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New member discounts. What do you want?

Hello fellow bicycle lovers,


I'm Lolly and I'm the new Membership and Outreach Manager at Bike Pittsburgh. Some of you may have noticed me on the board before and I'm excited to get to know many more of you in the coming weeks and months.


One of the things I plan on working on is getting additional companies in Pittsburgh to offer discounts for BIke Pittsburgh members. I have some ideas but I want to know what you want. Where do you want to shop and spend money? No guarantees, but I will try my best. Let me know if you have a business and you'd like to offer a discount to Bike Pittsburgh members. Anything is possible. All suggestions welcome.


So hello! I look forward to hearing from you and working with you.


lolly
2010-06-10 19:06:50

Right By Nature!


rachel_ding
2010-06-10 19:28:59

Maybe Crazy Mocha? They have a place between my bike locker and work, and I seem to stop in just about every morning. The normal barista and I chat about biking. I know they already offer discounts for library donors.


dwillen
2010-06-10 19:31:23

Giant Eagle


asobi
2010-06-10 19:31:52

Joseph Beth


Sandcastle (kidding!)


reddan
2010-06-10 19:32:37

Oh man I spend way too much money at Chipotle. Maybe we could have some package deal where we get coupons with a "52 miles per burrito" shirt.

Thanks MOM!


joeframbach
2010-06-10 19:34:29

A second for Right By Nature. Also La Prima Esspresso down in the strip would be nice.


myddrin
2010-06-10 19:37:44

I can't ever remember what vendors give what discounts to members of my various organizations as it is. I hardly ever use them.


Just a data point from the dark side....


lyle
2010-06-10 19:46:59

Okay coffee and groceries so far. i'm thinking also along the lines of pavement and church brew works too.


I never use the discounts either but I want to publicize them so people will know what's available. And businesses will get an idea of how many of their customers are Bike Pittsburgh members, too.


Here's the list of current member benefits.


lolly
2010-06-10 19:53:20

I've never once used a discount through my membership.


bradq
2010-06-10 19:58:17

I use the Trek discount all the time.


rsprake
2010-06-10 20:01:09

Whoever has a Three Rivers rack outside the shop is ripe for the picking, I'd think. Who, other than food or coffee, has racks?


stuinmccandless
2010-06-10 20:05:47

thanks joe, i'm kind of terrible at the internet sometimes.


lolly
2010-06-10 20:05:55

South Side Cinemas, Ice cream shop off of 837 half way down the Southside trail.


Can you tell where I live?


mildsnbleu
2010-06-10 20:32:13

lol @ Sandcastle !


I use the Trek and Tazza one. I'd be down with Right By Nature or the Coop or something along those lines. Also, coffee tree roasters would be boss.


sarah_q
2010-06-10 20:35:15

I use the TOP discount quite a bit.


For some reason, I hesitate to use it at smaller shops (say, Thick). I feel like I'm cheating good peeps out of money*.


* This is not say that Trek isn't full of good peeps, but I tend to buy "big" stuff when I'm there, so the discount is nice.


bjanaszek
2010-06-10 20:37:50

Performance Bike are the new guys in town. A discount for members sounds like a good way to increase their sales and spread their name. If I didn't read these boards, I'd have no idea they had a store in Pittsburgh.


buzz1980
2010-06-10 20:40:17

I second Giant Eagle


sgtjonson
2010-06-10 21:02:13

I didn't realize we had so many benefits already - that's awesome. My membership renewal is coming up in August - gives me lots more reasons to open the wallet. Thanks.


teamdecafweekend
2010-06-10 21:03:02

I've totally used mine many times at Trek and a few times at OTB.


rachel_ding
2010-06-10 21:12:10

I like the CBW idea. I think Sean (the owner) would be down for it.


Not bike or necessity related but how about The Exchange? My favorite store ever.


noah-mustion
2010-06-10 21:26:51

I like the idea of things that are not necessarily bike related because I spend my money on diverse things. Beer, dresses, shoes, shows, new bike lights to replace the ones I lose all the time. Soon I'll be buying a new bike too once I find my dream bicycle.


lolly
2010-06-10 21:33:54

Red Oak Cafe in Oakland had a discount for bike-free-friday last year, and they have a health/environment angle to their food and marketing.


http://www.redoakusa.com/


dwillen
2010-06-10 21:43:07

Aspinwall Beans and Cream! George is a total hippie, and very bike-friendly.


atleastmykidsloveme
2010-06-10 22:09:13

Any bike shop seems ripe.


seconded:

Right by Nature

La Prima


also:

Trader Joe's

Whole Foods


a man can dream:

The Sharp Edge

Big Jim's


Also. Um, I'm a duh, but I joined about a year ago (just got the renewal ping by e-mail), and I never got a card. So I guess I'm not a card-carrying member. What do I do? I bike by the Bike Pgh office pretty much every day on my way to work if that helps.


jz
2010-06-10 22:56:48

Yeah, I just became a member a couple days ago, will I get the card in the mail or should I go to the office?


