New Conte’s in Va Square

[thucydides]

So Conte’s officially plans to open a shop 5 blocks from Freshbikes (aka a former Conte’s franchise). I suppose you could see this as coincidental. It’s just Hotelling in action with a shop opening in a location dense in potential customers. But, still…kind of interesting. Nonetheless, especially with the demise of Tri360 it’s good to see a new shop come in.

Topic

[PotomacCyclist]

Too bad they aren’t opening in Pentagon City, Crystal City or Potomac Yard.

[DismalScientist]

Hotelling’s model assumes homogeneous goods. Are we really all that one-dimensional?

[thucydides]

@DismalScientist 124918 wrote:

Hotelling’s model assumes homogeneous goods. Are we really all that one-dimensional?

That’s a good point, though in this case we’re talking about two very similar types of stores.

[kcb203]

This is going to be confusing because I still refer to Freshbikes as Contes four years after the change.

[ShawnoftheDread]

I think they’re opening one down the road from Bikenetic also.

[DismalScientist]

Well, they’ll probably be more successful on the east of FB rather than choosing the slum-side of Ballston, like Tri360 did.:rolleyes:

[Emm]

This could bite into Fresh Bikes S-works and Cannondale sales, although fresh bikes looks like they’re still the only ones around carrying Cervelo. I’m surprised 2 stores that have that much brand crossover are that close together. When I was in Fresh Bikes in July they had a 2 weeks wait time for tune ups, and a staff member was saying this year business has been fantastic. So it looks like another shop that caters to high end bikes would be a good thing around here.

Side note: I’m still pretty pissed fresh bikes wanted to charge me $100 to tell me my husband’s carbon bike was totaled (it fell off a moving vehicle at 70 MPH, of course it’s totaled) or $50 to give me a repair estimate, so I plan to avoid them for service in the future. Clearly they have enough customers. I’ll continue seeing Clovis for fittings though since that is worth the cost.

And I agree with potomaccyclist–I want a shop somewhere between pentagon city and potomac yards. Spokes etc is great and carries good brands, but in a crunch it’s a pain to get to.

[americancyclo]

@ShawnoftheDread 124926 wrote:

I think they’re opening one down the road from Bikenetic also.

Doors were open and I saw bikes on the walls and boxes on the floor inside today at lunch. new sign up too.

[ShawnoftheDread]

So I guess if I go in and am completely ignored we’ll know they’re going after the FB demographic.

[rcannon100]

@ShawnoftheDread 124926 wrote:

I think they’re opening one down the road from Bikenetic also.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@ShawnoftheDread 124939 wrote:

So I guess if I go in and am completely ignored.

Sounds like every time I’ve tried to buy something at Bikenetic….

[GovernorSilver]

I was treated well the one time I went to Bikenetic.

[Terpfan]

For buying bikes or parts it may be helpful (although a lot is online now), but I’ve switched on service side to going to the guy down by Nats stadium. He was extremely friendly, did a great job, quick, and was about 2/3 of the price of what I usually pay for a tune-up/repairs. Plus he insisted I take a quick spin so he could make any additional adjustments.

But I also won’t complain about more cycling shops. I just wish there were more along my route. They’re all clustered by OT (save Spokes in Belle View) and then up in Georgetown. So if I have issues in the beginning or end of the ride, I’m fine (well fine if I wait til they open), but nada in between hence I’m always carrying around hex wrenches, tube, co2, etc.

[Vicegrip]

@Emm 124929 wrote:

This could bite into Fresh Bikes S-works and Cannondale sales, although fresh bikes looks like they’re still the only ones around carrying Cervelo. I’m surprised 2 stores that have that much brand crossover are that close together. When I was in Fresh Bikes in July they had a 2 weeks wait time for tune ups, and a staff member was saying this year business has been fantastic. So it looks like another shop that caters to high end bikes would be a good thing around here.

…..

Easy fix for the service wait. Join Fresh Bikes diplomat program. Simply spend $10,000.00 in a calendar year and you will become an elite member. You get a free Jersey and bumped to the front of the line for service. This is only for the year and to renew for another year you will need to spend another $10,000.00. http://www.freshbikescycling.com/about/diplomatic-immunity-freshbikes-cycling-pg80.htm

[baiskeli]

@Vicegrip 124976 wrote:

Easy fix for the service wait. Join Fresh Bikes diplomat program. Simply spend $10,000.00 in a calendar year and you will become an elite member. You get a free Jersey and bumped to the front of the line for service. This is only for the year and to renew for another year you will need to spend another $10,000.00. http://www.freshbikescycling.com/about/diplomatic-immunity-freshbikes-cycling-pg80.htm

Wow, I had to click on the link to make sure that wasn’t a joke.

[Author]

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