General Cycling Discussion - bike shop clerks rude & impasiont.

Many bike shops in my area come and go. Other have been around for 20-30 years. anyway, I notice many bike shop workers/clerks whatever you want to call them are somewhat rude and impasiont. The second you enter the store theres some old guy breathing down my neck asking over and over and over again can I help you!!! Sometimes you just wanna look around, so when you come back for the second time to buy something they're even more rude, even if you buy something. Other times even if you do spend insane amounts of cash there, they still act as if you monkeying around. I hate going to bike shops. The people who work at bike shop need to be more polite, and respect the customer. Theres this one bike shop in my area, they keep all most all there parts at the back of the store, so you cant see them, when you ask if they have lets say brake levers, they bring out the most exspensize pair w/ no sticker, and say OH those are $200, you ask if they have something less pricy, they make a face, walk back to there whatever,......you get the picture. Price dosnt seem to be an issue with these people, nothing has the price posted anyway, they just make up the price in there head. The crap they sell is so over priced, its no wonder people get there stuff from catalogs.

More reasons to shop bike nashbar or performance online. I have almost stopped even visiting bike shops thanks to the doo doo service and disrespect. There is one shop around here I trust and only one.

I think we are pretty good to our customers. Far better than they often treat us. I am a professional, I can fix your bike, size your feet for shoes and discuss the benefits of different types, sell and fit you to a bike, fit you or your screaming child to a helmet, maintain good inventory, have good knowledge of materials and their benefits as to the bicycle, be able to explain human anatomy to people who uncomfortable with having their anatomy explained to them, know every single tire, shock, frame, shift system, fork, handlebar, stem, and wheel set and explain how they work or don't work together, AND treat everyone as tho they are my bestfriend even if they come in all the time, ask a hundred questions and then use my knowledge so they can buy a tube on line and save fifty cents, wear a cologne that kicks in my sinuses, stand VERY close to me, and interupted my lunch(He probably saw the last three people interupt my lunch and thought it looked like a good time.) So maybe I am not always Mr. Charming, but I try.
Smelly you are a car guy, me to. Let me ask you a question, when you go to an auto parts store how many of the parts are where you can just look them over?

Well, I'm sometimes not real happy with a bike shop, but mainly because when looking at a bike, they may tend to minimize the importance of something if their stock doesn't happen to include it or have it in the exact size that might be best for me.

But overall, I have none of the complaints this thread started with. My present shop has treated me well, letting me ride bikes for pretty extensive test rides, repeatedly, The owner even had me ride a VERY expensive bike, knowing full well it was thousands of dollars more than I would ever spend, just so I could get some idea of the difference (at the time, I had never owned a road bike).

So, buy most of my stuff there, even when I could get better deals online. Good service should be rewarded.

Bob

Rev.Chuck you seem to be the exception here. ;)

I know good shops with good employees, and bad shops with bad ones. The employees that the shop has defines the shop itself. I'd never go back to a shop that gave me a bad first (or subsequent) impression. I really like Performance because they will beat any price you find, even online, no questions asked.

I try to be good, sometimes it is hard. I know I have pissed off a few customers, but it was not intentional. I am at my worst when I am trying to eat because I usually put it off until I am half starved, my bad.

Just where are you guys shopping at? I do busniess with two LBSes on a regular basis and never have any of the issues you are describing.

Originally posted by Chi
The employees that the shop has defines the shop itself.



I am going to have to disagree. I work at the best shop in town, everybody there (except me and one other guy) know most everything and can handle any situation. Joe is still better than I am, but I am learning. So not every employee defines a shop, atleast I dont:D

When I visit a shop, and as soon as guy realizez he is not going to sell me something HE wants to sell, he is loosing interest in me as a customer and has to answer all my questions... :D
Few times, by mistake I told them that bike I bought after their quotes of half a thousand, for $20, these guys just want to ignore me as soon as I walk in, like I am their worst enemy. :)

That is hard to believe, Inoplanetyanin, shop life is full of characters like you. The Pink Lady, The Preacher, Alice Cooper, Flash, Airborne Smoker Guy, Shakespeare, Puddin' head, Grimtani(A good customer), Richochet, Mr. hhhuh, Triguy, Seatman, and many others.

