datako, This comment you made just floored me:

`Why should they? They are doing work that they like on the product they like and are usually booked out for weeks ahead. To their target audience they are a good lbs, they don't have the time to worry about anyone else. It's a case of unlimited demand and limited supply.`

I had no idea that good LBS`s were practically turning away customers. Perhaps things have changed greatly in the last few years, but I`ve never known bike shops to be booming businesses. Yes, there are `boutique` shops that are veritable museums of all that is cool in the world of cycling. These, though, could hardly be what one means when one speaks of a good LBS. Rather they`re places a cyclist should visit before he/she dies. Kind of like going to Mecca for a Muslim.

It seems, though, that I am wrong. Every good LBS in every town is swamped in customers. Given how busy they are, I sure wish they`d shut up about online retailers and the negative effects on their bottom line. I`d think they would appreciate the rest.

I can totally understand now why they don`t want to take on new customers. The burden of it all. The clueless doc/software engineer/lawyer/scientist/prof/money manager/orthodontist, etc., who doesn`t know ****... wanting to talk about buying the latest new toy. Waste of time. Wouldn`t want to take 30 minutes out of my day to nurture that possible customer. No way. I`m going to wait for the guy who knows exactly what he wants and won`t hassle me with any questions. Everyone else gets the stink eye.