Actually I was planning on writing a negative review however , after a few events that took place after I got frustrated,the owner and the mechanics attitude was quite impressive and eventually my point was accepted and , eventually after a bit of headache ,I feel taken care of and heard. so overall I think this is a nice place. People make mistakes but overall the repair was very well done and it feels good now read more

Pains my heart to give any 1 star review for small businesses. But I ordered a Veloric folding bike on 3/17 so I can reduce use of my car. Especially with gas prices. I also live in Walnut Creek and decided to go with a more "local" (used to live in Alameda) shop. Originally I was going to go for an Letric bike, but got convinced to go for the Veloric. So Vivee was nice enough to let me test ride one that was in the shop for service and I decided to buy one, but they didn't have any in stock. She asked if I can use Zelle and I wanted to use card, but she said she would face a 3.5% fee. Ok sure. We also bonded over tennis as well since my brother played and her kids play it and she was a hitting partner, which we found funny. We go over the options on what the bike looks like, what options I wanted and add-ons. I got a date of mid-April, probably more on the early end for me to pick up including assembly and shipping. Veloric would take 3-10 days to ship (from their site for direct to consumer) and then it would take time to assemble. So I presumed, ok, maybe it's quick and coming early. I'll call! I text Vivee on March 20 and she said she would check Monday when she got back. I didn't see a response. So I text back on Monday to check. No response. I call the shop (no response). I text again (no response). It's now 4/7 and yes I called and left a message on the phone and text. So the lack of response + Zelle payment + reviews I didn't read up here = panic. I decided to go and call Veloric to see what's happening. Veloric told me to try to work it out and confirmed there was a fold 1 that was delivered, but they couldn't confirm this was mine. Vivee did eventually answer the phone on 4/9, but said she was waiting on the shipment and said that she ordered a pallet and blamed the tariffs for the delay. So I decide to go in 4/23 when my bike was supposed to be there, but it turns out it wasn't. She told me she was ordering a pallet and she would install my bike first. She also said it was difficult to talk to Veloric's customer service team since there were trade shows. Turns out she lied. I had been in contact with Veloric's customer service team since March because I read some of the reviews and there was a Reddit post on them buying a bike there with a few other horror stories on people getting repairs and either never getting them done and having to pay upfront. Veloric told me they had not gotten an order from Westside Joe's since March 16 and I had come in on March 17 to order my bike. I truly wanted to support a woman owned minority business in my hometown of Alameda. But unfortunately, they are unable to be transparent on ETAs to the point where the manufacturer had to check for me and now I have to dispute with my bank. I've also posted my story to Alameda Peeps, and it looks like there are more horror stories. Moral of the story: It's great to shop local, but please be careful on who you chose to do business with. read more

Westside Joe's Bikes - Bikes Near Me - Alameda, California

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If only yelp had negative star's .... west side Joe's WILL SCAM YOU.... more specifically the owner Vivian "con artist " my biggest mistake was not reading the reviews on this scam of a business.. I payed 150 to Vivian through zelle for a tire and tube to be installed on my bike rim. I was told 2 days max, I came back a week later and the rim was still exactly how I dropped it off.. no work done to it. Everything that people are complaining about in the reviews are exactly what is happening to me, to the "T".. VIVIAN IS A HUGE CON ARTIST.. stay away from west side Joe's bike shop in Alameda, unless you want to be ripped off , lied to ,conned, waist your time and money.. How this place is still open is insane.. Stay away from Vivee The Conn.... Best place to waist time n money.... Vivian should do some jail time in my opinion. She's a CROOK. Let's start a class act .. stop her from doing this to the community of Alameda in the future and now.. The island is better than this garbage and we don't want people like Vivian giving us a bad rep.. read more

PSA: do not shop at Westside Joe's Bikes. She will take your money, and you'll never see your bike, there's many of us taking her to court. It's wild, that she's staying in business, from my Reddit sleuthing, seems she's been doing this for YEARS, to what seems dozens of people. Here's my story: Went into Westside Joe's Bike shop to place an order for a bike. The owner, Vivian Young, took our order, and asked to be paid in full with Zelle because "credit card processing was down today". The order was supposed to take a few weeks. After months of excuses and waiting, I asked for a refund. Wouldn't get one. Turns out, after I contacted the bike manufacturer, she had never placed the order with them at all, and had willfully knowingly taken the money without any intention of getting me a bike. I am taking her to small claims. She has done this to others, as well. read more

Didn't finish a simple tire fix for a month. Always had a lame excuse for why it wasn't completed. Would not recommend.