Originally posted by Inoplanetyanin
When I visit a shop, and as soon as guy realizez he is not going to sell me something HE wants to sell, he is loosing interest in me as a customer and has to answer all my questions... :D
Few times, by mistake I told them that bike I bought after their quotes of half a thousand, for $20, these guys just want to ignore me as soon as I walk in, like I am their worst enemy. :)

yeah, leaving a bike shop with out buying something realy pisses them off.:D They have no concept of window shopping!:D

Originally posted by KleinMp99
I am going to have to disagree. I work at the best shop in town, everybody there (except me and one other guy) know most everything and can handle any situation. Joe is still better than I am, but I am learning. So not every employee defines a shop, atleast I dont:D

Which is why it's so important for the shop management to monitor how their employees are doing in their customer service and relations. Like myself, many bicyclists do not work at shops, so impressions go a long way towards a loyal customer. :beer:

Originally posted by smelly
The crap they sell is so over priced, its no wonder people get there stuff from catalogs.
Is it the LBS' fault that catalogs are able to procure and sell many things at or below our cost? Nobody's getting rich at an LBS.
Seriously, if you come into my shop I'm going to treat the guy getting a $5 tube exactly the same as the guy getting a $5k Ghisallo. The guys in my shop darn well better do the same, too. To expand upon Chuck's points, we've got a knowledge base and services to provide that mail order cannot provide. The shops that fail to fully understand this are those that are going under.

Originally posted by smelly
yeah, leaving a bike shop with out buying something realy pisses them off.:D They have no concept of window shopping!:D

Yeah, but it's explanable. They spend their time answering questions, showing merchandise. This time could be used in the back room for repairing/ making money, while it is wasted for someone who doesn't bring any profit.
I try not to take their time, as they are there to MAKE money, but if I need to know something or look at certain parts, I am going to have to insist, as it is their job to work with customers, after all...

Originally posted by Waldo

Seriously, if you come into my shop I'm going to treat the guy getting a $5 tube exactly the same as the guy getting a $5k Ghisallo.

Now, this is VERY hard to believe, as it is simply against HUMAN nature and against even principles of business.

If guy who is ready to spend 5 K, doesn't get enough attention and leaves, while you were acomodating the 5 $ seat post buyer, the business of this shop will go up slowly...

Idea is good, but it's not going to work.
Real life brings unexpected corrections, same as Communism Doctrine that never worked...

Originally posted by Rev.Chuck
That is hard to believe, Inoplanetyanin, shop life is full of characters like you. The Pink Lady, The Preacher, Alice Cooper, Flash, Airborne Smoker Guy, Shakespeare, Puddin' head, Grimtani(A good customer), Richochet, Mr. hhhuh, Triguy, Seatman, and many others.

I'm sure we'd all love to hear a bit more about these characters. How did they get their names etc.

Communication is a two-way street :) If you want to see brake levers in the $50 range, instead of the $200 range, it will help to say so up front :)

If they ask if they can help you, don't just give the canned "just looking" answer. Say "hey, payday's coming up and I'm checking out what you guys carry, just getting some ideas what I might want to buy for my bike," and they are going to have a better picture of why you are scoping everything out.

Also, I think most shops have been burned by shoplifters to some extent, so the standing orders will be "watch the customers." If you want to peruse the whole store at your leisure, that could tie up one "watcher" for long enough that they lost their opportunity to get most of the way through a 30-day tune-up, or calling in an order, or some other task they've got on their plate. If you've taken Economics, this is what's called "opportunity cost."

My how-to-be-a-bad-customer (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12051) diatribe could help open your eyes to some of the things a shop clerk/mechanic goes through, and why they may be grumpy at customers in general. Not saying you are a bad customer, of course, but there are plenty enough of them to put the LBS personnel on a short fuse sometimes ;)

Incidentally, the word you're wanting is "impatient," not "impasiont." ;)

I'm with DieselDan. For a while I spread my purchases around several bike shops. After awhile I settled on the one that just happened to be closest to where I live. They are not the cheapest bike shop around but the have a good selection of stuff, have a good service department, and the owner hired a couple of guys to work the floor who were older than teenagers (I'm not knocking teenagers. I've got two of them. But sometimes they are not the most knowledgeable bike people) and seem to know their stuff. I've gotten to know them, and the owner, pretty well so that they all know me by name. Sometimes I buy stuff, sometimes I don't. At first I didn't spend a whole lot of money: tires, tubes, water bottles, socks, gloves, etc. Later on I bought some shoes, then a new set of wheels. Since I was comfortable with them, I decided when it was time to buy a bike I would use them since they were convenient and I could easily drop by if I had any problems.

