Kedosto

Dammit! I gotta start setting my calendar alerts. I completely missed that it's "bag on your LBS" time again. Sorry guys, I'll try to get it together. Trouble is, I've really got nothin' to gripe about with my LBS. Maybe I can just make up some petty grievance... nah.

Question: Should I bring up tipping, or wait until we get up around 50 thread posts first?


-Kedosto
*over it*

base2 

Well to be fair, Shimano cassettes really are the rarest of all bike components...I've never seen one in person, but I hear-tell that some are actually plated with a special gold-rubidium plating suitable for only the most extreme cycling conditions.

Hydraulic hoses too! OMG! A flexible passage that transmits force, undiminished at right angles throughout it's entire length? Tell me what they'll come up with next! This is truly some remarkable feat of modern engineering; The likes of which could revolutionize cycling for the next 30 years...A true once in a lifetime innovation.

Troul 

The lbs suffer from multitude of issues. What I've recently found is that the ones nearby will only do as the instructions support from the OEM & will not research comparable parts that (will) fit with some thinking outta the box logic.

jade408

I apparently am either really picky or want weird things. My new fave LBSs are barely stores. They are small storefronts with a few accessories or bags stocked with expert mechanics and enthusiasts who have a conversation with you, advise you on what to pick. Then the output of the conversation is the right part and of course hopefully services as needed. Distributers are getting a lot faster and it only takes a few days to get said part. Sure it may take a day longer, and be a little more expensive (not hugely so), but I find it invaluable to talk to a knowledgeable person who cares than a person who wants to move stuff off the showroom floor. It is also easier for them to have limited inventory - so they don't have to worry about something not selling.

My other favorite shop is a cafe/bike shop. They have a few things in stock - like bike pit socks, patches, a few bags, seat covers and water bottles. They mostly do custom builds and service work and order parts on demand.

deephate

rosefarts

If I walk into a shop, I'm planning to buy. Today.

If they tell me they can order it, my thought is "so can I"

Tubes, energy gels, and other little things. Aside from that, I just don't patronize them.

HerrKaLeun

Why should the OP buy the kit for them?
The point or excuse of the LBS is that they have tools and skills. And they don't have a bleedkit for some of the most common brakes?
What's next, we are supposed to provide a bike stand and hex keys?

I understand them not having all cassettes in stock, too many gear ratios and levels available from multiple manufacturers. But that should be a 2 business day order.

I once had a TPMS sensor issue on my car and the tire shop had that shipped in from a distributor within the 2 hours I waited there.... and that was on a Sunday. And no, they didn't ask me to provide tools.....
While same hour delivery and service can't be expected, 2 business days should be more than easy.. and a shop should have simple tools.... bleeding kits aren't that new, disc brakes have been out for decades. It isn't like the OP needed them to have diagnosis tools for SRAM AXS wireless shifting or so.

Maelochs

The shop didn't have a bleed kit ... and since, with four shops int he chain as the OP noted, there would be inter-shop swapping ... apparently they had never needed a bleed kit.

But again, it is all expectations. Some people have a mental image of a bike shop, what is should be and do ... and when their fantasies don't fit with reality they get P O'd. Instead of thinking, "I am at the wrong shop," the person thinks, "This shop sucks." No ... it is just that that shop isn;t the one you need to be at.

And if it is the only one in your area ... Wahhhh! "I Deserve to have exactly what I need, Immediately, all the time!" Yeah, and the shops "deserve" to have customers who are going to see what the shop Actually sells ... do you go to restaurants and get mad because you went to a steak house and imagined the'y be a seafood restaurant?

Worse still the guy already didn't like the chain of shops, but went there ... he stepped in a mess on purpose and is blaming someone else.

The shop owes a customer nothing but the truth and good work. if a job will take a week, that's how long it takes ... for whatever reason. If the job is done right, that is what matters.

if I went to a shop with a really good mechanic and he was backed up because everyone knew he was a really good mechanic ... I should whine? if I went there and the mechanic was out sick, I should whine? The Only conditions under which I have a right to complain is if A.) the shop lies about how long the job will take, or B.) they do it wrong. The OP effectively entered into a contract with the shop. if he didn't like the terms, he had options. he made the choice and is now whining.

