CosmicF

First off, as a business owner myself, I totally want to support my local businesses. Luckily we have several bike shops in my area. And, I understand the value of paying a little more for something at a B&M over buying online to keep these wonderful stores open. But, geez, we have one bike store where every time I go there the young employees (and codger owner) turn everything I inquire about into a pissing contest. I hate this in any area of B&M.

"Oh, so your still riding 26ers. We don't carry that old crap, because everyone is going 29er, and they've even stopped making 26" tires, dude."
"The top bar to saddle geometry affects the geometry of the cadence of blah blah blah" words I don't even understand...
"Yeh, going tubeless reduces rolling weight, which is where the rider feels it most..." five minutes latter... "Yeh, fat tires is where it's at, bro, and its rolling weight, so the rider doesn't feel it as much."
"Why do you want that for such an old piece of crap? Just buy a new bike."
"At you age... blah blah blah" because I stopped listening to the snot nosed f'er.

I then drive down to the other bike shop, and get treated like a real person, without jargon laden BS, and the guy actually listens to me about what I am looking for, and why... and, his suggestions are done with compassion and courtesy.

But, the thing that boggles my mind is that the horrible CS bike shop has prices that are at extortion levels, but has been in business for longer. And, the nice guy's bike shop has much better prices. It boggles my mind how they've stayed in business.

Anyways, if there are bike shop owners on here, tell your surfer punk brats working for you that us old guys realize that these young guys have knowledge that we appreciate, but we get turned off at attitude. When I was younger and poorer, I would have probably whipped mine out to show that I could wiz farther, but I am way more likely to just put my hand out to stop a jargon filled rant and turn around and leave ...than I was back when I couldn't afford to drop a few thousand on a bike.

Just my rant after a night of bike shopping. Thank you for tolerating me.

indyfabz

Your rant begs the obvious question: Why in the world to you keep going there?

CosmicF

Ha ha, good point, my first time was 20 years ago, then about once about every two years after that. Same thing since I first walked through their doors way back when... It's not like I go there for everything, and usually I am forced to, because they are the only place open on Sundays. Being tied to my own business, I can at least appreciate being able to go get a new chain or tire on Sunday, so that I can get some riding in on my free day. But good observation.
But, yes, when I can get out of my own shop, I will always go to one of the other places.

10 Wheels

Guessing someone hits him on the head with a hammer.

CosmicF

Ahh, I am starting to realize that one probably needs pretty thick skin to participate in this forum.
I will just go back to lurking and reading to learn new stuff from you guys and keep my trap shut.

My post was probably not very helpful for anyone. Just posted something that was buzzing in my head... after getting hit with a hammer, ha ha.

Jarrett2

Some people fawn at perceived superiority.

Other people are smart

bulldog1935

I think all his observations are fair, and pretty consistent across the range of bike shops.

hankaye

Howdy All;

In this area Southern N.M. LBS's are akin to hen's teeth. The 2 closest are 60 miles from me
in Las Cruces, N.M.. One is owner by what would be considered to be Oscar the Grouch's twin
n a bad day and the other by a "codger", with a seasoned Mgr. By seasoned I mean that the
guy knows his stuff as far a bikes and how to listen. It's a typical night-v-day comparison. I
visited the first as it was easier to when I went to run some other errands and haven't been
back since. The other store has my bike at the moment awaiting a new front fork then a full tune-up
(mid level). At this stage of my life I'm not apt to suffer attitude and bluster much and will take my
business elsewhere ... if available. If not then I'll travel to find it. Next set of LBS's is at 100 miles (+ or -),
in El Paso, Tx. Nearest Co-Op is in Silver City, N.M. 100 mi. in another direction. Anyone that has
a LBS in close proximity should be grateful and if you have more than 1 you should feel privileged.

I'm done now...

hank

fietsbob

My LBS is Better than your LBS, apparently.. not much I can do from here to fix yours.

CosmicF

Does LBS mean Legal Bike Services, Long-riding Bike Shop.
I have ridden a bike for a long time, but I have never had people to talk to about it, so the jargon is very new to me. Please forgive...

TimothyH

If it is any consolation, the situation isn't much better next door in Georgia.

Bringing up my age would have severely tested my ability to stay calm.

-Tim-

ypsetihw

this is totally true, but we all have our own rather lengthy rants from time to time. don't let the other grumpy old men get to you :-)

blakcloud

Your post is a good one don't let the two naysayers stop your from posting. Sometimes you have to look at post counts. Between those two there are 40,000 posts and you don't get that many from writing great advice. You get that from one liners meant to show you how superior and full of knowledge they have. Kind of like shop number one in your post. Which reminds me I need to use the ignore function a little more.

I have experienced what you have described but lucky for me my city has probably fifty bike shops that I can go to if need be. I wonder if this endemic of bicycle shops or does this happen in lets says ski shops?

CosmicF

Gotcha, thanks guys. Being on a forum is new stuff for me, so I was hesitant to post. Stage freight, ha ha.
I just need to roll with it, I guess. Thanks.

10 Wheels

LBS Local Bike Shop.

Bikes Forums is mostly Two Things : Information And Entertainment.

Seattle Forrest

Local Bike Shop.

