LBS vs Snob?
11-15-20, 02:43 PM
#76
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times
in
1,187 Posts
I’ve never tipped my LBS. Should I?
I buy bikes from them, buy gear I could order off the internet from them, even if they have to order. I get all my service done by them, including work I could easily do myself. I drive past two other shops to get to them and they know I make a point to use them.
I never even thought about tipping. I do go on a weekly bike ride they organize.
Seriously, should I be tipping?
They do always look after me promptly, whether it’s for a new tire or something more.
I never ask to be put at the front of the line. They just do it. We are all on a first name basis.
I buy bikes from them, buy gear I could order off the internet from them, even if they have to order. I get all my service done by them, including work I could easily do myself. I drive past two other shops to get to them and they know I make a point to use them.
I never even thought about tipping. I do go on a weekly bike ride they organize.
Seriously, should I be tipping?
They do always look after me promptly, whether it’s for a new tire or something more.
I never ask to be put at the front of the line. They just do it. We are all on a first name basis.
11-15-20, 05:18 PM
#77
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: St Cloud Fl.
Posts: 1,945
Bikes: Only my riders left...
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 350 Post(s)
Liked 782 Times
in
389 Posts
As an automobile service mgr, everybody behind the counter was a service mgr, we had a bay that was for quick fixes, run of the mill jobs...we had a couple of mechanics that could break off of certain jobs to quickly move small, uncomplicated jobs through...
11-15-20, 05:26 PM
#78
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times
in
1,187 Posts
I could call up and come in the same day for an oil change.
My LBS will stop and replace a tube or something quick to get the customer back on the road. It also means they don't have to store and inventory another repair. They are also technically closed on Wednesdays but have a mechanic in trying to get repairs done without having to answer the phone or talk to customers. After 6 months they are finally caught up and having a "normal" turn around.. unless they are waiting on parts.
11-15-20, 06:15 PM
#79
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 6,882
Bikes: Trek Domane SLR 7 AXS, Trek CheckPoint SL7 AXS, Trek Emonda ALR AXS, Trek FX 5 Sport
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 767 Post(s)
Liked 1,741 Times
in
1,014 Posts
I have a friend of mine that is a mechanic at one of the local Honda dealers. I pay him directly for work he does on my cars, saves me a bundle. I do work on his computers and such at no cost outside of parts as needed. It's a great trade off.
11-15-20, 06:38 PM
#80
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,222
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2584 Post(s)
Liked 5,642 Times
in
2,922 Posts
11-15-20, 06:46 PM
#81
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times
in
1,187 Posts
Likes For GlennR:
11-15-20, 08:56 PM
#82
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,523
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4357 Post(s)
Liked 3,994 Times
in
2,665 Posts
I’ve never tipped my LBS. Should I?
I buy bikes from them, buy gear I could order off the internet from them, even if they have to order. I get all my service done by them, including work I could easily do myself. I drive past two other shops to get to them and they know I make a point to use them.
I never even thought about tipping. I do go on a weekly bike ride they organize.
Seriously, should I be tipping?
They do always look after me promptly, whether it’s for a new tire or something more.
I never ask to be put at the front of the line. They just do it. We are all on a first name basis.
I buy bikes from them, buy gear I could order off the internet from them, even if they have to order. I get all my service done by them, including work I could easily do myself. I drive past two other shops to get to them and they know I make a point to use them.
I never even thought about tipping. I do go on a weekly bike ride they organize.
Seriously, should I be tipping?
They do always look after me promptly, whether it’s for a new tire or something more.
I never ask to be put at the front of the line. They just do it. We are all on a first name basis.
It is just nice to get a tip and feel valued. Even if it is just a fiver or "hey I work at Dom's Pizza, come by and I will hook you up with a discount" or something like that. It is great you value the shop and keep supporting them and I am sure they appreciate it but giving a little to the employees directly is nice. Making a 100 bucks for helping someone put a bike on the car rack certainly made my night and several days after and the delivery driver as I ordered a ton of food (some of which I would have done anyway as they are my go to) and tipped big to them.
Sure in a perfect world we would all have a living wage and we could end the need for tipping (because it gets confusing at points) but I still like the idea of saying "hey good job, my guy, gal or non-binary pal".
Likes For veganbikes:
11-16-20, 08:23 AM
#83
Senior Member
High-end or low-end, they're all customers. If snob doesn't like that fact, he can wrench his own bike.
Likes For BlazingPedals:
11-16-20, 01:08 PM
#84
Senior Member
LOL. Like your humility.
11-16-20, 02:14 PM
#85
Senior Member
If he bought his bike at the shop and they had of policy of prioritizing their customers when doing repairs it would be fine. It might not even be a bad idea to make that a policy to get people to support their LBS. I do all my own work on my bikes. But I'm that way about everything unless it's beyond my abilities wrt skills or necessary tools.
11-16-20, 03:33 PM
#87
Senior Member
I do all my business with a lbs instead of online and my shop knows that. He will slip me in as a way of saying thank you and I appreciate that.
