New bike, problem already.
Comments
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Carbonator wrote:dstev55 wrote:Carbonator wrote:And believe me, my experience of customer service (and how to provide it properly) is much greater than that of bike mechanics. I would guarantee that if I were to open a bike shop I would provide better service than what I received in this instance and the customer would not feel like they wouldn't want to return to the shop again.
There you go being rude again.
If you have an assumption of a bike mechanics max level of customer service, then don't expect more than that.
I am quite sure you would aspire to such greatness, but feel its all irrelevant unless you actually open a shop.
I meant the "mechanical workings of a bike", not the people themselves. I'd love you to point out where else I am being rude? In fact, don't, I'd rather you just didn't post again.
It's not irrelevant, as I am a customer and as a customer I usually receive better service this and in my job I give better service than this.0 -
Carbonator wrote:dstev55 wrote:Carbonator wrote:dstev55 wrote:Carbonator wrote:Out of interest, if you did have a bike shop, would you have a problem with someone (and not saying this bike shop did rather than you imagining it) who bought a bike from another shop and then wanted you to repair it?
Personally I think its rude and would not have the front to do it.
Saying the shop (not saying you said this) should be grateful for any scraps of work they are tossed is even ruder.
I am not convinced this shop was rude, but even if 'they' were, was it the whole shop? Every member of staff?
No I wouldn't, simple as that.
What about if people came in to try clothes on and then threw them all around the shop and expected you to put them back for them?
Oh yes, because that's what people do all the time isn't?
If you can't stop trolling and fishing for bites then I suggest you find another thread to usefully contribute to.
Er, yes they do actually. Shows how much you know.
You wrongly started the thread remember.
There was no problem with your bike until you broke it!
Starting a thread to wrongly moan about something, then calling me a troll is rich indeed
Wrongly moan, then immediately realise the error of my ways, I'm sorry I'm not perfect and don't get things right first time every time. Didn't realise that was called trolling.
This is my last response to you, so post what you like now.0 -
dstev55 wrote:Debeli wrote:dstev55 wrote:
I can't believe you've just wasted all your time writing out all that crap?
And crap it is indeed.
Firstly where have I said I am displeased with anyone other than the shop I took it in for a service with? If you read the thread, it is obvious I soon realise the chain problem is my own doing.
Secondly, the shop I bought it from is 120 miles away, that's a 240 mile round trip.
Thirdly I paid £1900 for a £3000 bike, personally I think that it is worth the risk of not having the seller on my doorstep for that sort of saving.
Fourthly (is that even a word?) why should it matter what shop I took my bike to? I was paying for the service like any other customer so I should be welcomed like any other customer.
Do you want me to point anything else out in your very flawed argument?
Golly gosh! Look, I really am happy for you that it's sorted. I think I said that at the outset. I have been extremely lucky in my cycling adventures, as my equipment has generally lasted as it should and suppliers have always treated me fairly, promptly and politely. This from childhood and complete ignorance on my part to mid life and slightly less ignorance. I dare say I have been very lucky.
I do not wish to suggest that you state categorically that you were in any way displeased with anyone you dealt with, but I did detect (and I still detect) a slightly grumpy sense of victimhood and 'why me?' in your posts. I may be wrong, in which case I am happy for you.
As to the matter of the 120 mile round trip becoming a 240-mile round trip, the mistake is not mine. Please see your OP. You call it a 120-mile round trip. I'll quote you, twice:
1. "I didn't want to be taking it back on a 120 mile round trip just for this" from your OP.
2. "Secondly, the shop I bought it from is 120 miles away, that's a 240 mile round trip" from your correction of my post.
But I digress.... (indeed much of my life these days is a digression), you went for a bargain and got bitten. It was a tiny, benign, cheap bite hardly worth a mention, but you took it to a cycling forum asking for opinions. I offered one.
You conspired with your own assessment of the cost-benefit analysis to take a slightly crappy experience away from what ought to have been a joyful one. I would counsel against doing that - but you disagree. Which is fine. You seem to disaree with others too, in a similarly slightly-cross way. That's fine too.
As it happens, I am right. I always am. I'm sorry (I really am) that something I wrote made you cross. But it is sorted, you are happy and you have a lovely bicycle.
I have clearly upset you and will try to desist from offering you further counsel. I apologise for any ire elicited. Do enjoy your cycling, but do be careful with those quick gear changes under power.0 -
Debeli wrote:dstev55 wrote:Debeli wrote:dstev55 wrote:
I can't believe you've just wasted all your time writing out all that crap?
And crap it is indeed.
Firstly where have I said I am displeased with anyone other than the shop I took it in for a service with? If you read the thread, it is obvious I soon realise the chain problem is my own doing.
