Originally Posted by endo shi
From the other end of the spectrum, I work in a shop and hate it when someone picks my brain for twenty or thirty minutes and just peaces out without buying anything. I'm not saying that's you, but don't think of a bike shop as a free knowledge (or tool) library!
I hear you man--I try to shop at the same LBS where I get my advice--so that I can
comp them for free info by buying cogs, tubes, oil, and other necessaries at the shop.
I never chisel on the price of a job like pressing in a new headset.
I kicked down for a six pack for the mechanic there once.