Also, another suggestion: Performance... as long as I've known the company I've known them to be very promotion-oriented...


noah-mustion
2010-06-10 23:45:59

Oh Yeah! Icecream on Highland?


netviln
2010-06-11 00:06:42

Beeeeeeerrr.

Ice Cream.

Coffee x32667

Bike stuff, duh.

Franktuary (keep) The place rules.


cpollack
2010-06-11 00:17:19

Right by Nature will give just about anybody a discount, so I say go for that.


How about more local brew joints? Penn Brewery and Church Brew Works would be cool.


rick
2010-06-11 00:47:12

Chicken Latino, please. Their slushies are T, double E, double R, double I, double F, double I, double C, C, C, C...


All of the yungins working there ride bikes, too.


sloaps
2010-06-11 01:49:26

A discount to Fat Heads might help me gain some weight.


robjdlc
2010-06-11 02:17:49

great ideas so far.


i'll try to get whatever i can, especially the products and services that members are already using. we're all well-rounded people who have needs besides bikes in our lives.


I definitely understand the hesitation to use a discount at a small shop. But if a store is enthusiastic about offering a discount to members of Bike Pittsburgh it would make me more likely to shop there even if I didn't use the discount. And if I know that a company supports the mission of Bike Pittsburgh, I'd rather support them than one of their competitors.


I want to demonstrate to businesses around the city that supporting bicycles for transportation and supporting bicycle infrastructure and riders is beneficial to them and the whole city.


lolly
2010-06-11 19:05:01

can you see if performance will always give 5 dollars for flat tubes?


steevo
2010-06-11 19:40:06

can you see if performance will always give 5 dollars for flat tubes?


+1


jeffinpgh
2010-06-11 19:45:48

Franktuary is a great recommendation. The owners are cyclists, and they've done at least one good deed for the community that I know of.....


Also, any chance of approaching Double Wide for a discount. They've been really bike friendly when I've been there.


swalfoort
2010-06-11 19:56:51

$5 for flat tubes? what?


noah-mustion
2010-06-12 00:22:06

$5 for flat tubes (up to 3, I think) either all this weekend or just Friday and Saturday as part of their opening weekend celebration.


swalfoort
2010-06-12 11:46:40

shucks. i'm going there tomorrow - if anyone knows if they're still doing this then, let me know.


i've been in there every day since thursday :/


noah-mustion
2010-06-12 15:38:13

I forgot that there were member discounts. dang!


sprite
2010-06-13 15:24:16

I didn't even know I got discounts, I also have a question about a membership card, do I need one, I would think so.


timito
2010-06-13 16:12:07

today is the last day for the tube exchange at Performance. I'm installing the Baby's sit right now she has three tubes and needs a light.


timito
2010-06-13 16:55:13

Lolly, I believe that the most important business to have involved would be Giant Eagle.

I actually think that this can go beyond just a Bike Pgh benefit and actually be a major vehicle for ongoing cycling publicity, as well as a way to further legitimize cycling as a daily transport option.

GE has previously demonstrated its willingness to support worthwhile social trends; for example they would give you a 5 cent credit for each bag you brought with you to the store (they've stopped doing this, but at the time it did a lot to promote a habit of reuse). I think they might be willing to do something for cycling as well.

The most obvious way to do it would be to somehow work it into their loyalty program (after all, it already gets you gas and food discounts) but I don't see an obvious differentiator. (0.5% more credit for cyclists?)

But there may be other things, for example getting bike stands installed in front of their groceries.


ahlir
2010-06-14 03:27:44

HA! I'd love to have some real bike racks to lock up to outside of the Shady Eagle, instead of that railing which is in prime position to get smashed into by a careless jitney.


noah-mustion
2010-06-14 11:17:34

D's in Regent Square. Unfortunately I live too close to bike there, but I always see riders there.


What about Pittsburgh Filmmakers?


erink
2010-06-14 21:54:23

Is Spak already on it?


noah-mustion
2010-06-14 22:19:02

I like Ahlir's comment on the gas rewards card. Since I don't buy much gas, can I donate the cash equivilent to Bike Pgh?


marko82
2010-06-15 00:02:58

I'm sure everyone will give us everything we want.


I'm on it.


lolly
2010-06-15 18:12:26

OH YEAH ICE CREAM SHOP


um, all i can think of is ice cream shops


PAGE DAIRY MART


caitlin
2010-06-15 20:18:42

How about a get-out-of-jail-free card for when an overenthused riot cop pushes us around in a crowd?


joeframbach
2010-06-15 20:24:52

Anyplace that has sushi.


atleastmykidsloveme
2010-06-15 20:25:39

Sushi Kim has sushi, ice cream, and is near the Bike Pgh office.


jz
2010-06-15 20:29:41

There's a few more shops who have jumped on the discount bandwagon. Support the businesses that want to support you.


I'm working on this when I get a second so if you know of any places that want to offer something to members, have them get in touch with me: lolly at bike-pgh.org.


lolly
2010-08-17 16:28:28

Looks like I joined just in time.


dbacklover
2010-08-17 16:44:27

A couple of suggestions.


