Do I have unreasonable expectations of a cycle store.....

paul.skibum

I needed a set of brake rotor bolts for my bike - 6 small black (or silver) torq headed bolts required. That is all. They sell for about 2-4 quid on CRC.

Nearest shop to my work is the brand new swank of Cyclesurgery on Great Portland Street.

I go down tot he workshop/parts area and ask for the bolts (after waiting a few minutes for one of the not very busy throng of staff to come over). He studies the packets and bags on the racks behind the counter then pops off into workshop. Comes back out, studies racks again, taps away on computer and then announces - we dont have any, our Acton store is the only one showing any in stock. I can get them brought over.

WTF? These are brake bolts - I expected their workshop to have a box of 200 of them kicking around.

Am I being unreasonable or does this seem odd?

supersonic

Strange as it may seem, they are not often asked for! But he sounds on the ball, willing to get the stock sent over - now that is good service.

paul.skibum

I agree it was OK to offer but I'd have felt like a loon asking for £3 worth of bolts to be driven to the store!

I assumed that anywhere with a workshop and bikes would have some to hand but I guess a) it was quite a road bike oriented store and b) they probably only do standard services and the like rather than custom builds and brake upgrades etc.

mozejo

Cyclesurgery are dire. I use the one in Strype Street in the City and I am STILL waiting for the bolt that holds my front mech on the frame from the 23rd of July. And what's worse is they seem utterly unapologetic about it. It must be all of £3s worth of metal but they don't seem to give a monkeys.

RealMan

Yeah, bike shops cant afford the money and space needed to stock an unlimited amount of every bit a cyclist may need. My shop doesn't even stock chain ring bolts.

mozejo

It means that I will now not go to them for anything - they have alienated a good customer - they must have had 90% of my bike related spending over the last 4-5 years. And they were fabulously unhelpful at the same time - got really stroppy when I had to leave my bike with them for 10 whole minutes.

pte1643

Why not buy them over the counter from a specialist fastner shop/stockist?

Lots cheaper too, most probably.

mozejo

should do , but a) I couldn't fix it myself , b) don't actually know what the part is called . Pathetic I know but there it is.

geordiefreerider

I asked for a service kit to be ordered for my rear fox shock and was told "shimano are away in europe" :roll: I left my number about a month ago and still havn't heard anything, thing is I try and use my local bike shop whenever possibleas he's normally a good fella but im not feeling as inclined to do so lately, at the end of the day I have a shock thats losing air and I need it sorted !! :twisted:

pte1643

mozejo wrote:

don't actually know what the part is called

I've never taken one out to be fair, but I'll guess they'll be something like...

M4 x 15mm Torx head machine screws. Any fastener stockist will (or certainly should) have them in stock.

MrChuck

Not that surprising really I don't think- not something they're likely to need or get asked for so why have them in?

A few months back I needed a new cassette lockring, same story- thought there'd be some just kicking around but as all the mechanics explained they just don't need spares for things like that.

mozejo

I bet the main reason they don't have them in stock is that they aren't going to make any money out of flogging them to you unless they can say in the process ' you need a new chain / cassette / etc / etc ' and then charge you a fortune to fit it. Which is always my experience with CycleSurgery.

MrChuck

mozejo wrote:

I bet the main reason they don't have them in stock is that they aren't going to make any money out of flogging them to you unless they can say in the process ' you need a new chain / cassette / etc / etc ' and then charge you a fortune to fit it. Which is always my experience with CycleSurgery.

Well, sure- it's not worth their financial while keeping in boxes of all the random odds and ends. Don't think it's that odd is it?

mozejo

It is odd if you sell the bike to me in the first place and have a workshop and when one incredibly small piece breaks say ' sorry mate you'll have to wait 3 weeks for it ' , and be rude in the process. especially as I'm riding the thing in an event in 2 weeks time and I think I'll put money on it not being ready.

MrChuck

mozejo wrote:

It is odd if you sell the bike to me in the first place and have a workshop and when one incredibly small piece breaks say ' sorry mate you'll have to wait 3 weeks for it ' , and be rude in the process. especially as I'm riding the thing in an event in 2 weeks time and I think I'll put money on it not being ready.

Well, that's a different complaint, but not having boxes of every tiny part lying around for that one person every few months who wants one isn't that odd.

paul.skibum

Maybe not. Perhaps I do expect too much!

My LBS at home (which is a struggle to get to mid week hence why I went to cyclesurgery) found me a mavic spacer for my rear hub freebody last year when I asked - I didn't even buy the wheel from them. They are usually pretty good for other stuff too and have a massive workshop but they also do loads of custom builds so perhaps there is the difference.

Tank-slapper

Different shops cater for different needs. Some are more workshop/service oriented and sell all the lubes, bolts and tools. Others sell complete bikes and bling. It pays to find one of each that you can buy from.