LBS - Best service and price
FSR_XC
Posts: 2,258
I bought a MTB 7 months ago from my LBS - Certini in Saltash (Plymouth).
Their service has been absolutely excellent. Whenever my bike goes in to them, I get a loan bike (normally worth a fair bit more than mine too), they will always try to help and I have always got as good a price from them as anywhere else.
Yesterday, I popped in on the way back from a ride. I have been looking at a Garmin 305 Forerunner and currently Halfords have them on sale for £129. I suggested he price matched it. No problem.
In fact THEY WILL PRICEMATCH ANY ITEM if asked to do so. This includes special offers from the likes of Wiggle & Chain Reaction.
Is there a better LBS?
Their service has been absolutely excellent. Whenever my bike goes in to them, I get a loan bike (normally worth a fair bit more than mine too), they will always try to help and I have always got as good a price from them as anywhere else.
Yesterday, I popped in on the way back from a ride. I have been looking at a Garmin 305 Forerunner and currently Halfords have them on sale for £129. I suggested he price matched it. No problem.
In fact THEY WILL PRICEMATCH ANY ITEM if asked to do so. This includes special offers from the likes of Wiggle & Chain Reaction.
Is there a better LBS?
Stumpjumper FSR 09/10 Pro Carbon, Genesis Vapour CX20 ('17)Carbon, Rose Xeon CW3000 '14, Raleigh R50
http://www.visiontrack.com
http://www.visiontrack.com
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i now travel 60 mile round trip for btr service
and its worth it n my opinion! sumtimes its nice wen u can just have a chat to the staff
Like with most small businesses they survive on repeat custom. Wish more had a 'bend over backwards' attitude like that.
Surprisingly enough I'd recommend RIDE ON in Rawtenstall.
I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result
even my wife enjoyed the shopping as ste's mrs was lovely and kept her entertained.
I absoloutly love em, never once have i had a bad job done there and (all bar one) are very friendly when i ask innane questions with no potential for them to make money
They re legends
- @ddraver
My local-est bike shop is a bit of a rip-off merchant, but my second closest - Cycledealia in Broxbourne, Herts - provides excellent service and Paul there has been willing to talk me out of a sale if he doesn't rate the item concerned.
Also when Madison didn't deliver the new drivechain bits I'd ordered in time, they grabbed higher spec bits off a stock bike and gave me a discount.
www.rutlandcycling.co.uk
Really good service, price matching and nice guys!
I phoned them once asking for a price match on a bike I bought my misses, he said he wont price match as its not worth the trouble for them and that mail order can be cheaper because you know you wont have to worry about it ever again, but can give me a good discount. I gave him my number, he was going to call back with stock availability, but I never heard anything so I got it from the cheaper online place.
My Dad has spent a fair bit of cash up there and he swears by them, always give him discounts.
Although I have bought a few things from him I use him mainly for mechanical stuff that I don't have the tools for (headset press - steerer cutting - frame facing etc)
He can order stuff in but he's fully aware that I can get it from say CRC or wherever and it doesnt bother him at all.
He makes all of his money from BMXs etc and his workshop skills!
It's a tiny little shop also and the only thing that sometimes is a problem is his lack of niche' tools such as 1.5" star nut tools etc
But I can live with that and when needed he buys them - I guess it's demand!
I have had my old mountain bike fixed there also go there for parts. Have given me a few bits for free and some stunt pegs for BMX for £5 as was off another bike or something. Recently got some stuff there mainly my new front light which they spoke to me about first and i am glad i got it.