Vivian aka Vivie the owner ripped me off for hundreds of dollars when fixing my old bike. I saw dozens of angry former customers posting on NextDoor, so I figured I better chime in. I see a four star overall rating here, and I doubt these are all honest reviews. Given the amount of vitriol against the owner for various activities that involved payments for services never rendered, long wait times for small repairs, no receipt for Venmo payments, this person needs to be run out of town on a rail. We don't need your business here, VIVIE. Go back to wherever you came from, the owner even regrets selling the buiness to you. read more

Woman owned business, which is great and extremely enthusiastic and friendly owner, which is also great, unfortunately, they have dubious business practices and one should go elsewhere for transparency and fairness. read more

I paid $153.28 upfront via Zelle for two bike services -- a balance bike conversion and maintenance/rust removal on a second bike. No written receipt or itemized quote was provided. She told me it would take a couple of days. Around day 5 or 6 I had to call myself for an update and she told me the small bike was ready for pickup. When I arrived I noticed the pedals were off but the crank arms were still on. When I asked why, she said they don't remove crank arms -- something that was never communicated before I paid. I took the bike home, dropped off my son, and came back 30 minutes later to tell her this was not what I asked for since I needed it as a balance bike. She then said crank removal was extra and 'universal knowledge.' I am not a bike expert -- it is the shop's responsibility to explain this upfront. I asked for a partial refund for the small bike and she agreed but never sent it. I then asked for my second bike back and she told me it was at another shop and already done but the mechanic was sick. She asked me to wait two more days. When she finally delivered my second bike on Wednesday she handed me only $15 cash for the small bike. Since it was dark and I had my son with me I could not fully inspect it. The next morning I inspected the bike and it was barely touched -- they only removed a little rust from the front wheel but the rest was untouched. There were still spider webs on the bike proving it was barely touched. My ring bell was also missing -- this was actually my second visit to this shop. I had come previously over a year ago for a minor repair and purchased the bell at that time. I returned as a loyal customer and this is how I was treated. I sent her a message pointing all of this out and she never responded. I like to support local businesses and wanted to give them a chance but I am so disappointed. After this experience I checked the reviews and found multiple other customers reporting identical issues -- missed deadlines, incomplete work, and no communication. This is a clear pattern. Please check the reviews before trusting them. Get a second opinion and always get everything in writing before providing payment to this shop. read more

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Absolutely horrible experience. There are so many bike shops here, DO NOT go to this one. Vivian is full of excuses about why she can't deliver anything on time, and the thing that's shocking to me was -- even if she wasn't lying (which I bet she was) -- that she's incapable of problem solving. "I couldn't contact you, our computer glitched and I lost everything!" Me: You took my payment. You had my venmo. Her: Oh but I didn't remember whose was whose! You're a business owner?? YOU CALL PEOPLE AND FIND OUT WHO IS WHOSE so you can fix the damned problem. And you have a ticketing system so you leave a tag on the bike. UGH boy do I regret "supporting a woman-owned business." Note, I'm a woman, and the bike is the famous Georgina Terry's bike. (She also claimed to be confused because someone else brought in a same sized bike. Orly? Also a 17" inch bike with a 24" front tire and a 27" rear? There's ANOTHER manufacturer that makes those? Oh right, no there's not.) Then she left her mechanic to cover the entire shop on a Friday afternoon, as he packed up my bike. It didn't fit in the box properly, which won't shut, and it's not taped well -- it was bizarre how he didn't have any idea how to close a box. So not only is she massively disorganized, but she is a terrible manager, leaving someone who has no skill to manage a flow of customers the week where her computer glitched (and she gave another person in ther a different excuse that her item wasn't ready). read more

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Amazing experience. I decided to move on from my non-motorized cargo bike to one that could give me a little help. I stopped by the Alameda location and they said 'here ya go" and gave me the Mundo I was interested in for a test ride around the island. I know, no hills, but... I went home to mull it over - it was a big purchase decision - and called back to confirm some stuff with the owner. Specifically I wanted it boxed and not yet assembled, not having the space yet untili I could get rid of my old one. Vivee offered to bring it to my place in Oakland, which was a huge help! She showed up in her classic old pickup truck and helped unload it. I tried to pay her through PayPal but I couldn't get it to go through. She said no problem, I think I may have given her a token deposit, she said swing by in a few days and settle up. They were really good to me with a couple of accessories for the bike, too. This was my first experience with them. I'm happy to have this shop as a local resource. read more

