Dumb question for LBS owners:
#26
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Not a shop owner but ..
I'm doing the same thing as the OP. And I flat out told the shop they don't have to match Amazon's price, just tell me what the price is and it'll probably be fine. I've turned them down a couple times but it was because they simply couldn't get a close enough replacement part, not over price.
I can't imagine they make enough on these one-off transactions to cover labor, but they're not turning me down. Sometimes it takes a few days, which if it means they're waiting until the shop person has idle time is fine with me. I just don't want to give any more to Bezos.
I'm doing the same thing as the OP. And I flat out told the shop they don't have to match Amazon's price, just tell me what the price is and it'll probably be fine. I've turned them down a couple times but it was because they simply couldn't get a close enough replacement part, not over price.
I can't imagine they make enough on these one-off transactions to cover labor, but they're not turning me down. Sometimes it takes a few days, which if it means they're waiting until the shop person has idle time is fine with me. I just don't want to give any more to Bezos.
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#27
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If the agreement requires adhering to MSRP prices in advertising, I would think they'd afoul of federal law in the US pretty quick. Mail order record sellers in NYC beat the MSRP on LPs in the 1950s, IIRC (but I can't find the info via google or duckduckgo search). Or have the MSRP thieves bought enough congressmen to get the law changed?
I think most bike shops get most or all of their merchandise through QBP, so when you order some small item, your order gets added to a bunch of others and the shipping charges get distributed among those orders. The truck doesn't have to visit their store just for something like a set of brake levers, so I'd think they save on shipping costs.
Just a guess.
Just a guess.
Forgot to mention also, I make every effort to pay in cash (actual currency) at my LBS since the owner has expressed to me the hardship created by processing fees. It's no additional trouble to me and helps him with his bottom line. He will also offer cash discounts sometimes but I don't come to expect.
Last edited by RGMN; 06-09-20 at 09:45 PM. Reason: spelling
#28
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Not certain how they're getting by with free installation and I've never been in or worked for a shop like that one though I've often thought I'd run one similar to that. Can't understand when a tune up is 75, you buy brakes and the brakes are an extra 10 per to install on top of the tune up, same with any other part but I get when you just buy brakes and the shop wants a small install fee. The one that always gets me the most is when you want to order something, they want the money up front and there isn't a discount. Shop is basically getting paid extra to just be a middle man which is a waste of cash to me. I'm something of a bargain hunter and haven't found shops that really offer comparable pricing so I tend to buy online, if I needed someone to install for me I could easily see being less of a bargain hunter and more of someone who shops around for free/cheap installation.
I will say with disc brakes, I just swapped my kids' bikes from cable to hydraulic and the total time for 2 bikes was an hour and that was only due to not having an air compressor to get the grips off quick or easily nor a replacement set to just cut the old ones off which were too new to replace anyways.
I will say with disc brakes, I just swapped my kids' bikes from cable to hydraulic and the total time for 2 bikes was an hour and that was only due to not having an air compressor to get the grips off quick or easily nor a replacement set to just cut the old ones off which were too new to replace anyways.
#29
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Not certain how they're getting by with free installation and I've never been in or worked for a shop like that one though I've often thought I'd run one similar to that. Can't understand when a tune up is 75, you buy brakes and the brakes are an extra 10 per to install on top of the tune up, same with any other part but I get when you just buy brakes and the shop wants a small install fee. The one that always gets me the most is when you want to order something, they want the money up front and there isn't a discount. Shop is basically getting paid extra to just be a middle man which is a waste of cash to me. I'm something of a bargain hunter and haven't found shops that really offer comparable pricing so I tend to buy online, if I needed someone to install for me I could easily see being less of a bargain hunter and more of someone who shops around for free/cheap installation.
I will say with disc brakes, I just swapped my kids' bikes from cable to hydraulic and the total time for 2 bikes was an hour and that was only due to not having an air compressor to get the grips off quick or easily nor a replacement set to just cut the old ones off which were too new to replace anyways.
I will say with disc brakes, I just swapped my kids' bikes from cable to hydraulic and the total time for 2 bikes was an hour and that was only due to not having an air compressor to get the grips off quick or easily nor a replacement set to just cut the old ones off which were too new to replace anyways.
I don't usually require installation but I'll take advantage if it's free - this goes for stuff like my dropper post which is pretty straightforward. They charge a little labor for hydro disc brakes and probably other more complicated stuff. They never charge $$ upfront, I can place an order over the phone and they call me when it's in. The internet always charges in advance, if you think about it.