You buy online and then...?? Oh, and comments on Tricross

Roundandround

What do y'all do for after-sales, when you've bought a bike online? Is everyone here adept at servicing and running repairs? The reason I ask is that I often think of buying a bike from the likes of Evans (no branches in my part of the world), but I think my various LBSs are likely to get a nit sniffy if I ask them to fix something they haven't sold. I have bikes from a couple of local bike shops and, if I bring one into the non-originating shop (if you know what I mean), it's not the nicest of experiences. I suspect it'd be worse with an online purchase.

Anyhow, just wondering. Am considering a Specialized Tricoss at the moment (I fancy drops, but real racers scare me a bit), and it seems reasonable value at £699 (I also like the additional set of brake levers).

Secteur

LBS are businesses.

If they are so snotty that they turn their noses up at bikes not bought from them, then that's yet another nail in the LBS coffin.

Online is the way to go.

You may need to pay for work in the workshop, but the online savings will outweigh this, most likely.

secretsqizz

Secteur wrote:

LBS are businesses.

If they are so snotty that they turn their noses up at bikes not bought from them, then that's yet another nail in the LBS coffin.

Online is the way to go.

You may need to pay for work in the workshop, but the online savings will outweigh this, most likely.

and the moral of the story is the bike that creaks like foooooooooooooooooooooooook

people who know nowt about bikes and buy online..........deserve slap in the face

snickwell

Secteur wrote:

LBS are businesses.

If they are so snotty that they turn their noses up at bikes not bought from them, then that's yet another nail in the LBS coffin.

Online is the way to go.

You may need to pay for work in the workshop, but the online savings will outweigh this, most likely.

I say BAH! to this.

For the most part, your LBS won't be a multi-national conglomerate with masses of staff and a massive turnover. Most will have maybe one or two staff, a Saturday kid and will be scraping by.

How much of a kick in the teeth for them is it if you bring in various components bought from the internet and ask them to build you a bike? Its poor form for two reasons: firstly, it does nothing for the spirit of cycling and the idea that we're part of a wider community, rather than an elitist sport. Secondly, it will only encourage them to increase labour prices as this will become their primary form of business, rather than selling actual parts. This increase in price will only get passed on to other customers, meaning they too leave their LBS and eventually putting it out of business.

An LBS is 'not just a business'. It should be part of your local cycling community, a good relationship built up with your LBS can be invaluable in the future. I'm sorry, but its YOUR attitude that kills LBS'.

EDIT: Aren't you also the person in another thread having trouble with ordering online and not knowing what size frame to buy, yet not wanting to go to your LBS because online is cheper? Seriously? You might pay slightly more at your LBS, but you'll get a full bike fit and KNOW for certain that when you buy it, you'll have no problems with fit.

colsoop

Any decent LBS will have no problem fitting bits and pieces to a bike or servicing a bike they don't sell.

I took a wheelset that i wanted building up to my local LBS they quite happily built up the hubs, and rims to my spec whic i supplied.They're still getting money from the labour for the job aren't they ?

Barteos

Roundandround wrote:

... I think my various LBSs are likely to get a nit sniffy if I ask them to fix something they haven't sold....

They won't be, if you are happy to pay for their time.

Duffer65

Whilst I agree in principal with the idea of supporting your LBS. We must be realistic not all are paragons of virtue and all knowing with a massive array of bikes and parts. I don't think there is anything wrong with buying a bike online and having it serviced by your LBS, money's money after all. Most LBS' don't carry a wide range of makes and models, does that mean we buy from their stock even if they don't have the bike we may actually want? Although my LBS is very good and the guys are helpful they do not stock road bikes, but they are happy to work on my bike regardless of where I bought it from. Survival is about adapting to your surroundings and circumstances, this applies to LBS' as much as any other business.

hstiles

I think mst LBS are pragmatic about the fact that they will not be able to compete with high volume, internet or high street retailers for price, but will almost certainly be able to trounce them for service. A lot of small LBS won;t even have distribution deals in place for a number of big brands. My LBS of choice doesn't stock any decent brands of new bikes, but their servicing and repair skills are excellent and he has made hundreds out of me in servicing and repair costs and small parts.

noiseboyfeetman

Some shops actually do a set up from box service for bikes bought online, such as Hargroves Cycles:

Set-up bike from box/PDI - £40
If you've bought a bike online and had it delivered, it will need some assembly.
Gears
Brakes
Tyres inflated
Safety checked.
This is not a service, rather a set-up charge. Essential if you're not a seasoned bike mechanic.