I will stick to purely the facts of what took place. You decide if they're good or bad. I received my final communication and invoice from west side joes on 10/24/2025 I dropped my bike off on 7/15/2025. An entire 3 months and 9 days prior. I picked up my bike on October the 15th. That's 3 entire months they had my bike. When I dropped it off they asked if I had any timetable and I said no super rush but I'd like it in a reasonable amount of time. I've learned to never ever say that. I dropped it off on the 15th of July and the work requested was this: 2 tubeless bike tire replacements (I provided the tires) 1 new chain and install 2 New brake pads General tune up and checking the shifters and brakes (I was under the impression this would include a brake bleed) The total cost here was to be $460 I was going to try to do some of the work myself or take it somewhere else but they dropped the price to $410 for me. I thanked them and paid and left. This visit both the owner and maintenance guy were present. 6 weeks go by and I hear nothing. I call. No answer. I call the other number, no answer. I text, no answer. Finally I go in and ask about my bike, the maintenance guy says it needs a brake bleed and I need to pay more money. I say they need to communicate with the owner as that should have been covered in my initial expense. He says oh well we'll talk about that and get back to you. This is when I finally get a text from the owner saying it was a miscommunication and they're short on maintenance guys and backed up right now. A few weeks go by and I finally get the update the bike is ready. I go in and only one tire has been changed out to a tire I didn't bring in and the chain is still the old one. I tell them this won't work and they say something about needing proper tires now the ones I called for don't fit. We go back and forth and I can't find the tires that do fit so I say purchase the ones needed and I'll pay for that. I get a text saying my bike is ready and I can pick up on Friday. I go in Sunday and nothing has been done. I'm told the tires didn't come in. I finally get a text saying the bike is ready so I go pick up and I get the bike. The maintenance guy says we're square and nothing more is needed. So I take my bike and go. About a week later I get a text with a receipt invoice saying I owe for a tire installation and a brake bleed 2 tire liquid sealants and the 2 tires at an additional $223. I ask why I'm being billed for things I already paid for and I get a text back saying it was a miscommunication and they're going to keep the tires I brought in as final payment. Fine by me I'm so so over it at this point. I'd really like to like this company and have purchased bikes with them before but I won't be going back and if you need bike work done I would highly recommend you go anywhere else at all. read more

Go to a different bike shop on the island. This one isn't worth the time, everything is overpriced and you get the run around for delivery times, I've heard it's pretty common that they take your money but don't actually order the bikes. Check the Alameda Reddit about them. My first red flag should've been agreeing to buy a secondhand, Disney bike for way over a reasonable price, then taking 3-4 weeks to put on training wheels? After all that, I was very disappointed when I saw it and having agreed to buy junk bike. Then the owner asked me to pay on Cash App or PayPal to avoid taxes or something. This place is hella shady. I'd rather support a reliable, local business who is honest. read more

I ordered a Velotric bicycle from Westside Joe's Bikes on March 26, 2026, and paid for it in full via Zelle and cash as Vivi the owner clearly mentioned that If I used a Credit Card she would charge me 3.5% more. Since then, I have stopped at the shop several times, texted and tried to call constantly to try to reach her and ask for the bike I paid for and was given one lie after another each time we communicated of why she did not have the bike for me. After not receiving the bike for 5-6 weeks (she quoted me 1-2 weeks delivery when she sold me the bike) I asked for my money back, I no longer trusted her and I did not want to do business with her. As of today, 3+ months later, I have not received a refund of the money I paid. She owes me $2088.00. This included the extras she also sold me. I also came across reviews from other customers describing experiences that appear similar to mine, which has increased my concern. I will appreciate if anyone out there like Jenn H and others with a similar experience, to please respond. I'm interested in connecting with you to make a stronger case against this business/owner, I am definitely following up with my legal options . I also want to try to help other people to not to fall for the same scam. read more

Terrible service... Way overpriced There are so many great bike shops in the area, this is not one of them. I will never come here again read more

