TiHabanero

After being out of the bike shop as a full timer for about a decade, and only working on Saturdays, I jumped back in as a full time wrench a week ago. Forgot how absolutely narcissistic some riders really are. Experienced the "drop everything now and fix my bike while I wait" scenario three times in the 7 days we have been open since being allowed to reopen. Not sure if these folks have the capacity to understand there is a store full of people, and many more who brought their bikes in for service well before they graced the front door, and are patiently waiting for a call from us letting them know their bike is ready for pick up.

If you find yourself doing this, please stop it! You upset everyone around you as well as yourself when the wrench denies your immediate request and takes care of those who came before your arse arrived.

AdkMtnMonster

Do you/does your- shop have the reputation of being really good, with very good service? If so, that may be why people continue to expect it, and voluntarily grace your front door with their “arse(s).” Don’t look a gift arse in the mouth. (Just take their money and smile.)

asgelle

I have stopped it. Now I get my work done by a former shop mechanic working out of his home. I make an appointment, either when it's convenient for me or the next slot he has open to do the work; he begins work when I drop the bike off; and I can either wait if it's a short job or pick it up after it's ready. In either case, unlike leaving it at a shop, it minimizes the time I'm without the bike. I don't know why shops can't do this kind of scheduling, but until they do, they won't have to worry about my asking for a quick turnaround.

wgscott

For someone on tour, it seems like the Right Thing to Do.

SalsaShark

I work in a shop servicing guitars and other fretted instruments. Same type of clientele, where a select few expect to be placed at the front of the line. I do, however, give them the option of a rush service, if they are willing to pay a premium for it. Most of the time, they are not, and that slows them down a bit.

Doug64

I never ask for a quick turn around. I have a good relation with our local LBS, and they voluntarily get me in and out quickly. They know I live 40 miles from town and it is sometimes hard to get into their shop.

I never had to wait for service in a strange shop when I needed help while touring. I've had to stop at shops dozens of times while on long tours. On one tour I got to the shop just after the owner locked it up for the night. Without any hesitation he reopened the shop, and sold me a much needed tire. Often shops have not charged me for repair services. Another strange but memorable experience happened in a small town where the bike shop was in the back of a beauty shop. The hair dresser stopped working on a woman, and with her permission, took me in the back of the shop and found the part I needed. I could go on for quite awhile, but you get the idea.

indyfabz

Reminds me of the thread someone started on ACA’s website. He was passing through Indianapolis and needed his bars re-taped. The shop he went to said they couldn’t get to it that day. His response was to say that any shop that will not give touring cyclists same-day service should not be listed on their maps.

Sad.

TakingMyTime

It's not only the "Pro's" who get upset. On a crowded day at one of our local shops you can see that several customers are getting upset that they haven't been taken care of yet and that they're going to, and usually do, ask for on the spot service.

ZHVelo

Do people expect on the spot service for their car or do they generally make appointments or just go and drop it off? I wonder.

TiHabanero

This has nothing to do with someone out on touring needing repair or a commuter needing repair. This has everything to do with people feeling the need for special treatment ahead of everyone else that is waiting and playing by the established rules. Should someone call in to set an appointment, that is completely different and has nothing to do with my original rant.

Just find it shocking in this day and age that people are so damned full of themselves that they believe, truly believe they deserve special treatment because, well, just because they are special and have money in their pocket. To hell with everyone else, I come first!

CAT7RDR

FIFO First In First Out? No Premium

If you are willing to pay a premium?
LIFO Last In First Out.

Isn't this just a market strategy? That is, the owner/operator makes this executive decision.
If I was on vacation in let's say Mammoth Lakes and needed an urgent repair, I would expect to pay a premium for immediate service if that was an option.

Rider_1

I've never been that kind of person. I never demand service on the spot. However, I have had many experiences when the shop has done small jobs on the spot. Once, I was told that I would have to leave the bike for several days, for what was a very simple 5 minute fix. I had that resigned "really?" reaction. I didn't ask for anything, I was just disappointed that I would be without a working, but not optimal, bike for several days. He changed his mind and said he would do it when he finished what he was currently working on. I was grateful, and it kept the shop in my good books, which was important as they could be more expensive than other stores on some items. The point is, it behooves a shop to prioritize some jobs. If they had insisted I wait, they would have lost the business, while an extra 5 minutes is insignificant to a job that has been sitting there for several days. It was win-win for everyone.
I've had good experiences with MEC, who seem to be able to identify and balance jobs that can be done quickly on the spot, and jobs that require you to leave the bike for more involved and time consuming jobs.
To the original point, yes, I totally agree that there are selfish, arrogant people who will demand preferential treatment, and I'm not one of them, at all, but there can also be cranky, condescending shop workers. I've encountered a few.

