dcbikeguy

Cheap b*stard, pony up the cash. Then sell the old one.

Savagewolf

I'd say they are doing just fine by their reaction. This is something that should of been brought up when you first bought the bike, or at least within the first week. A month is a long time, winter or no, and I think at this point you should just count your loss and buy a stem that works. Several people suggested the Ebay method, so go for that if need be.

kdboxerdog

Never expect anything, be happy when you get something. I have developed a relationship with my LBS, staff and owner, because I buy there, I stop by and say hey if I am riding/driving by, I participate in the different events they put on, and I wear their jersey on race day(and I am not a race leader). I have never asked for a discount or freebie and I would say I have never paid retail (often SIGNIFICANTLY less). I now count these people as friends and it wasn't anything I intentionally set out to do. These are good people and if they charge me for it, hey, they are a retail establishment that needs to stay afloat. If they can cut me a deal, I am confident they will. Without grinding them. I know people who often shop there and "grind" them for every last dollar and I cringe when they do it.

That being said, I think stem swap should be standard everywhere, but you should check policies when you lay down the cash. Buyer beware. I would suppose I kept coming back to my LBS (which really is out of my way) because I was never treated like this.

ragboy

It has nothing to do with the money. I only mentioned it for the analogy that was used. It's the principal -- when I drop $1,200 on a bike at the LBS, I expect them to be able to swap out a $30 stem after a couple rides to fit me better. A $30 stem is nothing to me, but I won't be buying it there on principal alone, period.

sfrider 

I agree. I wouldn't do business with them again.

ragboy

Thanks for all the input. After reading these posts it confirmed my initial thoughts:

I've spent more than $3,000 at this LBS (two bikes, clothing, equipment, etc.) over the last 2 years. After this experience and reading everyone's input, I've come to the conclusion they'll no longer see any of my money.

Thanks everyone for chiming in.

save10

Where exactly is The Land of Hookers and Blow? Because its sounds more fun then where I live. And I say good riddance to that place....sounds like PBK is getting new customer.

sfrider 

Fits change - especially for a beginner who just bought their first bike. (Not the OP, just in general.)

Sirrobinofcoxly

And that is exactly why you shouldn't expect them to keep up with your changing needs at no cost.

I guess they won't be invited to your birthday party, either.

garysol1 

I would have hoped for a freebie trade but it would not be a big deal either way......as long as the store was cool about it and at least ate the labor and smiled while they did the swap.

JeffS

big baby...

PhilThee

Seems to me that if they would have done a proper fitment session in the first place you wouldn't need a shorter stem.

This really makes me question if they should be doing this "service" at all.
Generally the more you ride the more flexibility you will gain thus the possibly of needing a longer stem or perhaps a deeper seat to bar drop.

AlexTaylor

Do what I do and use it as an excuse to upgrade....

FrankBattle 

"Fits change."

This is sage advice. I just feel for the poor bike store owner who, on the [also sage] advice of BF members has possibly lost a customer?

This is democracy, I suppose.

*shrug*

Sounds like the OP got what he was after: confirmation.

If you really think about it, it isn't that big a deal. It's not even a question of principle. But I'm simple .. and have disposable income that I like to burn every now and then.

ragboy

That's a possibility, I suppose. I didn't intend for it to sound that way.

I've never been in the bike shop business, but my sense tells me that if you can make a regular customer happy through a simple stem swap, which would keep him as a regular customer, you would do it. Otherwise, you run the risk of alienating a regular customer.

ragboy

I'm talking about a simple swap-out after my second ride on a new bike. Not coming in six months later after 1,000 miles expecting freebie service.

ExMachina

Here's an anecdote for you agilis:

Bought a new bike and after riding it for a couple of days, I got the bars to where I wanted them. So I took the bike by the shop to get them to cut off the extra steer tube. I told the ConeHead that I had bought the bike there but he said that they still had to charge me $20 for labor. I was a little annoyed and decided that after this visit, I was never going to return to the shop.

Then the owner comes out and is about to ring up the charge when he says "you bought that bike here didn't you? Well, there should be no charge for that work".

That turned my opinion 180 degrees and I promptly bought $40+ worth of tools, tubes and a chain. Furthermore, that shop will get future business and recommendations.

ExMachina

Not that it matters, but my opinion is that it is well within reason to expect the shop to swap the stem.

Hell, you want to talk unreasonable? I once had a bike shop swap my ENTIRE FRAME after a month of riding the too-small old one! Now that was above and beyond! And I'll be damned if I didn't buy a second bike from them within the year--coincidence? No. It's about who you trust.

bassplayinbiker

lets think about this logically. If you buy a $1500 bike it only costs the shop somewhere in the $700-$800 range. The stem on said $1500 bike is probbly a house brand stem or a low end ritchy/ easton ect. The cost of a $30 stem for the shop is anywhere between $5 and $15. If you subtract the cost of the stem from the MSRP of the bike you will clearly see that the shop still comes out ahead.

One can logically derive that no matter the curcumstances, there is no reason why the shop should deny the replacement of the said stems.

I dont know alot about switching tires on a car, but I can just guess that it takes a little more time and effort than switching out threadless stems. sorry, no dice.

HillMut

I'm not 100% on this, but still pretty sure that bike shops aren't getting NEAR that much markup on bikes/parts, its more like 30%-35%. Co2 on the other hand... cornerstone .

barba

This seems on the border to me. If they have otherwise treated you well, I would be a little slow to walk away from the relationship. Did you get a good price on the new bike?

Berniebikes

You got poor service, perid. Unless you were asking to get some new four bolt carbon something or other in exchange for your truvative aluminum one, an even swap should have been accomodated. Shop where I frequent and sometimes fill in on heavy periods does it for any good customer who bought a bike, especially a nice road bike. We'll even swap saddles sometimes, if we have one around the shop that the customer would rather ride (again, something comparable to what is OEM).

sogood

If the fitting is different to your old bike, then it's natural that you'll feel stretched on the first few rides. Does it mean the fit is no good? Not necessarily. It's just that your body hasn't adapted to it yet. So the question is, was the fit "no good" or you aren't used to a better fit?

As for LBS swapping stems. My experience has been that they'll swap in a cheaper stem than the one that came with the bike. So be aware.

aloysius

Learn to do your own wrenching, buy some tools, and you'll never need a bike shop again.

Dynamic

-1

Your LBS specified that there would be no charge.
The OP wasn't told, and should have asked probably.