We were excited about getting our bike up and running, Vivee promised that the bike part that we ordered would be ready by the following day. After a week, nothing was done. I asked Vivee for a refund and I would get the part that was needed elsewhere. Westside Joes Bikes has not honored a $150 refund that was promised to me by Vivee. I was told the check would be dropped off, but after four follow-ups, it still hasn't been received. Repeated promises have been made with no follow-through. This raises serious concerns about reliability and customer service. I hope this gets resolved, but until then, I would be cautious when dealing with this business. read more

do not trust this business. my friend gave $2000 for a bike and she never got the bike and the woman who owns the shop refuses to pay her back the $2000. my friend had to go to small claims court and she won, but she still won't make any payments she is a liar and a thief. i strongly advise against going to the store and definitely do not put any deposits down for anything. this woman is a scammer and is very dishonest. i don't know how she sleeps at night. she is truly a horrible person. read more

Regarding a recent news article done on this shady business, I feel compelled to write my experience about this bike shop from a few years ago. My horrible experience happened to me on a regular Fuji bike purchase right around Covid. I paid around $500 upfront. once the bike arrived (many months later), the owner told me that I had to pay more money because their supplier increased their price so they were passing the cost onto me. Also, there were no refunds... I was pissed. I even told her that she was holding my bike and my money hostage. After a bit of frustration on my part, the owner said she'll split the costs with me. She also said that she was a "small business" and "it wasn't her fault". I paid an extra $100 or so, took the bike and never returned back. This place definitely has shady business practices. Illegal ones too if they are being taken to small claims court by countless other mad customers. I would've filed a lawsuit like many people have already if it had been an e bike or something more expensive. I still can't believe this place still in business. read more

The owner is a scammer. I would avoid this place at all cost. She only takes payments through Zelle so when she scams you, you can't get your money back. Go to a different bike store instead. You will save time, money, and migraines! read more

Brought my road bike in for a tune-up after it had been sitting for a couple years. When I arrived, no one was at the front. I waited around five minutes before someone finally appeared -- not sure if he was the mechanic or the owner, but he asked me to Venmo the owner directly and pay upfront, which was around $200. Seemed sketchy, but I went along with it. When I picked the bike up, it rode okay, but it was still completely covered in dust -- which is ridiculous for a $200 tune-up. The least they could do is wipe it down. I also asked if they could take a quick look at my girlfriend's brand new e-bike because of a minor brake noise, and the owner said it would cost another $200 just to inspect it. No offer to even glance at it or hear it out. The whole place gives off strange vibes -- unprofessional and overpriced. Since then, I've gone to Alameda Bicycle instead. They were super friendly, and when they noticed my tire was low, they topped it off for free. That's the kind of service I'll keep going back to. Avoid Westside Joe's. Not worth your time or money. read more

STAY AWAY!!! Took much longer than the date she committed to. In my desire to support a woman of color business I did not pay attention to all of the red flags for example paying before the work is done via Zelle. Everything was more expensive, and the second time I rode my bike the chain broke. When I went to the store to get my bike, only to find out it wasn't ready, a woman at the front door had a court order or the owner to give her back her $2000 for a bike that the owner never gave her. Owner is shady. Go to Alameda bike instead. read more

I prepaid for a bike and never received it. I've been jerked around for 2.5 months, and I'm not the only one. They won't give me a refund, and I'm suing. Zero stars. read more

Bad service, overpriced and questionable morals. I would choose other bike shops in the Bay Area over this one.

This is a very special business . Unlike most businesses ,the owner prioritizes quality of service,customer satisfaction and cutting costs over profit. The owner works with very low income community members if necessary to get their bike or scooter back on the road again. Kind ,cordial and competent at ther craft .Top of the line! read more

