Back to Joe's original post...I have two, well actually three but the third one you already know, stories to tell. First story: After my big Riv Chica Warrior Caper when I rode down the bike thief (for newcomers to the list, search the archives), the whole Riv team sent me a card that everyone signed and a gift certificate for $100 with the invoice description, "Award for Bravery." It brought tears to my eyes, I was so touched.
Second Story: Back in August of 2012 when the Thin Gripsters pedals very first came out, I posted a query (the first on the listserv) as to whether anyone had experience with them because I thought they sounded great. My life got busy and came back to the listserv and found 1) lots of good reports on the pedal, and 2) all the places one could purchase them for less then Riv was charging. For so many many many reasons, I choose to give my business to Riv. I went on the Riv site and dang it if they weren't all sold out of Thin Gripsters! You snooze you lose! And so I contacted Miesha and asked if they were going to get more Thin Gripsters in; that I wanted to give Riv the business. Yes, came the answer; more were coming in. And so I waited until they were in stock and ordered them. A mysterious gift certificate showed up on my account for exactly the same amount as the pedals. I noted in my order that I wasn't aware of this gift certificate; perhaps it was a mistake. Then the pedals arrived (and I do love them) with an invoice that again posted the mysterious gift certificate. I emailed Miesha, saying "I think I need to say thank you to someone for the beautiful thin gripster pedals, because they were paid for with an unknown-to-me gift certificate. Perhaps it's a mistake, perhaps it's because someone saw on the listserv that I crashed in gravel and got 9 stitches...I don't know. If it's a mistake, let me know; if not, thanks to whoever made it happen! In any case, the pedals are wonderful and I love them." Miesha wrote back saying that she was glad my stitches had healed and to be careful out there. No mention of the gift certificate. It remains a mystery. My theory? Someone at Riv (Miesha is a likely suspect) noticed that I waited to buy the pedals from them (unless one of you said, "Oh Liesl! She needs something from Riv! I'll buy her a gift certificate!) and issues the gift certificate. Just a theory. Third story: I won the custom raffle. And there are even more stories. My point here is that if Riv has done all this for me (and I don't even deserve any of it), then I know that I'm not the only one. To support a company like Riv who does the things they do, makes the things they make, and has the business ethics and generosity they have, I am happy to pay their reasonable prices. It would be not honorable for me to try to save a few dollars. And this doesn't even take into account the point Patrick Deacon made on this thread. I am not indulging in effing thoughtless cheerleading (and I know, Patrick M, you love Riv); I am engaging in thoughtful, mindful, very present and real loyalty to a company that has earned it many many many times over. Signed, Riv Chica Warrior, MD, and wannabe Riv Poster Girl -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
