LBS Bike servicing honesty

drlodge

£16 to have a steerer cut seems very reasonable to me. If it only takes a minute, why didn't you do it yourself?

slowbike

drlodge wrote:

£16 to have a steerer cut seems very reasonable to me. If it only takes a minute, why didn't you do it yourself?

That's the problem with all these service jobs - "can you just" means that the requester thinks it's a simple job and won't take long or cost much money. If it's that easy and simple - do it yourself. Then you'll see how long it takes to do the job and how difficult it might be.

Personally I'd rather do all the maintenance myself, I get to chose when it's done and source the parts effectively (not always the cheapest). It also means I don't have to use up time taking bikes too/from the shop. However, I have used the services of an LBS and will do so in the future - for jobs that require specialist tools that I don't have or specialist knowledge or perhaps a job that I'm concerned I'd cockup.

About my only gripe with a bike service was one that I had done a couple of years ago ... I presented the bike clean and shiny - although it needed new chain & cassette ... it came back with new chain, cassette & grubby marks where the mechanic had handled the bike but not wiped it down afterwards ... Still, that's not too bad...

angry_bird

drlodge wrote:

£16 to have a steerer cut seems very reasonable to me. If it only takes a minute, why didn't you do it yourself?

Back at home my LBS used to charge £5 for it, they'll fit a headset and cut a steerer for £8-£10 depending on who's out on the shop floor when you go in. They also trued a mountain bike wheel for me for £6 a couple of years back when I didn't have time as I had to head back down to uni the day after the race.

Back down at uni one of the shops charge £14 for a steerer, the other £8, and they're much chattier and friendlier, no brainer really, and as a result it's where I'm getting my next frame from. Can't wait, I'll be down ordering it tomorrow morning

Slowbike wrote:

drlodge wrote:

£16 to have a steerer cut seems very reasonable to me. If it only takes a minute, why didn't you do it yourself?

That's the problem with all these service jobs - "can you just" means that the requester thinks it's a simple job and won't take long or cost much money. If it's that easy and simple - do it yourself. Then you'll see how long it takes to do the job and how difficult it might be.

Then again, suppose it's the same as when someone comes into the vets and wants their bitch speyed, then moans about the cost :roll:

bernithebiker

Skilled manual labour is undervalued. Most people are hopeless when it comes to fitting a new chain, or even changing a lightbulb.
Then they complain when a bike shop charges £15 to cut a steerer, but would happily pay a solicitor £100 to write a 50 word letter…..
Cutting a steerer properly isn't so quick and easy; it has to be dead straight, then sanded for burrs, and the shop risks a *&^* up, thereby putting it £200+ out of pocket (new fork).

Iamnot Wiggins

drlodge wrote:

£16 to have a steerer cut seems very reasonable to me. If it only takes a minute, why didn't you do it yourself?

Don't have a hacksaw, carbon suitable hacksaw blades or a cutting guide. And trust me, the cutting guide is crucial for cack handed people like me!

slowbike

Iamnot Wiggins wrote:

drlodge wrote:

£16 to have a steerer cut seems very reasonable to me. If it only takes a minute, why didn't you do it yourself?

Don't have a hacksaw, carbon suitable hacksaw blades or a cutting guide. And trust me, the cutting guide is crucial for cack handed people like me!

Well - you could go out and buy yourself all that lot ... mind you, it'll cost you more than to get it done by the LBS, plus you stand the chance of cacking it up ... and forgo that opportunity to talk to the friendly bods at the LBS ...

bill_gates

If a bike came back from a service and was worse or no better than when it went in then what tact would you take especially when you think that components were unnecessary replaced?

spankwilder

Bill Gates wrote:

If a bike came back from a service and was worse or no better than when it went in then what tact would you take especially when you think that components were unnecessary replaced?

Depends on:

was the bike dropped in with a 'do whatever it needs' or 'call me before you do any work'. Usually a good bike shop will quote first as it helps to avoid the unfortunate situation of the customer/mechanic standoff.

The bike should be setup ready to ride after a service, however if you've had cables replaced it's not unknown for the gearshift to be out - indeed it usually identifies a stand setup without a final test ride.

What's wrong with it?

bill_gates

Shifting is poor on both mechs, rattles more, lots of noise when freewheeling, has less technology than it went in with, manufacturers 'highish end' cables have been replaced with non-branded and inline adjusters removed as apparently they are "not needed".

Iamnot Wiggins

I'm inclined to agree with the inline adjusters not being needed. My last couple of bikes (R.I.P all of you) have not had any barrel adjusters etc and I've never experienced any issues.