trust your LBS?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
trust your LBS?
I am always a bit paranoid about riding a just assembled bike without thoroughly inspecting it first so I have never riden home from a LBS on a new bike even though I ride everywhere else. Today I become way more paranoid as I brought a new fixie home to replace the one I just sold and was testing the seat height and doing trackstands in the kitchen when I felt the cog tighten as I put forward pressure on the pedals. Well, I was rather upset as I figured the the least the LBS could have is properly tightened the cog and lockring. I got out my chain whip and lockring tool and took the rear wheel off only to be horrified to find the lockring was so loose I was able to twist it right off with my fingers. If I had ridden it I could have severly stripped the hub. I know one LBS where I am never spending another dollar.
#2
Dismount Run Remount etc.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Some Latitude and Some Longitude
Posts: 2,235
Bikes: A couple customs and some beaters.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Of course I trust my LBS, I'm one of the wrenches!
#3
The Red Lantern
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Raleigh NC
Posts: 5,965
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have a large collection of bounced checks from my customers. Also a very nice faked travelers check. A broken window and stolen Roubaix. A bunch of oddball special orders never picked up. Four abandoned repairs in the last six months. Several people that bought car racks right before a holiday and returned them right after(hmmmm). One guy that used a stolen credit card. One guy that bought double wireless Cateye then disputed it with his card company(We actually beat that guy after a bunch of paperwork). Two customers asking us to write false estimates for their insurance claims. AND about two grand in "shrinkage"(That means someone, a "customer" stole it)
__________________
Are you a registered member? Why not? click here to register. Its free, and only takes 27 seconds!
Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
I am in the woods and I have gone crazy.
Are you a registered member? Why not? click here to register. Its free, and only takes 27 seconds!
Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
I am in the woods and I have gone crazy.
#4
blacksheep the blemish
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Portland/Greendale
Posts: 1,063
Bikes: 1973 Schwinn World Voyageur (manufactured by panasonic), Italvega Super Speciale (fixed, primary ride now), Kona 2004 JTS 10 spd
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The only thing that could probably make your life worse is incompetent mechanics.
#5
Dismount Run Remount etc.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Some Latitude and Some Longitude
Posts: 2,235
Bikes: A couple customs and some beaters.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Only four abandoned repairs in six months? We probably have at least four a month. People tend to just forget about their dept. store bikes, so we've just instituted a deposit policy for cheaper bikes that we expect people will forget. If they have to make an immediate, non-refundable commitment, maybe then the bike will mean something.
Sucks about the rest of the stuff though.
Sucks about the rest of the stuff though.
#6
team mascot
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Canada - Toronto
Posts: 1,264
Bikes: gt gtb & marinoni pista special.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think the shop I work at wins @ abandoned bikes.
A back section of our shop is filled with abandoned bikes.
Some dating from 2004.
wow. rev. you got some crazy-ass customers. haha
A back section of our shop is filled with abandoned bikes.
Some dating from 2004.
wow. rev. you got some crazy-ass customers. haha
#7
dam this is fun !
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: on my bike ! in Toronto !!
Posts: 1,988
Bikes: Hurricane Low Racer ! and a Masi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I completly trust my LBS excellent bunch of wrenchers I send alot of peeps there and they are helping me get a fixed gear togther
#8
The Red Lantern
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Raleigh NC
Posts: 5,965
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Since I started at this shop we have had five brake-ins including one where they broke thru a wall. One other shop has had two break-ins and a snatch and grab(bmx bike) and the other store had a snatch and grab of a Specialized Big Hit(Later found in the woods near the shop)
__________________
Are you a registered member? Why not? click here to register. Its free, and only takes 27 seconds!
Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
I am in the woods and I have gone crazy.
Are you a registered member? Why not? click here to register. Its free, and only takes 27 seconds!
Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
I am in the woods and I have gone crazy.
#9
Dismount Run Remount etc.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Some Latitude and Some Longitude
Posts: 2,235
Bikes: A couple customs and some beaters.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
To the OP:
The true test of your LBS' merits is to take back the bike and calmly explain the situation. If they know how to defuse a situation, it's likely they'll apologize for the mistake and do something to make it up for the mistake and outline their service guarantee (ours is 30 days).
The true test of your LBS' merits is to take back the bike and calmly explain the situation. If they know how to defuse a situation, it's likely they'll apologize for the mistake and do something to make it up for the mistake and outline their service guarantee (ours is 30 days).
#10
King Among Runaways
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: MKE
Posts: 4,215
Bikes: 2004 Bianchi Pista, Cannondale Track, Soma Pake, Schwinn Breeze
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I totally trust my LBS.
Take it back and explain the situation.
How they handle that will tell you whether or not this LBS is worth your time and money.
Take it back and explain the situation.
How they handle that will tell you whether or not this LBS is worth your time and money.
__________________
"I owe everyone an apology" - hyperrevue
"I owe everyone an apology" - hyperrevue
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 577
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I trust my LBSes. I'd say more but I think telling a story about a cog being well tightened and a lockring on top of it that is also well tightened would be lame.
#12
♋ ☮♂ ☭ ☯
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: 40205 'ViLLeBiLLie
Posts: 7,902
Bikes: Sngl Spd's, 70's- 80's vintage, D-tube Folder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Cogs slip a few times after assembly.