Secondly, the shop I bought it from is 120 miles away, that's a 240 mile round trip.
Thirdly I paid £1900 for a £3000 bike, personally I think that it is worth the risk of not having the seller on my doorstep for that sort of saving.
Fourthly (is that even a word?) why should it matter what shop I took my bike to? I was paying for the service like any other customer so I should be welcomed like any other customer.
Do you want me to point anything else out in your very flawed argument?
Golly gosh! Look, I really am happy for you that it's sorted. I think I said that at the outset. I have been extremely lucky in my cycling adventures, as my equipment has generally lasted as it should and suppliers have always treated me fairly, promptly and politely. This from childhood and complete ignorance on my part to mid life and slightly less ignorance. I dare say I have been very lucky.
I do not wish to suggest that you state categorically that you were in any way displeased with anyone you dealt with, but I did detect (and I still detect) a slightly grumpy sense of victimhood and 'why me?' in your posts. I may be wrong, in which case I am happy for you.
As to the matter of the 120 mile round trip becoming a 240-mile round trip, the mistake is not mine. Please see your OP. You call it a 120-mile round trip. I'll quote you, twice:
1. "I didn't want to be taking it back on a 120 mile round trip just for this" from your OP.
2. "Secondly, the shop I bought it from is 120 miles away, that's a 240 mile round trip" from your correction of my post.
But I digress.... (indeed much of my life these days is a digression), you went for a bargain and got bitten. It was a tiny, benign, cheap bite hardly worth a mention, but you took it to a cycling forum asking for opinions. I offered one.
You conspired with your own assessment of the cost-benefit analysis to take a slightly crappy experience away from what ought to have been a joyful one. I would counsel against doing that - but you disagree. Which is fine. You seem to disaree with others too, in a similarly slightly-cross way. That's fine too.
As it happens, I am right. I always am. I'm sorry (I really am) that something I wrote made you cross. But it is sorted, you are happy and you have a lovely bicycle.
I have clearly upset you and will try to desist from offering you further counsel. I apologise for any ire elicited. Do enjoy your cycling, but do be careful with those quick gear changes under power.
Apologies, I originally said 120 miles then 120 mile round trip. Anyway, Derby to Norwich is a bloody long and boring journey, I know that much :-)
You haven't upset me, I just find it a little irritating that people find it wrong of me to question poor customer service.
If there is one thing I have definitely learnt from this experience it is to respect my equipment a little more and just because it's top of the range, it doesn't mean it can be abused.0 -
I bought my car from a franchise 60 miles away because they gave me a good deal as the owner is a friend of my wife's boss.Carbonator wrote:Out of interest, if you did have a bike shop, would you have a problem with someone (and not saying this bike shop did rather than you imagining it) who bought a bike from another shop and then wanted you to initial service (usually free)/repair it?
Personally I think its rude and would not have the front to do it.
Saying the shop (not saying you said this) should be grateful for any scraps of work they are tossed is even ruder.
I am not convinced this shop was rude, but even if 'they' were, was it the whole shop? Every member of staff?
I will take it in to the local franchise sometimes for quick repairs such as replacing headlight bulbs.
Do they complain no they could not be more helpful and are always trying to get my business.
Why should a bike shop be any different0 -
We do not know for sure that they were
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Ah!0
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Apart from a damaged chain, surely the main question is why a new bike needed a service after a few rides? Did they check the skewers were still done up or something?0
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AK_jnr wrote:Apart from a damaged chain, surely the main question is why a new bike needed a service after a few rides? Did they check the skewers were still done up or something?
Most bike shops recommend a check up (or 'service') after a month or so. It is a good idea if the rider is not experienced since the shop can ensure things are still securely tightened, cables have not 'stretched' (although Sheldon doesn't buy into the cables actually stretching as such) or perhaps some aspect of the bike setup was missed in the first place. I think it is a good thing, and the fact that the OP couldn't work out that a link was simply twisted shows that the initial 'service' was a very good idea, irrespective of the outcome.
