What do you like about/want to see in your LBS?

salsarider79

I'm working in a small bike shop in Trowbridge, near Bath (http://www.cyclearound.co.uk/) and am looking for ideas to improve the service we currently offer. There are bound to be some very good bike shops around, and I wondered what kind of things these shops do which you like, or what things you think your LBS should do. As a fairly new company, we don't have the budget of CRC or wiggle, but there must be something you could suggest.

Thank you all in advance.....


:roll: This is not an advert, just a mechanic/bike shop manager looking for ideas. :roll:

oscarbudgie

Bike fitting would be a good USP to have. Otherwise girls in lycra shorts

coopster_the_1st

What about some sort of bike hire element to the purchase of a bike where you can try out a bike for upto a day(shop opening hours) for a cost of say 5%-10% of the value of the bike?

And if you like the bike and buy it, this is then becomes free as part of the purchase.

Rich158

oscarbudgie wrote:

Bike fitting would be a good USP to have. Otherwise girls in lycra shorts

+1 to that. Nothing annoys me more than spending my hard earned cash on a bike and being stuck with what the manufacturer deems correct for me. This probably can't be offered on bikes at the cheaper end of the spectrum but could be introduced on high end models in excess of a certain price. At the end of the day the correct saddle, bars and stem make a huge difference to your enjoyment on the bike and should be correctly sized.

always_tyred

Don't charge for tiny little odds and ends like cable ties, odd bolts and cable ends. Don't charge for inflating someone's tyre to get them home, or helping someone with an attack of numpy to fit a tube.

Said people will be infinitely more likely to buy something.

Underscore

Rich158 wrote:

oscarbudgie wrote:

Bike fitting would be a good USP to have. Otherwise girls in lycra shorts

+1 to that. Nothing annoys me more than spending my hard earned cash on a bike and being stuck with what the manufacturer deems correct for me. This probably can't be offered on bikes at the cheaper end of the spectrum but could be introduced on high end models in excess of a certain price. At the end of the day the correct saddle, bars and stem make a huge difference to your enjoyment on the bike and should be correctly sized.

+2

I bought my Giant Defy 1 last year because i) the LBS fitted the bike to to me (whereas the Cannondale and Bianchi LBSs didn't so I had no confidence that I would end up with the correct size CAAD( or Via Nirone), and ii) the LBS got a demo bike in and sent me out on a 17 mile test ride, which they had selected to provide a good cross-section of road surfaces. I did not, and would not expect to, pay for a test ride.

Speaking to the guy who ran the shop, he realised that he needed differentiate himself from online retailers. Anyone can pick a frame size based on your height - including an online store - but Wiggle can't fit you, swap the stem and offer you the chance to ride before you buy. He got my business on the bike (and a little more besides, while I was there...)

_

Clever Pun

Always Tyred wrote:

Don't charge for tiny little odds and ends like cable ties, odd bolts and cable ends. Don't charge for inflating someone's tyre to get them home, or helping someone with an attack of numpy to fit a tube.

Said people will be infinitely more likely to buy something.

and therefore recommend them to friends as well.. friendly face and a good attitude will help get the masses in

spen666

salsarider79 wrote:

I'm working in a small bike shop in Trowbridge, near Bath (http://www.cyclearound.co.uk/) and am looking for ideas to improve the service we currently offer. There are bound to be some very good bike shops around, and I wondered what kind of things these shops do which you like, or what things you think your LBS should do. As a fairly new company, we don't have the budget of CRC or wiggle, but there must be something you could suggest.

Thank you all in advance.....


:roll: This is not an advert, just a mechanic/bike shop manager looking for ideas. :roll:

make it welcoming, offer tea/ coffee to regulars who pop in for a chast- often will lead to extra sales

benno68

Main point in my view is friendly helpful staff.

Reasonable prices.
Willingness to fix a minor fault without having to "book it in for next week" - charge for the work by all means.
I agree with a bike fitting service.
Decent range of test bikes.
Price match if possible.

I also think that it would be good to have a bike maintenance course. Maybe offer a free course with every bike sale (and tell your local paper) - hopefully not everyone will take up the offer

suzyb

I would just like an LBS. The last one shut down over the festive period

But if there was one, like some others bike fitting.

always_tyred

Clever Pun wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

Don't charge for tiny little odds and ends like cable ties, odd bolts and cable ends. Don't charge for inflating someone's tyre to get them home, or helping someone with an attack of numpy to fit a tube.

Said people will be infinitely more likely to buy something.

and therefore recommend them to friends as well.. friendly face and a good attitude will help get the masses in

Yup.
From what I can tell, when you go into a shop staffed by bike geeks, they can't stop themselves from being helpful.
Its not mutually exclusive of shops that are shiny and full of bike bling, or even Halfwits.