Likes For washed up:
11-16-20, 04:34 PM
#88
Life Feeds On Life
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Hondo,Texas
Posts: 2,143
Bikes: Too many Motobecanes
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4426 Post(s)
Liked 4,527 Times
in
3,029 Posts
I have drops on my gravel bike but rarely in the drops. Maybe down hill in a heavy wind.
11-16-20, 04:42 PM
#89
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Absolutely a snob.
As a former shop worker I remember talking to a parts company rep about department store or low bikes. He asked how much did it cost you to get them in the store. They looked for you, versus you looking for the higher end customer. In today’s market with so many online options many of which are much cheaper and more convenient than an IBD you can’t afford to turn away a customer. He went on to explain that if you treat them fair, if and when they want an upgrade they’ll at least give you a shot. Remember not everyone wants, needs, or can afford high end specialty bikes. Even as former shop worker, I sometimes feel looked down when I go into a shop. Like if I don’t want spend 3k+ I’m not worthy of their time.
As a former shop worker I remember talking to a parts company rep about department store or low bikes. He asked how much did it cost you to get them in the store. They looked for you, versus you looking for the higher end customer. In today’s market with so many online options many of which are much cheaper and more convenient than an IBD you can’t afford to turn away a customer. He went on to explain that if you treat them fair, if and when they want an upgrade they’ll at least give you a shot. Remember not everyone wants, needs, or can afford high end specialty bikes. Even as former shop worker, I sometimes feel looked down when I go into a shop. Like if I don’t want spend 3k+ I’m not worthy of their time.
11-16-20, 06:39 PM
#90
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,637
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4736 Post(s)
Liked 1,532 Times
in
1,003 Posts
Doesn't just about any somewhat savvy business have what could be termed a "loyalty program". What would that equate to for an LBS? Just how should an LBS differentiate and provide value to "loyal" vs. "first-time" customers?
11-17-20, 09:51 AM
#92
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Left Coast, Canada
Posts: 5,126
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2236 Post(s)
Liked 1,314 Times
in
707 Posts
I feel sorry for the guy. He obviously just stumbled out of the Rapha club. https://www.rapha.cc/ca/en/rcc/benefits
11-17-20, 10:23 AM
#93
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 956
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 321 Post(s)
Liked 263 Times
in
212 Posts
11-17-20, 11:18 AM
#94
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 71
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 38 Post(s)
Liked 52 Times
in
18 Posts
^
Probably some will disagree with me, but I'm surprised how low bike repair fee's are these days (YMMV), which is great for people who own less expensive bikes.
I hate to see bikes become another consume-n-toss product like computer printers.
Perhaps some bikes are scraped after a season or two, but reasonable shop repair cost should encourage people to hold onto their department store bike a little longer.
Probably some will disagree with me, but I'm surprised how low bike repair fee's are these days (YMMV), which is great for people who own less expensive bikes.
I hate to see bikes become another consume-n-toss product like computer printers.
Perhaps some bikes are scraped after a season or two, but reasonable shop repair cost should encourage people to hold onto their department store bike a little longer.
11-18-20, 10:34 PM
#95
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,523
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4357 Post(s)
Liked 3,994 Times
in
2,665 Posts
11-19-20, 12:12 PM
#96
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 1,282
Bikes: two blacks, a blue and a white.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 445 Post(s)
Liked 847 Times
in
410 Posts
" I liked it a lot better around here when you guys had nothing to do and were having trouble making payroll. Now you have a lot of work and money going into the cash register, which really sucks. "
Likes For blacknbluebikes:
11-19-20, 12:38 PM
#97
Senior Member
There's a guy here at the office who is always complaining that he is too busy, or that he doesn't have enough work. There is never a middle ground!
11-19-20, 12:47 PM
#98
Hear myself getting fat
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Inland Northwest
Posts: 754
Bikes: Sir Velo A Sparrow
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 335 Post(s)
Liked 265 Times
in
134 Posts
I wouldn't over think it, if they go above and beyond you could drop off a 6'er or 12 pack of whatever the cool Ale or Microbrew is your area. Pizza at the end of the day would probably be appreciated (they don't leave the second the shop closes...cleanup, prep, etc).
11-20-20, 06:38 AM
#99
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,637
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4736 Post(s)
Liked 1,532 Times
in
1,003 Posts
For the all the donated/tipped beer evidently handed out, I will say I've never walked into a LBS and seen all the employees swigging the stuff.
11-20-20, 09:48 PM
#100
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,222
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2584 Post(s)
Liked 5,642 Times
in
2,922 Posts
When my 15 year old black lab had both knees replaced and was going down for the count we were at the vet’s office just about every week for 6 months. We started taking them home baked cookies, lattes and various treats because they became like family. When Eddy the lab died, all of us cried and hugged. Now when we take our new dog in, they like to kid and say, What did you bring us?
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Likes For rsbob: