What do you guys think of the cost for this job?

mcrdave

Have to get this off my chest, it's been bugging me all day.

So I start to build up my summer bike a week ago from a box of bits left over from late last year. I have a nice new carbon frame and forks I bought which would be the basis of the build. I got a few things done until I got completely stuck on threading the cable through the SRAM force front mech shifter, I tried and tried, would happen at all, so I thought I'll leave it with the LBS as the new steerer needed cutting down anyway and i never fancy trying this.

So I took the part built bike and a box of other bits to the LBS, asked them to finish it off so I could basically wheel it out as a finished bike, they said it would take a week which I was fine with.

I rang on Friday just gone and they said the Rotor crank wouldn't fit the new frame as it needs a spacer. I know the Rotor crank came off my last bike without any spacers so it definitely didn't need one so I was a bit disappointed as this meant they won't have fitted the chain, indexed etc.

So I get there today to collect, I figured out why they couldn't fit the crank, they hadn't checked the BB was in tight, it wasn't, I put it in finger tight myself. So then had to wait half an hour for the mechanic to look at it. They had cut the steerer, fitted rear mech, fitted brake cables and set them up.

So I helped the mechanic fit the rotor crank which fitted perfectly once you tighten the BB up.

So I came to pay for the partially completed job - £83.94. I didn't question it at the time as I didn't want to be confrontational in the shop and took the bike home. Later noticed they hadn't tightened the stem clamp after they'd cut the steerer, hadn't fitted the bar tape which was in the box to be done and left a few other things loose.

So basically I've paid the above for them to mess about with my crank, thread the front shifter (admittedly a tricky one) cut a steerer and add a couple of spacers and fit a few cables. I did purchase a KMC quick link for the chain (tenner at most?).

So I feel like a mug a little bit, I have emailed them and asked for a break down of the costs, I just can't add it up in my head how it comes to that.

Just have to share it, I usually do everything myself, this has re-enforced that, I'm going to learn how to cut carbon steerers.

Grill

The crank debacle is just embarrassing and any half-decent mechanic would have spotted it in seconds. As for the rest it looks to be about 30 minutes of work at most. I'd be pretty peeved had I paid what you did...

I wish you luck in finding a new LBS.

Sawilson

I am a self employed tradesman and you often see issues like this in all aspects of having work carried out, what you should have done is asked for a quotation of the works before hand and what was involved in the process and what problems might have carried any extra cost. I am not saying that you should get a full detailed quote for a small task but by asking basic questions you would have got a rough idea of cost and what you expected to get in return.
Rather than just taking it in and guesstimate what the cost should be and being disappointed with the cost and level of service.
It does sound like the work hasn't been carried out to a decent standard, and not finished to the level you expected, I deal with suppliers who sometimes don't deliver the level of service which I require, there is no need to be confrontational, just air your grievances to them in a calm manner not in front of other customers and ask them is this the level of service they would expect. I find this works in most circumstances and if this does not work they are not the kind of company I would deal with again.
I always make clear what my charges are and what is covered and what is extra and never have any issues or unhappy clients.

mcrdave

Yeah Sawilson, fair points there. The mistake I made was not getting a rough estimate. I use bike shops that rarely that it didn't really enter my head. Although I don't use their shop often, I kind of know them (used to race for them years ago) so I thought they may make things a little less formal.

I have emailed a fair set of points over in a calm tone of voice, hope to hear back from them soon, probably not till next week I imagine.

Sawilson

The worse traits of the British culture is talking money, costs and what to expect, its nothing to be frightened of I always ask the cost of any service, it not about being tight or mean, then you know what you have to pay and what to expect in return.
If you do get confrontational all it does is get there back up straight away and you might as well just walk away because they will feel backed into a corner and try and defend themselves be they right or wrong.
Good luck in your plight.

mcrdave

I didn't at the time but have asked for one in the email just sent. It does sound like the full build cost to me too.

Moonbiker

I think that often with things like this the £ figure they come up with is how much they think they can get away with & has little to do with the work done.

If you had asked the cost before the job the £ may well have being less for the same work done,

hstiles

In defence of the shop, having a part built bike wheeled in with a box of bits and being asked to finish it off is a nightmare scenario because you may as well start again to ensure everything has been done properly.

