I think it's a matter of patience. Understanding wheel maintenance takes some time and practice. Your LBS charged 33 dollars to install a $2 part. IMO...to get into wheel maintenance requires $25 for Jobst Brandt's book "The Bicycle Wheel", $60 for Park Tool's Tension Meter, and $5 for a spoke wrench. So about $90 dollars or 3 spokes replaced. The real question is "Do you have the patience to learn how to do this?" I would expect that your LBS will charge that much to rebuild your wheel. I meant this as a real question not an attack.
Last edited by jethro56; 08-07-12 at 11:14 AM.