DL
DEB LANZAFAME
Aug 29, 2026
I need to start by saying something I have never had to say before: I gave a 0 out of 10 review, and it was completely unwarranted and undeserved. I have never given a review like that in my life, and the moment I hit “send,” I felt awful.
I had recently had surgery on my arm and was taking medication that was affecting me more than I realized. I was frustrated, emotional, and honestly, I wasn’t thinking clearly. I knew I had paid $158, but I was confused about the invoice and how everything was broken down. Instead of taking a breath and asking questions, I reacted—and I deeply regret it.
But before I tell you about Tim, I have to tell you about Gabby.
Finding a repair shop to fix the brakes on a bicycle was a PITA (pain in the ARS 😂). After doing some research, I found Trek in St. Peters, and they were happy to take a look at the bike.
Before I could even get through the door, a young woman named Gabby saw me struggling and literally ran to the door to help me maneuver the bike inside.
I’m a 66-year-old grandma—aka “Meow Meow”—and I had this bike wedged into the back seat of my Mercedes. 😂
As it turns out, Gabby was an experienced professional BMX rider back in the day. She started talking to me about BMX bikes and explained that professional riders sometimes remove brakes to make certain handlebar and frame tricks easier. She put the bike on the rack and explained everything to me in terms I could actually understand.
We talked about the brakes, grips, a new chain and pegs that my grandson had requested.
And here’s the funny part: my 9-year-old grandson originally told me that a friend had cut his brakes…only to later admit that HE was the one who cut them. 👈🏼😂
Then came the phone call from Tim, the General Manager at Trek.
Tim left me a voicemail because he wanted to personally hear about my experience and asked what he could do to make things better.
Tim, I need you to know this: you are an incredible human being.
I told Tim that I had made a mistake, and I started crying.
Instead of being defensive, dismissive, or making me feel worse, Tim was compassionate, patient and understanding. He told me that he would never want a customer to walk away from any of his stores feeling like they had a zero experience.
That conversation meant more to me than he probably realizes.
I don’t even ride bicycles. 😂 And I’ll admit, I’m not exactly a huge fan of cyclists on the roads either. But after talking to Tim, I can honestly say that the next time I see someone riding a Trek, I’ll probably think twice before being an ass. 😂
That’s what good leadership looks like.
It’s not just about fixing a bicycle. It’s about how you treat a person when they’re upset, when they’ve made a mistake, and when they come back and admit they were wrong.
Tim gave me the opportunity to make my wrong right.
I wasn’t charged for the pegs, and after giving it more thought, I realized they weren’t even necessary—they were simply something my grandson wanted. Tim even offered to pick up the bike from my grandson’s home and replace them for free.
That level of customer service and kindness is something I don’t take for granted.
So, Tim, this is my apology and my thank-you.
I am sorry I gave Trek a zero when it wasn’t deserved.
I am sorry I reacted before I fully understood everything.
And I am incredibly grateful that you didn’t judge me by one bad moment.
Please give Tim the recognition he deserves. People like him are rare. He reminded me that sometimes the person on the other side of the phone isn’t just doing a job—they’re choosing to be kind.
And Gabby—thank you for seeing a grandma struggling with a bicycle and immediately jumping in to help. ❤️
Trek St. Peters, you have some pretty amazing people working for you.
From a VERY humbled Meow Meow…thank you. ❤️🚲