Originally Posted by
redxj
They probably are prebuilt wheels from J&B (based in Miami with 8 various warehouses across the country). I can't comment on what they did, but can make a few comments. I worked at a LBS for 2.5 yrs and we did build wheels, but not extremely often. Prebuilt wheels are usually cheaper to buy than build, and most people what cheaper. Even reusing hubs with new spokes and rims with labor often came out more expensive than the prebuilts. But, with that said if you brought me hubs to build with and told me what you wanted that is what you would get. I might discuss other options at that time, but I would never just order up a different set of wheels when you brought in hub(s) to do a wheel build with.
I did say "If it's cheaper to use a new hub, go ahead." Two weeks went by and I heard nothing. I assumed at that point that they were unable to get wheels and started searching on my own again. Then the shop owner, who rides with me regularly said one night "We thought your wheels would get here today but they did not. They should be here tomorrow." I stopped by the next day, no wheels. And the next as well. Maybe three or four days later I stopped by again to ask if there was any news and learned that they had indeed been delivered. No one had called me; there was a ticket on the wheels with my phone number. When I got them home, I found that the new hub was wider than the old one. Do I want to go through all of this again? No, and it was a small difference, so we bent (excuse me, cold set) the frame.
I don't have a problem with them buying pre-built wheels or sending out for them. I have a problem with them not communicating with me AT ALL and not handing me a wheel that actually fit the bicycle.
It's the best shop around for customer service, usually. I still give them money. They actually do minor repairs for free, while I'm standing there. They let me in after hours. The wheel job was a fail. It's not a job they will get often here. This is a low population area and there just is not even a market for many WHEELS, much less 3 speed and dynamo hubs.
The bike shops around here (and I know all of them, it's a small cycling community) don't want to built wheels or work on vintage bikes. They need to sell new bicycles to stay in business.
Thanks for the recommendations. I *do* have an LBS owner friend in Seattle who builds wheels, but I'm not getting a response on price from him. I'll bug him again, too.