As an aside, there does seem to be a trend of riders buying cheap online and then getting their LBS to do the setup. I am not sure of the margins but this might be a good thing for LBS as they can always upsell whilst the rider is there (bottles, gels, etc.) and an hour of easy labour keeps the workshop ticking over. It may be a tad galling for some shops if they simply view it as fixing someone else's problem but that is a very negative way of looking at, what could be, the start of a very profitable long term relationship.0 -
The thing that gets me is cycling is more popular now in all its forms than a decade ago. Be it the feel good factor knock on from Wiggo at the TdF or just gradually becoming more popular. Fact is Bike shops have never had it so good! Even with the massive internet companies the money boutique bike/coffee shops bring in must be massive to that before hand. Yes its good to support local businesses but they are hardly struggling. Ask anyone who was a cyclist before it became "trendy" how must the price of kit has gone up since and you will see some shops are just having your eyes out with what they want for some items. There is covering costs and then there's taking the pi55 in some shops. Add to this places online can sell cheaper. You just have to learn to compete and not rely on people propping up your business just cos you are local. Especially if you are going to be unrealistic in your prices.0
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If you're running dura-ace and committing the faux pas of twisting chains and sticking your rear derailleur into the wheel, you should drop back to sora until your skills have caught up 0
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spankwilder wrote:If you're running dura-ace and committing the faux pas of twisting chains and sticking your rear derailleur into the wheel, you should drop back to sora until your skills have caught up
If I stick my rear derailleur into my wheel I will consider it.0 -
Bobbinogs wrote:
Most bike shops recommend a check up (or 'service') after a month or so. It is a good idea if the rider is not experienced since the shop can ensure things are still securely tightened, cables have not 'stretched' (although Sheldon doesn't buy into the cables actually stretching as such) or perhaps some aspect of the bike setup was missed in the first place. .
Cables don't stretch, but ferrules might dig a bit deeper into the outer cable and the outer cable itself might slightly deform where it's been cut... this has the same effect as a cable stretchingleft the forum March 20230 -
IME a lot of bike shops make half hearted attempts at humour and micky take when someone brings in a online bike to them for repairs, one or 2 will be rude about it.
LBS can be so profitable and people will continue to return to say Evans or Halfords despite the horror stories because an increasing number of folk cant even fix a puncture.
If the OP feels he has been treated badly by the LBS then he probably has, the indicator is that they kept an almost new chain, which could easily have been fixed or returned to the customer.0 -
To my mind, it's maintenance and servicing which is what makes money for the LBS's. Most keen cyclists buy expensive parts and clothes online, which just leaves amateurs buying a tyre or a cheap jacket.
But most cyclists, especially commuters simply don't have the time or ability to do basic stuff, and have to pass the bike over to the LBS. As labour charges are fairly high, this is where an LBS can earn a good living.
I have a friend in France who is a mobile bike mechanic. He drives his van to his customers and services their bikes 'sur place'.0 -
mamba80 wrote:If the OP feels he has been treated badly by the LBS then he probably has, the indicator is that they kept an almost new chain, which could easily have been fixed or returned to the customer.
The shop gave him his chain back mate.
Either way, the more i thought about this the more i appreciate how welcoming my LBS is. The majority of my bike purchases were online, and i try to do my own maintenance wherever possible. And yet when i do need help from them they are always on hand and more than happy to sort things. One thing i do try and do now is get some items through them - they can be cheaper online but then the service i always receive and their willingness to get my bike perfect for me more than makes up for the extra costs.
I think the sign of any good shop, no matter what type of business, is good customer service. It goes hand in hand with the success of the store - if they treat customers poorly the customer is not going to return and the shop will lose out to a competitor. Treat customers well and you create a foundation for future business. Simples.0 -
redvision wrote:mamba80 wrote:If the OP feels he has been treated badly by the LBS then he probably has, the indicator is that they kept an almost new chain, which could easily have been fixed or returned to the customer.
The shop gave him his chain back mate.
Either way, the more i thought about this the more i appreciate how welcoming my LBS is. The majority of my bike purchases were online, and i try to do my own maintenance wherever possible. And yet when i do need help from them they are always on hand and more than happy to sort things. One thing i do try and do now is get some items through them - they can be cheaper online but then the service i always receive and their willingness to get my bike perfect for me more than makes up for the extra costs.
I think the sign of any good shop, no matter what type of business, is good customer service. It goes hand in hand with the success of the store - if they treat customers poorly the customer is not going to return and the shop will lose out to a competitor. Treat customers well and you create a foundation for future business. Simples.
Well said. I have exactly the same ethos. Once I find a a welcoming shop that is able to offer a good service then I will be more than happy to buy a few bits from there as well as use their maintenance services.
As already touched upon by someone else already, I don't think some of the price mark ups from the local shops over online retailers can be justified and it's unsurprising that most people choose to buy their bike stuff online.0 -
My LBS has just vanished. Well most of the stock has, and there's legal looking notices in the windows saying something about defaulting on the lease.
I feel it's partly my fault. I did actually buy one of the kids' bikes from them maybe 15 years ago, and once got them to replace a particularly stubborn cartridge BB. But they weren't interested in negotiating when I was buying my first proper road bike, and since I do all my own mechanical stuff I haven't needed to put any business their way since. Like many, the bulk of my purchasing is now done online; the savings are too great to ignore.
It's a pity, because they were in a good spot. Maybe if they'd opened on Sundays and made space for a cafe, they would have attracted some passing custom. The town's thick with cyclists at the weekend.0
