Originally Posted by
HillRider
Hmmm, I guess our definitions of "Boutique" are different. I think of them as high-line shops limited to expensive and exotic bikes and components where the "entry level" is about $5000. They should know about and cater to customers wanting specialty, expensive items like Phil Wood.
Well, sorta-kinda....While any 'boutique' shop caters mostly (or maybe even exclusively) to a single brand, the difference is in how expensive THAT brand is. I'm certain that at a Colnago boutique, they have people who know that brand extremely well, and have all the unique tools for that brand (and probably a full set of Campagnolo tools), but mechanics THERE would probably at least 'know' Phil Wood, although I doubt they would stock it.
A Specialized brand 'boutique' shop (or any other brand that brushes towards the inexpensive) probably has the full range of THAT brand, hardly anything else, and a single sales/repair/nephew-of-the-owner kid about 19 years old who can patch a tube or replace a spoke (and assemble a bike as shipped), but little else. A place like this might have a 'weekdays only', or even a part-time ACTUAL mechanic, if at all.
Most shops that have a GOOD repair shop generally have a pretty depressing offering of new bikes. Some exception do exist.....