Originally Posted by
VegasTriker
For me it a moot point as I haven't used an LBS for repairs in several years.
Wow... a "regular".
I can't think of when I've handed my bike to a "mechanic" for repairs or a tune-up. I've been doing 100% of the work on my bike since I was about 10, maybe even younger.
Oops, nope, sorry. There was one instance in Italy when I got my broken bike rack welded at a neighborhood shop. It only lasted a day or so, but that was enough.
Originally Posted by
oldnslow2
Last year I purchased 2 bikes from the LBS. They come with free one year service. I deal with one specific mechanic and depending on how much time he spends, I toss him $20. It buys me highly personal attention and I get all my questions answered for bike that I did not buy from the store.
For the $40-$60 I tip a year it buys me access to an lots of great advice and it just means one less meal a year for me.
And, this is part of the dichotomy. I can imaging tipping a person for unpaid warranty work (although their wages are the same).
But, the bike stores serve two vastly different communities.
1: The do-it-yourself people who use them as stores.
2: The do-it-for-me people who use the mechanic services, as well as parts inventory.
And, the best stores deal with both types of customers.
But, one isn't tipping the store, but rather is tipping the bike mechanic (hopefully he or she gets some of the dough).