Gary Klein maybe to return
- Thread starter any123
- Start date
I'm a bit confused by the Trek delaying shipments comment I'm sorry to say.
I worked for Trek and switched over to the Klein and Bontrager division as we ran these sort of separately. Although our first two seasons with Klein had issues (put simply not enough stock to meet the increased demand) we never artificially delayed shipments and never tried to shift Trek as an immediate available option. The Pinnacle was never an option we sold, it was out of the range before we started supplying the brand so just a little confused by the comment.
I do however remember one or two very early warranty issues we dealt with even before we officially had any Klein stock, the old UK distributor had no stock either so we did offer a Trek frame as a potential solution unless the customer was happy to wait. Distant memory tells me this was only once or twice though.
It was good times I recall, even remember having to make our first bb toolset as Gary didn't have any to send us! Building the Klein samples for the launches was always a good perk and they certainly outshone most of the Trek's I had to assemble (not all I'll add).
My biggest regret was never ordering the night storm adroit fuselage when I had the chance but I am extremely fortunate to have my Mantra Pro in team colours back with after being stolen thirteen years ago!!
Have a good weekend everyone.
Mark
I worked for Trek and switched over to the Klein and Bontrager division as we ran these sort of separately. Although our first two seasons with Klein had issues (put simply not enough stock to meet the increased demand) we never artificially delayed shipments and never tried to shift Trek as an immediate available option. The Pinnacle was never an option we sold, it was out of the range before we started supplying the brand so just a little confused by the comment.
I do however remember one or two very early warranty issues we dealt with even before we officially had any Klein stock, the old UK distributor had no stock either so we did offer a Trek frame as a potential solution unless the customer was happy to wait. Distant memory tells me this was only once or twice though.
It was good times I recall, even remember having to make our first bb toolset as Gary didn't have any to send us! Building the Klein samples for the launches was always a good perk and they certainly outshone most of the Trek's I had to assemble (not all I'll add).
My biggest regret was never ordering the night storm adroit fuselage when I had the chance but I am extremely fortunate to have my Mantra Pro in team colours back with after being stolen thirteen years ago!!
Have a good weekend everyone.
Mark
Ok I must have imagined it then, could have been a attitude it was a long time ago but I worked for a trek retailer for many many years even buying a 7000zx a y11 and a 9.8 oclv. I like trek I really do and If I saw a y foil or a y 22 for sale now I would be putting my hand in my pocket but I hate that they took icons like fisher and vaporised them into just memory. And yes they deliberately kept our customers waiting as we were a trek dealer and they didn't want us selling kleins because of the territory thing they had back then and the nearest dealer to us had the kleins in stock much to the anger of our customer who only stayed with us as we knew him well and after numerous phone calls and rep visits to trek they said to him if he took a oclv he could have it by the end of the week.
Trek were very 'corporate' back then threatening to remover us as an authorised dealer as we sold marins and Scott, yes they were good times but not all of them were.
Trek were very 'corporate' back then threatening to remover us as an authorised dealer as we sold marins and Scott, yes they were good times but not all of them were.
It was a long time ago indeed. I would agree entirely with you regarding some of the 'sales tactics and ultimately the big shame that Klein disappeared 
Klein dealers were given a decent territory so just because an account had Trek it didn't give them access to the other brands, we did the same with Bonty, Lemond and also Fisher and it was pretty common practice to ensure some level of exclusivity.
Ultimately though the only thing that matters is that some decent people keep these icons going, the sun shines and they get used for what they were intended to be used for.
Mark
Klein dealers were given a decent territory so just because an account had Trek it didn't give them access to the other brands, we did the same with Bonty, Lemond and also Fisher and it was pretty common practice to ensure some level of exclusivity.
Ultimately though the only thing that matters is that some decent people keep these icons going, the sun shines and they get used for what they were intended to be used for.
Mark