When I was looking for a new bike (first new road bike in 20+ years), the owner let me test ride his Serotta Ottrott. When I asked if he wanted me to leave him a license number or something, he just said he knew me and wasn't worried. So I just went out and rode for an hour or so.

If I was a store owner and I had to choose between two potential customers, one of whom I knew never bought anything and another that I thought might really be interested in purchasing a bike, I think I would focus on the person I thought would spend their money. If I'm talking to one of the guys in the shop and someone walks in the door, I certainly understand when they stop talking to me, excuse themselves, and greet the new arrival. The shop isn't going to survive if people don't spend money there.

Maybe I will start a character thread.
One quick one, Airborne smoker guy is this dude that spent a bunch of time with us picking out a bike and then Ebayed rather than buy from us. He still comes in with a ton of questions about items he never buys from us and expects us to work on his bike free because it is a brand we sell and we offer a year of free adjustment, remember, we did not sell him the bike nor did he even buy it new. He also would go outside for a smoke in the middle of a questionathon and then come back in and tell us about this "long" ride he was going to do.

And where istheconnection with me?...
Not acurate comparison,nottosaytheleaset

Originally posted by Rev.Chuck
Maybe I will start a character thread.
One quick one, Airborne smoker guy is this dude that spent a bunch of time with us picking out a bike and then Ebayed rather than buy from us. He still comes in with a ton of questions about items he never buys from us and expects us to work on his bike free because it is a brand we sell and we offer a year of free adjustment, remember, we did not sell him the bike nor did he even buy it new. He also would go outside for a smoke in the middle of a questionathon and then come back in and tell us about this "long" ride he was going to do.

Very entertaining.:D

Can't wait for the next installment.

Maybe, as you suggested, you should start a character thread. I'm sure we'd get details on characters from other stores too.

There's a character we called "Ping-Pong" who would buy an item, then exchange it, and exchange again, and again, and again, and again. And this was what he did. Always. :crash: In my how-to-be-a-bad-customer rant, he's the guy who finished off one buy/exchange cycle by requesting a cash refund so he could take his dog to the vet. :rolleyes:

If it had been my shop, I would've gritted my teeth and told him point-blank: "Sorry, Ping-Pong, I know you have a complusion to exchange/return stuff, and maybe it's not your fault that you do, but we can't go on like this. Please take your business elsewhere."

Oh yeah...back when I was wrenching, we had characters too...my favorite was "Mr. Speed"

He wasn't particularly fast or anything, but his last name was "Speed" We always liked calling out "Bike for Mr. Speed!" when he came by.

As far as bike shop's personnel being rude & impasiont (impatient?) depends. When I got stopped suddenly by a car and therefore lost my ride, I looked around in some Seattle shops when I was visiting back home. Had one guy tell me what a mondo wrench he was and blah blah blah. This guy really loved himself.

When I was up in Bellingham, WA, I was just looking (really only looking) in a shop, and saw some interesting things. I'd been in for about 20 min or so, and was squatting down near some product. A bike droid came over, squatted down and asked if he could be of assistance. I explained what I was about, and asked just to shoot the breeze if he *rode*. After sniffing each other's butts (figuratively) I asked about Trek's carbon fiber and if it was any good. The next thing I knew we were on a test ride, and then in a week I had purchased the ride, and a complete set of Burley rain gear.

Later I found out that he was a math teacher on summer break, and also in my mother's church. I wonder who was the better worker? "Mr. I-Am-The-Man" or "How are you doing, anything I can help you with?" I bet that the owners of that shop are happy to let the math teacher do the figuring. Sad to say, the other shop is probably happy to have the other guy too.

