Am I being ripped off by my LBS?

limerickman said:

I gave a friend of my brothers a loan of my Bianchi bike last weekend.

Unfortunately the person borrowing my bike, had an accident resulting in damage to my machine.
The left break shifter was completely wrecked - but the left gear shifter was intact.
Rear sprocket was damaged and needs to be replaced.

I brought the bike to the LBS - to be told "we don't sell single shifters, we have to replace both the right and left shifter"
Fair enough.
"We also recommend that you get a bew sprocket block and a chain"
Reasonable so far.
Then they tried pulling "the handlebars were bent as a result of the crash and because we can't get the same bars - we will have to replace the bars and insert a new stem".
This I queried because the bars seem fine - despite the crash.

I was quoted - wait for €397.00 - for parts and labour (new bars, new bar stem, sprocket, two shifters, new chain).

The lesson is - (1) don't give your friend a loan of a vintage bike and (2) campy parts replacement and fitting is expensive.
in this case the bill will be paid my the guy who crashed the bike.

Both shifter/brake levers as a set - yup, pretty common.

Bent handlebars - maybe, handlebars frequently take a hard hit on a crash, sometimes you don't notice because of the bar wrap. Think of Hincapie and Roubaix... yes that was his steerer but same idea.

Cassette and chain - if they need to be replaced it's not because of the crash - not uncommon for a shop to want to replace that kind of stuff as an upsell, but don't charge your friend for them.

limerickman said:

I brought the bike to the LBS - to be told "we don't sell single shifters, we have to replace both the right and left shifter"
Fair enough.

Doesn't sound fair to me. I don't know how things work over there, but in the US most distributers sell single shifters. There's no reason why a shop shouldn't be able to order one.

artmichalek said:

Doesn't sound fair to me. I don't know how things work over there, but in the US most distributers sell single shifters. There's no reason why a shop shouldn't be able to order one.

I agree -- it sounds to ME as though you got ripped off ... big time!

UNLESS, they replaced everything with XTR shifters, XTR cassette & XTR chain ... PLUS, a carbon fiber handlebar & high-zoot stem.

The labor is MINIMAL ... the VAT isn't THAT MUCH ... you're talking $500US for $200 worth of parts & $35 labor + VAT!

Is the VAT more than 100%, now?!?

limerickman said:

I was quoted - wait for €397.00 - for parts and labour (new bars, new bar stem, sprocket, two shifters, new chain).

[font=Helv]Sounds reasonable to me. Components are expensive and the sticker shock can raise the eyebrows pretty easily. It's a little easier to take too if you are buying parts to upgrade your bike and not just replacing broken parts that worked just fine the day before.

The shift levers are sold to the LBS in sets, it would be the shops discretion to sell only one in the set and that doesn't make sense no matter the customer service or PR value.

At 397.00 for Campagnolo parts and bars it sounds like they may have given you a break on the labour. Lucky the wheels weren't damaged.

Your only option would be www.wiggle.co.uk , Park Tool School and a little elbow grease.😄

Sorry about the Bianchi.

lw
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lwedge said:

[font=Helv]Sounds reasonable to me. Components are expensive and the sticker shock can raise the eyebrows pretty easily. It's a little easier to take too if you are buying parts to upgrade your bike and not just replacing broken parts that worked just fine the day before.

The shift levers are sold to the LBS in sets, it would be the shops discretion to sell only one in the set and that doesn't make sense no matter the customer service or PR value.

At 397.00 for Campagnolo parts and bars it sounds like they may have given you a break on the labour. Lucky the wheels weren't damaged.

Your only option would be www.wiggle.co.uk , Park Tool School and a little elbow grease.😄

Sorry about the Bianchi.

lw
[/font]

I still disagree ...

Okay, ignore my comments about XTR components ... what was I thinking about?!?

BUT, exactly WHAT Campagnolo components were replaced? I used Campy, and it may be expensive, but NOT as costly as you were charged, IMO.

What handlebars & stem were put on the Bianchi?

The total cost of €397.00 seems exceedingly high to me by a factor of two.

Thanks fellas :

I've told the LBS guy to go ahead and do what has to be done.
I'm gonna get an itemised bill (invoice) and then I'll be in position to update y'all
here (I'll pick it up on Friday).

