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My local bike shops = TEH SUXOR

LordOpie

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
stinkyboy said:
Taking care of people in service industries should go without saying.
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And it pays off too.

Like one time my wife and I were at dinner and the waiter recognized my wife from another restaurant that he worked at, she went to a few times, and tipped well.

At the new place, he said it was great, but the meal she was going to order was not worth it, recommended something better and cheaper, and brought us all kinds of freebies.

This happens regularly.


Also, since I never ever haggle or ask for price match, always show my appreciation to the LBS staff, and frequent them, they do some stuff for me for free. It pays off to treat people well.


And I admit that I'm the same way at my job... I do better work for clients that appreciate my efforts, tho I haven't gotten anything free, but a kind word in years.
 
stinkyboy

stinkyboy

Plastic Santa
Jan 6, 2005
15,187
1
¡Phoenix!
LordOpie said:
Also, since I never ever haggle or ask for price match, always show my appreciation to the LBS staff, and frequent them, they do some stuff for me for free. It pays off to treat people well.
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I'll haggle a $100 part to $80 and tip $10. Everyone wins.
 
jimmydean

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
41,210
13,346
Portland, OR
LordOpie said:
Also, since I never ever haggle or ask for price match, always show my appreciation to the LBS staff, and frequent them, they do some stuff for me for free. It pays off to treat people well.
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I don't think I have ever haggled a price myself. Like I said about my seat, I was looking at the screen when the order was placed, so I saw the price. I also knew what the MSRP was and it was a hell of a lot more than what they asked me for. Adding the $5 was a gesture of good faith. I tend to do that quite a lot. I know that when they ring me up, I get a discount per the software, but if I know it's a good deal to begin with, I will toss a few bucks on top of that.

I haven't offered tips, though. But I know the guys are paid better there than elsewhere.
 
J

JRogers

talks too much
Mar 19, 2002
3,785
1
Claremont, CA
binary visions said:
As much as I appreciate the fact that they're underpaid and underappreciated, the idea that you have to bribe your local retail establishment in order to get a modicum of decent service is pretty asinine.

Fundamentally decent service should be a given. I'm not saying they have to jump through hoops but why is it right to get lousy service just because you haven't developed the close bonds of brotherhood with your local shop employees?
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Agreed. I don't spend much money on bikes in total and for lots of stuff I pretty much have to buy used if I want to get anything. Also, most of the stuff I need will have to be ordered, driving up the cost even more. I go to the LBS for small/medium parts and labor I can't do myself (either because I don't want to mess it up or I lack the tools) but I don't feel like having to spend a few grand there a year just so I don't get ripped off. I'm fine with paying retail on a lot of stuff, I just know when I'm getting hosed.

Thankfully, I've had good shops near me, even if they seemed to be run by total stoners ("ohhh, dude, I totally forgot to order those for you"...."I know I said this last time, but it should probably be ready next week"..."yeah, your bike is here...something was up with it....you should call back tomorrow when [another stoner] is in- he might know something"...)
 
sanjuro

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
eaterofdog said:
24" Rhyno Lites on 14mm sealed bmx hubs or similar.
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Well, if you came into my shop, I would first tell you I don't have many BMX parts, which you probably know is commonplace with most shops.

Now, if you didn't have a problem with that or that I would have to order everything, then I would move into our wheelbuilding discussion. There is why you might buy something from else. You could obviously find these wheels for dirt cheap from online, but personal mechanics is the only reason why most people come into a bike shop.
 
stinkyboy

stinkyboy

Plastic Santa
Jan 6, 2005
15,187
1
¡Phoenix!
valve bouncer said:
:stupid:
I don't understand why long term customers getting the best service is such a revolutionary concept to some people.
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Werd!

"Oh you need a $4 tube that you're going to change in the parking lot with a spoon while blocking two parking spaces and then interrupt me again and ask for air? Let me rub your feet before waiting on someone who bought five bikes last year and who will tip me enough to get drunk tonight!"

Don't get me wrong, I hand out Slime tubes to less fortunate riders on a regular basis, but hitting up a boutique shop and expecting much love like that is not gonna happen.

Be generous, it all comes back.
 
sanjuro

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
eaterofdog said:
Are they doing me some kind of favor? I am a paying customer, I should not have to EARN good service.
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Here is what I consider a good customer:

Guy comes in wanting a wheel built; we happened to have all the parts, I tell him the total price which he agrees to immediately. 2 days later, we have a wheel for him.

A month later he comes in for another wheel build.
 
valve bouncer

valve bouncer

Master Dildoist
Feb 11, 2002
7,843
114
Japan
stinkyboy said:
Werd!