Edit: I am in no way implying that TS is a "cranky, condescending shop worker". Not at all. I totally get where he is coming from.

Retro Grouch 

Have you noticed that it's almost always a mistake to work on somebody's bike while they watch?

wgscott

I've never experienced this, as a customer. I do most of my own work, but when I bring something in, they usually tell me how long it will be until they can get to it. I usually tell them if it isn't urgent, so that they can give priority to people who have an urgent problem. This is in a town where I have seen selfish people push blind people out of the way who are slowing them down. So I just wonder how prevalent this really is?

Harhir

The few bike stores left in my area currently all have a 4-6 week wait time right now. Fortunately I can do most repairs myself.

rydabent

It depends on what kind of a tech you are. I worked on office machines for 47 years. Everything from typewriters to mainframes. My company saw to it that I was exceptionally well trained. I probably averaged at least two trips off to tech school every year.

I had no problem what so ever of my customers watching what I did. I was well known for my preventive maintenance, and always had the fewest emergency service calls. I learned early it was better to run machines than have them run you.

Hondo Gravel

I took my bike in for a shredded cable the lady owner said it will take awhile since they are swamped. No problem at all it will give me a chance to ride some bikes that are collecting dust. People need to be rational during this messed up time. No need for people to have a D-Bag attitude but unfortunately cycling has that sector of jackalope. I will be on my one speed and looking forward to it.



Bike snobs will be terrified lol.

indyfabz

That’s exactly what the guy in my story wanted. “Drop everything and help me now so I can keep moving to my planned destination for the night. I don’t care if your shop is swamped.” And for bar tape, no less. Not exactly like he was unable to continue riding. Even if he were unable I would think him out of line. When I crossed the country I was thankful for emergency repairs that were mission important, but I never demanded them.

Flip Flop Rider

"in this day and age" this behavior is the norm. People are increasingly needy and entitled. It should not surprise or shock you. It is the overall direction of society these days, and it will continue and even get worse.

Doug64

Our "local" bike shop gives better than on-the-spot service. I am responsible for a our school district's bike safety bike fleet. The Service Manager from the shop drove 40 miles to spend the day with me going over 37 bikes doing safety checks and replacing safety related parts. It was his day off! Like I said above, I have a good realtionship with our LBS.

Barry2 

Doesn't everyone post the years old joke.....

HOURLY RATE
$100/hour Standard
$150/hour If you watch
$175/hour If you help
$200/hour If you worked on it first
$250/hour If you tell me how
$300/hour If I watch you do it


It just needs an additional entry for... If you want it now!

GlennR

Last month I was having problems with my CX bike not shifting properly. I do my own mechanics and checked the RD hanger and adjusted it but can't get it right. I rode by the LBS and they spend 30 minute checking it and still not right. I told him I didn't expect them to stop what they were doing and spends so much time on it. I told them i'll drop it off and since the weather was gettin nicer, i'd switch to my road bike. That I didn't need it back until November.

I dropped it the next day and 6 weeks later its exactly where they hung it. The shop is swamped and I don't see an end to it. They asked me if i wanted to work part time helping them fix bikes... I passed. I like being retired.

TiHabanero

I suppose we could have an "I want it now" surcharge. Something to ponder. There are nine shops in our area and we all know each other. Often we will call one another asking if a guy with a blue so and so stopped in wanting a cable change on the spot. Yep, sure did, did he stop in your place? He is here right now and has nothing good to say about you guys! And we laugh together. Did he get the I want it now job done? Nope. So he goes to the next shop...blah blah blah. Just wish people could be more civil towards others. Sugar attracts more honey bees than lemons.

Moral of the story is treat others as you want them to treat you. Now, where have I heard that before?

Hondo Gravel

Yup, I could have ordered the cable and waited a week or more and fixed it myself. Old fashion pliers for stretchers but then I was thinking I will probably need new housing or some obscure part. Ordering all the parts isn’t worth saving 10 bucks. I like working on my bikes but some things are better left to a professional shop. Plus I like supporting the small business bike shop. I guess at my age now I don’t need another headache I need a bike ride

Hondo Gravel

he couldn’t just buy the tape and do it himself in the parking lot? I wonder if he could put on a Band Aid or use TP.