Absolutely terrible experience. I told Viveee her reviews were really awful and she rationalized by replying that of 8000 transactions a year she could live with 20 bad reviews. Make that 21. Vivee is a con artist 100%. No conscience or moral code. Don't know how she sleeps at night. I read the negative reviews of other shops on the Island but others were generic and none were as bad or as specific as Vivee's. In 2016 I had a brain tumor removed, followed by two ruptured discs two weeks later. I did construction but my career ended after the disc ruptures. Se la vie ! I didn't realize it at the time, but I see now that I've lost a fair amount of executive function over the last decade. Anyhow, I continued to ride my bikes, but there was a gap in my rhythm which was annoying. I had to abandon my clip-in pedals for my Serrotta and as my balance slowly digressed over the decade and I developed a foot drag on the opposite side from the tumor. I decided there was a correlation to the tumor, but for brevity I'll skip explaining. At some point I had to abandon riding the Serrotta altogether. I finally invested in an E-bike but my balance has deteriorated to the point I cannot ride the E-bike either. Life has no guarantees. I had an incident at the track on Southshore over a year ago during school break where a gaggle of teens about 13 or 14 were riding toward me. The kid at the rear decided to show off by launching into a wheel stand to pass his buddies, in MY lane. If I had kept my wits I might have brought the E- bike to an abrupt halt, but I dumped it. I've become a pro at crashing my bikes and was not hurt, but this incident rattled me and I didn't ride for a few months, almost a year. I recently tried to ride the E-bike again and could do it but dismounts were tense. While returning from a ride somebody suggested a tricycle. I went to Alameda Cyclery but sales person was not very helpful but said to avoid cheap ones ! Long story short, this led me to Vivee. Westside Joe's had one which I rode when it was raining. I returned while sun was out and befell to Vivee's grift. She had promised me she had a waiting list for people that were interested in my Serrotta. I over paid for the trike and have no leverage to control whether I ever see my Serrotta again. I tried to get it back but was told it was at the Piedmont shop. Turns out the shop is "closed til further notice". I suspect for non-payment of rent. Vivee keeps a garage on 37th street in a residential neighborhood in West Oakland. Bizzare ! I had a bad feeling and could have walked away, but didn't listen to that voice is my head. I suspect this bad review seals the deal but I need to put this behind me. Viveee asked how she could make it up to me and I replied "Sell my Serrotta for fair price- ASAP." She said "I'm on it !" I knew it was a lie, but haven't replied. My lack of judgement is not all due to my brain injury but it's definitely a factor. "Cry me a river." read more

I am posting this review to warn anyone who is looking to purchase an e-bike from Westside Joe's and Vivee (store owner). I went into Westside Joe's in March at first looking for a standard bike. Vivee was friendly, thoughtful, and helpful in recommendations. It was a priority of mine to support women + minority owned local shops, in which she promoted herself. Ultimately, I decided to purchase an e-bike as she is an authorized Aventon dealership. She asked if I can pay via Venmo or Zelle. I paid via Venmo and she said she will email me the invoice. She also told me on that day that the bike will be ready in 2 weeks. A week goes by and I haven't received the invoice so I text her asking for it, which she does provide. She said the bike will be available in a week and to check in with her for updates. I texted her multiple times asking for an update after more time goes by. Vivee did not respond to ANY of my messages where I asked for an update. I went to her store since I didn't receive a response from her and after reading some of the 1 star reviews on here. She said the bike may be on back order and it should be here in a week. I ended up calling Aventon's customer service and they informed me that Vivee never placed an order... I sent Vivee an email and a text stating that Aventon confirmed with me that she never place an order and she immediately responded to my text, asking for a phone call with her. In our phone call, she tried to explain to me all that was going on in her life and changes with Aventon's dealership, however I called her out on lying to me about placing an order and making me believe the bike was coming. She did apologize and agreed to refund me. She was unable to provide a refund in our first mutually agreed upon timeline. I contacted ABC 7 On Your Side for mediation before pursuing small claims court. Vivee did fulfill her end by providing me a refund by our second mutual agreed upon date. I have decided to post this review to warn others who are looking into purchasing from here as it looks like this is the same experience multiple other people are having. While Vivee did end up following through on the refund eventually and offered to "make things right," it has created deep hurt to many, including me as a women of color, who wanted to support a local business who advertised as such. I hope nothing but the best for Vivee and Westside Joe's AND I hope that no other individuals go through this. read more

As a small business owner, I'm passionate about supporting local businesses. I know firsthand the importance of supporting our local businesses. Today, I picked my new bike from Westside Joe's Bike Shop in Alameda! I absolutely love it!!! This incredible woman-owned business went above and beyond to help me find the perfect bike. If you're in the market for a new bike, swing by Westside Joe's in Alameda and support local. Ask for Vivee, she's the owner, super friendly and beyond helpful. Highly recommend read more

