Originally Posted by
Jaye
So the online retailers you have give you the ability to try multiple items for fit and give their recomendation on them? (your main complaint about shop #1)
Shop #2 is run by cool people but due to a limited selection you'd have to order something and wait for it to arrive, I can see where that is a drawback compared to online being able to order something and wait for it to arrive.
Shop #3 gives you recomendations based off of what they think is best so you don't like them, which is the opposite of why you don't like shop #1. This can be solved by using online guys though as they will never give you recomendations based on you.
Shop #4 doesn't know about fit or new technology, seems like a valid complaint, I mean I know that personally for me I have never had a better fit than the one I got by shopping at PBK or Nashbar.
Look, I buy things online too but your complaints are weak, it sounds like you have a good area with lots of shops to choose from. Try and enjoy it, there are lots of us without any good bike shops in town. (I am lucky enough to have two)
This reply is so facepalm worthy, I don't even know where to begin. I'll try.
The online retailers I've bought from allow me to buy multiple items from them and then return, with no questions asked, the items that didn't fit or work. If I ask, I can also get some advice. (I bought a pair of road shoes from Nashbar and I used the chat feature to ask a question about fit and was given a good recommendation.) Shop 1 didn't even want to let me try a couple of stems IN THE STORE before buying one. Don't most LBS that do fittings have stems of varying lengths available to try out? I really didn't think it would be an issue.
Shop 2 is owned and operated by a knowledgeable person who is only there a couple of hours a week. I never said anything about ordering something from them and waiting for it. Somehow you inferred that that was my complaint. Besides, if it has to be ordered, why would I order it from a shop, pay their higher price plus shipping and tax? I'll just order it online and get it in a couple of days. I may even save on the shipping. Really a no-brainer.
Shop 3 gives me the SAME ANSWER, it seems, regardless of the question. "By Trek or Bontrager." That tells me either a)they don't know much about the other brands they carry or b)they have higher margins on the Trek/Bonty stuff and train their staff to push it out the door.
Shop 4, the complaint is valid. Your response is incoherent.
My ultimate point is that each of these shops is lacking in some way and that together they would make an awesome bike shop. And as I later posted, the one shop that came closest to this ideal and was in my town closed down last year.