So I was in Waynesboro, VA the other weekend visiting my folks for the 3day. We were out looking for cigars and we passed by a cycle-recycle bike shop. We stopped by to check it out, and after looking over the parts and being relatively unimpressed with most of their prices, I asked the guy for some 8 speed parts, since I figured they might have some cheap old stock that they'd like to get rid of. He refers me to this other guy who runs the inventory, and he asks me what I'm looking for. I reply "Chain, cassette, and shifter, XT or higher". He proceeds to go on a rant about how #1, Any derailleur will shift any speed setup, and #2, it doesn't matter what level you buy, it's all the same.
Out of pleasantry I went to look at what he had, but I wasn't buying it. I don't go into shops to be berated for my choices. I didn't ask for a friggin' derailleur and if I wanted cheap chrome steel and plastic spacers, I'd have asked for it. I'm sorry, but there's a pretty big difference between dura-ace quality and huffy quality...and I'm not putting the latter on a $4000 DH bike.
Sorry for the rant, but I couldn't believe that the guy was belittling me for wanting decent parts on my bike. I understand that there's not a huge difference between XT and XTR level parts sometimes, but there's a giant leap between XTR and sub-alivio stuff.
Out of pleasantry I went to look at what he had, but I wasn't buying it. I don't go into shops to be berated for my choices. I didn't ask for a friggin' derailleur and if I wanted cheap chrome steel and plastic spacers, I'd have asked for it. I'm sorry, but there's a pretty big difference between dura-ace quality and huffy quality...and I'm not putting the latter on a $4000 DH bike.
Sorry for the rant, but I couldn't believe that the guy was belittling me for wanting decent parts on my bike. I understand that there's not a huge difference between XT and XTR level parts sometimes, but there's a giant leap between XTR and sub-alivio stuff.