Mountain Biking - Anyone else hate going to the bike shop as much as i do?

so today after I went riding, my friend is getting a new crank so he dropped his bike off at the shop to get it all put on ... first we had to stand around for like 15 mins for the guy to actually come help us ... then the guy tries to sell me a bunch of **** and talks about how badly my bike needs a tune up ... and how it will all come to just $92!

Anyways, my pivot on my bike has also been creaking and my dad says i have a new one lying around here somewhere and i cant for the life of me find the damn thing! I really need to put it in too because im sure it isnt good to ride my bike the way it is ... only started creakin after I went to downieville.

Just in case i dont find it ... does anyone know what the pivot on a 97 klein mantra race goes for? anyone got one lying around? Cause im convinced after looking that i dont even have one like my dad says i do.

I hear you Melt... tune-ups I feel are over priced... Since the store only has to use labour, it's all profit for them... so tune-ups are a big push to sell. My advice, get to know the owner of one store and deal with them only.. once you trust the store, the prices go down and frequency of expensive repairs goes down too!! :)

Joe

I love going to the bike shop.

Most of my friends work there, and they let me use their tools to fix stuff for free. And if its something i cant do, the work on my bike for free. Bare in mind though, I also spend upward of $5,000 US per year in the place on parts and frames.

The best thing to do, is pay for a tune up, but insist the mechanic walk you through how to do it all, so that way, you can do it yourself next time, and quit whining about the prices.

I would say it depends on what is included in that tune if the price is fair. To blanketly say that tuneups are overpriced is unfair. A full tuneup takes that mechanic a bit of time which he gets paid for, and store has to cover it's costs..etc... and in reality whenever you get work done you are not paying for the time you are paying for that mechanics knowledge. Similar to when you have you're car worked on, that one book states how many hours it takes let's say changing a fuel pump is quoted at taking 3 hours, you pay for 3 hours of labor. Now if the mechanic knows this car very well he will get it done in 2. This is when they make money. But other times if is unusual problem etc, it could take longer let's say 5 hours, yet they can still only charge for 3. Any service industry is like this.

this was from the owner of the store, my friend has bought many bikes there ... including my klein which was his before it was mine.

Originally posted by mtbkanata
Since the store only has to use labour, it's all profit for them...

All profit indeed, since the mechanics all work for free in a building provided free by the county, with electricity, telephone, heat, and water donated by the utility companies.

And of course the owner of the store is independently wealthy, and so doesn't need any of that horrible, filthy profit to buy food for his kids and put a roof over their heads.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Come on, are people really this naive?

RichC

I like going to the lbs, oops, that's because I work at one.

I actualy like going to my LBS, they don't bug me leave me look around as long as I want. If I go up the conter they are fairly prompt to help me then. The one thing I don't like about going there is seeing all the new bikes and toys :) I can't afford to buy them all :(

I see you're all having fun with this one. Yes, a $49.99 tune-up costs the shop nothing more than then are paying already. The rent, staff and taxes would be there whether someone ordered a bell, or a tune-up. The $10 they make off a $200 hybrid is not what is the bread and butter... Labour and accessories bring up the bottom line and keep the shops in business.

Of course there is nothing wrong with this... everyone needs to make money, and when you have something that is a skilled labour, you can charge for it. It's not something with a MSRP and not something most people can do at home.

Whatever... I dislike most shops myself.. I think it's from the bad experiences I have had. There is only one shop here in Ottawa that I go to now... great people, great service... once you have that, you're set.

Joe

A $40 tune- up might seem expensive but you must consider what goes into it.

Mechanic's wages for time spent on bike = $16
Shop rags/lubricants/cleaners = $4
Service Ticket paperwork = $1
Wear and Tear on expensive tools that you do not and will not ever own = $5
Overhead (building rent, Utilities, Insurance, etc.) = $5
Having someone who looks at bikes all day long check yours over from end to end and find that hairline crack in your carbon handlebar thereby saving you from eating ***** the next time you ride = priceless

Sometimes it is best to have your ride checked by someone who REALLY knows what they are doing. I cannot count the number of times I have performed tune ups for customers and uncovered potentially dangerous problems that they themselves would have never noticed until it was too late. Love your lbs and they will at least love your bike.

-Ryan

the mechanics at bike shops are usually pretty cool ... i just hate dealing with the cocky salesmen.

Originally posted by Melt
the mechanics at bike shops are usually pretty cool ... i just hate dealing with the cocky salesmen.


