Mountain Biking - I Hate My Lbs!

I really hate them...I really do. :mad:
Here's the story: so I went there today looking for their prices on certain tires. What do I get? The guy says he wants $80 (including tax) for kenda kinetics! :mad: My reaction was: "Holy s***! This place is sooooo overpriced!". As I said in one of my other threads, they want $90 for Sixsixone race lite shin/knee guards! And when I had my BB, cranks, etc., replaced on my commuter bike...............with tax it ended up at $220!!!!! :mad: I looked up the parts that they use and it should have come to a way cheaper price. (yes I know there was labour fees included but they wern't very big) Now I have to goto a bike shop 10km, or one 25km just to buy anything for my bike (because my current bike shop is so damn overpriced). This is more of a rant, but add what you want.


Edit: tried to do title all in caps....didn't work out too well. :D

I like my bike shop...Coates in Pomona...service is second to none.

By what measure are they overpriced?

Are you comparing their prices to mail order?

By what measure are they overpriced?

Are you comparing their prices to mail order?

Im comparing their prices to mail order and other bike shops closeish to me. (the mail order is a lot cheaper, which I've already known).

My bike shops pissed me off this week too. I broke my derailleur hanger out of town on a Sunday, so I was already in a bad mood. I call the only Specialized dealer in my area on Monday and of course they don't have any in stock... but they can order one for "$15 to $20". They couldn't even narrow down the price. So I ordered two directly from Specialized for $12.95 each.

Saturday my friend had screwed up his wheel (we had bad luck this weekend), so we ended up at his bike store and they only wanted $8 to true a wheel (turned out to be too screwed up and got replaced though). Well, Sunday I notice my wheel is a tiny bit out and needs to be trued, so I drop by my shop and they want $20 to true the wheel! (This is the same place that wanted $100 for a $90 MSRP rooftop rack, that normally sells for $75-85). Interestingly enough, a full tuneup is only $45 to true both wheels and adjust cables, etc.

I really hate them...I really do. :mad:
Here's the story: so I went there today looking for their prices on certain tires. What do I get? The guy says he wants $80 (including tax) for kenda kinetics! :mad: My reaction was: "Holy s***! This place is sooooo overpriced!". As I said in one of my other threads, they want $90 for Sixsixone race lite shin/knee guards! And when I had my BB, cranks, etc., replaced on my commuter bike...............with tax it ended up at $220!!!!! :mad: I looked up the parts that they use and it should have come to a way cheaper price. (yes I know there was labour fees included but they wern't very big) Now I have to goto a bike shop 10km, or one 25km just to buy anything for my bike (because my current bike shop is so damn overpriced). This is more of a rant, but add what you want.


Edit: tried to do title all in caps....didn't work out too well. :D
support your local bike shop :D

It happens. I have 10 lbs's near me (I don't chop at any)...compared to the city they are ALL overpriced. Amongst themselve some are downright highway robbery. Others try, but due to the rent in torn fall short by a mile. Every industry has gaugers. They would rather sell expensive to 10 instead of reasonable to 100. It allows them to hold this mysterious level of service. High end hotels do the same thing.

Reason - "we can't drop out rate because it lower the value of the hotel and reduce the 'quality' level of the clientelle'...

Counter - "but if we drop rate we could make money by selling out blah blah"...

Reason - "we can't afford in the good season to be viewed ars 'reduced'..."

its a never ending debate. Some places give in and survive (sometimes)...and others keep their noses high and...well...survive (sometimes).

Have you ever just walked in and talk to them? I do it all the time with some of the shops in my area. I tell them I want such-and-such, and I can get it at www.whatever for x amount, what can you guys do, I'd rather get it from you if you could come close. Sometimes they can, sometimes not, but most of the time I give them the first shot.

And when I had my BB, cranks, etc., replaced on my commuter bike...............with tax it ended up at $220!!!!! :mad:

Learn to do it yourself. employees cost the shop money. Plus it is a skill. Why shouldn't they get paid well to perform a service that you cannot (I am assuming that because you didn't do it). If you commute a lot I would strongly suggest learning how to fix and maintain your own bike. You will save a lot of money in the long run. Plus it is a bit fun and easy to do and learn. Then you can just shop for parts.

Of that $220, how much was parts, labor, tax, etc. ? Did you ask what parts they were using before hand? did you compare prices? labor rates? I would think that it would take a professional mechanic 10 minutes to replace cranks and a bottom bracket. How much time did they charge you for?

Maybe they are just plain ripping you off, and that is a different scenario. There are unscupulous people in all industries.

My LBS has good prices, but they take FOREVER to get parts in!