Of course, your mileage may vary.

happy shopping!
Tom

Personally, I frequent four local bike shops and have never once had a bad experience. If I say I’m just looking, then they allow me to look. If I have questions, they are always helpful and courteous. I have never experience the sales pressure that others have spoken about.

While on a ride my back wheel started to wobble badly, so I rode right to the lbs where I purchased the bike. Even though they were busy they fit me in and trued both wheels for free.

On another occasion I was out riding and had another problem with the back wheel on another one of my bikes. Nothing I tried corrected the problem. I rode it into a different lbs (I didn’t even purchase the bike from them) and they fixed the problem, did some other needed adjustments and replaced a part for $7. The bike rode better than it had in years.

And lastly, the chainstay on my Raleigh Technium broke while on a ride. Even though the bike was 15 years old the lbs gave me full credit for the bike since Raleigh no longer made that frame.

A lbs has not just been a place where I purchased my bikes and accessories, it’s been a place that has helped enhanced my biking experience.

Originally posted by smelly
yeah, leaving a bike shop with out buying something realy pisses them off.:D They have no concept of window shopping!:D

I think you'll find that to be the case with just about any store of any kind you visit. Spend an hour browsing and not buying anything will piss any of them off.

As far as the original topic goes, it's just a matter of finding the right shop. There are good ones and bad ones. I've visited a few around here, but now I've settled on one I particularly like, so I get everything there. I still admire the speed with which they came up with the perfect replacement when my bike got stolen a couple of weeks back.

Generally speaking I have had nothing but good experiences with bike shops. If I felt that they were "blowing me off" or giving me bad service I would go elsewhere. Unless you are in the middle of woods there is always another shop just down the road.

I've settled with 2 shops here in the dallas area.
One I bought a bike for my wife at (as a 1st time walk
in customer) the other has supplied enough parts etc.
to build a few bikes.
The shop that I frequent the most is the closest to me
and to my commute to/from work.
I'm guessing they know I'm gonna come in, browse for
a while, and then power shop for parts, clothes, shoes etc.
in the last 15 minutes (usually a 1 hour stop). If I'm with my
wife they KNOW clothing will be bought.
In both shops I've never been treated to rude behaviour
from the staff, even if I don't buy anything.

Klein, I think the point about employees making the shop
isn't about knowledge but about attitude towards customers.

While I have purchased things online, I will always support
the LBS. Online shops do me absolutely no good when it comes
to servicing what they sell the day before some big ride.

Marty

Unless you are in the middle of woods there is always another shop just down the road.

I am kinda in the middle of the woods, at least as far as bike shops are concerned. I drive an hour and a half (no, I am not riding into downtown Houston traffic, scary enough driving) to my LBS. There are closer ones as long as you dont want any selection or snobbish people. I drive the long drive because I get treated as if I am very important to them, and how much money I spend that day doesnt matter at all. They have no problem staying even an hour late to help me pick something out. And of course in return, I buy virtually everything I need from them.

All you LBS employees out there take notice, service is king. Treat me right and I will be so loyal it hurts. Piss me off and it's bye bye charlie. And as far a just looking is concerned, I may spend an hour pulling down bikes and test riding them today and get them all dirty in the parking lot and not buy a single thing, as I did a few weeks ago at the LBS. Of course I went back last weekend and put a Trek 5200 and some EC90 carbon handlebars on layaway too :-)

Allan

He also would go outside for a smoke in the middle of a questionathon and then come back in and tell us about this "long" ride he was going to do.

And what is wrong with that? I smoke and havent exercised at all in any way for 15+ years, bought a bike a couple months ago and now have a 30 mile ride this weekend. Now 30 miles may not be "long" to you, but for a 35 year old who has only been riding two months after 15+ years of being a couch potatoe? I think that is pretty dang good!

Smoking may prevent me from becoming Lance, but it doesnt mean I cant keep up with the pack. I have all the right equipment, and a nice bike, and I work out every day to get better.

Allan

Originally posted by Flea77
All you LBS employees out there take notice, service is king.

I couldn't agree with you more. Seven months ago I decided to get fit and went to the LBS to buy a bike. From the moment I opened the door the owner was openly hostile. The first thing he said was "What are you doing here", I was so shocked that I replied with "I want to buy a bike" instead of turning round and walking out.

