General Cycling Discussion - LBS loyalty

I understand the importance of supporting your LBS. I also realize that they can't carry everything I might want. When I travel, I like to look for new, cool things at other shops. Being an impulse shopper is no help either. Now when it comes to big things; bike,( most recent: Trek 5500 ) wheels, tires, shoes, helmet, Assos shorts and jerseys, etc. I wanted to stay exclusively with my LBS. However on a recent trip to Dallas I found a cool Quick-release seat bag from Topeak. My LBS didn't carry them, so I got one. (all of $20 ) Well a few days after the next shop ride I was informed that 'They spend a lot of time and give me good deals and discounts so I will spport their business, but if I'm going to buy things at other shops, well, they just don't need customers like me......". More than anything else My feelings were hurt. I did NOT buy the Nike Hautacam OCLV shoes in Dallas because I wanted to get them from my LBS. Even though they'd have to order them, I wouldn't think of buying something like that anywhere else. She gave me a line about Trek requiring the shop to order 12 pairs to get them. Well I called Trek and got a little indignant with the VP of sales. Come to find out the LBS could order them, just didn't want to. She ( the LBS ) was afraid" I'd order the shoes then go buy them somewhere else" That pissed me off, I'm the type of person that keeps my word, if I order something I will get it.
I decided I didn't need to be held hostage by a bike shop. Bottom line; since that conversation I've spent about $600 on bike stuff ( no shoes yet.....) and none of it was spent at that shop. Being a typical male, I like the gadgets and gear...
I kinda miss the shop and the rides, but I don't think anyone should be held hostage to one shop. BTW, price was never a concern. Even when they offered me an item at or near cost, I would tell them " I want you to make a profit, because if I have a problem I want to be able to expect service, and if you didn't make anything on the sale, I wouldn't feel right asking you to service the product"
So if I need service, I'll do it myself or I'll go to them because they have a great mechanic. I'll request the service and pay the standard rate. I still refer people to them for bikes. They're definitely bike people, just not real good at customer realations.

You will find a bike shop with a true heart!

In the meantime, don't let anyone own you!

My favorite Bike shop is 50 K from where I live, but I will patronized this bike shop than with the one near my house, reason, price wise, one Item I wanted to by is these "itm stem"
the bike shop near my hose is selling it for $130.00, but my fave bike shop sold it to me for $45.00 and they will install it for free, the one near my hose will charge me $20.00 , now take your pick which bike shop will you choose.....:D :D :mad: :confused:

I'm lucky in a way. Since I live in a big city I can pick from several shops. I pass two bike shops to get to the one I feel comfortable at. They know my name and don't pressure me. I trust their judgement and respect their opinions, and I hope they respect mine.
But when I wanted a new bike, I didn't go there because they don't carry the brands I was shopping for. But when I needed a new saddle and shoes, I bought from them. They had what I wanted.

You don't have to patronize YOUR LBS exclusively to support them. Just give them the business you feel they should have. If they don't carry a product, go elsewhere. When you shop somewhere else, you're still supporting a LBS, just someone elses LBS.

Ron

I'm lucky that my LBS is very close to where I live. They have been very good to me over the years and I will always remain loyal to them.

Chris

Being a bike shop owner does not make one a good business person.

You don't owe anything to any business that doesn't do you right.

Being loyal to a less than great bike shop (or any business) isn't prudent business.

One more thought; in these modern times, what exactly is a "Local" bike shop? Is there a shop more "Local" than the computer in my house? Like Racso (orguasch) says, his favorite LBS is 50 miles away.

I agree. How "local" does local have to be. I can think of at least six bike shops within easy riding distance from my house and gobs and gobs more if I care to go into the city. Do I have to go to the closest one (all of a block from my house) to be "local"?

You don't owe anything to a shop that is giving you such a hard time. A truly excellent small business will go out of their way to make your experience pleasant. We go to a small pet store across the street from our house. We buy all of our pet stuff, food, cat litter, etc. there rather than getting it more cheaply at petsmart or where ever. The owner special orders two different kinds of pet food just for us. When there was a problem with the distributor getting one of them, the owner was on the phone, bugging the local sales rep until he drove a bag of food out to her store for us. Now that's what an excellent small business should do.

In contrast, I went to one of the local bike shops recently. I'd heard good things about them so I thought I'd give them a try. Plus, they seem to be the only ones around who stock cycling shoes and that's what I was looking for. I stood around a good 15 minutes before anyone deigned to ask me if I needed help. They didn't stock any women specific design shoes, only men's styles. And only in men's sizes (i.e. too large for me). She dug up two pair which were nearly small enough. Not quite though. They said they might be getting in more sizes later, or they could order them. I ended up buying a new light for my bike. I got it home. The bracket in the box didn't fit the light. Am I going back to this place? Other than to return the light, no, probably not.

A couple of local book stores went out of business in recent years and blamed their misfortune on (1) Barnes & Noble and Borders; (2) the Internet.

Now I know the big chains and the Internet have made things really tough for a lot of small businesses, but the fact is, in both of those small book stores, you were lucky to get anybody to acknowledge your presence; and if you did end up buying a book, you were treated as though it was an inconvenience to have to ring the purchase up.

There's more to staying in business than lack of competition. And customer loyalty shouldn't be something a business owner expects as his or her due. It's earned, just like any other profit.