Mountain Biking - Hostage

So i have an Azonic DS1 that i got on craigslist for $140.. It has a sweet Jr T fork and its actually set up with some really nice stuff.. Well me being me, i bought it to sell it..

So i took it to the LBS to get it ready to go and they said that all i really needed was a tune up, new break pads, and new cables. I was told that the price would be $130 and i to pay it when i pick the bike up..

I go back in a few days later with my $130 ready to pay for it and they tell me that the price is $220! They said that the $130 was the price without labor and the total is $220! Now i know that its just $90 (thats still alot) but thats not what got me so frusterated..

Im not some LBS basher, but do some of them make you pay after its done so they can hold your bike hostage untill you pay the price they set??

Learn to do the work yourself.....just a thought.

Learn to do the work yourself.....just a thought.

Exactly. Cut out the LBSes until they all die out.

yes sir.

If you're flipping bikes, do the refurbs yourself. It's not like the tasks you talked about are very hard. If you're not capable of doing them, perhaps this isn't a good way for you to make money.

If you're flipping bikes, do the refurbs yourself. It's not like the tasks you talked about are very hard. If you're not capable of doing them, perhaps this isn't a good way for you to make money.

i usually dont have to take them to the LBS. Most of the time i buy a bike, clean it up, take better pictures and make a killer ad. Trust me man its a very promising income to have on the side.

Oh and Dminor, if you read this...

dont worry, im not interested in the Blindside just so i can sell it ! haha

This is why I'm learning to build a bike from the ground up. When they tuned up the Wahoo a few months back, the wheels were still out of true to the point where they rubbed against the brakes, the brake cables were not properly adjusted, & my crankset was still squeaking. I haven't been back since.

That was pretty crappy of the shop to only quote part of the job. I trust that you will 1) Not go back there; 2) Tell them you will never go back; 3) Tell them you will tell everyone you know to steer clear of them 4) Consider reporting them tro your local BBB; 5) Mention them by name in an online forum (especially the regional board) so that they get the recognition they deserve.

But before you do that, make sure that it was not just honest miscommunication on either of your parts.

Dang, if I wasn't committed now to a Yeti DJ, I'd have been interested in that DS-1. They're hard to find anymore and with a different fork would make a great rig for the new BMX track.

i usually dont have to take them to the LBS. Most of the time i buy a bike, clean it up, take better pictures and make a killer ad. Trust me man its a very promising income to have on the side.

A promising income but only if you do the work yourself. Paying even $130 for "tune up, new break pads, and new cables" cuts all your profit.

I go back in a few days later with my $130 ready to pay for it and they tell me that the price is $220! They said that the $130 was the price without labor and the total is $220! Now i know that its just $90 (thats still alot) but thats not what got me so frusterated..

Im not some LBS basher, but do some of them make you pay after its done so they can hold your bike hostage untill you pay the price they set??

That's just unacceptable. The shop should have gotten your approval before starting the work. I'd be sure to tell the shop management that you're not happy with the large difference between the quoted amount and the final bill. They might try and work with you.

The shop I deal with gives you a quote, gets you to sign it, and at that time, you indicate how much the price has to change before they call you (i.e., preauthorize the max amount you want to pay without consultation).

So them charging an extra $90 without consultation sounds pretty shady.

If there is any significant change shops are supposed to notify you via phone.

if they quote you a price, that price BETTER include labor, parts, all the things they expect. if they tell you a price, then that is how much you pay, not a cent more. usually they should quote you high, so you feel better when you find out it wasn't as expensive as they told you. what they did was just plain flat out wrong. and like others have said, if they tell you a price, then find extra work that needs to be done making the price higher, they need to call you and ask if they can and let you know how much it's going to be. you should mention this shop to the better business bureau, and tell as many people as you can about what they did to you.

$ 130 for brake pads & cables ? That has labor into it.

I know it want just a misunderstanding.. They are kind of "shady" in more ways then one. If you go in there and you already own a bike and you clearly tell then that you aren't going to buy anything they are very slow to answer your questions and sometimes they will just go in the back til you leave.. They are never busy and I have never seen more then 2 people in there at a time except when Sam and I go together there could be 3... But that being said, I think there prices are a little high for almost everything, and they are a bit rude...

Oh and I believe I failed to mention... None of them mtb they are all roadies.

I know it want just a misunderstanding.. They are kind of "shady" in more ways then one. If you go in there and you already own a bike and you clearly tell then that you aren't going to buy anything they are very slow to answer your questions and sometimes they will just go in the back til you leave.. They are never busy and I have never seen more then 2 people in there at a time except when Sam and I go together there could be 3... But that being said, I think there prices are a little high for almost everything, and they are a bit rude...

Oh and I believe I failed to mention... None of them mtb they are all roadies.

They probably twitter and follow Lance, as well. Test them. Next time you go in say something like, "Did you read Lance Armstrong's tweet about that Dan MacAskill guy?"

Learn to do the work yourself.....just a thought.
Exactly. I do all my own wrenching and here is where I spent my last $220 on:
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj234/victim_01095/DSC_0024.jpg
Much more productive use of funds eh?:lol:

Always get a quote in writing, big first lesson. Second, if you are flipping a product you have to do your own work, you loose too much margin paying someone to do your work.

Don't worry about that shop, from what you describe, they won't be around long. As far as shops, a small "Roadie Boutique" has earned my respect more than a couple of "Do everything" shops. You need to find a local resource. BF/MTB Thread can do a lot, but not everything.

Bike shops need to make money and aren't the public library. Find out what they wrenches like, donuts, bagels, a certain brand of beer. If you need 10 minutes of advice, pat the crew on the back some tangible way. Just look around the work area, you'll find out what they like.

Exactly. I do all my own wrenching and here is where I spent my last $220 on:
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj234/victim_01095/DSC_0024.jpg
Much more productive use of funds eh?:lol:

I see a Clyde Forum membership in your future. We are the beer experts.

Celebration FTW. It makes an incoming northeast winter bearable. Barely.

What's in the 1942 box?

Don Julio 1942 tequila. Mmmmmmmm

I'll be right over

I'll be right over
:lol:

Don't worry about that shop, from what you describe, they won't be around long.

Sad thing is that they've been around quite a while. At least 5 years at another location down the street, then they moved to a bigger building 2 years ago. They are nice guys every time I go in there but their prices are high & their skills are a bit low. One guy is quite skillful, but the shop owner who does most of the work is not. And that does seem like a miscommunication. I was able to get new brake pads & cables a few months ago for ~$40, & then $75 for a full tune-up a few weeks later. That would be right around what you were originally quoted.

Oh & John, another idea is to take your dad up there to talk to them. I know it sounds like a ***** move but people will try to take advantage of us just because we're young & they think there's nothing we can do about it. When they see a successful 40-year-old walk in pissed off & ready to call the BBB, they tend to tremble just a little bit more. Just throwin' it out there.

And either way, I would inform the BBB just because that's bad practice quoting a price slightly too high & then nearly doubling it on the day of the payment.

Celebration FTW. It makes an incoming northeast winter bearable. Barely.

What's in the 1942 box?

Don't be such a *****. Your time down south made you soft.

I'll be right over

Take Wheeliemert, he may go on another component rant.

Saranac Black and Tan FTW. It makes living in the northeast bearable. Barely.

What's in the 1942 box?

Fixed.

Deschutes Jubelale FTW. It makes an incoming Albertan front bearable. Barely.More fixed.




An 8' Western Pro Plow with power angling wouldn't hurt either. >sigh<

Hey, they come via BC!