Jeff "MadRubyist" C.'s Profile

As you can tell from some of the past Yelp reviews I've written, I have no shortage of things to say when my customer experience does not go well.  Here is one of those occasions where I actually have good things to say about a business here in Indy.  Restoring old and vintage road bikes has been a hobby of mine for quite some time.  It has it's challenges when trying to find parts that fit and someone to ask advise.  I often have to call all over town to find the things I need.  I always have noticed how the sales people and the mechanics react to some of my special requests at the various stores.  One of those places where I never seem to get let down is Gray Goat on Indy's south side.  These guys always field my questions and go the extra steps to help me out.  I can't say that about too many places...in fact, I'm hard pressed to think of another store where I haven't had a bad experience.  These guys are the exception.  It just so happens that, today, I decided I wanted to buy my first new road bike.  Naturally, my first choice was to go back the the store that always has had the patience to help me out.  Now this is no small deal.  I have a bike shop less than a mile from my house which happens to be a Specialized dealer (which is what I was more or less after) that, if convenience was the only factor, would have been real easy. I live up by Fishers/Noblesville so Gray Goat is a good distance away for me.  However, I place a premium on places that take care of me and I'll go out of my way to give them my repeat business.  I bought a new Specialized Allez there today and once again, I came away very happy with the way it went.  I believe the two guys that worked with me on choosing the right bike and getting it prepped were named Myles and Freddie.  Hope I got that part right.  You could tell they were interested in making sure I got the right bike and not just trying to sell me anything.  I did a fit and Freddie made all the adjustments.  I am certain I could not have done any better anywhere else.  Even if it's a little bit out of your way, I'd highly recommend that you go there before you make a final decision on a bike somewhere else.

Unfortunately, I had to give this place a star.  Indianapolis has it's share of bike shops.  Some do a very good job at providing customer service.  These guys are one of those exceptions that don't.  It all starts with a phone call.  Now I've been there before and have an idea who I'm talking to.  The whole voice recognition thing.  A woman whose voice I recognize answers the phone and, already, I know I'm behind the eight ball because I've dealt with her before.   I asked to speak with someone in the shop that works on bikes.  You could tell she was offended by that request and went on to insist that I ask HER my question.  So, I launch into this big, long explanation of what I'm looking for.  After I finished, she said "let me put you through to someone in service"  Ding, ding Hook Nose....!  It's what I wanted in the first place since I knew already you were at least the first of a series of ass hats I'd later talk too.   I then go on to explain what I'm looking for in painful detail to the next guy.  He tells me "sure, we have plenty of what you are looking for".  He runs down a whole assortment of brand names he has in stock...yadda, yadda.  I asked, not once but twice, a confirmation question to make sure he had EXACTLY what I was looking for.  He said he absolutely did.   I get in my car and drive in rush hour traffic...raining outside...from several miles away to get these pads and holders.   I walk in... there she is...  with the profile of an eagle...  "Can I help you?"  Blam...I tell her I called and that I had spoken to someone who knew exactly what I was looking for and needed to talk to a service guy.   Some Zippy The Pinhead number two walks up and gets into the conversation.  I could tell he wasn't real knowledgeable either.  HE insist that I ask him my question.  So, like as before with Miss Eagle Beacon, I go on to tell him what It was I was after.   Same result... "let me have you talk to ... blah, blah" .  Five more minutes of my life I'll never get back.  Now I'm agitated.  So, Dickweed the service tech walks up...  All this time, there is some very annoying satellite music BLASTING so you can't hear a damn thing the person in front of you is saying...nor they you.   Do they turn it down?  Nope.  Ms. Can Opener Snazz is standing right there by the control witnessing our inability to hear each other.   I tell Dickweed the mechanic the same long diatribe about what I was looking for...convinced he didn't hear a word I said.   He comes back with a fistfull of NOT WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR and then gets all pissy when I point it out.  He makes the next mistake...talking to me like I'm stupid.  "Hey buddy, that's why you do what you do" ...  I never lost my patience or said anything disrespectful.  They were rude, obnoxious, and hopefully a soon-to-be SBA statistic for failure.   They all stood there looking at me like I'm the idiot for coming there for something that they didn't have...and told me they did.   One future bright spot in all of this.  The store would make a good location for a bagel shop once they collapse.  It's all about the service imperative.   80% off sale soon on one of those over-priced carbon fiber frames perhaps?