Westside Joe's Bikes - The owner Vivee - Bikes Near Me - Alameda, California

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BEWARE of paying by cash or Venmo! Use your credit card. I was sold a bike for $5000 the owner claiming she will order it from Esker a custom size that will be manufactured. I waited until Xmas but no delivery. A month ago I called Esker and learned the bike was never ordered from the manufacturer. I am still trying to get my money back after a month. If I would have paid by credit card then I would have my credit card company resolve it. I used Venmo in good faith trying to support a local business. Be very careful what you buy and if it is original, if I did not called Esker I would not even find out that I was getting sold a bike with no providence. If you bought expensive bikes there you should check with the manufacturer too. Viviee it has been over a month with excuses and avoidance to return my money and 5 months since I paid- people need to be aware of the business practices Read the rest of the reviews there are multiple 1 * reviews that have stated similar stories of taking payments in advance with not credit cards and having to spend months trying to get back the money. read more

11 months ago I bought a bike. While at the shop I mentioned that I might want to get a spare battery as well. In the conversation she said something to the effect of 50% down and the battery would be delivered in two weeks. I believe that I said I would think about it. I did not get a receipt when I purchased the bike. I needed to demand a receipt - it took 3 days. when I finally got the receipt I saw that I was charged for half a battery. I have gone back to the shop a few times asking for the battery - so far (11 months later) no battery, no refund. the owner is an excellent sales person - my experience also suggests that integrity is NOT one of her strong suits. Now - I did leave a trade in bike. When I did not get a receipt for that either, I demanded that the bike be returned to me immediately. I did get that bike back. I have a very strong suspicion that maneuver cost her. However.., I am not interested in doing business with someone who I believe engages in behaviors that seem to be unethical. read more

I'm disgusted by the lies and half truths. My new bike was rusting and sat outside for months. Taking her to court.

I too attempted to order an e-bike from this business...it did not go well. I test rode a floor model. The owner Vivee seemed super nice, so I foolishly agreed to pay full price in advance via Venmo to help support a local business. She said the bike would arrive in 1 - 2 weeks. 2 weeks later, the bike still hadn't arrived and no ETA, which is when I discovered the other Yelp reviews and my heart sank. I went to the shop asking to see proof that the bike was ordered, which she was not able to furnish. At this point, I asked for a refund. She refused, insisting that the bike had been ordered, and said she would get me a tracking number from Velotric. After much back and forth and threatening to contact the bike company myself, Vivee finally agreed to a refund, but said she couldn't do Venmo as her account had been hacked (I don't believe this as another reviewer reported the same thing a few months ago). As others have reported, she was only willing to do Zelle or cash. I wasn't trusting anything at this point, so I opted for cash and had her meet me at my bank so I could deposit with the teller. I appreciate the refund, but the whole thing was incredibly stressful and a huge waste of time! My take is that Vivee is a nice person, but she's clearly taken on too much financially and not yet upholding acceptable business practices. I don't think she's trying to steal from anyone, but perhaps "borrow" money for extended periods without the customer's permission to make things work for her? She told me at the end that she waited ~1.5 weeks after I paid her before ordering, as she wanted to group many bikes into a single order from Velotric to get free shipping. Who knows if she actually did order the bike or not. I reached the point where I wasn't believing anything anymore. read more

This place came through clutch for me recently when in a pinch to get my bike tubes replaced at the last minute in preparation for a ride. They were honest with me and told me I actually only needed one tube replaced and air on the other. As an aside, though I wasn't looking to buy a bike (I have several LOL), I did pay attention to their excellent selection if you are in the market. read more

I won't be coming back. The owner has no ideia about bike mechanics nor the mechanics working there . I still don't know what I paid for because nothing got done right and some didn't get done at all. She asked for a Venmo so I never got a receipt $215 waisted the mechanic put the wrong mineral oil fluid on my brand new brakes potentially voiding the warranty. Left all the bolts loose. He had no ideia how to install the high end brakes . The gears were a mess and broke down on the ride right after due to tightening too much, . Headset was never worked on besides I little tightening up no cleaning or even taking out ( she charged for that too). She charged me $30 to install a rotor with 6 screws ( couldn't install because he set know how to fit ) and $20 to put chain on , some I could done it myself. No proper torque or degreasing the factory chain oil. The owner has no idea how much to charge for anything. I usually work on my bike. Would be better off if I had done it myself. I would give a 0 start. Trying contacting and never got a reply. Horrible service do not take your bike there. There other place in island much better than this dump. read more

