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Why don't online or LBS just give their company stickers for free

1865 Views 25 Replies 19 Participants Last post by  spazzy
instead of selling them? I think it would give them free promotion and exposure. I mean who would buy a store's sticker logo knowing that they spent enough already at that place? I normally wouldn't put a store's logo on my bike, but I might if the sticker looks cool, the shop is great, and it's FREE! I understand it costs money to produce stickers, but some places charge quite a pretty penny for their own sticker! Okay, if it's a buck or two, yeah, I might get one if I like the shop, but over $5? No way! If I recall, Jenson had a cool company sticker but it wasn't free :( I would probably have given them free advertisement if it were free. They've always treated me well, and the customer service and price match is second to none.

ps
PricePoint gives out free company stickers with each order, but it's a crappy design :p Sorry PP!
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The other way around

Hi,

I know what you mean. i don't understand it at all. even in the high price range the major companies don't offer much custom work, or give away anything. But there are exceptions. The company BBBparts has a great service. Got even some parts for sunglasses for free, and if i mail them i always get a quick respons, and a good respons too. And the Chinese company XACD has some really good service too, almost unknown, and no, i'm not an employee or something like that at all. I asked them for a special stem, handlebar and sidebars and a fork (picture) and they give me advice, sended me drawings all without charge. With reasonable prices i bought al those things from that company.
I only buy things from companies i liked, and most of the time they are not more expensive than those really major companies, where the client is not their first concern, but making a lot of money is.

Maybe you should check the smaller companies or one person stores for such service.
For exemple. I' m building with my local bikeshop a almost fully customized rigid mountainbike. The fork (titanium) is without any stickers or paint. I've let another company laser somethings onto them that i wanted. They did it for free, because they could use it as a promotional picture and they just liked doing it.

I have the local bikeshop also lasered onto it because the guy likes to work with special parts and charge me for resonable prices instead of some stores.

My advice is to ask (some stickers) from the smaller companies you like, or some experts (custom work) who likes to create and loving their work more than rather work only for the money.

Good luck with your sticker hunting:D

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I make custom decals for many online and LBS shops and I can tell you that it is not cheap for them to buy decals and then just give them away.
I sell my decals for about half of what other companies quote them and it still is a pretty penny.
They are running a business and to run a business they have to make money, not give product away for free.
Why don't shops give away t-shirts, hats, etc for free advertising? It just isn't going to happen. If they paid a company or a employee a sum of money to design a logo/decal, order set number of decals, usually 1000 or more in my experience, pay for shipping, etc, they end up losing quite a bit of money just to give them away.
I do agree though that it is nice to get free stickers but it just isn't smart economically for some shops.
As for free advertising and promotion of the company, if you really like the company enough to actually put there sticker on your bike, you would think that you wouldn't mind them a few extra bucks to keep up the good work.
Maybe I am just biased since I just make whatever decal I want!!!
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Thanks for the insight, rufus. I'm not really looking for stickers to plaster my bike or car with but was just wondering why a store would sell their own sticker--seems a bit pretentious :D
It seems like several companies give them out free. Besides Price Point filling my order box with Sette and PP stickers, I've also gotten stickers from Transition Bikes and SRAM. SRAM gives you lots if you send a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Also, my friends down at the Fat Tire Farm give out lots of free bumper stickers and such...which have gotten them lots of free advertising is national magazines as their stickers have made their way into articles and pictures in those mags.
Disagree with you on this rufus. Tshirts & hats are totally different than a sticker. If shops think we're gonna pay for stickers they got another 'think' coming. Better for them to view stickers as promotional items.
I would never advertise for a big box mail order place. Maybe a good LBS, but for Jenson or PP or any of those other big guys? Lame.
And why don't they just give out bikes? and free lunches? (with stickers on them of course - for advertising you know). So what if they loose money and go out of business. We all profit from 'going-out-of-business' sales.
Jenson actually has a physical location/shop. Nothing lame about showing support and appreciation for a company. I'd do it for an LBS if they treat me well and show me respect and not rip me off because I have stupid questions that betray my inexperience and ignorance.
Xacd?

Givet said:
And the Chinese company XACD has some really good service too, almost unknown,
I checked out the web site; looks like they don't cater to the individual consumer (couldn't locate any pricing info, limited product info)? Or do they? Any additional information about your personal experience with the company would be appreciated.

Thanks
greenfishsports and pricepoint have given me free company logo stickers. usually when you buy stuff like shoes, lights, helmets, ect they come with free stickers as well.
My wife gives free stickers to kids in her third grade class. But that's only if they are good. And they get thrilled to death over a free sticker too.
mhk said:
I checked out the web site; looks like they don't cater to the individual consumer (couldn't locate any pricing info, limited product info)? Or do they? Any additional information about your personal experience with the company would be appreciated.

Thanks
O, yes the do!!
I'm just a constomer and i can order 1 piece of something i like. True, that you find almost no information about the product or prices, but just give them a email, and the will answer all your questions.

I bought a custom made handlebar and stem (in one piece), and the gave me advice about that, sended me the drawings for aproval. Same story with the sidebars, which they adjusted the drawings, without any problem, for me.
A great company, if it's for bicycle components or even motorcycle custom frames or anything else. Just give them an email.

:thumbsup:
Givet said:
O, yes the do!!
I'm just a constomer and i can order 1 piece of a component i like. True, that you find almost no information about the product or prices, but just give them a email, and the will answer all your questions.

I bought a custom made handlebar and stem (in one piece), and the gave me advice about that, sended me the drawings for aproval. Same story with the sidebars, which they adjusted the drawings, without any problem, for me.
I bought also their titanium rigid fork. It's great too. The welds are nicely done. With the first order i knew i would take a risk ordering from a unknown company, but their service is great. The gave me a tracking number for the goods and it took 2 days to ship it from China to The Netherland (Europe), by TNT Express.
A great company, if it's for bicycle components or even motorcycle custom frames or anything else. Just give them an email.:thumbsup:

If you like companies with a great service you could also check BBBparts, strong,reliable and not too expensive bike parts.
InvictaS1 said:
greenfishsports and pricepoint have given me free company logo stickers. usually when you buy stuff like shoes, lights, helmets, ect they come with free stickers as well.
yeah - pretty normal to get branded stuff with a purchase. I think the majority of heavily customer-facing companies sink money into promo items to give away, and not just limited to stickers. chalk it up as a component of sg&a.
so...skateboard companies(and tiny, local shops) give out free stickers left and right. how are bike companies different than skateboard companies?
The July 2007 issue of Mountain Bike Action did a multi page article full of all kinds of stickers, free gifts, catalogs, toll free numbers for state travel guides, you name it. Enough stickers in that list to make anybody's fridge Jeff Foxworthy. ...:D :D :D ( check their website if you can't locate the mag & see if the can hook you up). Or buy a back issue.:thumbsup:
Maxxis will send you a whole bunch of free stickers if write to them and send them a self addressed stamped envelope. They are the orange/white Maxxis logo, different sizes. really nice looking on the bike frame and car window.
wmodavis said:
My wife gives free stickers to kids in her third grade class. But that's only if they are good. And they get thrilled to death over a free sticker too.
+2. My sons got stickers from their piano teacher when they finished learning a song. Sorry, what does a person do with their stickers? :confused:
For the big companies, it is just oversight. I have plenty of major company stickers, but I don't always think to ask my reps for them.
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