Please share some stories of the cocky salesmen...I always love to hear about stuff like that:D

Originally posted by BikerRyan

Sometimes it is best to have your ride checked by someone who REALLY knows what they are doing. I cannot count the number of times I have performed tune ups for customers and uncovered potentially dangerous problems that they themselves would have never noticed until it was too late. Love your lbs and they will at least love your bike.

-Ryan

I don't think all LBS's do check ur bike from head to toe, for those minor ENDO cracks waiting to happen. If I knew a technician was doing that to my bike, i wouldn't mind paying. But when i bought my bike, it said "5 years free warranty"... i REALLY doubt they would check my bike over like that EVEN if i brought it in once a year..since it was for free. If i bring it in, i don't even know what they'd do to it...maybe add some oil..but i doubt they won't check my brake lines or nething like that...that's just my thought =) So far, the LBS is ok..they don't keep nagging u to buy stuff, and the young guys (around my age) are good at explaining about stuff that i may want.

I think its a question of shopping around for the best LBS. If you know someone who knows a good LBS or even knows someone who works there, then at least you can pass on the name when you go to get your bike checked or buy parts. It flatters them a bit when you can say they come recommended. Before long you should be getting discounts and be on "first name" terms with them. You never know- you might even get on their Christmas card list :D Ask for their business card, leaflets or their own shop stickers or any other freebies or "gizzets" if they have them and tell them you'll pass on the word.

Just a thought - how many millionaire bike shop owners do know? :p

at my LBS I find an honest, hepful mechanic, store full of interesting stuff, I'd like to own and kind of people I like to hang out with.
Often, I find a ride somehow swings about my favorite bike shop. Besides food used on rides is far cheaper there, than at 7-11.

I really like going to the bike shops. Its like a toy store for adults and kids. It just hurts my pocket, but it is a good thing. Also anything that is mechanical, you unfortunately have to repair at some time, it really pays to be mechanical.

What to say? Most mechanics, in any field, are honest, experienced guys doing good work, that others either can not or will not do, in order to make a living. If any one feels that I charge to much, fine, I will still be there when they need something fixed they can't figure out, no hard feelings on my side.

Originally posted by Weasel
I think its a question of shopping around for the best LBS. If you know someone who knows a good LBS or even knows someone who works there, then at least you can pass on the name when you go to get your bike checked or buy parts. It flatters them a bit when you can say they come recommended. Before long you should be getting discounts and be on "first name" terms with them. You never know- you might even get on their Christmas card list :D Ask for their business card, leaflets or their own shop stickers or any other freebies or "gizzets" if they have them and tell them you'll pass on the word.

Just a thought - how many millionaire bike shop owners do know? :p

jim hoyt, the guy who owns bikemart, has to be worth over 5 million. he was even on the news using armstrong's TDF win to slip in the fact that armstrong bought his first bike there. Hoyt is a nice guy but his staff is worthless.

I ordered shimano 555 hydro's from there and the guy waited until 2 weeks later to tell me they are out of production.
i ordered fox midranger shorts in khaki and when i went to pick them up they were blue. the guy helping actually had the nads to get frustrated with me, i almost lost it. THEY SCREWED UP, and the guy is getting MAD at me!!! I almost complained to hoyt, but i hate tattletales so i didn't.

i'd like to hear cocky salesman stories too.

All of my local bike shops suck. One of them is just a bunch of burnt out stoners sitting around behind a counter or wrenching poorly, the other is full of snobs who want to sell you their rediculously overpriced equiptment, and the other one is always trying to push you into buying all sorts of stupid ****, and the worst part about that is that it's some old guy who obviously doesn't even ride trying to hawk **** on you. There's also one shop that doesn't sell any high end parts or bikes whatsoever because I guess high end bikes aren't as profitable as just selling junker campus commuters. So they don't have a part that's much more than LX, let alone anything better. So.. I learned to wrench on my own bike, basically. I do all my own maintenance and repairs except major things like fork rebuilds or installing forks/headsets.

everytime i walk into this one shop, all of the mechanics try to gang up on me and sell me bullsh!t. last time i went in they explained to me for 10 minutes why i should replace my strongarm cranks for XT cranks. i even told him that mine were fine and he went on to tell me how much better xt is. so i just said that i don't even change gears on the front ring and got out of there so i didn't have to listen to their horsepoo anymore.

the funniest part about it is that even if i did upgrade to XT there is no way i would pay their over msrp prices anyways.

the previous time i went in, i asked for some help deciding on some disc brakes. I told the guy i wanted to spend about $250 on some workhorse brakes. The guy pulls out some xtr brakes $280 and some xtr shifter/lever pods $400. i wondered to my self if the guy even spoke english. he tells me about how great they are and this and that. I'm sure they are great, but for $700 i could get some hope mini's and an XTR crank.