I almost never buy from a local shop. mail order has worked for me for 20 plus years.

I don't own every tool, so sometimes I may take a part in and pay the mechanic to have them do whatever needs done. but for the most part, I am my own mechanic and mail order all my parts.

I've done what Buzzbomb suggested and sometimes it works.
I also agree with unsuspended...whatever you can learn to do on your own will save you $. Bike mechanics are just like auto mechanics...you pay out the rear for their services.
There will always be some degree of markup when purchasing through LBS's. You either have to eat it and support them (which pays dividends when you really need their help) or you can buy online and do-it-yourself.

My LBS is great, sure they are higher priced than mail order, but I have never been able to walk in and have a beer with a mail order phone jockey either.

I don't mind paying a little more for the service that gets provided by the shop...now if it was hundreds of dollars more we might have an issue. ;)

Learn to do it yourself. employees cost the shop money. Plus it is a skill. Why shouldn't they get paid well to perform a service that you cannot (I am assuming that because you didn't do it). If you commute a lot I would strongly suggest learning how to fix and maintain your own bike. You will save a lot of money in the long run. Plus it is a bit fun and easy to do and learn. Then you can just shop for parts.

Of that $220, how much was parts, labor, tax, etc. ? Did you ask what parts they were using before hand? did you compare prices? labor rates? I would think that it would take a professional mechanic 10 minutes to replace cranks and a bottom bracket. How much time did they charge you for?

Maybe they are just plain ripping you off, and that is a different scenario. There are unscupulous people in all industries.


The funny thing is that I could have done it myself... I was in no mood that day to buy a BB and replace it so I decided I would let them do it. Those idiots just decided that they would replace my crank arms for no reason! They didn't even ask me! :mad: They never told me what parts they were using before hand, extra labour was involved but that made up about 3% of the bill overall. They are ripping me off; I called pieriks cycle to see what they would charge for the parts...it ended up a lot cheaper. They're hosing me, I wish that they could get their act together.


I almost never buy from a local shop. mail order has worked for me for 20 plus years.

I don't own every tool, so sometimes I may take a part in and pay the mechanic to have them do whatever needs done. but for the most part, I am my own mechanic and mail order all my parts.

Mail order is cheapest...I think that it's my best option now.

I also forgot to add that the main guy who is almost always there is a f***ing jerk! My friends crank arm fell off yesterday and the guy was just like: "I don't like your attitude, maybe if you asked nicely.". My friend never even said it in a harsh way...other times I've seen him get mad at a customer or one of my friends.


Edit: compared prices again with Brant cycle and this is what I cam up with: Brant Cycle: $133.53 (with tax)

Ancaster cycle (the ones who ripped me off): $218!!! (with tax)

Difference: $84.47

:eek: VERY MAD NOW! :mad:

Are you going there the next time something happens, or have you taken your business elsewhere?

i have one that is really really bad by my i no someone who got a backtrail x2 then anotehr kid got it at this shop i am talkin about for close to 100 more!!!that is nuts, he said it was a stronger frame. the guy who owns it is also a con. his shop burnt down, and he was in a couple law suits involving the money he got from insurence becuase the bikes were destroyed, most of the bikes were a-ok.

now that i am more into mountain biking there is this road/mountain biking shop right down the street from the other one. they are really nice and helpfull in there and they have fair prices.

so i see were you are coming from. i would say go to the far one instead of giving the rip-off any more business.

Are you going there the next time something happens, or have you taken your business elsewhere?

Business elsewhere for sure. :)

First thing I would have done is demanded that the new crank arms be taken off, your originals put back on, and the bill corrected. I don't stand for people taking it upon themselves to replace extra parts, etc.

yea primal hit that one on the head. if you dont want that on he needs to take it off and i dont even know if you need to pay labor for something you didnt ask to be put on the bike.

Oh, I'd be raising hell if they tried to charge labor to take it off. Haha.

I've done mail order before. Sure, I'm pleased with it and learned much about how to work on bikes and everything. But, just doing mail order only made me just someone with a bunch of bike knowledge in my hat that wasn't actually out there in the bike scene.

Recently, I've been going to my LBS much more. Reason is, the service is great. I don't mind shelling out the extra money to come in and talk with the guys that work there about the new trails, the races around us, the interesting parts of my last ride, and whatever else. Oh, and to top it off, there's two "shop dogs" that loved to be played with and petted. :)

My advice- Use the bike shop whenever you can, if you have a good shop. If not, hunt around, ask people you see on the trail about it. Use the mail order shops if you gotta have that part that you can install yourself. Just don't get caught up too much in it though... just keep riding hard!