Frequency recommended
Once only

RowCycle

I don't think there is anything wrong with it.

You are giving them money for doing the work. If would be foolish for them to turn it down (cut of nose despite the face).

They would hope that you would be impressed by the service they provided and hence might use them again, or buy parts, or even a bike from them in the future.

jswba

Chapeau snickwell

cougie

I dont agree with Snickwell really. The LBS that I go to is so tiny that it just doesnt stock the bikes that I want. I'm happy to take the bike in for servicing and they are happy to charge me for it.

Paul057

As stated above; what about the LBS that doesn't have a decent range of stock or a specific bike you're after. I'd be more than happy to pay a little more to get the bike i want there, but they simply don't stock it.

thegreatdivide

cougie wrote:

I dont agree with Snickwell really. The LBS that I go to is so tiny that it just doesnt stock the bikes that I want. I'm happy to take the bike in for servicing and they are happy to charge me for it.

+ 1

If my LBS stocked Wilier I'd have bought my bikes from them but they only sell Trek and Giant - so does that mean I can only buy Trek and Giant?

They're more than happy to service my bike and if I've got new upgrades they’re more than happy to fit them. They like getting 'exotic' bikes in and treat working on them as a learning experience.

But if I need tubes, food/drink, C02, cleaning stuff and other wee 'bits' I'll always buy from them,

Thebigbee

RowCycle wrote:

I don't think there is anything wrong with it.

You are giving them money for doing the work. If would be foolish for them to turn it down (cut of nose despite the face).

They would hope that you would be impressed by the service they provided and hence might use them again, or buy parts, or even a bike from them in the future.

It is cut off your nose to spite your face.

Anyhow - my experience of LBS - which I have loads of near me - so they must be making money - is terrible.

Massively overpriced for parts and components compared to online. Snotty if you want them to fit a part you have purchased.

For example - I need a rear derailler fitted - that I purchased online. They wanted £15 and then tried to sell me a cable for £2.50.

It is basically a 10 minute job if you know what you are doing. Based on rates like that they are charging £90 an hour!! WTF - I wouldn't pay a car mechanic that much.

Luckily there is a shop near me that just fixes bikes and is quite happy to fit supplied parts. He would charge me £10 for the privelege.

Even more convienient is the mobile mechanic I use - found off Gumtree - who actually comes round to my place in his mobile workshop van and is friendly, knowledgeable and very reasonably priced.

IMO LBS aren't interested in doing minor repairs or upgrades. They want a mug who knows nothing about bikes, where to source parts cheaply and who comes in saying I need a full service, do you sell the parts? Oh £150 that's fine. Rob me blind!!

snickwell

I'm not talking about a service - that's obvious. Most LBS won't stock a huge range and its normal for you to take a bike in to get it serviced.

What I think is cheeky is when you buy a whole range of components, from frame to groupset, online and then take them all with a cheery smile to your LBS and ask them to build up your bike. I mean come on, what kind of LBS doesn't stock most chainsets? I've yet to see a LBS that doesn't carry at least Shimano 105 (or the equivs).

But maybe I'm old fashioned.

Thebigbee

snickwell wrote:

I'm not talking about a service - that's obvious. Most LBS won't stock a huge range and its normal for you to take a bike in to get it serviced.

What I think is cheeky is when you buy a whole range of components, from frame to groupset, online and then take them all with a cheery smile to your LBS and ask them to build up your bike. I mean come on, what kind of LBS doesn't stock most chainsets? I've yet to see a LBS that doesn't carry at least Shimano 105 (or the equivs).

But maybe I'm old fashioned.

Not sure if you're old fashioned or just plain confused.

Why would any sensible person pay the RRP for parts and components that are inevitably charged by your LBS when you can get them for up to 50% off that RRP online?

Like I stated - I just don't think LBS are interested in servicing and maintenance unless they sell you their grossly overpriced products.

In all honesty it doesn't bother me because I have a local shop that just specialises in fixing bikes and I have a mobile mechanic - both of which are massively better value than my LBS.

unixnerd

I buy a lot of things online but some things I'd prefer to get from my LBS. Recently I bought new shoes and pedals (went to SPD-SLs on the road bike). I wanted to be sure I got the right shoe size, you can't do that online. The price difference was pretty big but they did me a good discount for buying both.