I rarely need the services of a mechanic, but I have on occasion asked a shop to finish off a build for me. When I do, I take in a list of what I'm supplying and what needs doing.

My LBS charged me £120 for a complete transfer of parts from my old bike to a new frame. It would have been cheaper, but I just bought a new frame, not frameset, and he spent a while having to poke around for the bearings.

DavidJB

£120 to build a bike! I should set up shop in my garage!

MattC59

hstiles wrote:

In defence of the shop, having a part built bike wheeled in with a box of bits and being asked to finish it off is a nightmare scenario because you may as well start again to ensure everything has been done properly.

That's the point though, they clearly didn't do this as they didn't notice that the BB hadn't been tightened.

I had a bike built up from a bare frame and box of bits and it cost £100; £84 to do the work described is taking the p!ss !

mcrdave

Update.

Got sent an email from the owner on Monday saying he will speak to the mechanics and get back to me.

Got a call today from the owner apologising, saying it was partly mis-communication and making assumptions.

Said the 1st mechanic ran out of time on the job as they had a nightmare threading the cables through the frame, as they're fully internal, said it was an hour + of a job for 2 mechanics. One mechanic didn't tell the other to finish the job so the mechanic I saw on Saturday assumed I was finishing the job.

No real offer of money back other than if you come in the shop next time we'll sort something out, he will to be fair I take his word for it.

Lesson learnt, get a quote next time!

Grill

What bike is it? I have 3 with internal cabling and it's easy as.

mcrdave

It's an FM066

phillips1965

Just had my Kuota changed to ui2 and the existing parts transferred to my Wilier the shop charged me £30. ok I have spent a lot of money with them the last couple of months. There's nothing worse than feeling you have been fleeced, just bite your lip and maybe ask for a price next time round.

Dizeee

Last week I had a new headset and bottom bracket fitted, both fsa as well as brake pads front and rear plus a de grease and general tune up. Total cost was 160, was a little unsure at the time. This is a lbs that sometimes does small jobs for no charge so I kind of feel they wont be ripping me off.

Grill

Dizeee wrote:

Last week I had a new headset and bottom bracket fitted, both fsa as well as brake pads front and rear plus a de grease and general tune up. Total cost was 160, was a little unsure at the time. This is a lbs that sometimes does small jobs for no charge so I kind of feel they wont be ripping me off.

You got bent over...

You can't fit your own brake pads? Seriously?

FatTed

Oh well my LBS does everything for me, I am in the camp, I do my job and I pay other people to do their jobs. I have a good relationship with my LBS for bike fitting and fettling my bike. I do some things myself, and it would probably be safer if I knew more.

Speckled

If people are getting bad service at shops there needs to be a name and shame topic started, i'd like to know the shops to avoid

mcrdave

I wouldn't name and shame personally, one mans version of poor service / value might be different to anothers.

drlodge

I've learned in life...always ask for a specific quote for a specific piece of work. The more specific you are, the less room for misinterpretation there is. If the work ends up being different due to difficulties that's fine, but at least you know that the shop doing x,y,z on your bike will cost £nn. Asking them to "finish the bike off" is rather ambiguous.

Have got a builder in to do a load of work on the house, I specified precisely what I wanted doing and this helps him too, since he knows exactly what the job entails. No surprises (or at least fewer)!

feltkuota

DavidJB wrote:

£120 to build a bike! I should set up shop in my garage!

How long does it take you to build a bike?

ozzzyosborn206

Grill wrote:

Dizeee wrote:

Last week I had a new headset and bottom bracket fitted, both fsa as well as brake pads front and rear plus a de grease and general tune up. Total cost was 160, was a little unsure at the time. This is a lbs that sometimes does small jobs for no charge so I kind of feel they wont be ripping me off.

You got bent over...

You can't fit your own brake pads? Seriously?

sounds alot, but was the new headset, bottom bracket and brake pads included in that £160 or did you supply them and they just charge you that for fitting them?

My LBS gets all shi**y if you buy stuff elsewhere and then ask them to fit it, which personally I think it bang out of order at the end of the day you are still giving them custom. I am an electrician and I someone goes out and buys some new lights and asks me to fit them I will happily oblige.

flasher

All more reason to learn to do this stuff yourself, it's really very simple, and the tools pay for themselves.