Road Cycling - Ethical question concerning LBS....

Okay... I bought my new Trek 2300 about a month ago (even posted pictures on here) and figured I'd deal with the saddle as long as I could to give it a real chance. 1,000 miles later and I still can't stand the damned thing! Sooo... I begin last weekend talking to my guy at the LBS, and he offered to let me use an extra Fizik Alliante that he had sitting around the shop. I've been riding it for the past week and have loved it, but I know that I cannot afford it right now. I took the bike back for its 90 day checkup yesterday (at 1,000 miles I was due) and told him to go ahead and put the old saddle back on, and I'd try and save up some money for the Alliante. SO I get teh bike back last night, and the borrowed saddle is still on there. Now, this guy has always been a little spacey, but I'm thinking that maybe he lost my old saddle or something like that and didn't want to tell me. I don't know.... Should I say anything? I don't want to be dishonest, but damn... I love the saddle, and I told him to put the old one back on....

Advice?

Okay... I bought my new Trek 2300 about a month ago (even posted pictures on here) and figured I'd deal with the saddle as long as I could to give it a real chance. 1,000 miles later and I still can't stand the damned thing! Sooo... I begin last weekend talking to my guy at the LBS, and he offered to let me use an extra Fizik Alliante that he had sitting around the shop. I've been riding it for the past week and have loved it, but I know that I cannot afford it right now. I took the bike back for its 90 day checkup yesterday (at 1,000 miles I was due) and told him to go ahead and put the old saddle back on, and I'd try and save up some money for the Alliante. SO I get teh bike back last night, and the borrowed saddle is still on there. Now, this guy has always been a little spacey, but I'm thinking that maybe he lost my old saddle or something like that and didn't want to tell me. I don't know.... Should I say anything? I don't want to be dishonest, but damn... I love the saddle, and I told him to put the old one back on....

Advice?


If you don't want to be dishonest, as you say, then take the saddle back. Let the owner decide how to make good with you if he lost your original seat.

Talk to him about your situation and maybe you can work out a payment plan.

what do those go for?

sounds like you have a conscience and if you went as far as writing this thread to a message board, you will certainly lose sleep over the situation. For this reason, definitely talk to the LBS and see what the situation is.

Call the owner and tell him what happened. If you are right and he lost your seat, you'll get lucky and get this great new one. If it was just a forgetful moment from the owner, you'll have done the right thing in making the call.
If you don't call him, imagine how uncomfortable you will be the next time you bring your bike in for repairs.

Go or call and thank him for leaving on the one you like and ask how to pay him for it.
Joe

Inquire first about your original saddle..... and if they can't come up with it which is very undoubtful because I'm sure they've got tons of similar saddles on other bikes, then consider it an even exchange.

Go or call and thank him for leaving on the one you like and ask how to pay him for it.
Joe


If I ever lose my wallet, I hope one of you guys find it. From the posts I've read, it looks like I'd get it back!

I think most shops offer a saddle exchange with a new bike purchase. If this shop does, then you might not be in the ethical dilema you think you're in. Although 1000 miles is a lot, if your original saddle looks good and the shop does saddle exchanges then you might just owe the difference in price between the two.

Take it back. If we asked the LBS to do something and they forgot to do it and we'd paid, we'd take the bike back and get them to do it. The reverse should hold true as well. I get the impression that you'll feel guilty every time you sit on that saddle if you don't say something!

I'd say contact the LBS and find out whats goin on
and dont leave us hangin out here either
we GOT TO KNOW TOO lol

Keep the saddle, change your phone number and never go back to this LBS.

Or not.

55/Rad

If I ever lose my wallet, I hope one of you guys find it. From the posts I've read, it looks like I'd get it back!

I was on a ride once through Granite Falls. We stopped into the greek restaurant there (good Greek food in Granite Falls... whoddathunkit?) and when I went to use the restroom, I found not only a wallet left on top of the toilet but also a set of car keys. I turned them in to the waitress at the restaurant. In hindsight, I probably should have scrounged around the wallet to find a phone number so I could give the person a call.

Now back to the original topic. bpohl, I agree that the best course of action is to take the bike back to the shop and let the LBS owner know how grateful you are for him letting you borrow the saddle. Tell him your impressions of the saddle and try and work out a fair exchange. If he had forgotten or one of his lackeys forgot and left the Fizik on then you'll get your old saddle back and all will end as was originally expected. If he's lost the original saddle then I'm sure there can be something done to allow you to pay the difference so you can keep the better saddle. Either way going in and getting it resolved will give you peace of mind and that's certainly worth the effort. And to echo what others have said, let us know the outcome.

Honesty is often rewarded with generousity. Guy might even say keep it, or some low, cover his wholesale cost.

Your guy at the shop sounds like a nice fella. If you bring up the issue, he may get in trouble. Can you live with that on your conscience?

(just playing devil's advocate...if you come clean, you will gain respect and an honest reputation, which cannot be bought for the price of any seat)

Honesty is often rewarded with generousity. Guy might even say keep it, or some low, cover his wholesale cost.

exactly

If it was me, if I didn't at least call him about it, I'd expect to get a bill in the mail.

Bring it back. If you don't, and he discovers what he did later, I'm sure that 1) you'll receive a bill for it, 2) if he doesn't, you won't be able to go back there, because he'll see the saddle and figure it out, 3) it's the right thing to do, and I'm sure you're not a rotten person, since you're asking us about it, and 4) (most importantly) you can ruin it for the rest of the customers because when he does figure it out, he'll never be as kind as to allow the rest of the customers the opportunity to test before buying.

Don't spoil it. Bring it back- I'm sure this guy will be grateful enough to help you out in turn.