Once he knew that I was serious he mellowed slightly, but was very snobbish in his manner. For example, I wanted to buy a mtb and had £400 to spend and he started to boast that he stocked forks that cost more than that. Anyway I bought a bike from them since I really wanted a bike that day, and his shop is the nearest that specialises in mountain bikes.

However I have never returned and never will.

Originally posted by Flea77
And what is wrong with that? I smoke and havent exercised at all in any way for 15+ years...

... Smoking may prevent me from becoming Lance, but it doesnt mean I cant keep up with the pack. I have all the right equipment, and a nice bike, and I work out every day to get better.

Allan

Smoking is a disgusting practice. Chances are good that it will kill you. You are deluding yourself if you think otherwise.

All the "right gear" and all the pedaling in the world doesn't change the fact that smoking is incompatible with good health.

Dan

Originally posted by DanFromDetroit
Smoking is a disgusting practice. Chances are good that it will kill you. You are deluding yourself if you think otherwise.

All the "right gear" and all the pedaling in the world doesn't change the fact that smoking is incompatible with good health.

Dan

Dan - settle down.

Don't alienate a fellow biker because he smokes. I smoked for 10 years and the only thing that made me quit was biking. I didn't quit when I started riding, I quit when I wanted to get better. And all the berating in the world won't make someone put down the smokes. You'll quit when you want to quit or when you die. Not before.

There, I'm off my soap-box.

Smoking is a disgusting practice. Chances are good that it will kill you. You are deluding yourself if you think otherwise.

All the "right gear" and all the pedaling in the world doesn't change the fact that smoking is incompatible with good health.

And a hostile attitude like that one will kill you a lot faster than smoking a carton a day, and win you less friends to boot.

And hate to break it to you but I am in much better shape than most of the non-smokers I know, and I have a MUCH healthier attitude :-)

Your berating me and calling me disgusting and delusional doesnt do anything but make me think less of you.

Allan

LOL, I'd be more inclined to point out the economic impact of smoking :) The less spent on smokes, the more is left for bike parts :)

I've never really had a "bad" experience in a LBS; however, the general attitude displayed by an individual at one shop led me to a mental note - don't leave your bike here for any work. If I go into the LBS (unless I'm in a hurry looking for one particular item for a quick repair), I'm going to purchase something.

This thread left me wondering how I should handle the upgrades I am planning for my bike. I know what kind of components I want, but will need help selecting new wheels, handlebar, and other things I can't think of right now. I want my LBS to do the upgrades, but my concern is that I can get the components I want less expensively from the UK.

I don't want to be a bad customer, but am I wrong to buy some of the parts elsewhere and buy the rest from my LBS? This is the shop that does all my tuneups and where I buy all my gear.

Originally posted by Flea77
And what is wrong with that? ...


I didn't think my response was hostile at all. You asked the question. I gave you an answer.

Don't confuse the finger pointing at the moon, with the moon itself....

Dan

Originally posted by cyclochica
This thread left me wondering how I should handle the upgrades I am planning for my bike. I know what kind of components I want, but will need help selecting new wheels, handlebar, and other things I can't think of right now. I want my LBS to do the upgrades, but my concern is that I can get the components I want less expensively from the UK.

I don't want to be a bad customer, but am I wrong to buy some of the parts elsewhere and buy the rest from my LBS? This is the shop that does all my tuneups and where I buy all my gear. If you rely on their expertise to select the new wheels/handlebar/etc, it seems only fair to buy from them. They will charge more, but they've earned it by helping you select the items, right?

I will be buying the wheels and other items from them, just not the component group, unless they can match the price I found in the UK. I used to work retail, so I can empathize with those trying to earn a living that way. If it is really ugly of me to come in with a box of components shipped from somewhere else, then I won't do it, but why not save $75 if I can.

I didn't think my response was hostile at all. You asked the question. I gave you an answer.

Don't confuse the finger pointing at the moon, with the moon itself....

I dont think I was confusing anything. Saying you think smoking is disgusting and that it will impact your health is fine. Where you became rude with with this:


You are deluding yourself if you think otherwise.

All the "right gear" and all the pedaling in the world doesn't change the fact that smoking is incompatible with good health.