Wish i could find a shop like that in Isle of Man where i live now
Cornering confidence generally increases with time and experience. This pattern continues until it falls sharply and suddenly.
http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/
you are a local businesses nightmare, using this shop certini to test ride and find the size you need then buying elsewhere...... people like you make me sick we all like a deal but you sre the reason many small shops are going out of business, you miss them when theyre not there !!!!!
in terms of asking for price matching over the phone everyone knows thats a bad move, im in the trade myself and most shops dont like to quote discount over the phone (particularly on bike and especially on spesh) because they dont like dealers doing this and a few have been caught out.
always go into the shop in question get chatting to the guys and talk a deal face to face you will get much further than calling on the phone i garuntee
Cornering confidence generally increases with time and experience. This pattern continues until it falls sharply and suddenly.
http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/
The shop is run by cyclists who also head up our cycling club (MTB, cyclo-cross, road).
I hired a road bike to test for a day and brought it back to be told: 'no charge'. I spent the fee on buying gear. The shops offers everything a cyclist could need, even a van to get us to rides.
You dont have to tell me, but money talks and I'm skint.
Certini aren't a small shop, and they'll definately make more money out of me from other things I buy than I cost them by taking 5 minutes of there time and riding their bike. If anything by going to see them, and seeing what an excellent service they offer, I'll go back and buy more stuff.
I would have gone there in person but it was a my misses birthday present, and I didn't have time. It was a Giant btw, but I've also heard that about Spesh being strict on discounts, doesn't stop people offering them though.
Scott CR1
Always helpfull and always manage to fit your repair work in so your bikes ready when you need it!
when i bought the wife her new bike, bike was basic and simple as she doesnt ride a lot, got a nice deal that gave a saddle a helmet and a hydration pack and still paid less than the asking price!
got many a silly deal ofver the years of them! they come seriously recommended! first class service and advice and a lot of humour too!
After all, I am Cornish!
http://cornwallmtb.kk5.org/
Cotic Soul, The bike of Legends!
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... 1#16297481
Not quite sure why they were like that but I was looking to spend over a grand.
I use Clive Mitchell in Truro - I think they are pretty good overall. Certini sound even better but CM is right on our daily cycle route.
Good points:
Very good technically. Decent range of kit and brands. Always explain everything carefully. Often tweak stuff for free.
Bad points:
Sold us a Globe IG8 hub geared hybrid telling us "it has the same gear range as a 21 speed MTB" It doesn't. The gear range is dire and the lowest gear is way too high for any half decent hill. The brakes are also poor. Not useful for almost £500. I going to see if they will sort it though - I think they might. I get tempted into spending way too much there!
http://www.cornwallmtb.kk5.org
and may not be as cheap as chainreaction etc but if you ask its never
that far off and less hassle !
Gave me a real good deal on my new bike :P wouldn't have got any cheaper
mail order
I asked what price various models of a bike I liked (Orange 5) were and he didn't know. I asked if he could find out. He came back 5 mins later and said "Sorry, can't find the price list".
I asked if I could have some sort of demo ride and was replied that they didn't have any demo bikes, but that I could sit on the bike in the shop if I wanted.
At that point I made some excuses and left, they'll have to do better than that if they want my custom - £2000 is not a small chunk of change in my book and I'll be looking for other stockists in the area.
Sorry, mini-rant over.
Have to agree with this although I don't like Certini and the owner had a 911 C4 so think he's just about surviving!
http://www.cornwallmtb.kk5.org
I get a 10% discount with out asking
Wiggle and Chainreaction for me on things likes forks and wheels.
Should be getting a FS frame soon which I got 2nd hand and they will be were I go for all my parts. May cost a bit more as they can't always price match, but when I have I problem they will help me out.
I will always say if you've got a decent LBS use it.
Sam
Not really local, it's an hour away, but Miles, the owner is a great guy and seems to be more interested in making sure you have the right kit as opposed to the most expensive.
I would never ask him to price match CRC and the like, the personal service more than outweighs saving a few quid.
do you have a particular problem with a bike from there, or just jealous of the owners car ?
Their mechanics seem pretty good.
The fact that they are 5 minutes walk down the hill from me, now, is also definitely in their favour
I have found Ricci to be pretty good too, tbh, but god help you if you go in there and you like roadie exotica :P