It's so great to have this shop in Piedmont Avenue! They don't have a ton of merchandise (though they have most of the essentials). But their shop skills are top notch! I had them resuscitate my bike (it sat idle for several years) and they did an amazing job. read more

Laughably bad service. I brought a bike into this shop before reading the recent reviews and, after reading them, all I can say is that they are consistent with my experience. Avoid this place. I hear good things about Cycle City, on the East End, and will be checking them out in the future. read more

STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!!!! I went to this shop on a Saturday, with a friend. I needed a bike tuned up. The owner quoted me a price, including $150 for a tune up, $35 for shifting problems and $18 for brakes. I paid in advance with a credit card. I spent the day wondering what the 150 bucks was for, as I thought a tune up usually included the bikes moving parts (brakes and shifting mechanism). I returned later in the day and informed the owner that I did not want them do perform the repairs. She returned my bike and informed me that she had already purchased a non-returnable bike chain for about $45. A few days later, I received a credit of $168. She either forgot to include the $35 refund, or omitted it, hoping I would not check. I sent her an email informing her of the omission. I also asked her for the name and number of the company she bought the chain from, so I could call them and obtain a copy of their return policy. A few days later and, you guessed it! I received a refund, in full, including the price of the "non-refundable" chain. I'm all for supporting small business, but this KILLS me! The day I was there there was a line of customers in front of me and behind me. She could have been ethical and simply refunded my money. Instead, she tried to stick me, either by making a false claim of a chain purchase, or an equally false claim that the chain was non-refundable, or couldn't easily be used on another bike. Truly disappointing.. read more

This is the epitome of small business. Viv is awesome. They were willing to provide a loner bike while my bike was being repaired. Love this place. Shop here with confidence. read more

The owner of Westside Joe's, Vivian Young, stole over $1,000 from me and held it for months until I threatened to take her to small claims court. I provided the funds as a deposit on a bike that she never delivered. When it became apparent that there was no bike, she strung me along by lying to me about her communication with the merchant processor (Square) claiming that she had done all she could but the refund was in their hands. What really happened was she did nothing. I went to my credit card company to dispute the transaction since it was clear she had no intention of issuing it. When Square asked her to prove whether or not my dispute was a valid claim, she went radio silent so that Square would assume she was in the right and so Square denied my claim. Attached is proof. This is a correspondence between Square and Vivian, which Vivian mistakenly forwarded to me herself. It took me a while to build up the nerve to write this review because I was so upset that a small business owner in Alameda was willing to behave this way. But I've seen others post similar stories and I feel it's fair for others to know what they're potentially getting into by shopping here. I believe she's found a way to manipulate the merchant processor system by having all her receipts printed with "No Refunds" so that even if you never received the product in the first place, the merchant processor will claim that the store's policies are stated on each slip and so nothing can be done. read more

This is our bike shop. Woman-owned and local bike shop. What's not to like? We purchased our bikes when we lived in SF. When we moved to Alameda from SF we needed to find a bike shop to maintain our bikes. Westside Joe's has been fantastic. Once the chain on my bike broke pretty far from home and Westside Joe's. We don't have a car that can accommodate my bike, so I called Westside Joe's and they were able to come and pick up my bike. Vivee even offered to give me a ride home! AND they were able to figure out why my chain kept breaking. Woot! Amazing-super-duper-fantastic local bike shop with an amazing owner and employees. Can't recommend them enough! read more

I just purchased a new bike, and Vivy and Team did a great job putting it together. I'm happy I was able to find and support a woman-owned business. Thanks, team, for a job well done! BB read more

I have visited this shop several times because it is conveniently located by my house. My interactions with the owner kept leaving me feeling I'd been taken advantage of somehow. So after several visits I've decided to write a review. I can't recall her name, but the owner comes on very strong. She is pushy with sales and frames everything under the safety umbrella, which worked for me initially. You cannot comfortably browse without her in your face even when you are conversing with a different employee. She presents herself as being very knowledgeable about bikes and products. But after asking a few questions I find out she has absolutely zero bicycle background. She merely took over the business from Joe. I don't know about most people but I want my bike shop owner to actually be a bike person. Each time I have come here she is pushy and tries to upsell me things framed in a way as she pretends to be friendly and has my best interest at heart. But I only see her now as being very pushy to take my money. Just my experience. read more