Why spend more at an LBS?

[B. Carfree]

I know this topic has been done and redone, but I had an interesting LBS experience today that I wanted to share. I'll try to keep it short.
Problem: 4-month-old rim on "fun" bike fails after 5000 miles
Builder: me, my first
Parts purchased at: My LBS (Wheelworks in Eugene)
Additional cost of LBS relative to online purchase: $30-40
Complication: No spare wheels at the moment
LBS solution: Loaned me a nicer wheel while they deal with the rim manufacturer to get me a new one.

I'd say paying a bit extra at the LBS was quite a bargain. They gave me a boatload of advice on wheelbuilding and now I don't have to go without a wheel on my touring/training bike while I wait for a replacement. I really love having a good LBS.

[pwdeegan]

+1

[scozim]

I try to balance my online/out of town buying with the LBS. Yes, the LBS can be more expensive but the service gained by having a relationship with the shop is well worth it.

[ngateguy]

I buy parts and labor from my LBS, clothing I get mostly online, part because through work I get killer deals from several manufacturers if I buy dorectly from them.

[pat5319]

I go almost entirely through lbs, with shipping etc lbs same or actually cheaper, Only go rto web if hard to find and on very, very good sale

[Reco Very]

I rarely go to the LBS as the only one near me is lousy. I have yet to find one within 100 miles thats any good.

[Lilcphoto]

I have to say, my LBS has been hit and miss... I live pretty close to Universal cycles yet I try to go to the local place more. When I inquired about a wheel build up I was working on, they basically told me they didn't want to take the time to really figure it out. It was quite upsetting, but then again I can understand that a small staff mixed with a lot of customers = less time for customers. Either way, it's all about supporting LOCAL!

[Forza]

The Seattle area, as you would expect of a metro area, has large number of shops..The three that I frequent have had top notch service.

One lent me a Dura-Ace 7900 Cassette for near 900 miles, while we were waiting for Easton to deliver a freehub. When the freehub showed up, they swapped it for the super rare SRAM Red only version, took the used freehub and loaner cassette back..no charge. It's reasons like this that I support LBSs whenever possible. The shop was Veloce Velo on MI.

I've had great experiences at Sammamish Valley Cycle and Peterson Bicycles as well.

There are some good ones out there.

[Dirt Farmer]

The next time you take your bike to your LBS for any kind of (relatively inexpensive) service, bring along a 6-pack or 12-pack of good beer for the wrenches.

You'll really see the benefits of your LBS then!

[j-law]

The next time you take your bike to your LBS for any kind of (relatively inexpensive) service, bring along a 6-pack or 12-pack of good beer for the wrenches.

I think i'm going to throw up the next time i hear this.

[Dirt Farmer]

Why, do you disagree? Does your LBS just find you disagreeable??

Always, and I mean always, works for me here in Bend.

[j-law]

Some sample reasons:
1) Shops charge for the services and you pay for the services. If the wrenches don't provide good service unless they are getting tipped in beer, then that should be included in the cost estimate;
2) If they are not charging for the service because you brought some beer, then the store owner is missing out on the revenue needed to keep the lights on;
3) If you argue that 2 doesn't apply because good will is built between the shop and the customer, that is BS. Why is the onus on the customer to build good will? In any other business, it is the business' job to build good will with customers, customers can (and should) take their money to those who provide the best value (considering both cost and quality of service);
4) Items purchased from the LBS are marked up higher then ebay or internet retailers. This is supposedly in exchange for better service. You shouldn't have to provide beer to the employees to get the better service that you were already paying higher prices to obtain; and
5) If your bike is in for repair so much that you need "special favors" from the bike mechanics, then don't you need different mechanics. A bike shouldn't be in for repair that often.