This is rude because I never said anything about it not being bad for me so you assumed. You also attacked me for saying I had the "right gear", or so it seemed to me and another reader.

I smoke, and I like to smoke. I am also a road rider, and I like to ride. Doing one does not prohibit another and it should not get me attacked because I choose to do so.

Also, from your last message you quoted "what's wrong with that?". If you read that in context that meant "What is wrong with the guy in the story going outside for a smoke and coming back in to talk about the long ride he was going on". It did NOT mean "what is wrong with smoking". So therefore my question still stands unanswered.

Allan

The shop were I sometimes go, only when it is an emergency, is not too bad, but it depends who is working on that day when I go. They have 1 guy there who is a real jerk, all I've seen him do is talk to his friends who hang around the store looking like their important. Also this LBS is way overpriced, and unless you have like 3,000 to spend, you won't even get the time of day. I have found a smaller BS, and when I need service, I sometimes go there as well but it is farther away than the other store.

Because this post is supposed to be about LBS clerks, this will be my last post on this thread.

I believe you did say that "Smoking won't prevent me from keeping up with the pack". As a matter of fact, it does. The Surgeon General and every piece of literature published since the 1960's bears this out. Denial is a hallmark of addiction. Possibly it is rude to point this out, but it is no less true.

"I have all the right equipment, and a nice bike" are your words not mine. I just pointed out that this makes no difference whatsoever.

If you can't see the irony of the "Airborne Smoker" telling the LBS crew all about his planned long ride, immediately after puffing down a smoke, then I guess you just miss the point, and no amount of explaination will help.

Smoke if you want, but don't kid yourself into believing it has no effect on your riding.

Dan

I've had only one bad LBS experience, probably exacerbated by indecisiveness on my part.

Bought bike at Shop A because they accepted trade-ins. Bike developed problem. Shop A is far away, shop B is around the corner.

They replaced the item at shop B, but said go back to A to see if they can get a credit from the manufacturer.

I took it to A, explained the situation and calmly asked if getting a credit was possible. The owner started a paranoid rant about the other shop trying to get him, that the item could be easily fixed (a spoke hole on the rear hub became "enlarged" - that has to be replaced, not fixed, AFAIK). He grew louder, angrier, etc. I calmly waited til he was done, quietly left the store, and never returned.

It took a few months, but shop B got me the credit (it was only $20 - both shops deal with the same manufacturer).
Shop B also answers my questions, makes exchanges and adjustments without attitude problems. And they get all of my business.

They only other problem I've encountered at an LBS is a "culture gap" with younger, gung-ho clerks who sometimes don't seem to understand touring or recreational riders. Not all younger clerks, by far, just a few. Shop B is almost completely oriented toward more casual riding (and a little BMX), so I fit in well there.

Maybe I will start a character thread

Please Do!

I believe you did say that "Smoking won't prevent me from keeping up with the pack". As a matter of fact, it does. The Surgeon General and every piece of literature published since the 1960's bears this out. Denial is a hallmark of addiction. Possibly it is rude to point this out, but it is no less true.

As a matter of fact it does not. All the scientific proof says it reduces your athletic ability, it does NOT kill it off dead! I never said I could win top tier races, or any races for that matter. You seem to be implying that if Lance started smoking he would go from possibly the greatest cyclist in the world to not being able to ride around the block, and that is just ********. Yes, smokers will never reach 100% of their potential, but that doesnt mean they cant be fit.


"I have all the right equipment, and a nice bike" are your words not mine. I just pointed out that this makes no difference whatsoever.

Yes it does! It shows that I am serious about learning to ride an improving my self, and being serious about improvement will help tremendously in anything, athletic or not.


If you can't see the irony of the "Airborne Smoker" telling the LBS crew all about his planned long ride, immediately after puffing down a smoke, then I guess you just miss the point, and no amount of explaination will help.

I see that YOU seem to think that anyone who smokes is incapable of riding anything that could be considered "long" and I am simply pointing out that you are wrong. Could you ride faster/longer if you didnt smoke? Sure! But that doesnt mean you cant do 100+ miles as a smoker if you train. The irony here is the level of ignorance, or just plain obsurdity you are implying.


Smoke if you want, but don't kid yourself into believing it has no effect on your riding.

