I dropped my bike off at the LBS where I bought it this morning. And
they greeted me nicely, and seemed to actually want to help me. Which I
find to be kind of unusual.
I have spent money in there on at least 4 occasions since taking up
riding again. The first time, I bought a saddle from the "big bin of
saddles" cost $15.00. The second time I bought a frame pump, cost
$22.00. The third time I bought a spoke wrench and a tube, cost $12.00.
Then came the new bike. I went in with the idea of buying a new MTB to
replace the old steel boat anchor that I had been riding. The first time
I went in to shop around for the new bike they were pretty helpful. I
left without buying a bike, but said "I'll be back next week." the guy
said "ok come back and we'll be glad to help you out." Well I went back
several days later and they greeted me ok, but when I said I just wanted
to browse some more they kind of lost interest in helping me. I left
without buying. The next day I went to the other LBS that only sells one
brand if bikes. The guy in there seemed to be helpful to a certain
degree. But seemed to loose interest when I said I was still shopping
around, but would be buying within the next week or so. I left without
buying. A couple of days later I was back at the first shop again (time
number 3 for browsing) and they showed no interest at all. I don't even
think they said hello. I left without buying. Two days later I went with
the intent of coming home with a new bike. They seemed somewhat more
helpful after I said I was ready to buy. But still not stellar as far as
service goes. I asked to test ride the bikes that I had narrowed my
selection down to. The did accomodate me, but did not seem to happy
about it. I made up my mind, I gave them my credit card and the guy
perked up a lot. That was the last time I was in that LBS, until this
past Saturday when I stopped in to ask about the conversion job, I know
that Saturday is thier busiest day so I wasn't expecting great service
for just a question. But the guy did give me an answer, and then I left
without taking up too much of his time. Today I went back there and said
"ok lets order the parts you will need to do the conversion. ". The guy
said "ok well I need to have the bike for the day to measure your fork
and see what other parts you will need.", I said ok, so I wheeled the
bike into the shop, and explained to him again just what it was that I
wanted done. So he said "Okay so you want a rigid fork with the disc
brake mounts and you want to convert to an integrated threadless stem."
, I said "thats it", he said "well you might have to go to v-brakes.", I
said "well if thats what I have to do." , he said "you know I have seen
people take the top caps off those forks and put wood dowels in there
and take the springs out." , I said "No I would rather just have it done
right.", he said "ok then, give me until about 4 or 4:30 and then we'll
know exactly what parts we need and then we can give a very close price
estimate.", I said "ok then." , then I left.
So the above "story" of my experiences with that LBS leaves me up in the
air about how bike shops treat customers. I guess maybe it depends on
the phase of the moon of something else that I don't understand. Or
maybe, more likely it is that they are only interested in helping
customers that have already shown samples of their money at the door.
But I have spent over $500 in there in the last year, and that doesn't
even count the conversion. Which from what I can figure will probably
run between $100 and $150, for the fork, headset and stem. Now I know
that doesn't add up to a Trek Maddone or anything close, but it's still
a chunk of change. Maybe the more I shop there the more they will
remember me.
Ken
--
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. ~John F. Kennedy