[Dirt Farmer]

Some sample reasons:
1) Shops charge for the services and you pay for the services. If the wrenches don't provide good service unless they are getting tipped in beer, then that should be included in the cost estimate;
2) If they are not charging for the service because you brought some beer, then the store owner is missing out on the revenue needed to keep the lights on;
3) If you argue that 2 doesn't apply because good will is built between the shop and the customer, that is BS. Why is the onus on the customer to build good will? In any other business, it is the business' job to build good will with customers, customers can (and should) take their money to those who provide the best value (considering both cost and quality of service);
4) Items purchased from the LBS are marked up higher then ebay or internet retailers. This is supposedly in exchange for better service. You shouldn't have to provide beer to the employees to get the better service that you were already paying higher prices to obtain; and
5) If your bike is in for repair so much that you need "special favors" from the bike mechanics, then don't you need different mechanics. A bike shouldn't be in for repair that often.

So, in other words, what works for me does not work for you.

Sorry, bro'

You must live in a miserable biking town. Have you ever thought of Bend? We have the best, most knowledgeable wrenches here. They aren't "in it for the money". They make River City look like posers. Thats all we do here, is bike! (and ski and board, but who's keeping tabs?)

[Shifty]

I usually use one shop for service, they know me, my riding style and the history on the bike. They are always nice and get great supervision from the owner, so I know I'll get what I need. I just want good quality service, when I need it at a fair price. I almost always have a few coupons for free coffee from a nearby coffee stand for the guy who did the work, it's not much, just a little thank you. I buy everything possible at the bike shops in town, but they can't stock everything, so I do shop around online and in Portland when I'm there.

[nikwax]

I had a bit of a hard time finding a LBS in Portland that I liked, as many shops have a lot of attitude (putting it mildly). I found Seven Corners and really like them, I bought my bike there and will go there for anything that they normally stock or might stock which they could special order. Some stuff I get mail order (clothing, major tools, rack/bags that aren't stocked locally). My feeling is the LBS has been there for me in the past, and if I do enough business there they are more likely to continue to be there for all of us.


As for the beer thing: my mom always used to leave a six pack out when she had extra garbage to haul and it was always appreciated. They loved her. People are people, not appliances, and most people appreciate being treated with consideration and generosity. My 2 p.

[bwrench]

If you are in Leavenworth WA and need the services of LBS, there is a great one just out of town on the chumstick highway. Last fall I bought a new Scott bike there and saved myself a few hundred dollars on what I could find on line. I have also bought a lot of stuff there and the service is always great. The only way the LBS can stay in business is if we patronize them.

[Jeff Wills]

I have to say, my LBS has been hit and miss... I live pretty close to Universal cycles yet I try to go to the local place more. When I inquired about a wheel build up I was working on, they basically told me they didn't want to take the time to really figure it out. It was quite upsetting, but then again I can understand that a small staff mixed with a lot of customers = less time for customers. Either way, it's all about supporting LOCAL!

I order parts through Universal all the time, and then pick them up on the way home from work. That gives me an opportunity to visit their cats, too.

They haven't done me wrong, including spokes and other wheel parts. On the other hand, I've been building wheels for 30 years, so I know what I want.

[Forza]

If you are in Leavenworth WA and need the services of LBS, there is a great one just out of town on the chumstick highway. Last fall I bought a new Scott bike there and saved myself a few hundred dollars on what I could find on line. I have also bought a lot of stuff there and the service is always great. The only way the LBS can stay in business is if we patronize them.

Good to know. Twice a season or so we'll venture over (just about the time we're sick of the weather in April or May), park in Cle Elum and drop in via 97/Blewett,,,might come in handy.

[Seattle Forrest]

^ How's the riding over there?

[Black wallnut]

I try to balance my online/out of town buying with the LBS. Yes, the LBS can be more expensive but the service gained by having a relationship with the shop is well worth it.

Exactly what I do as well. Our LBS works hard IMHO to give stellar customer service. In the past 8 months I've purchased 2 bikes. However I'm also a member of REI since 1978 so they get a share of my cycling business as well.

