Questionable LBS practice
06-08-18, 04:16 PM
#1
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Questionable LBS practice
I just bought a brand new road bike for over $2000 from a local LBS. Two weeks ago my wife bought a bike for over $3000 from the same shop. As it turns out, the stem that came with my bike was too long, so I had to change it out. The LBS gave me a 10 percent discount on the new one, but refused to exchange it for the one the bike came with at no charge. So I had to spend an additional $50 for the new stem. I never heard of this sort of thing before. Every bike I've ever bought had to have a stem change, yet is had always been a free exchange. Doesn't this sound a little unusual?
06-08-18, 04:39 PM
#2
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Should a different length crank, or different width handlebar, or a saddlepost with a different amount of setback also be swapped out at no charge?
06-08-18, 04:39 PM
#3
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I think the issue here is that you did not buy the original stem as it came with the bike. So in essence you are upgrading an existing bike with a new part and not simply exchanging a part. Now if you just bought a stem and decided it was the wrong one and exchanged it then I could see exchanging for store credit.
06-08-18, 05:13 PM
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Yeah, your $2000 bike didn't come with a $55 stem, so you upgraded.
06-08-18, 05:30 PM
#5
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I always wondered about this, if you buy a bike and part of the fit requires a new stem, do they really not just swap out the identical stem in a different length at no charge at the time of sale? I was under the impression they had stock of new parts specifically for this.
Personally I'd want the exact, identical stem my bike came with, just in the correct length needed for fit. Does seem ridiculous to have to pay extra for that (and have two stems) when they could just take off the stem the bike came with (it's still new) and just swap that out for whatever length from the back room and throw the one off my bike into the stem swap supply box.
Could just as easily have not bought the bike at all if the shop wasn't cool with a reasonable identical stem swap, then the LBS makes $0.
I'm with OP on this one. Shouldn't have to pay 2x for the stem the bike came with when this is a common fit swap part.
Personally I'd want the exact, identical stem my bike came with, just in the correct length needed for fit. Does seem ridiculous to have to pay extra for that (and have two stems) when they could just take off the stem the bike came with (it's still new) and just swap that out for whatever length from the back room and throw the one off my bike into the stem swap supply box.
Could just as easily have not bought the bike at all if the shop wasn't cool with a reasonable identical stem swap, then the LBS makes $0.
I'm with OP on this one. Shouldn't have to pay 2x for the stem the bike came with when this is a common fit swap part.
Last edited by puma1552; 06-08-18 at 05:36 PM.
06-08-18, 05:41 PM
#6
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I seriously doubt bike shops stock the exact model stems of every bike they sell, of every length, just so they can swap them for free. As a matter of fact, I know they don't.
06-08-18, 05:42 PM
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You could sell your old stem and recoup the money that way. The LBS is under no obligation to sell it for you. At least you got a 10% discount. They have to run a business too.
06-08-18, 05:45 PM
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I always wondered about this, if you buy a bike and part of the fit requires a new stem, do they really not just swap out the identical stem in a different length at no charge at the time of sale? I was under the impression they had stock of new parts specifically for this.
Personally I'd want the exact, identical stem my bike came with, just in the correct length needed for fit. Does seem ridiculous to have to pay extra for that (and have two stems) when they could just take off the stem the bike came with (it's still new) and just swap that out for whatever length from the back room and throw the one off my bike into the stem swap supply box.
Could just as easily have not bought the bike at all if the shop wasn't cool with a reasonable identical stem swap, then the LBS makes $0.
I'm with OP on this one. Shouldn't have to pay 2x for the stem the bike came with when this is a common fit swap part.
Personally I'd want the exact, identical stem my bike came with, just in the correct length needed for fit. Does seem ridiculous to have to pay extra for that (and have two stems) when they could just take off the stem the bike came with (it's still new) and just swap that out for whatever length from the back room and throw the one off my bike into the stem swap supply box.
Could just as easily have not bought the bike at all if the shop wasn't cool with a reasonable identical stem swap, then the LBS makes $0.
I'm with OP on this one. Shouldn't have to pay 2x for the stem the bike came with when this is a common fit swap part.
In this case, it sounds like the bike might have come with an no-name OEM stem and was replaced with a higher end aftermarket stem. Swapping them doesn't make any sense, and getting a different no-name OEM isn't going to happen, either.
06-08-18, 06:27 PM
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... the stem that came with my bike was too long, so I had to change it out. The LBS gave me a 10 percent discount on the new one, but refused to exchange it for the one the bike came with at no charge. So I had to spend an additional $50 for the new stem. I never heard of this sort of thing before.