Awful.  I drive by this place every weekend on the way from my house in Indy to my parents in Howard Co.  I thought I would give it a try since it looked like an independently owned business.   I had expectations that the pizza would be good as well as the atmosphere.  I invited my parents to meet up with us and try it out to break our normal routine.  Big mistake.  There was a sign outside that said they were voted No. 1 somewhere for their buffet.  I'd like to know how!  The place is dark, the lights flicker, and it smelled like mold.  Now to the food.  The buffet had a few pizzas out that were dried up and hard from sitting.  The salad was sorry.  They had whacked up pieces of breadsticks out that were like rubber.  Must have been nuked from being reheated.  They were bad.  This place would be a prime candidate for Kitchen Nightmares.  Awful.  Then, to make matters worse, I didn't eat, my two teens picked at a small bowl of salad...The bill ended up 59.00 without tip!  No kidding..this has to be one of the WORST dank-ass places I've ever been in.  No exaggeration.  I felt bad.  My father must have recognized that I was upset about it.  He ended up paying to keep me from blowing up I'm sure.  The best thing that could happen to this joint is fire.

Went to Buca di Gakko in Castleton yesterday with my teenage daughter for lunch.  First of all, let me say that the Buca downtown Indy is a totally different experience.  I like it and service is good.  Back to Castleton.  We go in and get seated in a booth by a bunch of screaming abortions.  The rag that appeared to be the baby mill just let 'em holler.  Off to a good start but, no fault of the restaurant..back to that.  It takes forever for the waiter to come by.  Once he does, he takes our drink order.  Simple .. house Chianti for me, soda for the girl.  He comes back about ten minutes later (not busy mind you...only a handful of people in the whole place)... and drops off the soda.  No wine..says thats coming.  He off-loaded a whole tray of drinks to just about everyone that came in after us before we even got the soda.  Then, he asks if we want appetizers.  We inquire about bread and he gets pissy.  We order garlic bread and another 15 minutes later he comes back with a basket of something that looks like it came out of last night's bus tub.  No wine yet.  We got up and headed for the door...handed the sperm bank that was the hostess a $20 and said we are done and left.  They didn't care.  Needless to say, about fifty people have heard my rant already.   Won't go back..

I don't understand the rave about this place.  First time experience was rotten.  Granted, the place is nicely decorated and has the potential to be a good restaurant but, the management needs help.  I order food and it takes forever to come out.  It was during a particularly slow time of day.  When it shows up, there is a large, dirty spoon in the middle of my plate.  It had dried red junk and a piece of straw wrapper stuck to it.  I point it out to the wait staff and they didn't act like it was any big deal.  The manager came out and acted indifferent.  Once I 'gently' pointed it out, they left and pretty much avoided any more contact with my table.  For Indy, I guess this place is the bomb for most people.  It is chain city after all.  ....meh....skip it....

These guys really take care of you.  They are right next door to the 'walmart' of golf where so many people seem to go.  I used to frequent Golfsmith because I always had this perception that the other store was higher priced.  I'm really big on service and just the overall way you are treated.  The customer experience is very important.  After a few trips with sub par treatment at Golfsmith, I wandered next door out of frustration to find something.  Boy am I glad I did.  Night and day as far as I'm concerned.  They had everything (new) that the other store had with the exception of all the used/pre-owned clubs.  They still had a respectable selection and I've always found what I was looking for.  The one thing that sets them apart is the staff and the way you are treated.  I can't say enough about these guys.  I'm sold.   I've bought a putter and two sets of irons there already.  I've also had some service done.  The guys back in the back were great.  I felt like they really appreciated my business and bent over backwards to get my work done when they didn't have to right away.  Wander in there and try them out.  I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.   I was.

This is not one of those gourmet pizza shops by any means...However, if you want an inexpensive pizza that tastes good or a good sandwich, go see these guys.  I've been going there for many years...(I think I lived on this stuff in high school)  I'm originally from that area and have lived all over the U.S. ..  Whenever I go back to see family and friends and stay in Kokomo, I usually make it a point to stop in to Gabe's on Center Road.    My kids love the stuff.  

On a sad note...I heard the owner (Tony) recently passed away..  I really enjoyed talking to him when he was there.,,great guy.  I went to school with his brother.  My condolences to the family.

I'm out there a lot and have bought stuff at the Apple Store (last purchase there:iPhone) and found the staff pretty helpful.  Right on SF!