Originally Posted by
I-Like-To-Bike
Ask anybody who works at, is affiliated with or has an emotional or financial attachment to an LBS (or the branded products sold there) and he will tell you the same. BF has a large contingent of such people who will respond accordingly to this type of allegedly innocent "question".
Yup, too many people on here just keep virtue-signaling how "great" the almighty LBS is, as though bike shops are infallible. This happens despite the well-known fact that many, many local bike shops are run by condescending, patronizing scam artists that put a ridiculous mark-up on basic parts. The last time I went to a local bike shop, they were trying to charge $60 for a KMC chain. This was not some top-of-the-line chain, nor was it a gold-plated chain; it was a regular, KMC 10-speed chain. I basically stared the shop owner down as I ordered the chain for 60% less money from Amazon while using his free WiFi.