Rob_E

I certainly hope this is true. It's not the impression I get from all the people who encourage everyone to support their LBS. I like having my LBS to handle the occassional task that I just don't have the tools for, like facing the bottom bracket, but considering that they carry very little of what I want, I don't like paying more for them to special order something that I could order myself. But if they have the tools, and I don't, I'll pay them whatever it takes.

MassiveD

If you are planing on giving charity you may be able to find more deserving recipients that the denizens of the local bike shop. If you consider that your patronage is for some other purpose than charity, then they need to be able to earn your business. Several examples would be: 1) They are the first to expose you to a particular product, and let you touch and feel it, I will reward that; 2) They have expert consumer level product knowledge, stuff like "you want a touring bike, the lht is your bike". This is worth paying for, but it is the most likely area where they are promoting wrong info because of self-interest. It is also the case that spending a few hours here, and you can get your level above that of the store. So while this is worth rewarding it is rare to actually find a touring example where you owe most stores much. The real info comes from places like this, and it is rare to actually get a thank you for it, let alone 75 buck; 3) There is expert mechanical support, this is probably the best case, a serious shop can do stuff like build wheels, and while you can learn that online it is a lot more work to do so, so mechanical stuff is worth paying for if they actually have a clue about touring needs.

I don't believe is throwing business to local stores just because they can place an order. These days they usually take longer, and cost more.

dwmckee

I have faced this dilemma myself as well. Tax and shipping issues aside, I started shifting more buying over the years to my lbs and I deal direct with the owner. I almost always order as they do not stock what I usually want. As my relationship developed the owner started giving ne a 20 to 30 percent discount because he knew I was buying from him knowing I could save a few bucks online. (My discount now brings most prices bellow what i would pay online!) Then I stared getting small repairs free, and often while I waited instead of waiting two weeks without my bike. Then I bought a Saalsa Fargo in components and they did the bottom bracket and headset install free. Now when I need a couple spokes I just get handed a few over the counter. My lbs hand built a wheel for me overnight when i was in a bind. I buy everything there now after doing online research for what I want (the opposite of what everyone else does). I now stop in just to say hello on slow winter days even if I am not buying anything just to, well just because I like to. I am friends with the mechanics and they all know my first name. I now have genuine friends and just do not care to save a few bucks if it helps keep a small local business in business. The owner has introduced me to some new riding partners over the past year.

Almost all of the online bike parts places are really big operations pretending to be cool small niche players. I have never had an online retailer do ANY of the things my lbs has done for me.

BTW my lbs is not a Salsa dealer but still ordered a Fargo frame for me AND sold it to me for $50 less than any online price.

I would not have received any of the above perks if I had not first gone out of my way to build some trust and loyalty at my lbs. But I also have to say that they deserved my business from day one and they have never been butt heads like so many other shops in the area.

chet31

The bike lists for $849.99. I'm all for supporting the LBS, but not to the point of paying over list price for a 2010 model.

Show them you can buy it on-line for $724.99 (simple Google search) + shipping, ask them what they can do.

Maybe they can't match it, but they can probably do better.