"Oh you need a $4 tube that you're going to change in the parking lot with a spoon while blocking two parking spaces and then interrupt me again and ask for air? Let me rub your feet before waiting on someone who bought five bikes last year and who will tip me enough to get drunk tonight!"

Don't get me wrong, I hand out Slime tubes to less fortunate riders on a regular basis, but hitting up a boutique shop and expecting much love like that is not gonna happen.

Be generous, it all comes back.
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I don't expect them to bend over backwards for me as I'm sure I'm not their best customer but after going to the same place for 10 years I think it's reasonable to expect them to a) give me a fair price and b) do the work in a short space of time, sometimes straight away and c) happily install the occassional part I bought for peanuts on the web safe in the knowledge that I've spent thousands there over the years.
Because they do that they continue to get my business. Maybe we're just old-fashioned Stink, perhaps this building a relationship with a business guff is for navel gazers and scab-eaters.:twitch:
 
B

benno

Monkey
Apr 7, 2006
201
0
valve bouncer said:
I don't expect them to bend over backwards for me as I'm sure I'm not their best customer but after going to the same place for 10 years I think it's reasonable to expect them to a) give me a fair price and b) do the work in a short space of time, sometimes straight away and c) happily install the occassional part I bought for peanuts on the web safe in the knowledge that I've spent thousands there over the years.
Because they do that they continue to get my business. Maybe we're just old-fashioned Stink, perhaps this building a relationship with a business guff is for navel gazers and scab-eaters.:twitch:
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You guys are on the wrong track. Sure, develop a rapport with the shop monkeys and you'll get better service, but we shouldn't have to do that to get a minimum acceptable level of service. This is unfortunately all too often the case in the bike industry: if you're not known at the shop, your job takes weeks, it doesn't get done properly, parts don't get ordered...

**** that.
 
sanjuro

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
benno said:
You guys are on the wrong track. Sure, develop a rapport with the shop monkeys and you'll get better service, but we shouldn't have to do that to get a minimum acceptable level of service. This is unfortunately all too often the case in the bike industry: if you're not known at the shop, your job takes weeks, it doesn't get done properly, parts don't get ordered...

**** that.
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You mean, you get treated just like a regular customer.

I see this a lot: a total stranger brings in a decent frame which he bought from Pricepoint and needs a bottom bracket or a headset installed.

Now I could sell you BB taps or a headset press for $200, but the stranger is too cheap for that.

So I say, "Well, there are 3 Pacifics, an old Gary Fisher, and a Fuji road bike ahead of you. It should be about a week before I can get to it".

Why don't I hear stories about people complaining how bike shops put them in the queue like everyone else?

Because that doesn't happen. The last 3 times a stranger has brought in a fork, headset, or bB for an install, I did the job on the spot. Why? Maybe because it is a better bike, even if the person bought everything online. Possibly this stranger will come in and buy his tubes from us.

BTW, I have never seen any of the strangers ever again after doing their job on the spot. Maybe if I treated them like I treated everyone else, they would go to the shop next door.
 
B

benno

Monkey
Apr 7, 2006
201
0
No, getting put into a queue and being given an ETA of when the job will be finished is fine - but when the job takes a week longer than it should, when I waste my own time driving to the shop to pick up a bike that isn't ready (for the third time) because no one called me to say it wasn't, when the shop owner remarks 'well you didn't want to go riding tomorrow anyway' - this is when I get ****ty.

I am a reasonable customer and I do not make outrageous demands of the shop or the mech. But if they give me an ETA I expect them to commit to it, or at the very least have the courtesy to call me and tell me that the bike isn't ready, or that when it is ready the rear mech is actually tuned, or that the headset is properly tightened.

I suspect the proponents of bike shops in this thread haven't actually experienced how bad some bike shops can be.
 
loco-gringo

loco-gringo

Crusading Clamp Monkey
Sep 27, 2006
8,887
14
Deep in the heart of TEXAS
I guess I should start my own thread on why many people that come into my shop are sh*tty and make my head hurt. I can't do it now, and it's not the whole lot for sure, but I have plenty.

That said, I work in a shop because I know how bad it can be. I also drop the ball sometimes. If you think you are infallible, you might take a big look and come to the conclusion that you are not. There is plenty of good service, but on any given day you might receive some bad help. I hate to whine about how hard it is, but I just ordered some parts from a guy through QBP, Italian stuff, and it was just as costly as Colorado Cyclist. I can't imagine why shops are pissy sometimes. :think:
 
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