I was - up until yesterday - a long time Performance customer and Performance Team member; then I received a notice of "automatic renewal" SLAMMING my credit car for $25 dollars to automatically extend my membership another year. I never authorized this. I complained and the charge was removed. The way I see it, Performance is acting on this so-called automatic renewal hoping customers won't notice or will let it slide. I think this is a sleazy, underhanded way of doing business and I wan't no part of it. On top of that they have the gall to increase their annual fee to $25. Not worth it. I will no longer make any purchases from Performance, nor will I refer any customers to them. SCREW THE GREEDY BASTARDS.

Reading the policy statement, it's hard to miss the automatic renewal clause—it's the first (and only) item in the first paragraph.

I'm not even sure I would consider it "Fine Print".

Not only is it the 1st Paragrapgh of the policy statement (http://www.performancebike.com/team_policy.cfm)it is a seperate paragraph on the main page of the Team Performance link (http://www.performancebike.com/team_p.cfm).


I reacted the same way on my last order. I choose to have it shipped to the store instead of my house since it is only 2 miles away. I get an email from them saying that it is scheduled to arrive in 3 weeks instead of the normal 2 days I get with the membership.

As I'm discussing this with the CS rep on the phone I was also surfing the website and it was clearly defined how "free store shipping" works. As it turned out it showed up in 2 days.

We all get use to skipping the "aggreement" part of web pages and than we like to
B!tch when somehting we aggreed to happens.

I LOVE Performance!

I was a team performance member. I knew about the automatic renewal. So I marked on my calender a week before renewal. To remind myself to cancel. Also the credit card that I used to sign up for team performance had expired. I thought I had everything covered. Six weeks before renewal, performance renewed my membership and used a credit card that I used for a purchase (different credit card). I was mad for about 5 minutes. I called and they cancelled my membership. No problem. I found most company's have some kinda of gimmick to squeeze every dollar out of you that they can. I found by being aware of this. I can turn the table on them. By squeezing every dollar I can out of them. Don't be a lamb.

I am not connected with PB at all except as a customer. I have to agree that the auto-renewal is pretty well documented and (as the OP found out) they will refund the Team Performance membership if requested.
This is NOT a slam or a rip-off. Like it or not, auto-renewals of memberships, subscriptions, etc. are common in business these days.

Performance is not perfect, but my 4 years as a customer every issue I have had with them has been settled fairly. I will continue to deal with them as I find them one of the better cycling retailers (both on-line and in-store).

I agree with everyone but the poster. Renewal is clearly marked. They have honored every problem I've had with them. I will continue to do business with them. You can't beat their sales prices with discount coupons. The problem I have is they raised the Team Performance membership fee from $20 to $25. I think past members should be grandfathered.

I was - up until yesterday - a long time Performance customer and Performance Team member; then I received a notice of "automatic renewal" SLAMMING my credit car for $25 dollars to automatically extend my membership another year. I never authorized this. I complained and the charge was removed. The way I see it, Performance is acting on this so-called automatic renewal hoping customers won't notice or will let it slide. I think this is a sleazy, underhanded way of doing business and I wan't no part of it. On top of that they have the gall to increase their annual fee to $25. Not worth it. I will no longer make any purchases from Performance, nor will I refer any customers to them. SCREW THE GREEDY BASTARDS.<iframe border=0 frameborder=0 framespacing=0 height=1 width=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0 name=new_date noResize scrolling=no src="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-2087274-10453324?cm_ven=CJ&cm_cat=1477339&cm_pla=2087274&cm_ite=NEW+-+Performance+Bicycle+" vspale=0></iframe><iframe border=0 frameborder=0 framespacing=0 height=1 width=0marginheight=0 marginwidth=0 name=new_date noResize scrolling=no src="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-2087274-10461127?cm_ven=CJ&cm_cat=1477339&cm_pla=2087274&cm_ite=New+-+Bike+Nashbar" vspale=0></iframe>

You agreed to it when you signed up. Should have read more carefully

To all above who have jumped to the defense of the Corporation:

When I first signed up for Team Performance several years ago I do not recall ever seeing anything about auto-renewal. In fact, in prior years I have had to contact them to renew. It came to me as a surprise to find them billing my credit card for a renewal I did not explicitly ask for. Also: Yes, it is FINE PRINT. And No, I don't have time to read all the fine print thrown me by business these days. Be I not so enamored by Performance that I can't tell when I'm being taken for a ride. Enjoy.

sure they are greedy bastards...

but as a former employee of a PBS shop I can't begin to tell you how pissed off customers get when they find out their membership ran out and they haven't been accruing the point they deserved over the last couple months.

