I-Like-To-Bike

Classic responses too from the usual suspects to any thread that questions or raises the subject of LBS "loyalty" or "support." Some posters appear to be "married" to their LBS through financial or emotional ties. Others have divorced themselves from such ties.

livedarklions

Not really. You're not actually reading the posts in this thread if you think that's what they're saying. Most fall into the "I use a LBS when it works for me or online when that works for me". One poster posted a new picture of his custom bike and said that he could only get that through an LBS, and people who do their own wrenching generally said they didn't have much use for a LBS. All of those are perfectly rational responses. Literally no one has posted in this thread saying you should sacrifice your own interests to support a LBS. OP continues to argue against a point no one in this thread is making to try to gin up an argument.

I'm a terrible mechanic and I have a couple good LBS near me. I rely on them for service. I don't go out of my way to buy parts and accessories from them and they're both fine with that. I don't tell people that's what they should do, and I don't care even a little bit as to whether anyone else thinks I'm doing it wrong.

indyfabz

I guess one has to resort to fabrication when no one has made the point one wants to take issue with. What I cannot wrap my head around is the mindset that compels one to argue against a point no one has made.

But one point of clarification: They guy who posted the photo of the custom bike did not order it through a LBS. The owner of the shop designed and built the frame himself. Glad he and I never got divorced.

livedarklions

Let's have an argument over the meaning of the phrase "get that through".

Or I can just thank you for the clarification. I meant to say that. Did you notice I noted it was a new picture?

MarcusT

So, The GCN channel on Youtube made a video about supporting your LBS. I put in a comment about most bike shops do not have the choice I like and if ordered will take weeks and how after all is paid and done you become invisible. The LBS should be doing everything to keep my business, not the other way around.
Their reply?
"Biscuits and beer is a great way to make friends in the local bike shop."

Bribery to give them my money?

TheDudeIsHere

I have several ex's and done paying alimony and any other kind of support!

I'm a free man!

FTR, talking about bike shops, not actual wives.

TheDudeIsHere

Yeah, I'm still trying to figure out the "nobody's going to tell me to my face" thing.

I've met thousands of cyclists over my 23 years of cycling, tons and tons of conversatin' and never ever had anyone make and issue whether or not people supported their local bike shops or had an issue if you didn't.

Some mention their favorite shops, but nobody has ever gotten upset for another not going to the LBS. If anything, they're happy for you and say they wish they could do their own wrenching as well.

I-Like-To-Bike

Are you sure the LBS provides the Biscuits and beer, rather than expect their customer "friends"and other assorted cycling club bros. to provide treats to the staff in order to maintain their "friendship"?

OuterMarker

That was why I asked online. I've never had an issue until someone I didn't know decided to send ma FB message. It then made me wonder if others thought the same thing, but didn't want to tell me since that would make them look like a dick.

TheDudeIsHere

Ah I see! Yeah, that seems kind of odd. Why not say it on the post instead of a PM? They knew they were somewhat out of line. Not as far as opinion, but as far as not just being able to say it openly for some reason.

vinfix

I've stopped in several of my LBS's after being away from it for a while. What I was struck by was the changes in brand and stock. different brands, less stock. Even the Trek dealer only had 2-3 road bikes in stock. I got an earful from one old-school independent about the business practices of some of the big name brands. Trek, in particular. The shops, in the changing and shrinking retail landscape, seem to have problems with the distributors and manufacturers, too. I'm not so sure the consumer who wants to save a few bucks buying tires on line is the big culprit here.

Maelochs

What are your favorite buggy-whip outlets?

If a shop cannot attract my business over the competition ... it simply cannot. if bike shops close because they are no longer profitable ... buy buggy whips?

If there is sufficient demand for bike mechanics, people will start renting small spaces and putting out online ads. If they do good work, word will spread, and they ... will be in business! And bike shops which can no longer compete with their own suppliers for bikes or with online retailers for parts, will go out of business.

It stands to reason that out of a given number of cyclists in a given region, some number will want or need the services of a mechanic/wheel builder. I can do all my own wrenching except building wheels. Some folks I used to ride with preferred to pay a mechanic for the convenience---drop the bike off, pick it up later and it is done, clean, tight, and tuned. Some folks are too busy, some simply want to spend their time doing other things. If there is a need, someone will fill it, history shows .....

Back at the turn of the 20th century, people who owned stables in-town opened garages and gas stations.