The first time I saw it, I thought it was a typo and someone was telling me about the church of Latter Day Saints.

jade408

OP that is so annoying! I haven't experienced that one yet, but I have been to ones who thought my previous bike was a piece of crap. "OMG that bike is so heavy, I can't believe people buy those....."

And then I found another shop who had former employees from that shop and built up their own version of city bikes so they were more helpful.

If the store is too roadie I don't go in. I find also that some stores treat me way differently until they have seen my bike. I skip those.

I am lucky, there are tons near me and I have found a few that work for me. Have friendly staff. And appreciate my bike. Way better.

CosmicF

I know that a few female welders in my area have said that certain welding supplies stores always jargon them out of the store. And, I have been in some other specialty stores like golf shops where the service tends to get snobby about certain products, even products that they carry, giving customers shame for having bought the cheaper versions.

It's not just bikes, but I think that younger employees, especially in an sport based store where the product wants a high octane- EXTREME sport image, the effect of the pissing contests take on a more... ummm... annoying level. Just my $0.02

thumpism 

No, hang in there, dude! Participation livens up the mix. Think of all the poor souls who wouldn't have had the opportunity to comment had you not started the thread.


We've probably all been there when it comes to being aghast at the behavior of some shops' employees. While repping years ago I called on one local shop so those guys knew me and knew that I had been a mechanic years before in a different local shop. One of those fellows has gone on to open his own place in town and I have to believe he orders his crew not to speak to anyone unless they walk in strewing hundred-dollar bills ahead of themselves. If I needed something available only at that shop I would buy it, but it sure would chap my ass to do so.


My favorite instance of combative salemanship involves the purchase of black handlebars for the build of my wife's Black Lightning frameset many years ago. I was in a Brand P store and found a neat Nitto in the right width but I wanted to check the diameter since I knew they had made a line of bars with 26.4 centers. I had the bars at the checkout counter and asked if I could borrow a caliper to check the diameter. The young guy told me, "It's a Japanese bar so it's 25.4." I replied that I understood what he was saying, but that Nitto was known to have produced a 26.4 and could I please borrow a caliper. "It's a Japanese bar so it's 25.4." One more request with a pretty please got the same result again. I was prepared to bet him for his paycheck but walked out with the bar since I already had a stem for any outcome, and I had been correct.


And when anyone comments on my outdated/unstylish/battered stuff and suggests I get a new one I just tell them it works and it's paid for. Nobody argues with that.

CosmicF

I was thinking the same exact thing!!! Ha ha, I had Mormons on bikes in my imagination.

rmfnla

Maybe if he posted photos..?

RonH

Long ago when I first saw LBS I someone was talking about weight.

For CosmicF: Pick the shop that you're most comfortable with (most friendly, helpful knowledgeable), not by the brands they sell or the amount of inventory, etc.

SkyDog75

Bike shops, like a lot of small businesses, tend to focus on a niche. Some bike shops cater to riders wanting the latest big-ticket gear. Some are friendlier to families and recreational riders. Some have a specialized focus on other cycling activities like BMX.

And just like you'll find variations in focus, you'll come across wildly different levels of professionalism. You may not be the target market for a given shop, but a sales staff with any decorum or business savvy wouldn't be condescending if you're not into what they're trying to sell. If they treat you well, you might buy something from them later or send a friend their way. If they don't treat you well, you're less likely to ever buy anything from them and might steer other potential customers elsewhere.

Anyway, welcome @CosmicF! I'd suggest not to mind some of our more crotchety forumites, but they generally seem to mean well and sometimes have helpful things to say ...even if they come across a little cranky when they say it.

drlogik 

If any shop treats me with disdain, superiority, or condescension, etc I don't ever set foot in it again. It's funny when shops start talking "technologically opinionated" or disdainfully to me and assume that I don't know anything about bikes. Maybe that's just how I perceive it. They don't realize that I spent a majority of my youth through to my early 20's working in bike shops. I don't give that fact up either. I just smile, walk out and never go back.

Where I live now there are no less than a dozen shops. Anything from privateers, to chains to factory stores and even the Pinarello distributor for North America is here.

Of course they don't all treat the customers the same; most are pretty good though. Only one has an aire of "attitude" (bad) about it and it's a chain. I dislike going in there. The only reason I do is that they carry things the other shops don't so I go in there to put my hands on the item and then buy it online.

As a matter of fact, when I lived out in Arizona, not too long ago, this same chain store had the same attitude. In contrast my favorite shop in Arizona, a privateer, Landis Cyclery, in Scottsdale was hands down the best and nicest shop in that whole Phoenix area. Those folks really run a great shop. Friendly, knowledgeable, eager to say hello, etc. It was a real joy to go in that shop! Maybe that's why they've been in business since 1912!

There is only one shop that goes out of its way to welcome me by name where I live now, and genuinely act interested in me (much like Landis). I've been going to this bike shop for over 20 years. I was worried when the original owner sold it but the new owners picked right up and maintained that same level of service, interest and quality products.

SquidPuppet

Not all young people are scum.

There are some really friendly and helpful young employees at the (5) LBSs in my area. I try to support them too because they run a bike shop like a bike shop should be run (IMO). They'll take a link(s) off of a chain or tighten a threaded head set for free. When they do quicky work they charge appropriate prices. They chased a fork for me. Took less than five minutes, they charged me five bucks. That's fair for both parties.