To all above who have jumped to the defense of the Corporation:

When I first signed up for Team Performance several years ago I do not recall ever seeing anything about auto-renewal. In fact, in prior years I have had to contact them to renew. It came to me as a surprise to find them billing my credit card for a renewal I did not explicitly ask for. Also: Yes, it is FINE PRINT. And No, I don't have time to read all the fine print thrown me by business these days. Be I not so enamored by Performance that I can't tell when I'm being taken for a ride. Enjoy.


Fully agree that it originally was not auto renew. However, at some point when you renewed YOU AGREED to it.

Don't be pissed because they expect you to live up to it.

Since it is the same size print on the main team performance page it is not "Fine Print"


Relax, Not everyone is out to get you!

I signed up for my team performance membership in store, a while ago. I had no idea it'd auto renew. If there was a fine print that included this, it was so small and encased in so much other junk that I couldn't detect it.

I'm definitely calling to cancel.

The sleaziest and potentially nastiest part of this is the bit where they use the last credit card you used. Without getting too much into the politics, that's NOT how "the system" typically works. Many places you sign up for have auto-renewal clauses, but all I've ever seen use a card you've put on file.

why dont they just sent out an email or letter asking whether you want to renew or not? kinda like magazine subscription.

and really who reads the agreement form? c'mon. dont act like a wise head, please.

why dont they just sent out an email or letter asking whether you want to renew or not? kinda like magazine subscription.

Because if they warned you about it, they would lose too much money when people canceled.

Turn it around. Why don't magazine subscriptions auto-renew? Because it pisses people off.

Because if they warned you about it, they would lose too much money when people canceled.


well why did ppl get the membership in the first place? if i dont like it, i'm not going to get a membership; and if i like the membership, i'm going to renew it.

Got the same e-mail this week. I only signed on for membership a year ago when I succumbed to pressure while buying $$$ worth of winter clothes. I'd gotten to the point I wasn't buying that much stuff from them anyway (mainly stuff like chain lube when my LBS is closed). Anyway I stopped by on Sunday and spent my remaining points (about $30) then called dustomer service yesterday to cancel my membership. No problem.

Blah blah blah "I complained and the charge was removed." blah blah blah

Auto-renewal not only makes their life easier, but it makes my life easier, as well. And they did exactly what anyone would want in this situation. Moreover, they have a very liberal return policy. I couldn't ask for more. They are a great company for a a particular niche of my cycling product needs.

2 or 3 years back or so, I had something like $100 (being the frugal saver type I am) worth of points saved up. I hadn't used the saved up points, then the membership expired unknowingly, & after I think 60 or 90 days, they wouldn't let me use my saved up points! Now I use up the points immediately if I have them, on my next purchase. I agree though: what would it take to send an e-mail or letter, just saying your membership is going to auto-renew, giving you a chance to cancel if you wanted to... yeah, the usual it seems... preying on the busy person, knowing the odds are unlikely you'll notice if they do it without announcing it. As we know so many things are set up that way these days... a sly, sneaky way that looks good up front but always toeing the line. I believe it is a very good value, though, if you ride a lot and are continually buying items, especially an occasional big ticket item, like wheels or bicycles.

IIRC, as a member who "opts out" of auto-renewal, they DO send both E-mail and snail-mail reminders, several of them in fact. Like other's have stated, over hte years I've had several small inconveniences with PB, but they have settled all of them to my satisfaction, the greedy bastards. Hey Blubike, what's the name of the greedy bastard co. you work for. Are you mistaking the profit motive for greed? Just curious.

Birddog

..... I agree though: what would it take to send an e-mail or letter, just saying your membership is going to auto-renew, giving you a chance to cancel if you wanted to... yeah, the usual it seems... preying on the busy person, ....

Read the agreement!
From paragraph #1.

".....In advance of enacting such charge, we will send notification of the membership fee to the email or mailing address you are providing in connection with this transaction, and absent your notification to us that the charge should not be imposed, we will attempt to charge your credit card......."

One phone call and the charges dropped.....not to shabby these days.:)

sure they are greedy bastards...

but as a former employee of a PBS shop I can't begin to tell you how pissed off customers get when they find out their membership ran out and they haven't been accruing the point they deserved over the last couple months.
+1

Worked there over the summer. Man, I couldn't believe the # of people preoccupied with their points. Then there were the unwashed masses that could care farging less.

Miss working in a bike shop. DO NOT miss the BS that went with it this last time round.

M

Yeah, I'm one of those people preoccupied with points. Item must be on good sale already, then usually must be at least 10% off additionally, then the 10% rebate..of course you must continually keep an eye on their marketing to do this, which is not too hard.

A couple of weeks ago I got a popup on the team page asking did I want to renew, I clicked no. Then a week later I get an email order with a renewal charge on it...

