nathan84318

I ordered some Specialized Slim Shims, from the LBS about 1.5 months ago and still they haven't come in yet, called yesterday and they said well call you back, but nope they didn't. When I originally ordered them I was told 2 weeks is the average wait time,because shipping charges on single order items are too much, but seriously 1.5 months. Sad thing is I really dont have a choice in LBS, because all 3 are now owned by the same person. Pretty piss poor service if you ask me. End rant.

gus6464

I guess it's time you start doing your bike shopping on the internet. Also how does one person own 3 bike shops in the same town? Why not just have 1 giant store.

ultraman6970

Thats the type of things u have to get on line. The item is pretty small and no chance the LBS will have them, solution? Online.

nathan84318

I would have ordered it online but they wanted 10 dollars to ship a 10 dollar item

nathan84318

He owns 3 bike shops all in the local area, not in the same town, and they all carry generally the same stock, I usually order online but sometimes the small things arent worth the paying for the shipping.

BiggSlic

If I special order items through my LBS they are always there within 2 days. Not only that, they discount the price on special ordered items since they don't need to hold it in inventory.

nathan84318

Wish my LBS was like that, wanted to special order a carbon stem, willing to pay on the spot, and asked to see a catalog, was basically told to go home look on the internet and call them and ait approximately 2 weeks for it to come in, what kind of service is that.

AngryScientist 

its ridiculous to have a lbs order you anything IMO (other than a whole bike). if they are ordering it, you can do the same thing from the comfort of your laptop.

nathan84318

yeah but i wanted to give them my business that the thing

prathmann

Wonder if they'll continue with that policy? I remember one LBS that just charged a small percentage over their cost on any special orders - figuring that there really wasn't much effort involved on their part. The policy applied to everything - including bikes. Of course after awhile people realized that they could get a much better deal on anything the LBS didn't stock and the store inventory ended up sitting around unsold. They had to change their policy at that point.

SalsaPodio

That doesn't make any sense.

Sourpuss Magee

Customer service is not a strong point of most bike shops on any level.

nathan84318

It really is a bummer, because customers are few and far between right now in most LBS, and customer service should be pretty damn important, it shouldn't matter if your need a small 5 dollar piece or your going in there to spend 5 grand on a new bike, a customer is a customer. I wanted to give them a chance seeing as they just reopened under new management as the LBS in my town went out of business and was repurchased by the previous owner.

Eclectus

Of course they should discount if it's a payment-in-advance, click-for-them-to-order. My LBS is out to lunch, selling ABOVE-MSRP on special orders. Like "It's SPECIAL ORDER, so you have to pay big."

I go to Jensen's, operating in Cali, and if the part/ whatever is from QBP in Minnesota, it doesn't get shipped to Jensen's and then to me in Kansas, it just goes down the I-35 to me from QBP. Two days, minimal ground-shipping cost. Jensen's doesn't have to carry inventory. Smart, very smart.

ebikestop.com sells all kinds of s**t.

If you go online, your options are, "I can do it myself," or, "I got a shop that will do the installation, and I still save money." On apparel, "My shop doesn't carry Italian stuff, but I can figure out my size, and find deals."

LBSs range from smart to stupid. Ones that decided to do Internet sales, smart. Ones that do too-small-volume sales to get purchasing discounts, stupid. These shops should go to an Ace/True Value mass-volume manifold-shop purchasing co-op model.

SkinnyLegs

I sucked it up and paid the $10 shipping. I got my Slim Shims in 3 days

urbanknight

Every thing I've ever ordered from a LBS took way more than the quoted 2 week wait. And some of them wonder why I give up and just order it online, cheaper and faster.

Mr. Beanz

Ordered an item form an LBS, OWNER called me, ssid it was in, come pick it up. I made the 60 mile round trip only to find he wasn't there. Waited 2 hours then he called saying he didn't remember ever calling me and the item was not in!....and they wonder why I don't shop there anymore!

JTGraphics

PM sent with some info for you,
I hate this kind of management that tells you 2 weeks I realize that it may take longer but going into two months is to long and if I paid definitely to long.
I take action way higher than store manager or regional reps. call Corporate Headquarters speak to President or V.P. only! works every time.

BiggSlic

I'm starting to realize how spoiled I am with my LBS. It is situated in a smaller town in a historic downtown area so their space is very limited. They don't carry a crazy amount of inventory and their clothing selection is very limited but these guys are doing incredible business probably because of their customer service. Everyone, from the owner to the smallest grunt are incredibly helpful and actually look very interested and excited to help you.

I've never had a service on my bike take longer than 24 hours. That is especially remarkable since it seems the employees are trained to wrench and service customers. If a customer walks in and needs training wheels for their toddler's bike, they will stop working on the $9,000 Willier build job to help the person out. I've never seen a customer wait longer than 30 seconds without being warmly greeted. I am really impressed the operation they have going there.

I custom ordered a new crankset on Tuesday this week. Thursday morning at 10:00 AM they called and said it had arrived and to bring my bike in. At 3:00 PM I received the call that my bike was ready. Based on what I have read here, this place is a rare gem and they are only blocks away from my office. Perfect!

jsmonet

you know where the corporate hq is for many bike shops? within 100ft of the front door.

+1 on just order the small easy stuff yourself.

coasting 

save your charity for worthier causes like orphans.

patentcad

If that's your biggest problem you're doing alright.

look171

30 miles from Upland to get to a shop?? where's that. There's no closer shop near by?

banerjek

Not true. Order yourself a single right shifter (costs half the price of a set) or anything from certain companies (from HID bulbs to certain bottle cages). I still get my club discount at my favorite shops plus no shipping. LBS has always treated me well and I do well for them when I can.

gumbii

my lfs is doing that to me right now... it's driving me nuts... for some disc brake adaptors for a mountain bike... sigh... 5 dollar part...