If I were to buy a new road bike I'd prefer to buy it locally to be able to try a few different frame sizes as I think my current one is slightly too big. I'm sure a lot of shops are open to a spot of haggling but most customers aren't inclined - it's not the British way! Some shops offer a discount to members of the local cycling club.

One thing that doesn't help is them not having prices online. If I'm comparing prices online I don't know if my LBS stock the item or how much it is. If I knew they had it in stock for only a little more I'd get it from them.

cougie

I've not asked a LBS to build a bike up for me - but they have the choice of taking your money for that or refusing. I suspect most of them would be happy to charge you a few hours worth of mechannicing for something that really doesnt take that long to do.

merak

I'm amazed by the percentage of people who ask their LBS to "service"/build up their bikes. Sure we all have a threshold beyond which we are uncomfortable doing it ourselves (mine is wheel building) and there will always be a few people who are more comfortable getting the pro mechanics to do everything for them. Fair enough. But it seems that in the last few years almost everyone has given up fettling their bikes foir themselves. For me, maintaining and servicing my bikes is part of the whole cycling experience. You need a few specialist tools but they pay for themselves in next to no time and you get the satisfaction of really undertstanding your bike.

My advice to the OP is, provided yoiu know one end of a spanner from another, buy on-line and look after your bike yourself.

cougie

I think in the last few years a lot of people have got interested in cycling.

In the past you'd start as a kid and join a club and learn the ropes - plus money was tighter then so you would learn to do stuff yourself.

Nowadays people are more affluent. If you have a 6 grand bike then £100 for a service is bugger all - and you'd probably earn more in a couple of hours working than you would fettling the bike ?

TBH - bikes really need tiny amounts of servicing.

unixnerd

My advice to the OP is, provided yoiu know one end of a spanner from another, buy on-line and look after your bike yourself.

Couldn't agree more. If you can service your bike there's a good chance you can fix roadside problems that may otherwise leave you stranded.

MrChuck

Thebigbee wrote:

I need a rear derailler fitted - that I purchased online. They wanted £15 and then tried to sell me a cable for £2.50.

It is basically a 10 minute job if you know what you are doing. Based on rates like that they are charging £90 an hour!! WTF - I wouldn't pay a car mechanic that much.

Sorry but I don't think that's all that unreasonable, any more than it's unreasonable for Evans to charge you £15 to fix a puncture. It's not realistic to work out some sort of per-minute rate based on what it 'costs' people to do it at home and then charge you that. They're annoying little jobs that people CBA to do themselves and yet they still take up time and workshop space for the LBS mechanics when they could be doing something more lucrative instead. It's not a surprise when the price reflects that.

Obviously that's not a justification for LBSs to just charge what the hell they like and I dare say proper rip-offs are common enough but I don't think that's one of them.

merak

Thebigbee wrote:

Anyhow - my experience of LBS - which I have loads of near me - so they must be making money - is terrible.

Massively overpriced for parts and components compared to online. Snotty if you want them to fit a part you have purchased.

For example - I need a rear derailler fitted - that I purchased online. They wanted £15 and then tried to sell me a cable for £2.50.

It is basically a 10 minute job if you know what you are doing. Based on rates like that they are charging £90 an hour!! WTF - I wouldn't pay a car mechanic that much.

Well if you know it's a ten minute job why are you shopping around to have someone else do it? Why don't you do it yourself?

morstar

Both ends of the scale well represented in this debate.

Snickwell, sorry to say it but the lbs does not have right to exist. They need to evolve and adapt and earn your custom. In todays boom market for cycling, they should be able to do this despite the growth of online.

Conversely, Bigbee, have you seen how decimated the high street has become? You describe part prices at the lbs as a rip off but your lbs has no economies of scale on anything other than bread and butter componentry. They probably pay list price for the one ultegra group set they sell in a year which is quite likely about the same price a major online retailer sells it for. Your lbs cannot compete on price.

Their future is in evolving and working out what value added services they can offer. If they are a good business, they can become part of the cycling community as snickwell suggests. They just don't have a right to be so.

Roundandround

Thanks, guys, for all the shades of opinion.