cha_zing

Just a general question from a new guy.

Purchased a bike from a big box store, dropped it off, still in the box at my LBS yesterday. Called today to check on progress and they said it will be done by 3/25/14 at 5pm. (which is a day over a week from the time I dropped it off)

Looking at this forum, I see average build time is 1 hour to 2 hours. I just want it to be put together right and not by the teenager at the big box store who likely doesn't have the correct tools, note cares how it rides.

So my question is this: is this normal for this time of year to take a week? Or should I find a new bike shop?

Its just a low end hybrid schwinn with no upgrades.

J.C. Koto

Depends on where in the world you are located. In much of the northern hemisphere the weather just starts getting nice this time of year so it's the beginning of "busy season" for bike shops. Assuming this is true where you are, a week for a bike assembly (especially one ostensibly purchased from a different store) in a shop doesn't sound too unusual.

spdracr39

This time of year it doesn't sound out of line.

jmilleronaire

It's the time of year that a lot of people are starting to think about biking again, so the shop might just be overrun with builds of new display bikes, along with a lot of people bringing in bikes for tune-ups. The actual build of your particular bike may only take a couple of hours, but it's probably only one of many that are lined up for a couple of mechanics to work.

I don't think a shop really makes much money putting together a bike purchased elsewhere, so it might fall lower on priority list, too.

That said, if the time really concerns you and you need the bike sooner, maybe talk to them about getting a rush put on it. I know my LBS would work with a customer on that. I pick up my bike today after a week at my LBS for (only) new bars/bar tape, fenders and tune-up... but since it's not riding season quite yet, I am fine with the timeframe.

cha_zing

Thanks for the quick replies. This really eases my mind. I enjoy the bike shop, the few times I've gone in they seem really helpful.

VegasTriker

As a former bike shop worker my answer is no. #1 . You bought the bike from a "big box store" not the bike shop. You may have saved money. They didn't profit on the sale. #2 Most big box store bikes even when I worked there were far harder to properly assemble than the bikes we sold. We had a contract to assemble bikes for one of the major department stores. Most of the mechanics wanted to run and hide when one came in the door. It was just so much harder to do the conscientious job we did for all bikes. #3 Who knows what other jobs the store has already. I certainly would favor a long-time customer who bought a bike from me over one who walked in the door with a new bike bought elsewhere. You get the same quality service but maybe not as fast.

fietsbob

did you notice how many repair tags were in the Queue , in front of you

when you brought it in to the shop?

typically, there is a slotted board the work orders go in .. on the wall

that often helps visualize the situation..

MRT2

I brought a friend into one of my favorite LBS this weekend to explore his options. He wound out deciding to have them overhaul his vintage Panasonic 10 speed, including upgrading to modern wheels, rather than buy a new bike. The bike shop gave an estimate of about 10 days to get it done, though the head mechanic did say that if he was really in a rush, he could have it by Thursday. My friend said that was OK and that 10 days was fine.

cha_zing

This all helps a lot, thank you. Near the end of the year when it comes time to get my first "Real" Bike, Ill be purchasing it through them, but I just wanted to see what I want, what I hate, and what I really need before I drain my bank account lol

WonderMonkey

Agreed. Many have their bikes in there for tune-ups, repairs, etc. Keep this in mind next year so if you need any work down you can do it during colder days.

Retro Grouch 

If you go to a restaurant that nobody else wants to eat at, you can always get right in.

Dan Burkhart 

Surprised more didn't pick up on the fact you took in a bike you bought elsewhere, but I'm not going to jump on you for that. When I had my shop, I had this happen regularly, and I didn't mind a bit. I charged one hour shop time, and by my figuring, I made more on the bike that way than I did by stocking,assembling, and selling a comparable low end bike.
Plus, it brought a customer in the store to buy the high margin stuff.

MRT2

I was wondering if, maybe, assembling a cheap POC bike was more trouble than it was worth, as in the customer could be back in days or weeks complaining if the cheap components fail.

Dan Burkhart 

That should be the problem of whoever sold it to him in the first place.

fietsbob

if the Bike shop watched their sales take a Nosedive as soon as the wally world store opened

and their repair queue was full of those, and a lot of them were abandoned
when the repair tag exceeded their purchase price tag . then they may push them back behind

the bikes that customers bought in their shop..

& enough abandoned after doing the work on BSO's and some wont touch them at all ..

LongIslandCamper

My brother bought a new camping trailer at an out of state RV show 2 years ago because it was a lot cheaper than the price here. He had some minor warranty issues after a few months and the local dealer said they would fix the issue under warranty but that we wouldn't receive preferential treatment because he didn't buy it there.

My Dad bought a trailer at the same local place last year and they've been awesome to work with. My point is that the bike shop is going to help their own customers bikes over someone who bought a bike somewhere else.

Ironically, you probably could have bought a lower end new bike or even a better quality used bike from the local bike shop for a cheaper price than buying a wal mart bike and having the bike shop assemble it for you. Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise. If they still haven't assembled your bike then try returning it and talk to the bike shop about getting a bike there.

Adam Jackson

It all depends upon in which country you are staying and how easily accessories are available at that place .

BikeAnon

For speedier service, I've noticed that cyclists who ride-in go right to the front of the line.

Example, a guy wheels up in full kit, walks his bike in and says "my ****** is *****, can you take a quick look at it?"...... He'll usually get quick help, because he's stuck.


Sooooo...... park your car out of sight. Suit up in riding gear. Dump the contents of the box outside the shop. Hide box. Walk in and say... "there's something wrong with my bike, can you come have a look?"

Camilo

This is exactly the attitude I've found in shops around here. They bill for repairing/assembling/etc. as a profit making activity and therefore really like to keep their repair shop busy, doesn't matter where the work comes from.

So they lost the sale - that's water under the bridge, they can't do anything about it. *****ing to the customer or treating him/her with less than total customer respect will do absolutly nothing about that lost sale, and will do everything to lose future sales.

What they can do is (1) make money on the assembly - and keep their shop and repair guys busy and (2) earn a customer who will be happy be treated with respect in spite of buying the bike elsewhere, and therefore be more likely to buy all the other stuff from the shop.