LBS frameswap - excessive pricing?

The Big Cheese
The Big Cheese Posts: 8,651
edited January 2008 in MTB general
I don't have the right tools for this job and at the moment don't have the time so phoned another LBS up (in London, [weekends in Ramsgate and weekdays in London for work]) and asked the guy if he would do all of the swapping over for me.

There will obv be some fettling needed with gear cables (have Avid Flak jackets at the mo but they are cut to fit the hardtail) and steerer tube as the Marin is a total different geo to the hard tail obv.

My 24Seven frame has a zero stack headset, but I ran 40mm of spacers in case I wanted to change frames - thank god I did! So that will need trimming.

He will be fitting a new CK headset to the Attack Trail

He said yes but would cost £80.... does this seem excessive?

He is a bloody good mechanic though and there's not a lot that he doesn't know

Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    We used to do them for 50 quid, but can vary on exactly what needs doing. If its straight forward swap, then a bit a less, but as you say, sometimes there is more to do like cutting steerers, facing mounts etc. Then you have the headset fitting, and with CK the tube has to be faced (should be with any headset really!). Swap as much as you can yourself first.
  • I guess the more I think about it it's not that bad really.

    As I said he is a great mechanic and has been in the shop since I was a kid. He builds his own road bikes and isn't that up on MTBing but a bikes a bike and he knows his stuff.

    It's a bit of a deprived SE London area where the bike shop is so he doesn't stock any MTBs over £500.

    And all of his race bikes are bespoke to order.

    At least I know that when he does it - it will be indexed correctly, the job will be done lovingly and all his work is warrantied for 6 months....

    Be like picking a new bike up (can't beat that feeling) :wink:
  • ianpinder
    ianpinder Posts: 266
    Yeah it is not excessive, especially for london. most bike shops are between 70 and 90 around here, depending on where you go.
    Cycling the Tour D'Afrique in 2012

    www.tda2012.com
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Post them to me, I'll do it. You might not get them back mind...
  • seems fair to me.....car repair places charge from £60 / hour, so £80 for the work he has to do sounds ok..
    thinking happy thoughts....before the pixies steal them..

    www.homersbikes.co.uk
  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 4,069
    Many trades people work on a labour rate of £ 20 per hour (covers overheads, tax etc as well) so based on that £ 80 (4 hrs work) doesn't sound to bad to me.
    It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

    I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
    Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result