SpinClassSara

I never thought it was a question. Lots of times you need things done in person, not on Amazon.

mstateglfr 

Wait- you charged different amounts of money for the same work just based on if someone in the shop felt the customer had been in prior to learn about the component(s)?
That is about the shadiest thing a shop can do- charge different prices based on who the customer is.

Awful practice and I am surprised it wasnt meat with resistance and argument.
Along these lines, why a shop wouldnt clearly display standard service pricing is odd.

Not sure why you proudly retell that story...its one that's best kept quiet.

Metieval

MY LBS earned my business. I rolled in the door, litterally because it was wide open. I asked if I could use their chain gauge. So I paid $30 for a chain that I could have got for $20 online. Maybe I should buy a chain gauge?

Then it wouldn't be fun. A lot of shops need a hang out zone. In my opinion.

Miele Man

Yes, that shop charged differently if the owner knew the parts were bought elsewhere after the customer had spent a lot of time browsing the same parts in the owner's store. The owner also insisted that we charge for everything we did no matter how small the adjustment or part = there were no freebies at that shop. I didn't particularly like working there but it was a job at a time I really needed a job.

There was a store here in town where the owner would NOT touch a low-end or department store for any reason at all. He was a bit of a character though who wanted people to come in, buy the item they wanted and then leave. He even stated that to one customer.

Needless to say both shops are no longer in business although that's not necessarily because of their poilices and practices. Many GOOD bicycle shops are also gone. I miss Pedlar Bicycles on Avenue Road and Dupont Street in Toronto, Canada. That was a REALLY good shop.

Cheers

indyfabz

Pretty sure the Trucker needs a new chain. Off to a LBS this afternoon.

rodgeman

Last month I had stopped by my LBS once - sometime twice a week to buy a new mountain bike. I had bought a hybrid from them in January. I did hang out to see what bikes they could get and because I needed to see which would fit me. They could not get anything in my size from their brands to due to new model year. I ended up buying a XXL bike from a different shop almost twenty miles away that had them (2020s) in stock. So I went back to my LBS yesterday to pick out a frame pump. I did ask them about riding as I was getting back into it. I do like them for larger purchases and local knowledge. I also buy things from Amazon as they do not have the selection. So it is mixed with me. I do not hang out as much now that I am riding my new bike but do like stopping in as they do not mind talking to me and encouraging me. If they are busy I make it short.

Tom L

I haven't been to the lbs in a year now, they really rubbed me the wrong way with a purchase
I was buying everything from them , trying to support them , showed up on a tuesday night and told the owner
that I was coming in the next night with my wife, wanted to get her a bike for her birthday and didn't want to go overboard with the sale
as I kinda knew that she wasn't going to ride a lot, and didn't want to waste a lot of money
showed up the next night, and with her there in front of me, he picked out a tricked out mountain bike and then told her
she needed to upgrade the seat, handle bars, pedals, new helmet, gloves, oil, shoes, that guy did me a favor to almost 3 grand
and the bike sits there and has been ridden 3 times.
I understand that he has to sell stuff to make money, but as a steady customer, he used the fact that she was there to force the
purchase. real bum move, and it has cost him three times that in the last year.

Ross520

You bought the bike?

baldilocks

Why support you LBS?

Because you want a pro to assemble your bike. Not the guy that is assembling things at wally world.

Metieval

Reasons to not support LBS, I want stuff they don't stock. Why Drive 30 (one way) miles to have them order something then drive 30 miles to go pick it up to pay more? UPS and the USPS delivers to my door.

oh for sure they have MTB tires, CST, Serfas, etc... they do orders on Tuesdays. I can pay the shipping. The only way I'll special order through my LBS and pay more for the item is when they start drop shipping my items to me.

indyfabz

Yesterday I went to a LBS on the way home from work because I thought the Trucker might need a new chain. Turned out that it still has plenty of life left. Chatted with a few of the folks about my recent tour, bid adieu and rode to the grocery store for dinner fixin's.

guachi

I bought two bikes this year from my LBS, a Trek dealer. Neither was assembled correctly. Both had front derailleur issues. One I couldn't fix so I took it back to them. I was told two days, it took four, and still wasn't fixed. It was fixed in 10 minutes when I brought it back for the second time.

The second bike was ordered and shipped to the store for assembly (not a floor model). It was for my wife and I didn't test it in the shop. That derailleur problem was at least fixable by me.

TiHabanero

Why is it always about supporting a local bike shop? Why not have a thread titled "Why support ANY local business?" Wills, insurance, medical advice, psychotherapy, vehicles, sporting goods, groceries, etc, etc, etc, can all be had online at a price a local biz cannot match, and service right at my front door. Why the heck do I want to pay more and put up with the inconvenience of having to leave my house to go get an insurance policy on my car? So the salesman can get a bigger house or go on vacation in the DR?

Seriously, the question must be asked. Why support any local business? What's the point when I can get the same products and services cheaper and more convenient online with the bonus of not having to interact with any human if I choose?

indyfabz

^^^sad^^^

radroad

Most LBS owners are terrible businessmen and very arrogant on top of that.

Yelp and other social media review sites have enforced a higher level of accountability, but e-commerce has made it impossible for most shops to compete on price.

Shops have to be able to compete on repairs, in volume, which leads to a higher percentage of mistakes by mechanics, generating poor reviews and alienating future customers.

Most shops can't afford to hire much less keep experienced, skilled mechanics, so they are forced to rely on teenagers.

From what I've seen, the shop experience is most rewarding for cyclists who want simple repairs or adjustments done at a modest price. The price is too low for the customer to complain, and the work too easy for even an inexperienced mechanic to botch.

Ross520

There's no such thing as a free lunch. If everyone did that, cities would have to raise taxes significantly to make up for lost revenue. Unemployment would go up. And crime would follow.

All so folks can save a few bucks and not have to leave their house.

Selfish, and short-sighted.

There's nothing wrong with ordering things online, but completely boycotting your local economy because you're cheap and lazy is ridiculous.

bbbean 

Do tell! Are you personally familiar with "most LBS owners", or are you citing some sort of research?

I'm tempted to make an assertion about "most internet posters", but I wouldn't want to be accused of asserting facts not in evidence, over-generalizing, or proclaiming my personal bias as fact.

Tom L

there was no way around it, the owner picks out and tells the wife this is the good one, then proceeds to out fit it with
all extras,
do you want to stand there and tell your wife girlfriend that no that is no good, lets pick out the other cheaper on that the
LBS owner doesn't suggest,
good luck with that. the 3 grand was better for the outcome of it

Ross520

Yes. I would have explained to her that for her purposes, that model is completely unnecessary. I then would have driven to another shop. Never let people peer-pressure you into buying something you don't want or need. If your partner thinks you're being "cheap" (not saying yours would have), then you are with the wrong woman.

bbbean 

With all due respect, if the owner of the LBS has more influence with your wife than you, and she doesn't know enough about cycling and/or money to independently evaluate a $3K purchase, you have bigger issues to deal with than this forum can address.

BB

Noctilux.95

No matter where you make your purchase, you're helping the LBS. Might not be your LBS, but it sure is someones.

Nachoman

I'm pretty sure everyone on this forum can easily address this issue because we all proclaim to be a bicycle experts and a relationship experts.

cs1

While I have most tools at home I don’t everything. It isn’t cost effective. I don’t mind paying my LBS $20 or $30 to do a job I might only do once. They charged me $30 to thread a fork a couple of inches and trim it to length. I thought that was a deal.