tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post6210626439121390947..comments2024-03-18T10:19:55.782-04:00Comments on The Velo ORANGE Blog: Corporate Responsibility, Retro Cranks, Stinky Tofu...Velo Orangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-34376721706204511232009-06-14T13:03:01.143-04:002009-06-14T13:03:01.143-04:00I'm come from Taipei City, it's too late t...I'm come from Taipei City, it's too late to see this post. Or I can show you good street foods in night market and bike way if you want to take a bike tour in Taipei.<br /><br />Ride the bike to night market and enjoy the food, sounds good, but .....can't help decrease the body weight....:p誰是五號?https://www.blogger.com/profile/01803492564048249021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-90797002371796969702009-03-20T18:00:00.000-04:002009-03-20T18:00:00.000-04:00like stinky Tofu , then make a trip to Japan and t...like stinky Tofu , then make a trip to Japan and try Natto.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-64914155416158012762009-03-13T16:55:00.000-04:002009-03-13T16:55:00.000-04:00And another anonymous thought because I really don...And another anonymous thought because I really don't want to work today.<BR/><BR/>What about VO-certified mechanics?<BR/><BR/>I didn't have time to build up my latest bike, and I had a h*ll of a time finding a mechanic I could trust to install fenders, racks, and lighting. In fact, it was obvious that the first few bike shops I checked out had never even seen a bike like mine...and this is in Manhattan.<BR/><BR/>You might expand sales considerably by certifying mechanics. This *does not* need to be a complicated process. Simply ask for a picture of the frame pre-fenders and pre-rack (maybe with an identifying background) and a picture after installation, with close-ups of the relevant bits. For example, nicely rounded corners and proper mounting on a constructeur rack, and neatly installed, well-aligned fenders. You could also ask for a couple of letters of recommendation from customers.<BR/><BR/>Then list these mechanics/shops on your website. Simple. Doesn't take much time for the VO staff. And it expands the audience for VO parts dramatically to the vast majority of people who aren't willing to take a drill bit to an expensive stainless steel part.<BR/><BR/>JohnonymousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-59548906522678585172009-03-13T14:43:00.000-04:002009-03-13T14:43:00.000-04:00Greg,I've drooled over all three flickr sites. Nic...Greg,<BR/><BR/>I've drooled over all three flickr sites. Nice eye candy, but not very convenient when you're installing a fender/rack/bell or whatever for the first time.<BR/><BR/>And (if Chris is actually reading this far down) some nice pictures actually on the Velo Orange website, with closeups, would not only be useful, they would also be an awesome marketing tool. VO's racks (or anyone's racks) and other components don't look like much when they're photographed in isolation, but they're real works of art on the bike. The pictures need to show the utility and beauty of the component.<BR/><BR/>Another thought for Chris: Move some of your writing on the blog into the descriptions of components on the VO website, and generate new more detailed copy where relevant. Right now, the VO website is targeted to people who really know bikes...there's a whole world of people out there who could benefit from these components, if they only knew why they're important/useful.<BR/><BR/>And...now that I'm thinking about it, detailed PDF instructions, *with pictures* would probably be the best solution all around. Add a note on the invoice directing the customer to the instructions archive.<BR/><BR/>Free advice from a marketing professional :-)<BR/><BR/>JohnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-78208260431821309052009-03-13T13:27:00.000-04:002009-03-13T13:27:00.000-04:00Anonyme John 21:51.There are a few of flickr group...Anonyme John 21:51.<BR/><BR/>There are a few of flickr groups that can help you out.<BR/><BR/>I started http://www.flickr.com/groups/velo-orange/ so I could look at pretty pictures of Velo-Orange bikes and products all in one place.<BR/><BR/>Racks n' Sacks (http://www.flickr.com/groups/racksnsacks/) is not as dirty as it sounds and would have been able to help you with visualizing nice racks.<BR/><BR/>And I believe Honjo Fenders (http://www.flickr.com/groups/honjo/) was started to help people see mounting methods up close.<BR/><BR/>Cheers!<BR/><BR/>GregGreghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10497208652868804286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-35459753663077479902009-03-13T11:47:00.000-04:002009-03-13T11:47:00.000-04:00peace and love,How right you are my friend. How ca...peace and love,<BR/><BR/>How right you are my friend. How can the oppressed and impoverished have the luxury of dreaming of using electronic information when they are working 13 hours just to afford gruel for one meal a day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-87944376361823847542009-03-13T10:57:00.000-04:002009-03-13T10:57:00.000-04:00Okay guys, Chris is still out of town, and Tom is ...Okay guys, Chris is still out of town, and Tom is in the backroom doing whatever people do when the boss is away. I think it's time for a coup d'etat. We should grab control over this dumb blog and bend it to our way (my) of thinking. Obviously I cannot divulge my name at this early stage, but if you do have the skills to hack into the system and change the password, please contact Mr.Berg and he will forward the information to me.<BR/>-AnonymeGunnar Berghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17451985764040900726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-61953480100138823582009-03-13T06:56:00.000-04:002009-03-13T06:56:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-90132305403941534282009-03-13T00:41:00.000-04:002009-03-13T00:41:00.000-04:00"print the directions on the package used for ship..."print the directions on the package used for shipping--you could stamp them on with a rubber stamp. you are welcome.<BR/>M Burdge"<BR/><BR/>If we are going to be more green, this is actually a very good idea. I was reading in Earth Island Journal about the Great Garbage Vortex that's in the Pacific Ocean. Lots of bits of plastic, all different sizes. Plastic is having a horrible effect on our environment. Even when plastic bags break down, they powder is very toxic. Actually, it's similar to estrogen, causing male organisms to take on female traits.<BR/><BR/>So, I think it would be good to switch to paper wrapping, and it's fine to put instructions on that. BUT, because V-O is internet based, folks also have easy access to pdf's.<BR/><BR/>But really, I think we need to get away from plastic. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-85630215903102638902009-03-12T21:51:00.000-04:002009-03-12T21:51:00.000-04:00I have several suggestions:1) Paper instructions w...I have several suggestions:<BR/><BR/>1) Paper instructions would be awesome. Unfortunately, Velo-Orange's blog pages do not print well when printed from Firefox.<BR/><BR/>2) One thing I'd really, really like to see are pictures of your components installed on bikes, including close ups. That would go a long way to helping me install them correctly! Nothing is more frustrating than surfing for an hour looking for pictures of a properly installed constructeur rack...believe me I know from painful experience.<BR/><BR/>Plus I think seeing them on bikes would help sales too.<BR/><BR/>JohnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-13312504236568381222009-03-12T15:43:00.000-04:002009-03-12T15:43:00.000-04:00The instructions for my recently purchased VO rack...The instructions for my recently purchased VO racks were lost under the flap in the cardboard shipping box. I didn't even realize there were instructions/hardware until I'd finished the install. Perhaps taping or attaching them to the item would be good. Other than that, the racks were flawless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-20338507909454266232009-03-12T12:31:00.000-04:002009-03-12T12:31:00.000-04:00In some countries the hand is used in lieu of toil...In some countries the hand is used in lieu of toilet paper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-564393550654098932009-03-12T11:48:00.001-04:002009-03-12T11:48:00.001-04:00there is usually an invoice in the package in the ...there is usually an invoice in the package in the mail. use the back of that for instructions. That said, I prefer electronic versions... <BR/><BR/>Allan PollockAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-27081625124667858192009-03-12T11:48:00.000-04:002009-03-12T11:48:00.000-04:00PDF or other online printable (unless requested at...PDF or other online printable (unless requested at order time). This has the advantage of revising/editing the instructions based on previous user feedback. Less path dependency.<BR/><BR/>Cheers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-15033356927294025722009-03-12T11:44:00.000-04:002009-03-12T11:44:00.000-04:00you should print the directions directly on the pr...you should print the directions directly on the product and ship them boxless--by hybrid vehicleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-29555135181846466852009-03-12T01:51:00.000-04:002009-03-12T01:51:00.000-04:00print the directions on the package used for shipp...print the directions on the package used for shipping--you could stamp them on with a rubber stamp. you are welcome.