Gut feeling is that it's a bit steep - €397.00 - but I don't intend passing all that cost on to the guy responsible for the crash.
He can pick up the handlebar and shifters costs.
I'll foot the rest of the cost.

limerickman said:

The left break shifter was completely wrecked - but the left gear shifter was intact.
Rear sprocket was damaged and needs to be replaced.

Okay, I'm a bit confused ... just what part of the shifter was damaged?

Are these ERGO shifters?

Regardless, don't forget to get the damaged parts back because the RIGHT SHIFTER is valuable as a solo item -- you should be able to sell a RIGHT HAND Campagnolo ERGO shifter for between €35 to €100+ on eBay depending on which GROUP it is from and its condition ... include the damaged LEFT HAND shifter as an AS-IS ... OR, JUST SEND THEM TO ME!!

BTW. How could the rear sprocket have been damaged in the crash if it was a front-end crash?

You could buy a Veloce GROUP (sans wheels) for about €397.00 a few years ago.

Is the shop switching your bars to 31.8 OS bars? Is that the reason the stem needs to be replaced, also; or, are they replacing the stem as a safety issue?

The problem with the steerer on Hincapie's bike was the result of carbon fiber failure AFTER a crash and subsequently riding on pave cobbles at high speeds, BTW. So, while it is a good observation & warning, I'm not sure how comparable that actually is ...

alfeng said:

Okay, I'm a bit confused ... just what part of the shifter was damaged?

Are these ERGO shifters?

Regardless, don't forget to get the damaged parts back because the RIGHT SHIFTER is valuable as a solo item -- you should be able to sell a RIGHT HAND Campagnolo ERGO shifter for between €35 to €100+ on eBay depending on which GROUP it is from and its condition ... include the damaged LEFT HAND shifter as an AS-IS ... OR, JUST SEND THEM TO ME!!

BTW. How could the rear sprocket have been damaged in the crash if it was a front-end crash?

You could buy a Veloce GROUP (sans wheels) for about €397.00 a few years ago.

Is the shop switching your bars to 31.8 OS bars? Is that the reason the stem needs to be replaced, also; or, are they replacing the stem as a safety issue?

The problem with the steerer on Hincapie's bike was the result of carbon fiber failure AFTER a crash and subsequently riding on pave cobbles at high speeds, BTW. So, while it is a good observation & warning, I'm not sure how comparable that actually is ...

The "brake" portion of the left shifter was damaged - while the left gear shifter remained undamaged ie you could adjust the gear shifter to change chainring.
The right hand shifter (brake and gear shifter) was undamaged.

The shifters are Campy Mirage Ergo Shifters.

The rear sprocket wasn't damaged as a result of the crash - because the bike fell to it's left when it crashed (thus the damage to the left hand shifter).

The sprocket, I'm getting changed anyhow.

Barsize escapes right now as I write.

alfeng said:

Okay, I'm a bit confused ... just what part of the shifter was damaged?

Are these ERGO shifters?

Regardless, don't forget to get the damaged parts back because the RIGHT SHIFTER is valuable as a solo item -- you should be able to sell a RIGHT HAND Campagnolo ERGO shifter for between €35 to €100+ on eBay depending on which GROUP it is from and its condition ... include the damaged LEFT HAND shifter as an AS-IS ... OR, JUST SEND THEM TO ME!!

BTW. How could the rear sprocket have been damaged in the crash if it was a front-end crash?

You could buy a Veloce GROUP (sans wheels) for about €397.00 a few years ago.

Is the shop switching your bars to 31.8 OS bars? Is that the reason the stem needs to be replaced, also; or, are they replacing the stem as a safety issue?

The problem with the steerer on Hincapie's bike was the result of carbon fiber failure AFTER a crash and subsequently riding on pave cobbles at high speeds, BTW. So, while it is a good observation & warning, I'm not sure how comparable that actually is ...

This is an older classic Bianchi, he posted a pic of it somewhere on this forum awhile back ? Should have one piece stem and quill and probably 8 speed cassette and shifter, Record Ergo maybe? Those at one time were $250.00.

lw

limerickman said:

The "brake" portion of the left shifter was damaged - while the left gear shifter remained undamaged ie you could adjust the gear shifter to change chainring.
The right hand shifter (brake and gear shifter) was undamaged.

