Ok how do you guys deal with roadies? Not all road bikers, I have a road bike also, but the true roadie.
Our shop is mostly a MTB shop that specializes in custom mtb builds, but if it has wheels and is human powered we'll service it. I have the only shop in a 50 mile radius so we get a lot of different things in. And I have no complaints from anyone except roadies. It seems that 80% of the roadies that come in my little shop are know it all pushy jerks.( I have had some cool ones come in)
This week alone we had three different guys bring in their road bikes, all over five years old. Each time they want them done before the weekend and told me up front that they have never had them serviced or only once or twice in the life of the bike!
The drivetrain on all of them was trashed. I mean nothing worked, chains stretched beyond the gauge, cogs worn down to little sharks teeth, bottombrackets that sound like the bearings run on sand paper, etc,etc, You get the picture. So I tell them that it is way past time to replace their drivetrain. One guy accused me of trying to "pull the wool over his eyes" , another made the statement that as much as his bike cost it could not be worn out. The third guy agreed to the work but insisted I mix and match his old worn 96 600 8sp parts with new Ulti 9sp parts. At first I refused, telling him that I would not be able to get it to shift reliably and he would not be happy with it. He told me that he was sick of shops trying to pad his repair bill (he was the one that said it had never been serviced) and he knew damn well those parts are compatable and to do the work that he "the customer" wants and nothing more! So I did, and it worked for $h!t. He comes in I two days later complaining that his "new" drive train does not work, and demands to see the owner. MMM...ok, "that would be me". He gets all pissed and ends up storming out.(there is lots more but it would take too long)
Now, I was the same with them as I am with all of my customers. I have hundreds of MTB customers and none of them act like this. What is it with these guys and gals? It really bothers me, and I don't need some one talking smack and hurting my reputation. I really care about my customers and their bikes.
Any suggestions? Words of wisdom?
Thanks
WB
Our shop is mostly a MTB shop that specializes in custom mtb builds, but if it has wheels and is human powered we'll service it. I have the only shop in a 50 mile radius so we get a lot of different things in. And I have no complaints from anyone except roadies. It seems that 80% of the roadies that come in my little shop are know it all pushy jerks.( I have had some cool ones come in)
This week alone we had three different guys bring in their road bikes, all over five years old. Each time they want them done before the weekend and told me up front that they have never had them serviced or only once or twice in the life of the bike!
The drivetrain on all of them was trashed. I mean nothing worked, chains stretched beyond the gauge, cogs worn down to little sharks teeth, bottombrackets that sound like the bearings run on sand paper, etc,etc, You get the picture. So I tell them that it is way past time to replace their drivetrain. One guy accused me of trying to "pull the wool over his eyes" , another made the statement that as much as his bike cost it could not be worn out. The third guy agreed to the work but insisted I mix and match his old worn 96 600 8sp parts with new Ulti 9sp parts. At first I refused, telling him that I would not be able to get it to shift reliably and he would not be happy with it. He told me that he was sick of shops trying to pad his repair bill (he was the one that said it had never been serviced) and he knew damn well those parts are compatable and to do the work that he "the customer" wants and nothing more! So I did, and it worked for $h!t. He comes in I two days later complaining that his "new" drive train does not work, and demands to see the owner. MMM...ok, "that would be me". He gets all pissed and ends up storming out.(there is lots more but it would take too long)
Now, I was the same with them as I am with all of my customers. I have hundreds of MTB customers and none of them act like this. What is it with these guys and gals? It really bothers me, and I don't need some one talking smack and hurting my reputation. I really care about my customers and their bikes.
Any suggestions? Words of wisdom?
Thanks
WB