<BR/>M BurdgeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-84349683278693413842009-03-12T01:26:00.000-04:002009-03-12T01:26:00.000-04:00If I need instructions I'll print them. That bein...If I need instructions I'll print them. That being said, having an instruction link on each items page (which would then be a clickable link in the emailed receipt) seems to be a sensible idea if paper savings is the goal. People are already getting an emailed receipt so it's not like the extra link or two would kill them.Raiynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05008417835955777719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166142433385684052009-03-12T01:10:00.000-04:002009-03-12T01:10:00.000-04:00If saving paper is the key, then putting instructi...If saving paper is the key, then putting instructions for mounting only when specifically asked in an order form would be the way I would do it. I like the idea of PDF manuals being available on any site, as I rarely encounter too much information when I want to delve deep into some particular bit of bike nerdery. I can hardly believe that the average VO customer didn't shop either via online, or via a local bikeshop that could print them out the instructions when purchased through them, but I'm sure now 15 people will come out of the woodwork who heard of your amazing company via a message in a bottle and only put their orders in via carrier pigeon with a twine wrapped letter on it's leg or something.No Brakes Bikeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01267575231417887072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-47821743695507372792009-03-12T00:36:00.000-04:002009-03-12T00:36:00.000-04:00I am doing this right now with the instructions fr...I am doing this right now with the instructions from the site. One thing it doesn't address is relative positioning of the front fender.<BR/><BR/>The rear fender is easy, by comparison.<BR/><BR/>PDF would work!keithwwalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11808096138218041326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-7806017120655606492009-03-11T23:20:00.000-04:002009-03-11T23:20:00.000-04:00I would include simple instructions, like you do n...I would include simple instructions, like you do now, with the product. A page printed with the basics of how to get the job done, and then on the website you can have more detailed, illustrated, pictorial instructions that give hints, tips, problem solving, FAQ and cool examples of how to get the job done. The nice thing about this approach is you can have customer generated content on the site. Pictures of customer bikes where they have figured out how to adapt your products to work with specific bikes and components, etc. This may not save all paper from reaching the consumer, but it would provide in depth stuff that the consumer wouldn't need to print, but rather use as an aide. That might require a more sophisticated web page design, but that might be in the works someday anyway.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18377360916118608254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-16091520647587757492009-03-11T23:05:00.000-04:002009-03-11T23:05:00.000-04:00Okay, I was wrong, instructions are necessary. nor...Okay, I was wrong, instructions are necessary. nordic_68, elongate the bottom hole next time. Ah, put that in the instructions I guess.Gunnar Berghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17451985764040900726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-81737336468184173262009-03-11T21:38:00.000-04:002009-03-11T21:38:00.000-04:00I think it is fair to say that the inclusion of pr...I think it is fair to say that the inclusion of printed instructions outweighs the benefits ( especially to those without internet access, a printer, a really good memory, or wi-fi laptop) of leaving them out by default. <BR/><BR/> If needed, or if morally compelled, why not include a little check box on your order form and/or charge a quarter. <BR/><BR/>Pepe' le Pew loves ze stinky tofu too. oui ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-21342287243911348892009-03-11T21:23:00.000-04:002009-03-11T21:23:00.000-04:00+1 on the PDF library of instructions.I'm an engin...+1 on the PDF library of instructions.<BR/><BR/>I'm an engineer and would like to think I can just figure it out from photos, which I basically did with your stainless fenders. But one thing I learned the hard way is that the required position of the mounting hole at the rear brake bridge will shift fore-aft a few millimeters just by using or omitting a leather washer. I elongated the hole and it's mostly covered up, but still, I know plenty of folks less mechanically inclined who would totally botch it w/o instructions...nordic_68https://www.blogger.com/profile/16681928489719451333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-63034486875658438822009-03-11T20:37:00.000-04:002009-03-11T20:37:00.000-04:00WHy not just have a library of PDF instructions an...WHy not just have a library of PDF instructions and or tech specs that can be downloaded (and printed out) if needed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-9931923443587828302009-03-11T20:03:00.000-04:002009-03-11T20:03:00.000-04:00I was recently installing the Kickback on my Big D...I was recently installing the Kickback on my Big Dummy and noticed that there seemed to be a lack of directions on the paper provided. A quick search on my phone and I had a very nice PDF of the complete directions. I'm all for paperless directions.<BR/><BR/>WilliamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com