Originally Posted by SaddleBags
I do the Saturday morning rides with the LBS and purchased my last bike from them and have my other bikes serviced by them too. I'm looking to upgrade my components but I am at a loss. What it be in bad taste to buy components from the mail order catalogs or eBay and have the LBS install them for you (for the fee, of course)? I like my LBS and will continue to buy my bikes from them but I feel like a cheapo if I do this.
Dr. Phil - you out there?
What's wrong with the direct approach? Talk to your LBS owner. Tell him what you plan to do, tell him what the internet price is and ask for his input. My bet is that he'll quote you some kind of a deal for parts plus labor and labor only.
I don't see any reason for either party to get nasty or to feel hurt over this. In the end, your objective is to have a bike that you think is fun to ride. His job is to make you happy by making sure that you have the bike that you want. You pay a little money and he earns a little money when that happens.