Was I dissed by the LBS?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Was I dissed by the LBS?
So, I was riding my bike about ten miles to a LBS in nearby Matchbook City (pop. 26,550) to buy a few parts. I knew the store would be open and not busy on a mid-afternoon Saturday. It's a combination of paved roads and a gravel towpath that passes a few blocks from downtown where the store is located. I got a flat front tire with about a mile to go to get there. I carry tools and a patch kit with me, but decided just to walk my bike the last mile to the store. Parked my bike in the rack in front, walked in and asked the owner (the store is owned by a husband and wife) if he would put new tube in my front wheel. He responded:"You me now? I can't leave the front of the store right now, I'm the only one here." In the ten square block downtown area of Matchbook City, there were probably twenty pedestrians. Only one of us was interested in the local bike shop. So I said, "OK, just sell me a tube, and I'll go sit on a bench at the park and change it myself." So I bought the tube, and the other parts I came for. Before the transaction was completed, the co-owner came down from upstairs. The owner still did not offer to fix my tire. As I was leaving, I said to myself "this place is not getting a good Yelp review from me." I just want opinions from some of you, were my expectations unreasonable? I've made a few purchases there, but never a bike.
#2
Life is good
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Not far from the Withlacoochee Trail. 🚴🏻
Posts: 18,209
Bikes: 2018 Lynskey Helix Pro
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 522 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
10 Posts
Why didn't you take the bike into the shop so s/he could do the repairs and not leave the store unattended? I surprised the owner didn't suggest that you bring the bike in. Most bike shops welcome bikes inside the store.
__________________
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
#3
Senior Member
Rule #83 .
"Be Self Sufficient:
Unless you are followed by a team car, you will repair your own punctures. You will do so expediently, employing your own skills, using your own equipment, and without complaining that your expensive tyres are too tight for your puny thumbs to fit over your expensive rim. The fate of a rider who has failed to equip himself pursuant to Rule 31, or who knows not how to use said equipment, shall be determined at the discretion of any accompanying or approaching rider in accordance with Rule 84."
"Be Self Sufficient:
Unless you are followed by a team car, you will repair your own punctures. You will do so expediently, employing your own skills, using your own equipment, and without complaining that your expensive tyres are too tight for your puny thumbs to fit over your expensive rim. The fate of a rider who has failed to equip himself pursuant to Rule 31, or who knows not how to use said equipment, shall be determined at the discretion of any accompanying or approaching rider in accordance with Rule 84."
#4
Uber Goober
I don't think that's a "diss", just a lack of customer service. He should have said, "I'll be happy to, but it'll be a couple of minutes until Jimbo is back and I can get on it" or words to that effect. I'm assuming they charge and you were willing to pay to have a flat fixed, as opposed to just buying new tube.
__________________
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
#5
~>~
Go Yelp.
-Bandera
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sin City, Nevada
Posts: 2,885
Bikes: Catrike 700, Greenspeed GTO trike, , Linear LWB recumbent, Haluzak Horizon SWB recumbent, Balance 450 MTB, Cannondale SM800 Beast of the East
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 523 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 227 Times
in
179 Posts
Dissed - no. Handled well - no. A mom and pop store with the owners the only employees on a Saturday afternoon is a pretty small operation and I can understand why he would not want to leave the store unattended even for a minute. You already told him you would install the tube yourself before his wife appeared. He followed through on what you told him.
Why didn't you just take the front wheel off and bring it into the store when you first arrived? If it has quick release, that shouldn't have taken more than a minute to do by releasing the brake and opening the quick release. His tools are in the shop so that's where it makes sense to fix it. He didn't chase you out the store or get in an argument so why would you bother to go on Yelp and complain. Maybe you are a bit sensitive?
Why didn't you just take the front wheel off and bring it into the store when you first arrived? If it has quick release, that shouldn't have taken more than a minute to do by releasing the brake and opening the quick release. His tools are in the shop so that's where it makes sense to fix it. He didn't chase you out the store or get in an argument so why would you bother to go on Yelp and complain. Maybe you are a bit sensitive?
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Indiana
Posts: 478
Bikes: 2015 Trek 7.3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
This makes no sense. If you wanted service on your bike, why wouldn't you bring it inside? Am I missing something?
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
Of course. You're missing the whole other side of the story.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
#14
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,507
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3657 Post(s)
Liked 5,394 Times
in
2,739 Posts
My opinion is your expectations were unreasonable. You asked.....