[aRoudy1]

^ How's the riding over there?

Sunny, but a bit snowy today.

[Confederate]

I shop at the LBS for two reasons: 1) the services and extras that they can provide, and 2) so that they will be there when I need them. I live in a small town in Alaska. If it weren't for the LBS that is a quarter-mile from my house, my only other source for parts locally would be to drive an hour into Anchorage. I like being able to swing by a local shop to pick up a spare tube, a bottle, a lock, or other small items. So I want them to stay in business. I also count among their "services" the ability to easily return or exchange things. I'll spend more for shoes at the LBS because I have a concern about fit--a) I want to be able to try on the exact pair I am going to buy, and b) if I decide a day later that I really should have gotten the pair a half-size off then I can go back and switch them out.

I do, though, buy clothes and other items online. The local shop is never going to be able to compete with the clearance inventory of a large supplier. So when I can save 50% buy going to the internet, I'm not going to turn away from that option. I want the local shop to make money. I just don't want them to make it all off of me.

[Andy_K]

I feel like living in the Portland area makes things a bit different. There are a lot of local shops and a lot of cyclists. To all appearances, they don't actually need my business to keep the lights on. That is, I won't take my bike in for things I can do myself just to help make sure they'll still be there when I come across a job I can't do myself. I used to live in a town with only one bike shop and that was a real consideration there. I figure there are enough bicyclists here that the local shops can figure out a business model that works for them.

So I don't feel particularly guilty about buying things online if I know just what I want and can find it cheap. I do give preference to Universal Cycles because they are essentially local and I can go in and talk to them about things if I need to. It's also nice to be able to browse online rather than have an even more local shop order something from a catalog for me. If I'm not sure I know everything I need to know, I'll buy from one of the shops out here in Beaverton. When I got my disc fork, for instance, I went to a local shop and paid full MRSP plus shipping (yes, the LBS charged me for shipping!) because I was going to have them cut the fork, install the star nut, etc. and I wanted to make sure there wouldn't be any weird compatibility issues I hadn't thought of. I didn't get any kind of deal on any of the parts or labor, but everything went smoothly and I was happy.

As for the debate above (nearly a year old now, I realize) about tipping the mechanics with beer, I'm with j-law on this one. I've actually had pretty good experiences with my local shops even though I don't bring beer. They've given me small parts out of their bin several times, and they're always happy to give me free advice when they have time. They've even helped me out by talking to the Shimano rep to identify a hub part I broke doing a home repair. This is all very nice and I am grateful, but frankly it makes me a little uncomfortable sometimes. I'd rather pay a couple of dollars for a cassette spacer than leave wondering whether the mechanic that gave it to me expects me to reciprocate in some way.

[BigBlueToe]

My local bike shop (small but fantastic) briefly closed due to business reasons. It was terrible to ride by and see the painted over windows and closed doors, and no bikes out front. It was missed. What a relief when the former manager decided to re-open under his own name. I patronize him and and willing to spend more than via internet so that he won't have to close again (as well as because he's a great guy.) (Mark's Baywood Cyclery, Los Osos, CA - "The Happiest Bike Shop on Earth)

[B. Carfree]

I might not have ever gone into the bike shop that inspired this thread if the shop closest to me hadn't gone out of business. Although Wheelworks is a fantastic shop, I still owe my wife's life to the mechanic at the one I used to go to. I had neglected to inspect her brake cables for a number of years. I brought her bike in for something else and the mechanic showed me that her front brake cable was pretty much rusted through and brittle. One good tug on the lever and she would have snapped it. (He demonstrated by shredding it with his fingers.) As it happens, she was going to be doing a nasty descent later that day where the loss of her front brake could have proven fatal.

It's too bad the owner of that shop wasn't as good at his "job" as the mechanic he hired. He made a series of overly-aggressive business decisions at just the wrong time and found himself with more shop than his cash flow could cover.