This whole thread is basically one guy crying "I had to wait to get what I wanted." He got what he wanted, he just had to wait. I am sure there are plenty of organ transplant candidates who would love to be in his shoes.

Koyote

I am sympathetic, as I have had bad experiences with a few bike shops. But right now, my nearest shop (15 miles away) is an old-school, small-town shop. These guys may have seen a Di2 bike, but they sure haven't ever worked on one. But for simple things like cable replacement, wheel truing, and etc, they are quick, competent, and cheap. If I ever don't feel like doing those things myself, I drop off my bike -- and sometimes they just ask if I can hang around because they will do the work while I wait. Hell, their rates are so cheap that I sometimes will buy bar tape from them, just because I want to give them more money. A shop like that is gold, baby.

Another shop, further away, is great for more involved stuff. I recently had a bike fitting done as part of the sizing process for a new custom frame that they are procuring and building for me. As part of the fitting on my old bike, the fitter decided that I needed a different stem. The shop owner just found the right one, and handed it over. No charge. I buy these guys lattes when I visit.

Maelochs

I think bike shops are dying out because @Koyote followed them home and threatened to sue them..

I am actually going to go to the local shop (probably this week) to get some expert attention to a mis-dished rear wheel. I asked about the cost and it was extremely reasonable compared to buying a new wheel ... and since I know the guys some and trust them ... I won't complain about the cost or the wait. if the wheel comes back true, round, and properly dished, everything is golden.

It will be the first money I've spent in a bike shop since .... I think 2002?

I am too lazy to wrestle with the wheel any more ... i would rather spend my time riding and let them fix it.

Kapusta

Jason845

In my area (Kingston, ny) we have 4 bike shops within 5 miles of my house. All 4 of them are excellent. I dont spend tons of money, but I rotate which shop I go to as they all have their specialties and i like to spread my business around, as small as it may be.

wolfchild

With so many bikes having hydraulic brakes nowdays, I think that any good reputable bike shop should have a universal brake bleeding kit which fits different brands of brakes.

PaulRivers

I've had the same problem recently at several places.

Wanted new glasses, they had the frame but I wanted a different color - sloe as heck 3-5 day shipping. No option to simply pay for faster shipping. By the time they came in I had found the same frames elsewhere.

Wanted to buy an office chair. They stock demo models, but you actually want one? 2 weeks slow wait. Again, no option to simply pay more for faster shipping. I can order the same chair from amazon and I get it in 3 days, and can return it. So that's what I did, I couldn't wait weeks when I needed a chair.

I accidentally broke a speaker on my laptop. 1st repair shop said 3-5 days and they wanted to hold onto my computer during that time. Second shop said 3-5 days but at least they didn't have an issue with me bringing my computer in when they got the part. No option to pay more for faster shipping. This one I had them do it.

I feel bad when I shop locally then buy on amazon, but it's just absurd that they think people are going to casually wait a week or two for something they need now.

TiHabanero

I see many posts in this thread that have no clue about the operations of a small local based, low margin business. If you need a warehousing operation to satisfy your needs, an LBS is not the place to go. Stop *****ing about it and move on.

I have worked In shops since 1983 and understand the business. It is a tough business to thrive in and requires an owner that understands they cannot stock everything to please everyone. One that understands ordering a 50 dollar item that costs 5 bucks to ship and 5 bucks to process once it is in the store, and to install it without a labor charge is a start on the path to death of the business because the margin is gone. Margin is everything for a small business.

Every shop I have worked in from California to Michigan has done well because they developed good practices, and good customers, ones that enjoyed the relationship between them and the employees. Customers that were willing to wait for parts that are not stocked to come in along with the rest of the weekly order because to pay shipping and processing for single items on a daily basis is not possible. Customers that don't have to have it now. Customers that value the relationship they have with the shop, because it is more important than having it now or saving a few bucks.