Originally posted by nismo400
jim hoyt, the guy who owns bikemart, has to be worth over 5 million. he was even on the news using armstrong's TDF win to slip in the fact that armstrong bought his first bike there. Hoyt is a nice guy but his staff is worthless.

All right, all right, I stand corrected :p

You guys make feel really fortunate to have a LBS in town, that has owners that you can respect. These guys have really worked hard, and have a lot of integrity. Sure they want to sell you their bikes, but they prefer you try everything that is out there also. No pressure, no gimmicks, and that is what keeps us going back to the same LBS.

Cocky salesmen? Yeah loads of them ...in several bikeshops in Greece. Official Marzocchi Dealer. Z1dropoff 600$ (usuall European price 400$) .He knows nothing bout forks....as almost everyone in Greece. They usually have the following attitude " Customer looks at a 2000$ bike.....clerk: Who are you to stare at such a bike ...this is THE bike and you are not worth of it...i imported it and its a limited edition blahblahblah"....bottom line...they never get my cash...and i usually know more stuff about forks/frames parts than them.
Funny thing....i had to explain how to convert the travel for manitou Axel forks to.....ManitouUK ...(really? is that so? is there a washer there?) and i wasnt talking to a salesman...i was talking to a service mechanic.
On the other hand...i got a nice lbs here very helpfull.

I have one lbs that does most service for free for me.gives me free stuff and great deasl on bikes.But he doesn't do the greatest work,he's rude at times,doesn't ride anymore,and doesn't care to converse at all about bikes or rides. The main shop i use now i get a little discount on parts or bikes,does great work(which i gladly pay for),rides every week,asks me about my weekly rides every time i go in,does NOT carry the brands of bikes that i like and asks me to ride w/ his group,and just loves to talk bikes. Its amazing the differences in shops that are ou there. Anyway i love going to my lbs as well as others when out of town.I'm like a kid in a candy store!

one of the best shops in my area that i can think of is palisades mountain sport of calistoga. They only carry like 3 brands of bikes, but their service department is sweet

I love my LBS. I could browse forever in the LBS, that and the bookstore, are my favorite places to shop.

i thought i'd pop in and say that i have 2 LBS i visit.


one is a half hour away, where i get my free tuneups from. the staff is nice, but its a larger store so its not that great.


the other is 5 minutes down the road. small store, AWSOME people there, i LOVE it.


one guy reminds me very much of Kramer.. hes awsome. I had purchased my bike from the half-hour away one, and needed shoes, but didnt feel like going that far. i was a bit worried about not being treated too great because of the fact i bought the bike from the other store.


however this guy treated me awsome! he actually asked where i got it from and goes "ah thats a great place to buy bikes! free tuneups.. its a nice shop."

i guess he relized that the other shop isnt going to be getting much more of my money, since i go to his all the time for odds+ends.

i bought my bike comp there... 30 dollar model and another salesguy sees my shirt and goes "you play guitar? cool! me too. what do you play?"

we chatted for a while.. and he gave me the comp for 20 dollars cause i was a "Fellow guitarest"



:D

Heya, I just went to take my new fork in to get fitted and put on my bike. I wanted to do it myself but i decided to let them since i assume they have a special tube cutter and they'll be able to adjust the fork to make sure it's setup right. I have the feeling they're gunna charge me around $50 to do this. Does this seem like an insane price for a fork install? I was thinking probably $25 - 30 and now i'm looking at $50. This seems hard to believe, i feel like i'm getting ripped off, granted i didn't buy the parts from them, but come on all they have to do is cut it and put it on and a few other small things. The LBS just bought this brand >new< NICE and BIG store and it seems like they're charging more for everything there, at this point I wish i would have just had them cut the fork and be done with it because i feel ripped off now. Am I wrong here?

I hear those who dont like the prices of tune-ups and that is acceptable. But next time, instead of paying 100 bucks for a tune up, go to the hardware store and buy some wrenches, allen keys,etc.etc, and learn to do your own repairs. Download the Barnetts Manuals on bikeforums and learn your repairs for free.