SurlyLaika

Can any LBS bike mechanics here compile a list of routine services and prices. I know there will be some regional differences but I'd like to see just on average what others are paying for the same services.

Examples would be:
bar wrapping, $12
brake or derailleur adjustment $7
cross brake installation $40
cantilever brake installation $40 front and back.

I was just charged $15 to change out a cassette. It took a third of the time it took to wrap my bars but cost just the same. How do bike shops decide the price of mechanic services? I asked them what tools they were using and how much the tools cost. The chain whip and freewheel/cassette remover are $25 together. For only $10 more and some effort, I would be able to change out cassettes again and again. Not griping, the LBS employees are great guys. Sometimes I just question whether the services I pay for are worth the price or if I could do it myself for a slightly more upfront cost and some learning. I know there is a premium paid for their tools, expertise, and the convenience of not doing it yourself, too. There are some things I'd just rather leave up to them.

unterhausen

I entered the following search term into google:
bike shop service rates "replace cassette"
$10 is very common, more is not unheard-of

fietsbob

It depends on the Overhead costs of operating the business .

Hawaii and NYC, for example, would have additional costs,
just because of where they are located.

desertdork

lmgtfy

gruppo

I hesitate to get into this but here goes. A "cost of service" analysis and the resulting array of rates and mark-ups needed to make a profit is a heady process, requiring the balancing of many factors and a clear understanding of what the competition is doing. For example in some shops the service section might be a separate profit center and in others it might be grouped with bike sales. Keep in mind too that shops need good tools, not the cheap $25 chain whip & cassette lock ring remover you mention (And they have to have "all" the removers needed for whatever brand/model/era of freewheel/cassette might need servicing - In my shop each service bay is equipped with about $240 worth of high quality chain whip's and freewheel/cassette lock-ring pullers). Also some shops will use Barnett's flat rate schedule and others will set their own standards. Then there's the need for all shop employees to make a living wage and have some decent benefits like you probably have, and for the service techs to receive on-going training (It's not cheap to send folks to Sram School or UBI).

Well this could ramble on but suffice to say there's not an easy answer to your question. But if you know the shop's hourly rate and have access to a flat rate manual then you could estimate what each service might cost in your area (If the bike's clean, has been taken care of, nothing's damaged - like the derailleur hanger - and the frequency with which you drop off a six-pack of good quality micro-brew with your bike).

mikezs

When you go to a LBS you are paying for more than just their time and use of tools. They usually offer other things you may not be aware of like:

- Trained eye check-over of the bike
- A warm/clean place to perform the work/wait
- A trained person to ask any questions to
- Compatibility checking
- A guarantee of the work that is performed should there be any problems
- Ancillaries like grease, gloves, soap/water, bits and bobs they give you for free.

That's the sort of thing I'd expect while paying for my bits anyway

SurlyLaika

haha, you're a clever one.

SurlyLaika

yea, this is why I like my LBS. I know they know their stuff and I trust their advice. As far guarantee of the work, the thing is that I had just taken my bike in for the same skipping chain/derailleur problem last week and not many days later, the same problem comes up. I just thought I could get a little break on the cassette replacing/derailleur adjustment. In any case, they're really good guys and if I ever build a bike, it'll be through them.

SurlyLaika

I also didn't know if there are set rates for work. Sometimes, the price seems to be decided on the spot or there is some disagreement between the employees over what I ought to pay. I was just curious.