Support my LBS "WHY?"

maybe change your LBS...

It always a good idea to have a "relationship" with someone local in case you need some special service or extra help. I don't know that you need to be exclusive to just a LBS but it's nice to be able to shop local and keep some money in your own community. I am sure we all get stuff on the web when the price desparity is great. Having a buddy who owns a shop here where I live, he completely understands when folks have to save some dough. He just asks that if you think he treats you right when you are in then you spend some money with him when you can. Like the Lurker said, if the shop you went to isn't treating you right (especially if your club has an ongoing relationship) then maybe you guys should visit the idea of changing shops to one that will reward your loyalty with more than a discount.

K.

You wore the shoes and then wanted to take them back for a refund? Yeetch...that is so disgusting. There are some articles of clothing that just belong in the "non-returnable" category and shoes after they've been worn on a ride definitely would fall in that category for me.

And now you're peeved with the LBS because they wouldn't take them back? I'm think "yea" for the LBS.

sorry, hit the button twice. anyone want to delete this?

I guess it all depends what you need them for... Most LBS don't/can't carry a selection of cool highend components or assc... do yo uneed them for working on your stuff or can you do it yourself... When you can buy a components over the net for their price, and you can do your own work... save money... 1/2 the time I go to support the LBS, some know nothing part time mechanic, takes 4x as long as I would and can't do the job right...

I spend a fair amount of money in my LBS and they have always gone out of their way to accomodate me.

Recently, I ordered a new wheel and some new tires. The wheel came in, but the tires didn't. The owner went in the back room and came out with a comparable tire, though not kevlar belted like I ordered, and said "Here, you can use this one until yours come in."

A few weeks ago, the bolt on the seat post snapped. I went to the LBS to purchase a new one, and he just handed me one and said "No charge." I also needed a presta adapter, and he handed it to me and when I asked what I owed him, he said "forget it." The bolt and adapter probably cost him less than a buck, but the its the spirit I applaud.

So where am I going to buy my next bike and shoes? My LBS, of course!

I have had a similar incident, only with hiking shoes.

Aboot a year ago, I purchased a pair of top-end hiking shoes at a local outdoors store. They squeaked at the time (Quite loudly) which the boy assured me would dissapear. If not, bring them back and I could get an exchange.

Six months passed. I wore them quite a bit, and tried everything to get them to stop. However, I soon realised this was futile as the squeak was from the sole of the shoe. A manufacturing problem.

I took them back, and nada. I was told that it was not store policy to refund or exchange, all this after I had been assured I was fine to get an exchange!

I was offered a ten percent discount, unfortunately not on any sale shoes. The only ones that suited me and fit properly WERE on sale at that time.

You can be sure I was quite angry. :-) Especially as I'd spent my tax-return from a previous job on these shoes, and had no hope in hell of buying even another second hand pair at that point. I was stuck without shoes (On account that everytime I took a step in these it was so loud that at the end of a walk everyone was quite obviously sick to death of hearing me all day)

It's really done the shop the most damage though, as I won't recommend that shop to anyone anymore. And word is spread fairly quickly, especially when you're involved in a fairly large club devoted to such activities.

I have a few 'LBSs' which I strongly support. I've never had problems with these ones. I support them because I get excellent service, sometimes discounts on account OF supporting them, and they are genuinely good people. I buy some stuff like clothing on the net, but most things I buy in the shop.

Look at it this way, if you DON'T support your LBS, even a little bit, they will go out of business. Wouldn't you rather SEE what you're buying (Especially important or expensive equipment) and have someone to install it if needed? I'd say yes. Also, it's much more fun heading down to the shop/s to pick up your gear rather than just the mail. ;-)

My LBS charges more, but once they get to know you, they will often kick in discounts for services. The manager of the place knows that I go there often, and will often throw in extra stuff when I come in. Example: I went in to get my headset and bottom bracket adjusted, and he trued the wheels for free( of course, I now have a truing stand, so I do it myself). And when I got my new Speedplay cleats, he gave me a free set of 'coffee shop covers' for them. It really keeps me coming back.

Too bad they don't sell the bike I want..

For me its hard to spend big dollars at the LBS. Dollars dont come easy and are even easier to spend when you have little mouths to feed.
Having to choose between getting two tires online for the price of one at the LBS i am sure you can see what i chose.It's econonmics and making that dollar stretch.
Just like the bike shop owner wont spend his precious dollars on expensive stuff when he can get it for cheaper someplace else.
Some things i cannot do myslef since i dont have the tools, but have the knowledge, so i take my bike to have worked on.
But when it comes to my dollars i could care less if the LBS goes out of biz or not.

my lbs here suk, i went to 3 shops here looking to by
giro pnemo helment, i wanted help with sizing
and wanted to just be aknowleged (can i help you)
i walked out of all 3 came home and orded it www.
i guess since i had on my work clothes and looked
like 3 dollars i didnt fit there standards, f um.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by bfrobisher
... including some new Sidi shoes ...
I was concerned that the SIDI shoes were too big and called the bike shop to ask if they could help me out as they cost me $200.00.
...
I could have purchased these same shoes on the www and have saved big bucks. Buying locally did not do me much good. As it turns out the shoes are fine and I don't need to return them ...

Thanks for reading.

Comments:

1. Were you able to try on the shoes before buying them? Did they feel too big then? Were you given any advice about shoe fit at the time of trying on the shoes? Were you given a 15% discount on your $2,700 total purchase? Were you told about a return policy at the time of the purchase? (I know, all questions and no comments. 😉 )

2. You bought the shoes, thought they were too big, now they are fine, what changed? And if the shoes are now fine and no return is necessary then why the problem with the shop?