#15
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I didn't realize it was proper etiquette to barge right into the store with a bike before asking permission. That's why I left it in the rack, outside the front door, and went in to ask. Now I know to be more bold. I guess it didn't seem unreasonable that a bike shop near a busy bike path would do on the spot repairs. Wrong on both counts. I wasn't really complaining, just expressing the thought going through my mind as I was leaving. Sat on the bench, made the repair, and rode home. For the most part, an enjoyable summer afternoon.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 431
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Barging into a bike shop with a bike???
What the what...
Bike shops don't mind you bringing your bike into their shop, really they don't..
What did you expect him to do fix your flat, buy you dinner and give you a ride home?...lol
After you Yelp you should probably write your Congressman a letter.
What the what...
Bike shops don't mind you bringing your bike into their shop, really they don't..
What did you expect him to do fix your flat, buy you dinner and give you a ride home?...lol
After you Yelp you should probably write your Congressman a letter.
#19
Senior Member
#20
Senior Member
If I need to have my bike repaired, I usually call first for an appointment; if I happen to just walk in without an appointment, they tell me how long it will take. I usually ask for a loaner (since they know me) and they'll go out of their way to provide me with a loaner bike.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,589
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 239 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
unreasonable to expect on the spot fix, then bad yelp about it.
standard procedure at most LBS is to drop the bike off for repair,
anywhere between end of business day to 24hrs reasonable turnaround for simple jobs like that
if that sounds too long, fix your own flats
standard procedure at most LBS is to drop the bike off for repair,
anywhere between end of business day to 24hrs reasonable turnaround for simple jobs like that
if that sounds too long, fix your own flats
#22
Senior Member
[QUOTE=Srcpt;17049437]I didn't realize it was proper etiquette to barge right into the store with a bike before asking permission./QUOTE]
I take my bike into my LBS all the time - and I'm never getting a repair, but just stopping in to pick up a spare tube or some other part. It would never occur to me that a bike shop would have a problem with me bringing my bike inside so I don't have to lock it up outside. I guess if they had a rack outside I'd consider leaving it there.
I think the guys at the shops I go to would look at me funny if I asked them to change a tube for me. But then I'd never walk a mile instead of doing a 5 minute fix on the road.
I take my bike into my LBS all the time - and I'm never getting a repair, but just stopping in to pick up a spare tube or some other part. It would never occur to me that a bike shop would have a problem with me bringing my bike inside so I don't have to lock it up outside. I guess if they had a rack outside I'd consider leaving it there.
I think the guys at the shops I go to would look at me funny if I asked them to change a tube for me. But then I'd never walk a mile instead of doing a 5 minute fix on the road.
#23
The Improbable Bulk
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA
Posts: 8,379
Bikes: Many
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
The shop I frequent will drop what they are doing to do a flat repair, and as they are replacing the tube teach the customer about how to do it themselves (I saw this recently).
As far as bringing the bike into the shop, I think I would avoid any shop that asked me to keep my bike outside. I always bring my bike or wheels in any time I need work done... no need to ask.
In the OPs situation, if I wanted them to install the tube and inflate it instead of taking the time to do it myself, I would have carried the wheel in, and asked them, "How much for a new tube with installation to get me back on the road?"
As far as bringing the bike into the shop, I think I would avoid any shop that asked me to keep my bike outside. I always bring my bike or wheels in any time I need work done... no need to ask.
In the OPs situation, if I wanted them to install the tube and inflate it instead of taking the time to do it myself, I would have carried the wheel in, and asked them, "How much for a new tube with installation to get me back on the road?"
__________________
Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
#24
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
That ... and also ask if they are able to do it just then. Could be they are busy with someone else's bicycle.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#25
Hogosha Sekai
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: STS
Posts: 6,669
Bikes: Leader 725, Centurion Turbo, Scwhinn Peloton, Schwinn Premis, GT Tequesta, Bridgestone CB-2,72' Centurion Lemans, 72 Raleigh Competition
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 21 Times
in
15 Posts
I take my bike into my LBS all the time - and I'm never getting a repair, but just stopping in to pick up a spare tube or some other part. It would never occur to me that a bike shop would have a problem with me bringing my bike inside so I don't have to lock it up outside. I guess if they had a rack outside I'd consider leaving it there.
I think the guys at the shops I go to would look at me funny if I asked them to change a tube for me. But then I'd never walk a mile instead of doing a 5 minute fix on the road.