Those shops did not compete for customers that had no interest in them as they make nasty neighbors in the long run.

If you need a warehousing operation to satisfy your needs, then buy online from a warehousing operation and stop *****ing about it.

dedhed

Sometimes this amazes me as I run a lot of old vehicles. I recently replaced a rear brake hose, master cylinder (I have everything to bleed them myself, point of the OP) , and headlight retaining ring on my 1976 pickup. In stock within 5 miles from home. I did have to look on line and find out which location/retailer had it in stock rather than call a bunch of them. All the auto parts regular retailers allow you to check stock within an X mile distance. If it's too far I can get it sent up next day free to the one down the street. Most of the common parts like hoses and tune up stuff for my 1946 Ford 2N tractor I can go across town to the New Holland dealer - in stock. They've shocked me a couple times when more obscure stuff like a radius rod to axle pin was in stock too.

Koyote

dedhed

US healthcare has always been able to bleed me (and my wallet) while I waited (and waited).

Kedosto

CliffordK

I realize it is a tough business. And, there are many expenses including sitting on a large inventory that isn't moving quickly.

At the same time, every time a customer walks in, then walks back out without making a purchase costs the company money for that lost sale, plus likely multiple future sales.

Sitting on a few cassettes can be expensive, but they are also pretty vital parts to stock. What does a shop tell a customer that comes in and says they need a new chain. And, one glance shows that their 11/32 cassette is long overdue replacing. Tell the customer that you can install the chain today, but the rest of the parts will come in a week?

I was working on some kid's bikes in St. Louis a few years ago, and I think I needed some new caged bearings. Nope, the bike store didn't stock them. And they could probably have bought them for 50 cents each and sold them for $5 each. Not even a huge impact on their inventory. Yet, they would have made a sale and kept a satisfied customer.

Hydraulics? EPS, Di2, etc. If you wish to work on the bikes, then get the tools.

It is like going into a shop and asking them to remove a cassette. Then they look at it and tell you that it takes a Shimano cassette tool. They have to order that in.

Yes, things change in the bike world.

Standard Bottom Brackets.
External Bearing Bottom Brackets
Press in Bottom Brackets.
Tubeless
...

A good shop will watch what is happening in the industry, and keep one step ahead.

Yes, perhaps they just want to sell fixies, but it won't be much of a shop if they can't support their customers.

fietsbob

If OP is unhappy the LBS does not have a big inventory of parts Invest some of their money
in giving them more capital..
to have available for buying that stock.

MarcusT

I like to support LBS, but they also have to be a viable business. Just because someone is passionate about riding does not mean they should open a bike shop. It takes much more that just the love of bikes. One also needs to be a salesman (person?), a jack of all trades, a listener and most importantly: Treat every customer like they are the most important person in the place. As soon as I see them hovering around the big bike buyers and ignoring the old person looking to buy an inner tube, I walk right out.
If I see a bike very overpriced, so they can knock 10% off the price and make the unaware buyer feel good, that sends up a flag.
The LBS has to earn our trust, not just open a door and expect loyalty.

freegeek

a bleed kit is an essential maintenance tool for a LBS that sells bikes with hydraulic discs. They have a sales floor with all the latest BMC, Bianchi, Ridley bikes with shimano disc brakes. I could have walked out with a $10k bike, I just have to hope they don't need too service them

freegeek

explains my puzzled look on my face when the guy told me that my bike will be a few days more in the shop because they have to order the bleed kit. Whats's next, we can not service your bike because we don't have a number 8 hex key

freegeek

haha, yeah. I don't understand some people here. The parts I described is basically what is standard on a road bike. Nowadays you have to look hard to find a road bike without hydraulic disc brakes and shimano cassettes are used on million bikes but apparently I'm a difficult customer if I find it weird that a LBS that sells road bikes does not have what is basically a standard cassette.