Originally Posted by
cyccommute
Let's not go down the rabbit hole of assuming that everyone is out to screw the customer. Screw too many customers and you don't have any customers to screw.
Although I don't go to shops for advice anymore...I have more experience than most bicycle mechanics have years
...I have found their advice to be useful. Most bicycle mechanics are also avid riders and avid riders are usually quick to share information about all kinds of stuff like ride locations, local conditions, maintenance tips, etc.
And, yes, sometimes they suggest products. White Lightning was suggested to me by a shop mechanic. I find it to be great stuff for my area. Everyone, including Mr. IGH
, eventually need chain lubricant. If someone suggests a product, you are free to try it or not. If you like it, you'll buy more. If it doesn't work for you, you probably won't buy it again. It's not like they are twisting your arm.
DOS describes some shops. Most shops I've run across are relatively competent, pleasant and helpful. Like I said earlier, if they aren't, they don't last.
Ok, I was kidding about the selling me stuff I don't need crack. I agree that most shop guys are genuinely trying to be helpful and aren't trying to screw you; and in fact will just give you the odd bolt or whatever if somehow some small thing has gone missing. I just dont think it a good idea to take advice at face value on assumption that because they work at a shop they know more than you do. I figure out who behind the counter I can trust (usually its the guy with the beard, longest hair, and the most tatoos), and thats who I ask advice. In the two or three shops near me that I tend go to most frequenty, its a fact that the guys behind the shop counter are not very experienced, but certainly well intentioned. They are usally the guys who are helping walkins with basic things like flat tires , minor gear adjustments, or
installing new chains, while the main wrench is in the back or down in basement doing more complicated repairs.