Whats the big deal ? Carry the lockring tool
on your first ride.
Whats the big deal ? Carry the lockring tool
on your first ride.
__________________
☞-ADVOCACY-☜ Radical VC = Car people on bikes. Just say "NO"
☞-ADVOCACY-☜ Radical VC = Car people on bikes. Just say "NO"
#13
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by 12XU
To the OP:
The true test of your LBS' merits is to take back the bike and calmly explain the situation. If they know how to defuse a situation, it's likely they'll apologize for the mistake and do something to make it up for the mistake and outline their service guarantee (ours is 30 days).
The true test of your LBS' merits is to take back the bike and calmly explain the situation. If they know how to defuse a situation, it's likely they'll apologize for the mistake and do something to make it up for the mistake and outline their service guarantee (ours is 30 days).
#14
J E R S E Y S B E S T
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: DC
Posts: 1,849
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by sr20det
I think the shop I work at wins @ abandoned bikes.
A back section of our shop is filled with abandoned bikes.
Some dating from 2004.
wow. rev. you got some crazy-ass customers. haha
A back section of our shop is filled with abandoned bikes.
Some dating from 2004.
wow. rev. you got some crazy-ass customers. haha
#15
The Red Lantern
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Raleigh NC
Posts: 5,965
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Take the bike back and bring up your issues. They may have had the new guy put the bike to gether and it did not get checked by anyone before it hit the floor. I have a guy at my shop that, for some reason, does not like me to check his work. As I don't stand around waiting for him to finish, they sometimes get past me. At the least this will let the shop know they have a problem. Then go check out all the shops. There must be a bunch in Portland. Find the one(or several) that fits you best.
__________________
Are you a registered member? Why not? click here to register. Its free, and only takes 27 seconds!
Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
I am in the woods and I have gone crazy.
Are you a registered member? Why not? click here to register. Its free, and only takes 27 seconds!
Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
I am in the woods and I have gone crazy.
#16
Senior Member
I trust most of the wrenches at my LBS, but last summer I bought a new bike for my wife for Mother's day, I was riding it around on some grass, checking it out, and the handlebars were loose! When I got it home I put a wrench on it, and found some other loose stuff.
I like my LBS, and I trust them mostly, but I guess you never know. I don't know who put that bike together, maybe they were having a bad day. I always check my own work twice, and someone else's work at least once. Sucks to have parts falling off a moving bike. trust no one but yourself when it comes to your safety
I like my LBS, and I trust them mostly, but I guess you never know. I don't know who put that bike together, maybe they were having a bad day. I always check my own work twice, and someone else's work at least once. Sucks to have parts falling off a moving bike. trust no one but yourself when it comes to your safety
#17
The Red Lantern
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Raleigh NC
Posts: 5,965
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by mattface
I trust most of the wrenches at my LBS, but last summer I bought a new bike for my wife for Mother's day, I was riding it around on some grass, checking it out, and the handlebars were loose! When I got it home I put a wrench on it, and found some other loose stuff.
I like my LBS, and I trust them mostly, but I guess you never know. I don't know who put that bike together, maybe they were having a bad day. I always check my own work twice, and someone else's work at least once. Sucks to have parts falling off a moving bike. trust no one but yourself when it comes to your safety
I like my LBS, and I trust them mostly, but I guess you never know. I don't know who put that bike together, maybe they were having a bad day. I always check my own work twice, and someone else's work at least once. Sucks to have parts falling off a moving bike. trust no one but yourself when it comes to your safety
Bring that stuff up. Most shops have a system for telling who built the bike. We have a sign off on the inventory ticket. The guy that ****ed up will get it bashed in to him to tighten the stem, or pedals or whatever, every time he works on a bike. He will be mocked mecilessly for his mistake for years. I have a guy I still ride for stripping a screw even tho it wa three years ago. He has not stripped one since.
__________________
Are you a registered member? Why not? click here to register. Its free, and only takes 27 seconds!
Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
I am in the woods and I have gone crazy.
Are you a registered member? Why not? click here to register. Its free, and only takes 27 seconds!
Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
I am in the woods and I have gone crazy.
#18
likes avocadoes
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: oakland, ca
Posts: 1,125
Bikes: heh, like that info would fit here...
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I do the vast majority of my own work (I have my own shop, afterall) but when I need work done by someone else there are only three people (at three different shops) that I'll take it to. It's not that I don't trust random wrench (but if random wrench can do it, I can do it better), just that I've built relationships over the years with specific mechanics. They ride with me, know my bike, and know what kinds of questions to ask about problems.
My answer to OP: 1st, many shops see very little in the way of fixed-gear stuff, and the wrench who put that on may not have known what he/she was doing. Go back and tell them and they'll fix it up nice. 2nd, find a shop that sells the type of bikes you're into and spend your time/money there. Talk to folks (but don't waste their time if they're busy), get to know a few, see who rides what, etc. Take future problems to them.
My answer to OP: 1st, many shops see very little in the way of fixed-gear stuff, and the wrench who put that on may not have known what he/she was doing. Go back and tell them and they'll fix it up nice. 2nd, find a shop that sells the type of bikes you're into and spend your time/money there. Talk to folks (but don't waste their time if they're busy), get to know a few, see who rides what, etc. Take future problems to them.