I found the list of shops that discount from the link joeframbach posted earlier in this thread. I could not find a way to navigate to the list from the BikePgh page.


The owner at Morninglory Coffeeshop expressed an interest when asked if he gave BikePgh discounts, but said no one contacted him about it.


mick
2010-08-18 00:30:10

When you're on the normal Bike Pittsburgh site there is a yellow button on the right hand side that says "Become a member". When you click that it takes you to the membership page and there is a picture of a hand holding a membership card. All the benefits are listed there.


I spoke with Jeffery from Morninglory Coffeeshop in July about this. He said he wanted to think about what to offer and hasn't responded to my followups since then.


lolly
2010-08-18 20:21:16

thats some pretty convoluted ue there. the natural place for this would be under resources, or having an entire dropdown in the top nav devoted to membership and putting it there.


cburch
2010-08-18 21:20:59

what about mocha loco? I stop there every morning on my way to work and it seems like there are several in and around town. it would make a great addition if there are willing.


dbacklover
2010-08-18 22:58:31

Another coffee shop, but Verde Good Beans behind AIP. my favorite coffeeshop ever, and even though I already get a student discount, it'd be cool for non-students to get a discount somehow.


It would be beneficial for them as well, since they're sort of tucked away, and not on a main road downtown. It really is a great place, and discount or not, I think everyone should eat/drink there.


rubberfactory
2010-08-18 23:44:43

You can get to a list of bike shops offering Bike Pgh discounts by clicking "Become A Member" (under Get Involved) from any page, then on the link in the list of benefits on the right.


Or you can click on "Shops Clubs and Resources" (under Resources), then on Bike Shops, which links to that same discounts page.


The Bike Shops page says "The bike shops below that are linked offer discounts to Bike Pittsburgh members" (but maybe that needs updating, because two shops linked there aren't listed on the discounts page: Kraynick's and Michael's Cycles).


steven
2010-08-19 05:46:49

Here's a list of the businesses that have decided in the last month to give discounts to Bike Pittsburgh members:


BikeTek - NOW offering 15% off everything (except sale items) including maintenance and repairs


Clankworks - 15% off locally designed bicycle accessories and other products


Buena Vista Coffee – 10% off purchases and a FREE coffee or iced tea on Saturdays


Espresso a Mano – $1.00 off all bulk coffee


Integrated Fitness – 10% discount on all products and services


Pageboy Boutique & Salon – 10% off purchases and services


Pavement – 10% off all purchases


Priory Hotel – Save up to $50 on certain rooms — call the hotel for details


... And our list is continually growing, so if you're not already a member, become one, and if you are already, don't be shy about asking for discounts. Businesses like to see that they are being supported by Bike Pittsburgh members.


If you have a business and would like to offer a discount, please let me know.


hellololly
2010-08-31 15:08:09

Thank you for your hard work Lolly! You rock!


ejwme
2010-08-31 15:44:14

Nice work Lolly!


jz
2010-08-31 16:00:32
Hey, anyone ever get the BikePgh membership 10% off the ticket/tab at OTB over in North Park? I tried & failed, today and the waitstaff who said they had been there since it opened said that no one had ever asked about it.
ka_jun
2014-06-21 22:27:00
Someone told me that North Park OTB waitstaff een does know about E.Carson OTB. :)
mikhail
2014-06-22 16:28:40
> Someone told me that North Park OTB waitstaff een [doesn't] know about E.Carson OTB. :) this may have been me--i was there on opening day, North Park OTB waitress had never heard of or been to E Carson OTB and had no idea their menu was different. I don't think i even tried using BP member discount then. I haven't been back, though not for that reason; I just don't get that far from town very often.
epanastrophe
2014-06-24 16:28:15
@buffalo, it's conveniently on the way to Mars... too bad we didn't stop. :( :P
headloss
2014-06-25 00:28:39
@buffalo^2 Don't feel bad. I'm only four miles from the place and I don't get out that way that often. In fact, I'm trying to think if I've been near the boathouse since before they drained the lake three or four years ago.
stuinmccandless
2014-06-25 05:53:24
For the record, OTB says they don't honor the BikePgh discount at the Boathouse, in case anyone else is wondering.
ka_jun
2014-07-05 20:48:35
BikePgh lists OTB - North Park as having a 10% discount for members.  We tried using it over the weekend and the server (who said she checked w/ the manager) did not honor it.  Probably want to remove it from the website or get clarification on whether or not OTB is honoring the membership discount at OTB @ the Boathouse North Park.
ka_jun
2016-09-12 09:25:07
thanks. we'll look into it.
erok
2016-09-12 10:18:10
Any update on OTB @ the Boathouse?  Thanks.
ka_jun
2016-10-18 09:05:39
It sounds like there was some confusion, but they assured us that they will be making some changes at the north park location that will allow them to take the discount. i don't have the details on why that is, but they said that you will need to have your card in order to get the discount.  
erok
2016-10-20 14:59:53