3. Buying on-line you have shipping delays, various and variable and subjective return policies and penalties and restocking charges, and extended return/exchange delays as well if an exchange or return is necessary. For running shoes a decent shop will sometimes accept returns if the shoes are only worn indoors on carpeted floors, easier to resell them in their customer returns clearance sales if the soles are not all scuffed up, a similar situation exists for many bike shops if they are halfway decent. But if you wear them outside then they are yours. This is why for some things like shoes I prefer to buy in person.

4. Buying on-line is fine, but sometimes it isn't. There are as many nightmares about on-line retailing as there are with storefront retailing, perhaps more due to the lack of direct face-to-face interface with storefront locations and the anonymity of on-line ordering. In-person you are standing there, on-line you are nothing more than hypertext prone to disappear with the next ISP collapse.

5. YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). I like some of the local bike shops, dislike others, avoid a few more, and wonder how a few of them can even stay in business. I keep thinking of opening up my own shop, but finances and time constraints have prevented me from this so far. Not sure yet, but as far as a shoe policy goes I think I'd tend to be along the lines of ensuring you get a good fit before you leave and are told about breaking in shoes and sock/sockless selections/options before you make your final shoe selection. For returns I'd probably have a policy that states something like "in new or comparably-new condition, something you'd still buy if someone else had returned it in the same condition", as long as it wasn't a defect in workmanship or materials.

Oh well, probably no help, but my fingers are tired so I'll stop here.
😎

our LBS special ordered a pair of Pearl storm tights for me, I brought them home only to find they were just too big. The store took them back and special ordered another pair for me without question. When my husbands $200 shoes sole split off at the heel after under 6 wks commuting, the LBS took them back as defective and replaced them - free. we have bought two custom bikes from them in the past two years, and tons of gear - including high end lights for commuting - but i believe this is the way they treat everyone. i took a bike purchased elsewhere in to them because my knee was getting sore on long rides - they took the time to fit-kit me, find a solution, and fix the bike so it properly fit me. Long live the LBS!

I have an LBS that I go to for one reason only....to put together the 4-5 bikes I sell per month. They're happy with the relationship since it's atleast $6000 a year they get from me; and besides, they sell one or 2 of my "creations" a year and get to put their name on the downtube.

I have worked at a lot of bike shops and have even owned 2 shops. Service and knowledge is what a shop can offer. If they do, support them, if they don't don't use them. How many of you have gone into a shop and looked at stuff and tried it on and asked the sales person questions then gone out and bought it on www. You should be ashamed of yourselfs. Lots of times people would buy www and come in to have us install the parts and it turns out they have bought the wrong stuff for there bikes. We would always help them out any way we could. Sometimes they would try to send it back and would be charged with a restocking fee. Ask your LBS if they will help you out on the prices that you found on www's and they will probably help you out with the price, If they don't, don't use them. Most people don't see how much it cost's to run a bike shop.

The www. is great for component purchases but if you frequently buy accessories like lubes, tubes, brake pads, etc. that are continuously expended, you'll get eaten alive with the endless shipping charges on small purchases. I like to keep a presence in my lbs with these kind of purcheses because I need them for some services like pressing headset cups in road frames, bottom braket facing and repairing badly bent wheels that I can't true up at home. Also, in my area the biggest shop chains seem to be really involved in supporting cycling access and the local trail systems, which I think is a stand up thing to do, even though I realize it's good for their business also. Long story short, I try to spend some money there.

Living in metropolitan area in America the LBS is hard to find. Many of the shops are large chains with low paid workers and then there are Performance and Supergo stores that are subsidiaries of the internet stores. I lived in Idaho where in the small towns the owner is the same person who works on your bike. I am still searching for a bike shop that I can be loyal to. I don't mind spending a little extra if it is appreciated. Although paying half price for large costly items on the internet is hard to pass up.

There are several related problems that bike shops face.

1) They have to pay their overhead on sales to an excleusive and limited market & that requires a high markup.

2) The cost of bicycle parts to them is unreasonably high because of the ologopoly of Shimano & Campy.

3) Because of labor cost they often hire young inexperienced workers who don't know much about what they are doing and don't know how to deal with customers.

4) On the other hand some of these workers will become very good bike mechanics and your lucky if you can find one. They are what really make your lbs worth extablishing a relationship with.

I'm in favour of my LBS. The're knowlegeble and if they don't have something they will either know who does or can get it in. Also If your LBS is any good they know that a little help, all most of us need, can go along way.

I purchased my last bike a couple of months ago. I spent a few months figuring out what I wanted and then visited my LBS. After a few days of pieces and parts selection, I finally took the bike home for its first ride. There were a couple of problems and the LBS was more than happy to get things right. Well, mostly right. With the help and guidance from several readers at cyclingforums.com, the bike is now perfect.

Now, I'm at the point where I need (want) to purchase small items, e.g., long stem tubes, computer mounts, big spoke wrench, etc. Now it seems that the LBS can't be bothered with me. I waited several weeks for my "order" to come in, only to be told later that the pieces aren't available.

I'm extremely happy with the bike, but frustrated with the LBS. I want to spend my money locally, but I have decided to go back to the internet to buy my small parts.

I wonder if my LBS reads this forum???

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by OHsingltrakr
The www. is great for component purchases but if you frequently buy accessories like lubes, tubes, brake pads, etc. that are continuously expended, you'll get eaten alive with the endless shipping charges on small purchases. I like to keep a presence in my lbs with these kind of purcheses because I need them for some services like pressing headset cups in road frames, bottom braket facing and repairing badly bent wheels that I can't true up at home. Also, in my area the biggest shop chains seem to be really involved in supporting cycling access and the local trail systems, which I think is a stand up thing to do, even though I realize it's good for their business also. Long story short, I try to spend some money there.