Champion Cycling — Local services in Fort Smith

I brought my e-bike in last week for a simple flat repair. I was easily upsold a “tuneup” for additional $75.

I told the guy I wasn’t in a hurry but he said it would be ready the very next day. Great, I thought.

Little did I know they did not have a replacement tube with the same valve as the original so they put a different tube in with the skinny valve. I picked up the bike Saturday but didn’t get a chance to test ride it until this Monday. I quickly discovered the rear tire they fixed was way under inflated. I tried to put air in the tire but the stem and adapter they installed did not work with my air compressor fitting and it could not depress the valve stem. I called the shop and talked to a worker who said the manager would call me when he got back from lunch. No one called.

Yesterday I went by to see the manager in person. I told him I wasn’t happy and why. It wasn’t an easy conversation because he doesn’t listen.

He told me to bring the bike back and they would replace the tube with one that matched the same valve I had. He said they’d been out of them.

I brought the bike this morning. I hauled it into the shop and asked the manager to show me how they air up that valve. And it did take air with their equipment. But my compressor and air fitting would not get down past the adapter. At this point, the manager began to shame and belittle me for complaining yesterday (really upset other customers were present and heard) about the service I received. Who does that??? It seemed to me because HE could get air in the tire he behaved like I made it all up or was an idiot. Who in the world would want to drag their e-bike back and forth just to bust a repair shop’s chops? It upset me, so I immediately took my bike and left while the manager expressed his satisfaction at my back at seeing me go.

They replaced the tube with a tube I would have declined. They failed to inflate the tire properly. With this sloppy service, I question whether the tune up had properly been done.

This business and its manager Eugene haven’t got a clue what it means to be a service business. He is a very poor listener and super condescending. I am a retired Navy Veteran and I served as a welder and pipe fitter so I believe I’m mechanically inclined. This experience was so disheartening. $104 to be treated like garbage and a substandard job. Wow. If you can’t take responsibility for the quality of your work, you don’t belong in service. UPDATE: this week I took my e-bike on a trip. Post flat repair debacle and “tune-up” a couple weeks ago. Guess what? The right peddle promptly fell off as soon as I bore down to peddle. So apparently a tune up does not include inflating tires properly or making sure other mechanical parts are safe and...

Unfortunately they are the only Specialized dealer locally. When I bought my Rockhopper 29er I got the run around for a week on my upgraded parts. My front derailleur went bad and they were going to order a replacement under warranty and call me when it came in, that was almost 2 years ago and still haven’t received it. My wife bought me some riding shorts on Monday from there and I was told they would be in no later than Thursday, Saturday my wife went to get them and she was told they didn’t get ordered till Thursday and that they would be in no later than Tuesday. Tuesday I called and was told they would be in sometime this week, today is Friday and tomorrow I am going to go get a refund. This is the absolute worse bike shop I have ever dealt with. My next bike will not be bought from here. I will either drive the extra miles to another Specialized dealer or buy a Cannondale at the other dealer in town. This shop is unreliable! If it is on hand you may be ok, but don’t expect any support or customer service! David, the manager there told me I should have learned my lesson the first time and hung up on me. I believe he is right, I should have learned the first time! I honestly can't recommend doing any business with them.

I love Specialized bikes! But I will NOT do any business with this shop. I give all my business to Scott's bike shop. They are not a Specialized dealer, but I have much better customer service there. When ever I walk into Scott's he ask's how I am doing by name, but the shop I purchased my bike at has no clue...

I was new to cycling and went to two shops here in Fort Smith. One was Champion and the other Scott's. Champion was EXTREMELY good at fitting me to my needs. They did an outstanding job giving me the 101 on bikes and safety equipment. I was impressed that he made sure my test bike was fitted to me and aired up. He also explained the differences in bikes of each price range without pushing me to buy bigger.

I'm sorry to say, that i did NOT purchase my bike from there, but i did purchase my wife's from Champion.

I DID purchase from Scott's, while they are very friendly and knowledgeable, knowing i was new to riding, they did not fit me to the bike, did not air up my tires before a test ride, and when i asked about helmets they just pointed to the direction where they where stacked. I would buy what i needed from Scott's, its a good shop, but if you're new to biking and need more hands on i would definitely go to Champion. Ive since spent hundreds on accessories from Champion with the same great customer service and input on products....