BikeTiresDirect.com manager shares thoughts on weekend fire
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Editor) on August 4th, 2008 at 10:01 am
(Photo: Velotech Inc.)
Linda Watts is the marketing manager for BikeTiresDirect.com, the company whose headquarters in Northeast Portland fell victim to a large fire late Saturday night.
BikeTiresDirect is primarily an Internet mail-order business, but they also had a retail store that was frequented by local customers.
Ms. Watts drove out to their warehouse at NE 92nd and Colfax last night to survey the extensive damage.
She says the fire apparently started around 11:30pm Saturday at the back (east) end of the warehouse and moved forward toward the storefront. Luckily, she says, “the store and the marketing office seem to have been untouched.”
According to Watts, arson officials have still not been able to get into the building due to hotspots and the instability of interior walls. They are expected to begin their investigation today and Watts says they’ll know more about the cause of the fire in the “next couple of days.”
As for the future of BikeTiresDirect.com, Watts is optimistic; “The owners are committed to continuing with the business and rebuilding. We will be meeting to discuss what steps we need to take to make that happen.”
Fortunately, not all the company’s product stock has been lost. Some product remains at another warehouse. But even so, Watts says all orders have been suspended for the time being and they plan to search for a new warehouse in the coming week.
In the end, although the fire caused extensive damage, Watts is thankful no one was injured. She’s also grateful for the work of the Portland Fire Department (reports said 80-100 firefighters were on the scene) and for their customers, whom she thanks for “their understanding and support.”
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August 4th, 2008 10:29
Myra has obviously become more than just an internet flamer. *snicker*
Hopefully these guys had plenty of insurance and bounce back fast.
August 4th, 2008 11:45
Russ, I find Myra quite repugnant, but that was uncalled for.
August 4th, 2008 13:26
Apparently, Myra has started to use what she calls "red locks" on the bicycles of people she spies behaving in any manner that grinds her gears. Seems she believes she is actually accomplishing something through her own self-satisfaction with this form of passive-aggressive lash-out. What she accomplishes is punishing someone that a)could have possibly been ignorant to proper etiquette, b)uses a bicycle as their main form of transportation and could not afford any other transportation, c)addresses a symptom of a problem she perceives in a negative and non-constructive manner, and d)ultimately, ironically, ends up gaining the image upon herself of the very thing for which she espouses so much disdain.
Perhaps she might take more time to reflect and realize the broader societal and educational issues present.
August 4th, 2008 13:26
"He shouldn't have been riding in the street! I suppose you bikers will all cry that Waddy doesn't have the right to drive recklessly without a license or insurance. Well, you don't have licenses or insurance! (-Myra)" is uncalled for.
I however made a joke and made sure to indicate it as such.
Again, good luck to Biketiresdirect, I've gotten some good treads from them at good prices and as a bonus got to shop locally.
August 4th, 2008 13:43
I buy stuff there; they're good folks and I hope they can get back on their feet before too long.
August 4th, 2008 14:24
Good luck with the rebuilding/reopening guys!!
And, who is Myra?
August 4th, 2008 15:31
May the Phoneix rise from the ashes! Well, after the CO2 cartridges stop exploding, that is.
Good luck all at BTD.com!!
August 5th, 2008 10:09
I wold be willing to take some 20" and 24" smoke damaged tires!
August 5th, 2008 11:23
This is sad, I wish them a speedy recovery!
I always found their prices to be excellent and their staff to be very friendly.
If only they were a little closer in. :)
August 5th, 2008 15:15
I've always found BTD wonderful to do business with. I hope they bounce back better than ever...
August 25th, 2008 00:04
That's nice bit of karma for biketiresdirect.com! That's what you get **deleted by moderator** for ruining the tire market by gray marketing and underselling your competition. **deleted by moderator*