From: clayb@county.lmt.mn.org (Clay Babcock)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: <None>
Date: 18 Dec 92 04:31:04 GMT
Organization: LaserMaster R&D, Minneapolis, MN  USA

In article <carlp.724610942@frigg> carlp@frigg.isc-br.com (Carl Paukstis) writes:
>From: carlp@frigg.isc-br.com (Carl Paukstis)
>Subject: Re: <None>
>Date: 17 Dec 92 16:49:02 GMT

>ray@unisql.UUCP (Ray Shea) writes:

>>In article <1992Dec16.001524.1@cua.edu> 43wendel@cua.edu writes:

>>>      Does anyone have any information on Dennis Kirk catalogs.  The reason
>>>I ask is because I have heard different opinions as to whether they're products
>>>are worth ordering.

>>Their service is fine, their prices leave a whole lot to be desired.  I
>>didn't have any trouble beating their prices on Shoei helmets by just buying
>>retail, and their price for a set of Metzelers (ME33/ME55) was about 35%
>>higher than Competition Accessories, where I ended up ordering from.

>>I won't give Competition Accessories a recommendation, though, til the things
>>actually get here.

>Dennis Kirk's products are worth ordering.  They're the same products
>everybody else sells: major name brands.  The DK catalog is the best
>I've seen (free) form the mailorder moto places, with pictures and
>descriptions you can actually use.  Their customer service is prompt,
>courteous, and friendly.  The prices include shipping, and they will
>tell you accurately whether or not they have an item in stock and when
>it will ship.

>Having said all that - I'll agree with Ray and others who say the
>prices are not good.  They're basically full list retail, though they
>WILL (happily, with courtesy) match any advertised price on tires,
>helmets, exhaust systems, and some other major items.  They also have
>frequent unadvertised "sale" prices on assorted items.  They tend to
>keep some odder items in stock that the other places don't.  You pay
>for all these services, but sometimes they're worth it.

>I've also had pretty much unblemished good service from Competition
>Accessories.  I've returned merchandise to them because I ordered the
>wrong size, and I found a comparable deal on the RIGHT size locally,
>so I just got a credit-card refund.  No hassle, nor problem.  I did
>have to pay the shipping both ways, but that's only fair.  Comp. Acc.
>isn't quite as good about telling you an item isn't in stock, unless
>you ask.  But their prices are excellent, and service is good overall.

>CA's free catalog is cheap paper with poorly-scanned photos.  They SELL
>some major catalogs from mfgrs. with a rebate certificate useable on
>your order.  Their "Harley" catalog, for example, is the Custom Chrome
>slick dealer catalog that weighs about 10 pounds, full of color photos
>and neat junk.  CA charges $9.95 for it and gives you a rebate
>certificate for $6.00 useable only on mail-in (not phone) orders.
>They only stock a fraction of the merchandise in that catalog.  I have
>not ordered from it (yet).  They will also sometimes send (free) some
>of the clothing (Motoport) or other specialty catalogs.

>Std. disclaimers: I'm just a satisfied customer, no relation, etc.


I also agree that Dennis Kirk is a good place to buy stuff...
Just one word of advice to bikers living in Minnesota, or WI, IA,
ND, or SD... THEY WILL NOT MATCH PRICES IF YOU GO TO THE STORE!
I found out the hard way on fine day last summer as I took the nice
1 hour drive north out of Minneapolis.  Was looking for a new helmet,
and was VERY BUMMED to find that I could not get a price match in
the store.  So I found the one I wanted, asked to borrow their phone,
called the order line, put the helmet on my VISA, and drove home.  It
arrived the next day.

Clay Babcock
clayb@county.lmt.mn.org
89 K100RS