Yep, a good call indeed, IMHO.,,,,BD

That is Murphy's law #1 when you work for a shop. I don't know how many "simple" jobs I've tackled that ended up taking hours to fix. That's why I rarely tell a customer they can wait for something unless it's an adjustment on a recently purchased (or repaired) bike or a simple flat repair.

If all you needed was a barrel adjuster and I couldn't stay open, I would have dug a couple out of the junk box and left them someplace outside where you could get them.

Yep.....been there done that....."It'll only take a minute", they say......and when it doesn't, somehow, I'm the idiot......no thank you......

Funny how fast to judge people are without knowing the people involved.;) A lot of the comments here also strongly reinforce the reason why so many places loose business as well. At this point in the thread it's like watching people :deadhorse2:

Are you answering my post? I can assure you I am having no problems keeping a very full repair board. The real question is are guys that generally do everything they can to avoid doing business with their local shop a customer we bike shop owners need to court? It's doubtful just because a shop treated you a certain way on the one time you were out of options and needed them, that you will suddenly abandon the internet for your needs and start sending some real business their way. Is that an accurate statement?

It's just a reality of business. Not every one who calls or comes in will become a customer. I have to prioritize what little extra time I have to carefully attend to the people I know already support my continued presence in the community, while carefully cultivating the business around their needs. That's one very nice thing about being an independent business. When someone I don't know needs something last minute, we always try to find out if we can do anything over the phone to help, or like someone said, find a used part and leave it for them. If at all possible I will stay and try to help. But please understand for every person like you who made good on your promise to be there when you said you would, there are dozens before you who haven't. My kids aren't going to be young forever, and missing out on a ballgame, or dinner, or whatever with them because I waited for someone who promised they'd be there and only take 5 minutes but then didn't show or even bother to call is just not something anyone should have to deal with.....

Still, if the first shop had said "come on in-it's double time after hours, but since you're sure this will only take a few minutes it should be no big deal..." would you have still spent 3+ hours of your life driving to and from the other shop?

The shop owners/mechanics and potential customers in this thread could go back and forth forever justifying their own actions, but in the long run and in the big picture I can assure you it isn't the customer that suffers. There is always someone willing to grab business and money when it's for the taking. it's just a matter of who gets it. ;)

True, of course, but if their transactions aren't profitable, they won't be around long! Bike shops are not philanthropic organizations by definition, but some people expect us to behave like one.

You've still never answered my question that I have asked twice, BTW.

No and no, unless you earn it. You would be very surprised at the number of dollars I have spent this year and the break down of where it went and why, but for some reason I'm pretty sure it wouldn't matter......................

The OP is bordering on trolling here.

I have some pretty flexible hours and if someone calls me and says they really need a repair, and I know they will show up, and I don't have other things in my life planned... I will book them in for some after hours work.

Thing is... when someone I do not know well with limited skills and experience tells me that it is a five minute job I know it is going to be more than that.

The OP should think about what would happen if someone expected them to stay past quitting time and determine how valuable their time is... driving 180 miles for a "5 minute" repair is ridiculous.

There is so much information on the interweb and so many skilled folks here who are generous with their time and experience that a 180 mile drive should not have been needed.

There is also the point that your bicycle is not a life or death situation, and staying open late just to make you happy isn't either. If you had a race the next day, and had just bought a $5000+ bike, then the situation might be entirely different? Not to say it would make a difference either way, but whatever. Everyone likes to feel like they're the most important customer of the day,,,,BD

That's what I thought after reading it especially when he said that he's going to continually drive 180mi for all his bike parts and repairs.

All I can say is Amazing. :lol:

i am always grateful to those who can do what i cannot, and i let them know it both verbally (always) and monetarily (when i can- and they know it). i pony up an extra 5 or 10 for the pizza kitty. one day i asked what sodas they drank and bought a case (24) of each kind- and they were on sale, and cold! even on small purchases i'll have them keep the change. i know they don't make a fortune. and 2 of these shops are non-profit.

same story with car mechs. i am frequently amazed how far others will go for me by treating them as valued humans.

barter is cool, too.