The shifters are Campy Mirage Ergo Shifters.

The rear sprocket wasn't damaged as a result of the crash - because the bike fell to it's left when it crashed (thus the damage to the left hand shifter).

The sprocket, I'm getting changed anyhow.

Barsize escapes right now as I write.

Ooops, a little late with my post.

Lim, you're not going to fire me as your spokesperson are you ?😄

lw

alfeng said:

BTW. How could the rear sprocket have been damaged in the crash if it was a front-end crash?

The problem with the steerer on Hincapie's bike was the result of carbon fiber failure AFTER a crash and subsequently riding on pave cobbles at high speeds, BTW. So, while it is a good observation & warning, I'm not sure how comparable that actually is ...

If Lim's bike had 8-speed shifters the shop is probably replacing them with 10-speed shifters and that's why they need to replace the cassette and chain as well... maybe he could make a case for getting the crasher to pay for it. A friend of mine borrowed his brother's bike and crashed it - wound up buying it from him instead of paying to have it fixed.

And Hincapie's steerer was aluminum, not carbon fiber. It was likely gouged in the first crash and then fatigued rapidly on the cobbles so it's exactly comparable.

limerickman said:

The "brake" portion of the left shifter was damaged - while the left gear shifter remained undamaged ie you could adjust the gear shifter to change chainring.
The right hand shifter (brake and gear shifter) was undamaged.

The shifters are Campy Mirage Ergo Shifters.

The rear sprocket wasn't damaged as a result of the crash - because the bike fell to it's left when it crashed (thus the damage to the left hand shifter).

The sprocket, I'm getting changed anyhow.

Barsize escapes right now as I write.

Well, if only the lever was damaged (#30 in attached picture) AND the body of the lever (#11 in the attached picture) wasn't damaged, then it is silly to replace the shifters if they have less than 5000 miles of use; but, if the over-priced CAMPAGNOLO replacement parts aren't available & over priced, then what can you do?

FWIW. You may be able to get a the levers from the most recent Tektro brake levers to fit since they are styled after the ERGO brake levers.

My recollection is that a pair of Mirage shifters used to be about €100 with VAT a couple of years ago from Total Cycling (Ireland) ... but, the general price for Mirage shifters could be much higher (must be!), now.

Total Cycling lists a pair of Veloce shifters for £81.08 (presumably, that is with VAT) ... which I reckon is in the €120+ range ...

[center]totalcycling.com819766d7 7a72 439b bfeb 32c8a869cd88Open ↗[/center]

Bars & stem -- €40 to €70 depending on the bars & stem you get... PLUS, new tape -- €5 ...

cassette -- €25 to €70 ...

chain -- €15

You do the math ... that's €200 to €280 by my count for the parts ... about €117 to €197 for the labor!

DiabloScott said:

And Hincapie's steerer was aluminum, not carbon fiber. It was likely gouged in the first crash and then fatigued rapidly on the cobbles so it's exactly comparable.

Okay.

lwedge said:

This is an older classic Bianchi, he posted a pic of it somewhere on this forum awhile back ? Should have one piece stem and quill and probably 8 speed cassette and shifter, Record Ergo maybe? Those at one time were $250.00.

lw

Okay -- add €15-20 for a 1" to 1 1/8" quill adapter ...

That still works out to a whopping €102 to €180 for the labor -- one hour's labor at the most!

Where do I get that job! SIGN ME UP!

alfeng said:

Where do I get that job! SIGN ME UP!

You might have to speak fluent Gaelic.

lw

lwedge said:

You might have to speak fluent Gaelic.

lw

riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by commodius vicus, of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs ...

you could d o it yourself much cheaper - but a little late for could haves Marge.

u can buy single shifters... or even fix the one u have hell i could have gotten u the new shifter. it's always cool to have spare parts tho.

Collected my bike this morning : This is the breakdown of €387.00 paid, by way of update.

€110 for two new shifters
€40 for new handlebars
€40 for new stem
€40 for a new connector
€60 for a new cassette (9 speed)
€25 for a new chain
€40 for a new middle ring
€40 labour.