backstreet operation in a shed run by a balding geek with glasses and a fondness for self aggrandisement and self promotion.
It's a big business but marketing to a willing doe-eyed audience (single speeders and steel fetishists) obviously isn't that difficult.
I might just start emailing them with EXACTLY that kind of stuff just to **** em off!
this from than man who posted wanting to know if using different front and rear tyre sizes was ok ? To be honest darling it's not like you'll have to step outside your comfort zone for inane questions 😆
Especially when they are part of the QBP group
well to be honest salsa do the racey thing and surly do the surly thing, it's a very astute business model to ensure that all types of riders are catered for. I mean it's not like they are trying to sell awful tat by sticking an orange label on it for the sheeple and fanboys is it 😉
I guess it's meant to be ironic with hints of truth, but it's a bit too negative for me. (and their bikes are supposed to be tru with hints or iron right?)
Still they got some forum inches out of it, so they won in the end.
sur·ly (sûrl)
adj. sur·li·er, sur·li·est
1. Sullenly ill-humored; gruff.
2. Threatening, as of weather conditions; ominous: surly clouds filled the sky.
3. Arrogant; domineering.
fair enough then
it's a very astute business model
"Brad, Chad, listen up, great news! The metrics on your customer service blog post are through the rough with the bellend and tryhard focus groups!"
their sales graph would probably look like this
[img] http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTOLBcQqYMjsSGU_cYvc_fvYXEcq-d_DPswYLGnFcuGICxunO9e6g [/img]
It's clearly worked though lol. Got you guys all talking about it...
Mleh...
Sounds fair to me; the customer is always wrong.
Bradley: I could take a dump on a coffee table and get people to talk about me, but it's not going to persuade many people to do business with me!
I could take a dump on a coffee table and get people to talk about me, but it's not going to persuade many people to do business with me!
unless they are the sort of childish folks with a scatological sense of humour...much like surly owners...they are an odd bunch when I've seen them out on the trails....all fat bikes and 29er niche tat
The Surly Pacer- over a grand for that build on a cromoly frame.
Is that right? Im no roadie but it reads whoa
bad move I'd say - regular/existing customers will have less impact, potential customers you will lose more than you acquire.
emails sent on a weekend get deleted regardless??? even if you're being jokey you just don't say that, your suppliers, creditors, your bank, distribution network are going to see that and you'll be fielding calls with sarcastic comments at the very least
LOL! Trying very hard to be "cool" by showing some attitudes. Coooolllll dudeeee!! Coooooolll! So yesterday ...
Now if they are that proud of their brand then they should forever stay with it. Yes, you are right ... try not to go to other brand i.e. change company name or be employed by other frame makers.
Not to chicken out or come up with some excuses ok ... 😆
Attitude? That's so yesterday.
Having attitude that's easy ... not having one that's a Somebody.
Simlarly, there must be a good market for a Cross-Check Disc, but they won't make one.
Shame really. Daft to turn money away at the mo.
fair point, but there's always the soma doublecross dc for that niche, if surly [i]really[/i] don't want to do it, and TBH i'd be surprised if it doesn't show up in the next year or so. 😉
and [i]really?[/i] ever actually deal with customers? sometimes you really do want to tell them just to foff off. you'd be amazed at just how stupid people can be. look at what gets elected. frankly our company would have been better if it had had a customer acceptance test. well, actually a ceo acceptance test, but that's another story....
Having read the screed that Tazzy quoted, I really can't see what the problem is. Although some might get all Daily Mail about drinking beer while riding their bike; I prefer to drink beer as part of a bike ride, but that's just me.
All companies should base their customer services strategies on the "Fawlty Towers" model. Customers are shit- fact
potential customers you will lose more than you acquire.
Nope. Always liked their stuff and will now make the effort to buy something Surly. surly hve been doing their own thing for a good while now (Karate Monkey anyone?).
It made me chuckle, but what really made me laugh was the way it pricked the self-inflated egos on this thread. Some of you lot are just a little too far up yourselves.
Just like surly marketing department then 🙄
will now make the effort to buy something Surly...what really made me laugh was the way it pricked the self-inflated egos on this thread. Some of you lot are just a little too far up yourselves.
See? Some people really do fall for the "if you buy our corporations's product, you'll totally be sticking it to the squares" line.
Reminds me of sugaRAPE from Nathan Barley.
Idiots.
Its hardly self inflated, egotistical, or up oneself to only want to do business with people who want to inform and be open about the product/process. If that piece was a joke or not it makes me feel that I would rather spend my money with a company who are prepared to communicate. Look what cotic and on one do, give asmuch info as possible. My main reason for buying two Transition frames was the excellent personal response I got to my inane questions.
If it was a joke or not, it reveals something underlying in the attitude ie contempt for customers.