OK, time for me to be rude. Obviously you either can not read, or choose to omit things that do not fit what you want to hear. I have REPEATEDLY stated that SMOKING WILL IMPAIR YOUR ATHLETIC ABILITY (or words to that effect). What I will not admit is that if you smoke you can not ride, because I am living proof that is garbage.

Allan

Would you guys please take this outside (this thread)

I had a bad experience with my LBS. I'm new to riding and strictly a casual rider. I wanted to get a computer for the bike so I could see how far I've ventured, etc. My boyfriend has been into this place before but he's a bike fanatic so I guess they respect him a bit more.

I walked in and asked where the computers were. Naturally they were behind the counter. OK, I can deal with that (shoplifters ruin everything). The thing that pissed me off was that I told the guy I was just a casual rider, at which point he completely lost interest in me. The jack*** rudely threw a Cateye at me, told me that's what I needed, and then pretty much ignored me. Granted it wasn't the most expensive model they had, but I would have appreciated a bit of help looking at the +/- of the other ones they had. I will never set foot in that place again even though it's the closest store to my house.

By contrast the shop down near my boyfriend's house is fantastic. I've been in there a few times with him and they leave you alone when you want to be left alone, but when you have a question, I found them to be very helpful and polite. I just wish they were closer to my house. :( Such is life.

Originally posted by DanFromDetroit
Because this post is supposed to be about LBS clerks, this will be my last post on this thread.
...
...
Smoke if you want, but don't kid yourself into believing it has no effect on your riding.

Dan

Well, to throw a wrench in the spokes and drag this sort of back on topic, the owner of the shop I used to work at was a heavy smoker. He was also a dedicated rider, and it wasn't unusual to see him gliding up hills with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. It bugged me occasionally when he'd smoke in the shop, but he kept it back in the repair area for the most part. I learned enough about bikes (and life, actually) from him to not begrudge him his vices, especially since they didn't seem to slow him down in the slightest.

He was one of those grumpy old shop guys that you either loved or hated, but he had an insane amount of knowledge to impart if he took to you.

I have for the most part good experiences in the LBS's in my neighborhood (there are about 5 within about 15 miles of me) Usually when I roll up to the store, and start to look around... the shop guys will roll up, and ask if I am looking for anything in particular... most of the time i am window shopping... if I see the shop is slow, I'll talk to the guys working... but if they are busy, I just tell them from the beginning, I am just browsing, so that they don;t waste their time on me... I used to work in an electronics store as a salesman... I hate when people stroke me for 45 minutes, and never buy anything, when all the while I see other people I could be selling to just wandering around... I know that some of thses guys work on comission, and I wouldn;t want to waste their time.... most of the guys I do talk to at my LBS are pretty knowledgable, and will talk at length abotu components, the advantages of certain wheelsets compared to others.. etc. but if I am talking to a guy, and i see that buyers are there.. I let him know it;s ok to leave me, and go help them... and I would expect them to do so... a good shop guy will do just that...

Jeff

I find no differences in dealing with LBS and any other kind of shop. Usually the owners and a coupld of old hands know the trade well and are impatient with bs, and there are a bunch of kids who don't have the knowledge, but who will in ten years, and who can't recognize bs as quickly.

I also find the old guys know a lot of things which are in dispute among regular participants in these forums and other bicycle writers, as well as among the old guys at shops. In some cases there is just no way to tell. It is extrememly unlikely that I need a different size frame in each bike store, yet I have been fitted with sizes from 55-59. I have been riding an overly large frame (25") so I am interested in exploring the impact of going to smaller frames. I know that only riding will tell me if they know what they are talking about. The things they all agree on I thought I knew before I got into the shop- such as the key to wheel longevity is even spoke tension. Get much beyond that and preventive maintenance and you get different views everywhere.

I think the bottom line is that the most knowledgeable shop owners and workers are the least flexible- that applies in other areas like skiing as well. Just be careful to distinguish their taste from yours, or accommodate and develop taste similar to theirs. The old hands' techniques work for them and for quite a few others.

Finally, I believe that there is a wide range of prices at which any particular transaction can take place. If you get too good a deal, the other party has little incentive to keep dealing with you and vice versa. There is a benefit to repetitive dealings with the same party.