Koffee

If it were me, I couldn't face going back in there knowing I hadn't paid for that and should have. I'd just call and act suprised it was still on the bike and explain that you can't afford it right now and see what he says. Like others said before, not only is honesty the best policy but you may be suprised what kind of a deal he can work out for you.

Face it, it's in your best interest to not only keep him in business but to be able to go back there. And it's in his best interest to keep you a happy customer so that you will give him repeat business. ;)

Bring it back. If you don't, and he discovers what he did later, I'm sure that 1) you'll receive a bill for it, 2) if he doesn't, you won't be able to go back there, because he'll see the saddle and figure it out, 3) it's the right thing to do, and I'm sure you're not a rotten person, since you're asking us about it, and 4) (most importantly) you can ruin it for the rest of the customers because when he does figure it out, he'll never be as kind as to allow the rest of the customers the opportunity to test before buying.

Don't spoil it. Bring it back- I'm sure this guy will be grateful enough to help you out in turn.

Koffee

Agreed.

I took my street bike a week ago for an overhaul. They replaced the derailluer, freewheel and a cable but forgot to charge me for the parts! I called them on the phone and told them what happened. The very next morning, I was there to pay for all the parts and labor. ($140.00 worth) He gave me the shop card and the next time, I'll get 20% of all parts and labor!

He may have decided to let you borrow it till you caould afford a new one.... it may be a used one that he is gonna swap out with yours.... the possibilities are many. Stop in with the bike, call, whatever...... but as said earlier....let us know!

[QUOTE=khuon]I was on a ride once through Granite Falls. We stopped into the greek restaurant there (good Greek food in Granite Falls... whoddathunkit?)


Where do you get Greek food in Granite Falls ? I go through there all the time and haven't stopped anywhere to eat there for 20+ years. The only places I see are logger taverns and a Denny's type coffee shop called the Timberline which didn't inspire. Has the place gone upscale enough to get a decent restaurant ? Is it on the main drag or back in the "business district" ?

Where do you get Greek food in Granite Falls ?

I'm trying to remember the name of it. I know it's across the street from the diner that's next to a gas station and it's kitty-corner from a supermarket. I think it's at the main intersection there in the middle of town. All I know is that the bunch of us rolled into town and were looking for a place to eat when I noticed the advertisement in the window for a gyro. We looked no further. It might have not been a solely Greek restaurant but they did serve Greek food. I think it might be Omega Pizza and Pasta (http://yp.mapquest.com/main.adp?_dlc=150%2b&_dis=1&_dirsview=sponsors&_dirskip=0&_dirletter=&_direxpand=2&_dgid=0%2c111509535&_dgskip=0%2c8&_dircid=111509535&_diradid=0&_diraction=map&_dircity=Granite+Falls&_dirstate=WA&_dirlat=480842&_dirlong=%2d1219675&_dirzip=&_dby=&_dircat=581208&_dirnamesearch=&_diraddress=&_dirdma=24&_dirpid=).

So what happened? Did you come clean with the LBS? Did he offer you anything for being honest (ie discount or payment options?)?

Well... an update...
Took the bike in for service and reminded him THREE times to take off his saddle and put on my old saddle. Well, when I picked it back up, I was in a hurry and didn't really notice, but he had not put my old saddle back on. Is it my Alliante now?

how would you not notice?

Well... an update...
Took the bike in for service and reminded him THREE times to take off his saddle and put on my old saddle. Well, when I picked it back up, I was in a hurry and didn't really notice, but he had not put my old saddle back on. Is it my Alliante now?

I do believe it is!

how would you not notice?

Agreed. The absolute right thing to do is to tell him that you can't afford this saddle, tell him that you reminded him/his shop numerous times to remove and that you would be willing to 1) negotiate a price and payment plan if he would be willing to make you a killer deal on this (now used) fizik, 2) put your original saddle back on, or 3) because this all came up due to your hating the oem saddle, provide you with a different-but-equivalent model to oem free of charge.

At first, everyone loves to be the benficiary of someone else's mistake, but I've found that I sleep better and respect myself more as an honest person. On the other hand, no one here is your father (I hope!) :)

Keep riding on it to make extra sure you really like it.{While you save up**

If you want to come clean despite the LBS owner's best efforts to be stupid, remove it yourself, walk into the LBS with the saddle and ONLY the saddle. Offer a payment plan and/or ask for something equivilent to your old saddle.

I say give it one more try. Specifically ask him about the saddle and whether he intends you to keep it. If he says "Keep it," just ride away and remember him at holiday time with a token of your appreciation. Also, let him know that you'll steer as many bikers his way as possible. If he just forgot to do anything about it and would like to sell it to you, ask him if he can do a deal and allow you to pay over time.

It looks like it's your saddle until the guy says it isn't - but it would be good to know with greater finality. It's hard to tell if he just forgot (even with three reminders) or if he's subtley giving you a perk for being a good customer.

Good luck!

Dean

I do believe it is!
right on it's all yours
joe

Did the person at the shop respond when you asked him to take it off and put your old sadle back on? It would seem to be the time when he would let you know if he was considering it a trade.

I think he was probably saying "try this and if it works it's yours". He probably made a pretty penny off you when you purchased the bike and wants your business (tires, etc...) so he is being nice.

Just my 2 cents!

If I ever lose my wallet, I hope one of you guys find it. From the posts I've read, it looks like I'd get it back!


Being honest is like being pregnant you either is or you arn't.

You tried pretty hard to be honest. If you really want to feel guilt free, you take the saddle in (without the bike) and say you like it but can't afford it and want the original back and in all likelyhood, they will say not to worry about it. The better saddle has a much wear as the original by now!

Being honest is like being pregnant you either is or you arn't.

I disagree. . .at least until they make a test where you can pee on a stick and it tells if you are honest or not.

Pinocchio notwithstanding, of course. :)