My LBS will install, adjust, or fix anything on my bike free of charge. But if I have to buy parts, I pay a bit more, there are trade-offs. But a lot of times it isn't all that much more, and they carry a lot of stufff in stock, which is nice. Recently had my de-railers and brakes adjusted for free, took em 20 minutes. Apparently not all LBS's are this good to their customers.

edit: they will install any part I buy from them for free.

If you're set on web prices, chuck your LBS's and start wrenching yourself. You never have to face them again..... :)

Alright figure this out...I went to one of my 2 local bike stores and picked out a helmet...it costs 42 bucks on the price tag......the total price comes out to over 65 bucks??????!?!?!
We only have 8% sales tax.....I was like....eehhhh...I don't have the money..thx any ways....and left for the last time

My LBS does free maintenance and tune-ups for a year if you buy something from them. I am not sure if they will do it on bikes that are modified though, hope so.

I was like....eehhhh...I don't have the money..thx any ways....and left for the last time

That's what happened to me when I had picked the tires I liked.

10km isn't that far for an LBS. But yeah, they have some pretty shaft prices but I figure when I want to support them I'll just print out bikeroom's prices and ask them to match it.

Specifically, the egg beaters.

Alright figure this out...I went to one of my 2 local bike stores and picked out a helmet...it costs 42 bucks on the price tag......the total price comes out to over 65 bucks??????!?!?!
We only have 8% sales tax.....I was like....eehhhh...I don't have the money..thx any ways....and left for the last timeOK.....before you walked out the store, did you ask them why the price discrepancy?

I just bought a 04 Iron Horse Warrior Sport from performancebike. I guess Fedex was a rough with the box cause when I got it...a few of the bolts needed to assemble the bike were missing. I needed to get the wheels trued so I thought I'll just let the LBS install everything.

Let me note...I've been to my LBS to look at the bikes for a few times in the last month. I guess they recognized me and gave me that look when I brought in the iron horse. They asked me where I got it from and how much...and then right away they mocked me/trash talked me to death. They were like "oh you coulda gotten this bike from us"...etc...

If it wasn't for the good price for the tune up/overhaul I would have just left.

It happens. I have 10 lbs's near me (I don't chop at any)...compared to the city they are ALL overpriced. Amongst themselve some are downright highway robbery. Others try, but due to the rent in torn fall short by a mile. Every industry has gaugers. They would rather sell expensive to 10 instead of reasonable to 100. It allows them to hold this mysterious level of service. High end hotels do the same thing.

Reason - "we can't drop out rate because it lower the value of the hotel and reduce the 'quality' level of the clientelle'...

Counter - "but if we drop rate we could make money by selling out blah blah"...

Reason - "we can't afford in the good season to be viewed ars 'reduced'..."

its a never ending debate. Some places give in and survive (sometimes)...and others keep their noses high and...well...survive (sometimes).

You Da Man !!!!

They would rather sell expensive to 10 instead of reasonable to 100. It allows them to hold this mysterious level of service. High end hotels do the same thing.

Reason - "we can't drop out rate because it lower the value of the hotel and reduce the 'quality' level of the clientelle'...

Counter - "but if we drop rate we could make money by selling out blah blah"...

Reason - "we can't afford in the good season to be viewed ars 'reduced'..."

I'll point out that some people don't mind paying the extra money, others feel that the high price gives the place an "Air of exclusivity". My wife and I stayed in a $1500/night room in Vegas. The service was excellent, the view great, and because we knew someone there the actual rate was only a fraction of the posted rate. Hotels have an incentive to fill empty rooms. Room rates shouldn't be compared to shop rates, unless you're talking about a shop that has mechanics sitting idle for days at a time.

I just don't understand why you guys complain about bike shops so much. When you take your car in for a tune-up, do you complain because Pep Boys has spark plugs and filters on sale dirt cheap, so the dealer must be ripping you off? Do you complain at restaurants, because you can get a pound of beef, a sack of potatoes, and a dozen bread rolls for the same price as their measly burger and fries? Everyone has overhead - things like wages, rent, insurance, etc. And most people go into business intent on making a profit.

If they can charge an extra couple of bucks for a part, and people still buy it, they'll keep charging that amount. If people keep paying the labor rate, they'll keep charging it. My LBS has ODI lock-on grips in their display case for $49.95, and LIN socks for $25. They've been there for at least 2 years, as far as I can tell, and I don't think they'll sell any time soon. Even by Australian standards, their prices are probably high. But plenty of people are willing to drop cash there on all sorts of bikes and gear. Don't blame someone that wants to earn a decent living. What would you tell your boss when he realizes the place across the street pays someone 20% less to do the same job you do?