Surlys PR manager..
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
Having had cause to use the Surly warranty I can proffer the following. The Surly approach to customer service & satisfaction IME is exemplary & definitely 2nd to none. Possibly the best attitude I've experienced when it counted the most.
That is all.
Jesus there's some seriously uptight dicks on here, it's just a bit of a joke, do people really care?
See? Some people really do fall for the "if you buy our corporations's product, you'll totally be sticking it to the squares" line.
I am amazed that you can type all the way up there.
like Surly because they make over-engineered bikes in big sizes and always have done. Being my height and weight, that can be a draw to a company. My lilac road bike says quite loudly that I buy what fits, not what is cool.
You're allowed to like the company and bikes, but their website reeks of pretension.
On the "Information Hole" tab: "Spews"?
Exactly.
My lilac road bike says quite loudly that I buy what fits, not what is cool.
Hey, don't feel bad because you were sucked in by the marketing. It's a multibillion pound industry and they spent a lot of time developing their brand. You were just playing your part when you said having read it you would
now make the effort to buy something Surly.
😆
Jesus there's some seriously uptight dicks on here, it's just a bit of a joke, do people really care?
It's funny and it's generated three pages of discussion (and counting). Looks like a win for Surly in my book.
well considering they posted on the first of feb, and if it wasn't for the hand wringing up tight dicks of Singletrack pretty much no-one would have noticed, it's hardly a super cynical marketing ploy is it? In the rest of the mountain biking world no one gives a toss. The middle age middle management masses of this place are hardly their usual market either, so it's hardly a win is it?
In the rest of the mountain biking world no one gives a toss.
How do you know?
We'll have to compare month on month sales figures for the last few years! 😀
The middle age middle management masses of this place are hardly their usual market either
I'd say we were exactly their market:
I'd love a Disc Tucker or a Cross Check.
Simple, proven design.
Should ride well, last for ages and not be too nickable.
I'd rather buy the same thing from Boardman, Edinburgh Bike Coop or Canyon for less cash though.
I'd actually rather buy one from Tesco for even less cash, if they ever decide to branch out 😀
I can do without the inflated egos and prices that come with niche (or in this case, pseudo-niche) brands - and reliability is an issue too - only ever had issues with bikes from smaller manufacturers - all the mainsteam bikes from big manufacturers have been perfect.
Sorry, but the more I think about it, the more that bit of writing puts me off the brand.
Childish toss, basically.
The bikes are a different matter - still like those. 🙂
And the stickers come off easily. 😀
lolz at rusty....i think i love you, you big cynical cuddly bugger
It's funny and it's generated three pages of discussion (and counting). Looks like a win for Surly in my book.
Interest and (generally negative) opinion about childish behaviour from a bike company doesn't usually equate to a win in sales figures.
Bad publicity is bad. Not good. Don't believe the cliche.
although if I wanted a pig iron frame I'd get an on one for half the price
That's the deal breaker with Surly for me, never mind any marketing tosh.
I still don't see how this puts people off, and in what way is it childish, it's a piss take pure and simple
Then you are their market. Good for you and them.
Obviously 🙂
this from than man who posted wanting to know if using different front and rear tyre sizes was ok ? To be honest darling it's not like you'll have to step outside your comfort zone for inane questions
Oooohhhh how far back did you have to go find that?
All Ill say is sad mate, very sad...troll someones history to have a pop...
You must have an awful lot of time on your hands...
But I guess it is half-term so that probably explains it..
The middle age middle management masses of this place are hardly their usual market either
Er - who is their market then? Surely 30-50 year old men with disposable income is the target market of pretty much all bike companies. Esp ones that are pedalling the steel is real line.
Oooohhhh how far back did you have to go find that?All Ill say is sad mate, very sad...troll someones history to have a pop...
You must have an awful lot of time on your hands...
But I guess it is half-term so that probably explains it..
quick clicky on your profile, 30 seconds, but yes I am childish 😀
An I agree with ringo, but then he is firmly in the "it's all bikes and bikes are fun, so have a beer, enjoy the ride and chill the flip out camp"
Cougar - Moderator
Jesus there's some seriously uptight dicks on here, it's just a bit of a joke, do people really care?
It's funny and it's generated three pages of discussion (and counting). Looks like a win for Surly in my book.
This... a few folk here really need to get out more.
Surly are clearly just taking the mick out of their own brand perception. The people who are getting their bibs in a twist over it are probably people who wouldn't buy anything off them in the first place so doubt whether it will impact their business at all.
I like Surly, own 2 of their bikes and wouldn't consider myself as any shade of fashion victim - they just make really good, no nonsense bikes that work.
As far as their customer service is concerned, I've used it several times for general queries and it's always been excellent.
