Originally Posted by FBinNY

As I said, ignorant or lazy.

However, the trend away from fixing anything continues. I needed a 10x1 axle, so I called various friends (and customers) for one. It took six calls to find a dealer with one in stock including shops with a long history of fixing everything. I was shocked, and asked what was up. "We don't replace axles on freewheel wheels, we just sell a new wheel".

The shop who had one gave it to me because it was his last one, and he wouldn't be buying any more.

I feel sorry for consumers who aren't dialed into this buy a new bike every three years concept (my bikes average 15 years, 20,000 miles). This is why these days I'm supporting co-ops so heavily. These are the last resource for folks who need bikes as transport, and cannot afford the local shops anymore.

As I said, I don't really mind when dealers don't have various less popular items in stock, but not being willing to order something that their primary vendor has available is proof of negative attitude.