I like the auto-renewal. It makes things easier- yeah for the first minute I think- an automatic charge- damn, but then figure I would just do it anyways in the store.
On a side note, I just returned a rear FOX shock that went bad over a year after purchase (on a new bike). I was going to call Fox first, but figured i would go to Performance first and see what they said. Even though the warranty was up, Performance said send it in to them and they would handle it. Within a week I had a new replacement with no questions asked. I thought that was CS at it's best.

If a phone call takes care of it...done deal. Getting the blood pressure up this way does more to you than the corporate procedures. While not "perfect" what store really is...so it's yet another bump and it's easy to move on. Performance still does put out some nice deals and luckily now they are local for enough of us to drive over and settle it.

I liked it better when they made ME renew. I would wait till the last week and they always send me a promotion card to renew and get a 500 points bonus to do so. I think I got this at least 2 years in a row. On top of it, back then it was when membership was $20.00 and it made renewing only $15.00. I was always wondering why my membership auto renewed for the last 2 year but never read the fine print. I need the membership to take advantage of the shipping to me in NY.

I'd sign up for Team Performance in a minute if they didn't have the auto-renew, which I saw before not signing up, if that makes any sense. Auto-renewal is a way to sell people things they don't want. It is a scam, even if they're up front about it, even if they 'fix' it if someone complains- it's the million people who don't notice (working two jobs, or training, or studying, or grieving- the most vulnerable) that makes it so enticing, and it's so profitable that the only way it's going to stop is with legislation- or if Visa steps in an prohibits it in their service agreement with PB, which wouldn't be a bad idea, but even they're making a few percent on it. I don't mind auto renew per se, so long as it's an _option_. I do shop at Performance, but not as often as I would without that scam. You go into a Performance or go to their web site and you watch your back (figuratively), and definitely read the fine print and check your credit bills. I also shop with cash at their brick and mortar stores. The workers push that TP membership so hard that they must get a bonus, and since they're doubtless low paying jobs with high turnover the temptation to 'slam' must be enormous.

The workers push that TP membership so hard that they must get a bonus, and since they're doubtless low paying jobs with high turnover the temptation to 'slam' must be enormous.


I guess it all depends on where you live cause all the PBS stores here in North TX are full of the nicest people you've ever met. Countless times I've been there shopping and all I ever hear when I go to pay is if i'm a member, which I'm not, and they give me a total and I pay. Simple and nothing like what you describe.

As far as calling the auto-renew a scam and calling for legislation to stop it, you're out of your mind! A good 95% of all my bills are paid that way and it weren't for auto-renew I probably wouldn't have Internet right now to post this in the first place!

As far as calling the auto-renew a scam and calling for legislation to stop it, you're out of your mind! A good 95% of all my bills are paid that way and it weren't for auto-renew I probably wouldn't have Internet right now to post this in the first place!

I did use and highlight the word _option_, and there is a tremendous difference between an ongoing service, which everyone, for all intents and purposes, must have- water, phone, insurance, internet- and a buying club contract like Performance Bike's. Even Costco doesn't automatically renew membership, though they'll give you the option to renew while making a purchase if your membership has expired.

I'm sure the Rebublic of California is already in the midst of litigation to cease deadly epidemics like auto-renew memberships...

Just got back from one of their stores and had a wonderful experience. I have a pump that I had purchased from them about 5 years ago. I came in to see if I can get some parts for it as the head was leaking on the presta side and couldn't get it to work well beyond 60 PSI. The manager said they normally don't sell replacement parts but went to the back room anyway to see if he can find something to fix my pump. No such luck but he offered me a 20% discount off a new pump that was already on sale for 30% off. When I went to the register to pay, he did the normal inquiry of if I was a member. I said no and he proceeded to ring me up. So I asked for more info on the benefits of membership and if I really get good member discounts. He was honest enough to say that member discounts are not all that great and the real benefit of membership is the 10% back in store credit from all purchases. He went on to say that I can shop around other stores or the internet and he will price match any nationaly advertised item from anyone. :thumbsup:

I did use and highlight the word _option_, ...


It is an option. If don't want it don't join.

IT IS NOT A SCAM

I'm sure the Rebublic of California is already in the midst of litigation to cease deadly epidemics like auto-renew memberships...

Not a chance. As liberal as the reputation is, California is run by the more conservative elements of the Democratic machine, and that machine runs on money it gets from business, so it's very big business friendly- banning guns, banning fireplaces, rationing water- big government aimed at the individual is where their energy is directed. Helping the little guy pick the parasites off- no way.

Why is it that people claim ignorance to policy, but still expect the other to follow it to the letter?