06-08-18, 06:36 PM
#11
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06-08-18, 06:46 PM
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You spent $2000. Why didn't you do that while you were buying the bike? It's not a warranty issue. And your wife spend $3000 so I don't see poverty as the driving force. You saved five bucks on a necessary part.
No foul.
No foul.
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06-08-18, 08:05 PM
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Most of the shops I have associated with have a bin of take off parts that they swap in instances like yours. I don't know of any that do free upgrades. I have had one that let me do an upgrade but charged me the difference between the two parts.
06-08-18, 08:14 PM
#14
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It's pretty common for a shop to offer a discount on parts to customize a new bike, often with free labor to install it. Just about everyone wants a different saddle. Stem length is a pretty common change, too.
06-08-18, 09:27 PM
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LBS can swap it out with another one they have laying around. That is what they did for me when I bought my bike.
Last edited by Bmach; 06-08-18 at 10:01 PM.
06-08-18, 10:07 PM
#16
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I wouldn't call it questionable. There's certainly no dishonesty involved. When I bought my last bike I made the best deal I could but it did involve paying an extra $100 to swap out the 175mm 105 cranks for 165s.
06-08-18, 10:22 PM
#17
Senior Member
On the one hand for a $2K costumer ($5K if you include wife) they could have thrown in the 5 minutes labor it takes to swap the stem. they gave you 105 discount but may have a 305 margin, so they could have eaten the labor for a good client.
On the other hand, you could have ordered a stem for less online and installed it yourself (really easy). Assuming they told you the complete price for new stem and labor upfront, you made a choice and now you are complaining about the choice you made?
On the other hand, you could have ordered a stem for less online and installed it yourself (really easy). Assuming they told you the complete price for new stem and labor upfront, you made a choice and now you are complaining about the choice you made?
06-09-18, 04:06 AM
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It's too bad the shop didnt have a bin of take-off stems they might've done a swap with, OP. I do understand your frustration, but agree with the others, replacing the stem with something out of their normal inventory isnt gonna happen in any shop - especially without prior discussion. The profits on bike sales isnt nearly what a lot of people imagine it would be.
06-09-18, 06:17 AM
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Some shops will do this sort of thing, but I'm sure they end up with a surplus of 80, 90, and 100mm stems around 7 degrees. But, if they don't need to do that, you gotta pay for the stem. I've bought several and they've all been worth it.
If they don't do that as a matter of course, they probably won't stock lots of the affordable stems, either.
If they don't do that as a matter of course, they probably won't stock lots of the affordable stems, either.
06-09-18, 06:26 AM
#21
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On the one hand for a $2K costumer ($5K if you include wife) they could have thrown in the 5 minutes labor it takes to swap the stem. they gave you 105 discount but may have a 305 margin, so they could have eaten the labor for a good client.
On the other hand, you could have ordered a stem for less online and installed it yourself (really easy). Assuming they told you the complete price for new stem and labor upfront, you made a choice and now you are complaining about the choice you made?
On the other hand, you could have ordered a stem for less online and installed it yourself (really easy). Assuming they told you the complete price for new stem and labor upfront, you made a choice and now you are complaining about the choice you made?
06-09-18, 06:44 AM
#22
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When I bought a new bike at my LBS I swapped out the handlebars (based on specs from a bike fit I had done from my older bike) and the saddle. The LBS charged me the delta of the cost of the original handlebars/saddle and the ones swapped in. No extra labor charge. That seemed fair (was a $2,000 bike).
06-09-18, 09:39 AM
#23
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Dictionary
The connotation of the word is that of calling honesty into question
ques·tion·a·ble
The connotation of the word is that of calling honesty into question
ques·tion·a·ble
ˈkwesCHənəb(ə)l/
adjectiveadjective: questionable
- doubtful as regards truth or quality."it is questionable whether any of these exceptions is genuine"synonyms:controversial, contentious, doubtful, dubious, uncertain, debatable, arguable;Moreunverified, unprovable, unresolved, unconvincing, implausible, improbable;borderline, marginal, moot;informaliffy"the premise to the argument remains questionable"
antonyms:indisputable, certain
- not clearly honest, honorable, or wise."a few men of allegedly questionable character"synonyms:suspicious, suspect, dubious, irregular, odd, strange, murky, dark, unsavory, disreputable;Moreinformalfunny, fishy, shady, iffy"questionable financial dealings"
antonyms: trustworthy
06-09-18, 09:44 AM
#24
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What was the stem you took off and the stem you bought?
its matter to me for sure. Removing some generic Bontrager stem and replacing it with a $55 stem isnt an even swap.
its matter to me for sure. Removing some generic Bontrager stem and replacing it with a $55 stem isnt an even swap.
06-09-18, 10:17 AM
#25
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Doesn't this sound a little unusual?
you over it yet>?