Except for some who demanded loyalty from former horse owners and whined and went broke.

unterhausen

there are plenty of buggy dealers within a few miles of here

indyfabz

The Brush Valley FTW! The first time I rode through there (1996) I saw two Amish kids chasing two yoked horses through a field. Looks like they had gotten loose from the plow. Intimate sight. As you head towards Raymond Winter S.P. there is a place that sells scooters.

unterhausen

We rode out that way during spring planting season. A lot of farmers use 6 Clydesdale sized horses to plow. It's a pretty impressive sight.

I figure if all the bike shops in State College go out of business, the Amish bike shops will take up the slack.

indyfabz

Wow! I have seen four, but never six. They might be Belgians. I have seen them in Amish country

Further east, in Lancaster County, there is Shirk's. I think the owners are Mennonite. Unbelievable store amidst farmland. The place has everything, including Trek. I know a guy who lives here in Philly who is originally from out that way. Absent the need for emergency service, he will only take his bike to Shirk's. The place is so well known they don't even bother with a website, but they are on FB.

https://reallancastercounty.com/see-...rks-bike-shop/

RH Clark

I take that to mean something more along the lines of, "Hey take the time to get to know us. It's hurtful if you come in and take up hours of our time to learn what you want, then go buy it somewhere else."

I am fine with that attitude and I have learned to avoid one shop and go to another. The one I avoid doesn't really want my small stuff business, like parts and accessories. The other is glad to help me out with anything and is more of a Co-Op that helps the community and promotes cycling. I've spent a few hundred with them in a few months and it's been great. What is sad is that the shop I avoid has to rely on people who just want to buy bikes and drop them off for cleaning and to be maintained. It makes me wonder which type shop will survive in the long term.

john m flores 

I've had really good LBS experiences and some bad ones too. After not having one in town for a couple of years, a new one just opened up. They are friendly and helpful and organize group rides and stuff to promote cycling. I shop for accessories and consumables there sometimes. It's nice to have one in town again.

Maelochs

I don't think that is a Trek ... maybe a Percheron .....

Maelochs

Look, there is no reason to give gifts to people before they do me a service .... and no need to give tips if they charge full price.

Obviously, trying on shoes or helmets at a shop and then ordering online is bad morality. But that really isn't the issue. it is that they don't even have the stuff to try on, or that what they do have doesn't interest me, particularly at three times the cost online.

The only things I would Need to try on would be helmets or shoes. And as far as that goes, I have a "Bell"-shaped head, so I just order bell helmets online. Shoes I need extra-extra-wide ... and stores simply don't carry them.

So ... why should I bring biscuits and beers?

And seriously, why should I Need to make friends with the staff at Any store? After all, it is just a business transaction. Are they going to give me discounts in excess of the value of the biscuits and beer? Then how is it a positive for me? Are they going to do better work if i bribe them? In that case I not only won't bribe them, I won't go to the shop. I deserve the best whether I bribe you or not---Every customer does. Am i going to go to the head of the list if I bribe them? How is that fair? Unless that is stated shop policy .... and I really cannot imagine any shop posting a sigh saying, "if you want it today, you gotta pay." Eh?

If i go to a store to buy something, I expect to get good treatment, and honest pricing. If I am not a regular, and a regular comes in, and is in a hurry, I understand that s/he will get preferred service ... but other than that, i expect to be serviced in the order in which I arrived. Even if the person right after me buys stuff there weekly. If someone wheels in the bike the shop tunes up weekly and says, "I have a race tomorrow, can you swap out XX" then I would say, "yeah, go ahead of me, i can wait a day, the race cannot." If the person is getting less time-sensitive work ... first come, first served, or I will never come back.

As far as buying the staff a six-pack of imported beer .... Let's get the relationship straight, here. I am the Customer. They want My business. I can go elsewhere. They should be offering Me incentives to use their services and give them my money. How brainwashed are bike riders if they think they need to pay for the privilege of paying for for bike parts and service?

The bike shop I rarely visit is run by people I used to ride with (before i got slow.) I will hopefully regain lost speed and ride with them again. We recognize each other when I go in, some know my name. i know some of them by name, and the rest through shared experience. If i want to share some ale with them ... it will be for their company, after work, not as a bribe to do the work I am already paying for. And friends or not, they had best be professional in doing business with me.

Why should bike shops be different from every other business on the planet?

livedarklions

What's sad about that?

Happy Feet

This bike is like the cowbell of bike threads

RH Clark

It's sad to me that you don't understand. Maybe I expect too much of people, or maybe I just don't appreciate the money is all that matters attitude.

livedarklions

It's a nice bike, but it ain't no GMC Denali.

livedarklions

Or maybe you're a condescension addict.

They're providing services people pay for. Are they violating your sense of artistic integrity?