$50 isn't that bad for a tune up.

My bike shop would rather help me keep my favorite bike on the road, than to sell me a new bike. He also prefers selling his clientele the right bike for their desires and needs, and he's C&V friendly. He's been in the business for over 45 years. He's into long term relationships than a sale, and done.

That was my experience with my last shop who started his now family owned business back in the late '50s. Over the course of my dealing with him I bought 3 bikes and would go back again if I still lived in that city.

The lead mechanic there (an employee for 30 years) knew my bike better than I did, and would help me within minutes of my arrival while I waited. I never had to drop it off and come back later. He retired a few years back and I'm sure a lot of his loyal customers will miss him.

I was told pretty clearly that the $50 was just for the evaluation to determine how much money I would actually need to spend.

Yes. That's usually how it works. If you needed any parts they would have charged for the parts but probably no extra for labor.

Unfortunately I saw pretty quick that these tune ups seemed to get pretty expensive.

So you don't think the mechanics deserve to be paid for their time?

I figure either you spend some money on tools and learn to do it yourself, or you can pay a skilled laborer to do it for you.

There's a difference between getting paid for your time and milking a customer for every dime they will spend. I've worked for the public for years AND I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

I am however getting the feeling that most bike shops are the latter with a few posters trying to justify it. Thanks, I'll figure out the mechanics. It isn't all that complicated.

It's a free country. Tools are available for relatively cheap and information is available for free. If you really make the effort, no need to keep up with bad service. it isn't like a shop possesses the unique black magic and has a monopoly. It is just a bicycle and the technology hasn't changed that much over centuries. if anything repair and adjustment got easier.

In most cases just the time it takes to pack up a bike and bring to LBS is more than what it takes to adjust or repair. And unless we talk about very rarely used specialty tools, the tool cost is amortized after the 1st or second use compared to paying an LBS.

the time one takes here to complain about LBS could be used for learning repair.

This isn't directed at the OP specifically, but at threads like this in general. I vote with my wallet.

As always mentioned in these threads, shops don't necessarily want every customer. Sometimes it's just not worth it.

They’re not interested in doing cheap repairs on used bikes; it’s not good business for them. I owned a retail business for 15 years and sometimes there are customers you just don’t want. What do you do? Do you say, “Sorry sir, this isn’t going to work out?” Nope. You just kind of hope they leave. I’ve been on both ends of this. I’m not really defending them, just being realistic. They either correctly or incorrectly came to the conclusion that you weren’t of value to them. So that’s one perspective I can offer as a small business owner.

The other is is that the current crop of 20-27 year old shop employees is, generally speaking, terrible at customer service. So I think the answer is somewhere in between these two points.

This is a bike you bought used, right? So you really don't know how it has been ridden or how much. It's possible that the chain was worn out well before the brake pads, and a worn chain will wreck the gears. It's very easy to check this yourself. Invest in a Park Tool chain checker or google how to check bicycle chain wear with a ruler.
Newbies are often surprised by how fast chains wear out so I wouldn't assume they were lying about this, but it's very easy to find out either way.

I'm not defending them, btw, just answering the question you asked.

I have been active in cycling since the mid 70’s and never have encountered the type of bike shops you describe so perhaps a bit of self reflection might be in order.

Or, perhaps he truly did visit a $hithole bike shop??

Just sayin'.

do bike shops vary? yes

My issue is the feelings posted that most bicycle shops try to milk customers out of every dime. I just have not experienced this. I may disagree with the opinions of staff from time to time but that doesn’t mean they are trying to rip someone off.

Also these class war posts regarding shops are only interested in serving the one percent are ridiculous. If looking at bikes stocked and sold the vast majority are bikes which the average consumer can afford and enjoy.

Find a smaller dirtier shop...

Sadly my two bike shops I used to go to for years have new owners and are now high presser sales with poor people skills. So I have moved on to a new shop that is really great and thinks like I do. Spend your money where you feel comfortable at and don’t go back to the ones that give you a bad time of it. I just drove over two hundred miles round trip today to buy a new B&W International travel case for my Brompton because my local dealer is not very good to me. You can’t take it personal, so life moves on, no worries be happy..

Based upon your one experience and this thread you just clearly implied that you believe most bike shops milk their customers for every dime.
Good job :rolleyes:
Cool story about first waiting 2 hours for service and then later clarifying about your trip to the park. You back pedal well.

Sound like it's you.

Yeah. That's where I became convinced that this is yet another LBS hate troll thread. What's next? Another BSOs suck thread?

OBTL

Not all shops are like that. Luckily, the 2 closest shops to us are directly across the street from each other-one sells Trek, the other Giant. So they have some pressure to be good to their customers--too easy to cross the street if they aren't! But even the shops around that don't have such close competition have been nothing but helpful and courteous. Is there little competition where you live, that a bike shop can get away with poor service and stay in business? So far as charging for an exam. I see why they would do that--you could go in, get a diagnosis of what is wrong, leave and buy the parts or search online, and they need to be paid for their time. Now, if they do an exam., and you buy your parts and have it fixed there, then the exam could be deducted from the cost of parts and labor.

Used bike, I'd be surprised if you were able to know this. Share your secret? :troll:

Well, we had a local shop like that for awhile here. Looked all new and fancy, lots of parts, pushing sales,etc. But the few times I gave them a try for parts it was very hard to even get any help.

That said, I do have the best shop ever that I use and those guys are great with all the C&V stuff I ride. From doing a new (old frame) bike build to upgrades, to helping me out with a spacer or ferrule, these guys are there for me. I no longer even try any other shop. Keep looking around for the best shop in your area.

Oh and don't take all the negative feedback personally. Folks love to argue around here. :thumb:

There's lots of good "How To" videos on You Tube and Park Tools website. Might want to invest in some bike tools and start doing your own wrenching. Judging from your comment that the shop was an hour away, it doesn't sound as if you have too many places in your area to choose from. Learning the basics of bike repair and being able to do most of the work yourself is not only time and money saving but very enjoyable.