Gonzoso

I went to my LBS today looking for a cotter pin, seat post, and some other odds and ends.

When I spoke to the owner she was really enthused about me restoring my bike and asked me to send her pictures. Then when I asked about the cotter pins and seat post she went into the shop/storage area and got me the pins for 2$ and gave me a used seat post for 12$ which was way cheaper than the ones out front.

She said "Its got a couple scratches and a spot of rust on it" and I said "That's perfect, it'll match the bike"

I've been going there for a little while and I'm starting to see the value of knowing the LBS folks.

Do a lot of you folks get access to cheaper pull off parts as a result of restoring bikes?

ftwelder

People I buy parts from seem REALLY HAPPY to finally get rid of (whatever) old stuff I am interested in.

Michael Angelo 

The LBS I go to, gives me discounts on new and used parts and bikes, and sometimes I get to look thru Boxes full of Vintage tools and get deals on those too.

BigPolishJimmy

I get weird looks from the kids, does that count?

wahoonc

My LBS GIVES me vintage bikes and parts, they don't "do" vintage outside of some Schwinn stuff.

Here is the latest one all dolled up and ready to go, can't find the before pictures at the moment.

Aaron

elguicho 

I get good deals at my local LBS, specially if I pay cash. They don't go into their vaults of old stuff too often but they'll help me out with projects for very cheap. In response I try to buy as much stuff as I can over there.

cudak888 

Depends on the LBS. Some appriciate it, and give you good prices as a result. Others get smart if you show up too frequently, and jack up the prices thinking they can squeeze it out of you.

-Kurt

fas2c

Not yet...I go in often enough to be known by name though. My LBS is a vintage bike fan and has a large area of his shop dedicated to nice vintage bike collection. He is very partial to Schwinn and Raleigh, although he has a vintage Fuji Team hanging too, as well as some cool vintage kids bikes.

mkeller234

Just a handful of times, and it depends on whose working. The LBS owner is very friendly with me and usually shows me any cool doodads that he thinks I would appreciate whether they are for sale or not but mostly he lets me use their tools. He is my absolute favorite. Another guy that works at the same shop is a vintage enthusiast and he gave me an insane deal on a new looking Campy NR crank set, 15 dollars!

ScottRyder 

I get a pretty good discount (20%) because I have tools that they don't keep on hand for the older bikes that occasionally come in.

Scott

non-fixie 

I find that most of them don't really care. The shop that was most helpful in the past got my business, and they have recently discovered me as a target for the old and or interesting stuff that they sometimes have to take in exchange for a new bike. I've bought some of them and probably paid more than they expected because now they've started giving me presents. I like that.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Mine will always work with me, and if they get interesting bikes in they'll call me down even just to ogle. They've been in business for 40 years or so now and there's a good deal of old stock still squirreled away that they're really nice about digging out and opening up when I need oddball parts.

The 2 older guys are happy to see me interested, and the younger guys just wanna see what crazy contraption of a bike I'm on.

clubman 

I've nurtured relationships with a handful of LBS's and it's always been mutually beneficial.


Of course you have find shops and mechanics who like it that way.

wrk101

Just the opposite, mine think I am a PITA. OK, so maybe I am, but I do spend money, on stuff no one else wants. They really don't want to be bothered, would rather sell new bikes and do tuneups.

In this market, thats where the money is, so I do not blame them.

well biked

It's nice to see that someone here understands how an LBS makes money.

miamijim

I get all my parts at wholesale.....

Michael Angelo 

I would have to say the Large majority of the ones around here just want to sell you a carbon frame bike each and everytime you walk in.....

orcas island 

I dropped into one of the local shops today, having a few minutes to kill due to the rain outside. All very high end, new bikes inside. No price tags to be seen anywhere. I'm not too up on what's new these days so asked a few questions about the hardware on display. One piece cranks. Electronic shifters (no cables!) 12 lb. complete bikes. "How much?" $13,000 was the reply. After nearly choking on my donut, I told the young salesman that I was still riding my 1971 Gitane Super Corsa and 1984 Specialized Expedition. I felt like I had just stepped out of the Stone Age! No deals on Vintage parts in that shop!

Gonzoso

My LBS told me that anytime I need anything old or weird to stop in, the guy that owned it passed it on to his son who is the mechanic. They still have almost all the old stuff from this bike store which has been around since the 60's.

Of course this place sells a lot of new bikes and that's where they make their money. I will go down there and willingly spend 20$ on a 10$ chain to get it that day and help support the LBS.

AZORCH

The guys at the LBS I was dealing with the most ("was" because they recently closed their doors, sadly) were initially amused when I first got to know them. Then they were kind of fascinated by the various bikes I would ride in on. I tried to give them as much business as I could and they appreciated it; I got deals all the time, sometimes they'd just give me stuff when I'd come in looking for the odd screw or whatever. They let me dig through the "junk" in the backroom. I'm going to miss them - especially now that I have to forge a new relationship with a different group of guys who don't seem as friendly, and whose shop has nothing of interest in it for me. Darn it.

old's'cool

There is a cool used/refurbished bike shop in my area that has been a good resource (too bad I'm moving away). If it's OK to plug the name, it's called Brave New Wheel [if not, mods can edit]
Since they deal with old bikes, it's a great place to find odd & ends that are too small and or obscure to advertise on Ebay/CL and pay shipping for [or even BF ISO/trade, in some cases].
Good example, I scored a good 1st gen Cyclone on Ebay that was missing the mounting bolt. The LBS let me rummage around in their drawers and let me have a compatible bolt for free. In several similar situations, I've been able to rummage around and find what I need, for a very nominal price. Also, in my early days, before I had the cojones to do my own wheel buildint/truing, they charged me all of $10 to true a rear wheel that was basically unridable when I handed it to them.
In reciprocation, I like to give them my business for new consumables that I need on short notice and/or in small quantities, i.e. in situations that don't warrant searching online and paying/waiting for shipping, e.g. cables, spokes.
Obviously, their main business is flipping used bikes and selling parts & maintenance to non-mechanical cyclists; I have no illusions that they're dependent on the likes of me to keep their lights on; however, I like to think there is a feeling of respect and camaraderie between us.

SteveSGP

I buy from one shop for new parts, It's an older single location shop the guys are great and very friendly. I have a couple sources for oddball old used bits as well.

I honestly don't care if I pay retail for parts at the LBS simply due to the fact that they have virtually everything I need all the time and a wealth of knowledge when I need advice, I'd rather support them so they can keep doing what they're doing rather than beat them up for a discount.

Seriously, how many shops can you walk into these days and have a choice of several different sizes and brands of 27" tires?



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tugrul

Honestly, reading these forums has made me largely avoid the local bike shops. For me it's like walking into a car dealership when I should be in an auto parts shop, and I rather not antagonize them.

The shop that would probably be the most receptive to my needs around here has an owner that's been trying to sell and retire.

I was in a shop in the next town with a friend, and I left them my number if they ever got a tall vintage bike for a trade in, but I didn't get the feeling I'd ever get a call. Hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised.

There is another shop in Portsmouth that has nice old stuff now and then, should leave them my email.

jimmuller 

I've been given discounts and occasionally even free old parts. They are interested.

BigPolishJimmy

I'm sure my lbs would rather sell new bikes and do tune-ups. But It did help one day when I showed them the result of a wheel set I was cleaning up. I think that changed their perspective from 'a nutter who talks a lot of crap' to 'a nutter who actually does a lot of crap'.

I suppose If I were in business, I'd rather spend my time on people who can't fix their own bicycles. I do like to buy my park tools there though.