I think I've exceeded my 2 cents worth, but if you think LBS prices are high, either shop elsewhere or suck it up.

I'll point out that some people don't mind paying the extra money, others feel that the high price gives the place an "Air of exclusivity". My wife and I stayed in a $1500/night room in Vegas. The service was excellent, the view great, and because we knew someone there the actual rate was only a fraction of the posted rate. Hotels have an incentive to fill empty rooms. Room rates shouldn't be compared to shop rates, unless you're talking about a shop that has mechanics sitting idle for days at a time.

I just don't understand why you guys complain about bike shops so much. When you take your car in for a tune-up, do you complain because Pep Boys has spark plugs and filters on sale dirt cheap, so the dealer must be ripping you off? Do you complain at restaurants, because you can get a pound of beef, a sack of potatoes, and a dozen bread rolls for the same price as their measly burger and fries? Everyone has overhead - things like wages, rent, insurance, etc. And most people go into business intent on making a profit.

If they can charge an extra couple of bucks for a part, and people still buy it, they'll keep charging that amount. If people keep paying the labor rate, they'll keep charging it. My LBS has ODI lock-on grips in their display case for $49.95, and LIN socks for $25. They've been there for at least 2 years, as far as I can tell, and I don't think they'll sell any time soon. Even by Australian standards, their prices are probably high. But plenty of people are willing to drop cash there on all sorts of bikes and gear. Don't blame someone that wants to earn a decent living. What would you tell your boss when he realizes the place across the street pays someone 20% less to do the same job you do?

I think I've exceeded my 2 cents worth, but if you think LBS prices are high, either shop elsewhere or suck it up.

touche...

exactly!

how come this kind of debate (for lack of another word) comes up so often with LBS's but not at say, the Ice cream store?

exactly!

how come this kind of debate (for lack of another word) comes up so often with LBS's but not at say, the Ice cream store?


Ummm...this is just a guess(and I could be wrong, but I doubt it), but maybe because this is a mountain bike forum and NOT AN ICE CREAM STORE FORUM!

Geesh, I think some of you don't wear your helmets nearly enough.

exactly!
how come this kind of debate (for lack of another word) comes up so often with LBS's but not at say, the Ice cream store?
There might be that debate going on right now in the ice cream forum. Although, most people will pay whatever it costs for food, despite the fact it costs nothing to make. (soda, pizza, water, chinese food, fast food).

thrasher 911 beat me too it :)

I agree with expatriate, LBS's (like other businesses) can charge whatever they would like to. You have the right to choose to shop wherever you want. Some bike shops, around here anyway, just don't care if they sell certain things, they are going to keep the prices sky high. It seems that they will eventually get someone in who doesn't realize that the parts or bike are 2 years old and will pay through the nose for it.

I try and 'Support my LBS', I just don't like getting ripped off, so like buzzbomb said earlier, I will make them an offer to sell me stuff at a fair price and pay them cash. LBS owners like cash. Especially for big ticket items. If they don't want to sell it, off to the internet. If that pisses them off, so be it. I don't consider it my job to subsidize LBS's.

Because noone would suggest you pay extra to an Icecream store for inferior service merely because they can't compete. Although I have yet to see the all the LBS's go out of business from mail-order/internet competition even though I have been hearing its imminent since the early 90's. LBS's are good for stuff you need NOW and stuff that is hard to order cable guides or tubes for example but little else. You should not be made to feel guilty because you are not giving a capitalist enterprise charity.

My advice:
If you learn to fix your own bike you'll save money very quickly and not have to be without a bike for the 3 weeks it takes the LBS to get around to doing a tuneup.
If you do have to go to one never trust the sales peoples advice they frequently have to no clue what they are talking about, if you have a question ask a mechanic.
If they try to lecture you about the need to support your LBS tell them off and go somewhere else if you can.

LBS are good if ya go to the smaller ones, thats what ive found at least. I mean at my LBS i can just walk in the back where they are working and borrow a tool to fix my own stuff. I ask if i can use it first but the response is usually" Why did you ask?" you know what we are going to say..But i would usually confront them if something is heavily overpriced and i was looking to buy it. I have no prob as i said in the other thread supporing them with a little extra cash.

And yea, dealers are expensive, thats why i do as much work on my car, and bike as possible, I still need help though, at least with the bike. And i would have chewed them a new one for puttin that stuff on your bike without telling you..

It seems like LBS's mark up their components. It's like computer stores. The pricing on the systems are fixed and the profit margins are low. So they fatten up on peripherals. In this case components aren't aggressively priced. They kinda take advantage that many riders will just buy their parts on the spot and have them installed out of convenience.