Wogster

If it's getting grumpy about shifting, with 1500 miles on it, you may need to change out the chain, I know I need to do mine, but with half a metre of snow on the ground, and most roads narrowed by a good metre, riding to the shop, is out of the question right now......

motor

i was treated quite nicely when i went to check out bikes at the local trek store.

I was greeted with a hello upon walking in.

i checked out the website before going in and the su 2.0 looked like a good one for me. im a complete noob and when I described what type of bike i wanted with out even mentioning the su 2.0 they recommended me that bike. I had also been considering some of their bike path bikes (fx and 7000's) The salesman suggested the su 2.0 over some of the more expensive bike path bikes. even though i would be fine with some of the other bikes, I think the one i am getting fits my needs best.

I had been to the Performance Bicycle shop about a year ago just to buy a present for someone. They were a little busy but had plenty of employees there but it was a little bit like I was bothering them. It took way too long to get a simple cyclocomputer. I didn't even bother looking at performance bicycle when looking for my bike. but I might check them out again for accessories.

Trolley Guy

I know the stores you are referring to, I bought my Trek 7.3FX from the one in the Park Cities. They were very helpful and answered my questions. I have also bought bikes from RBM, the Garland road location and except for one "mean old" salesman, everyone there was helpful also.

fuzzbox

I went to a bike store the other day and I couldn't find a price tag on an item so I asked the person and he was like I don't know and just stood there, he also didn't even know what a headset was. Sheesh.

East Hill

Was this one of the big chains? Or a local shop?

East Hill

fuzzbox

Local I like to call them Snobino Cycles(Sabino Cycles)

East Hill

Perhaps No Sabe would work too ?

East Hill

Bikeforumuser0022

My test for ANY retail establishment is if a staff member says "Hello" to me within 8 seconds of me entering the store.

Every time it has happened in a bike shop I've ended up buying something and returning for other purchases later.

Every time it hasn't happened, the store was full of roadie snobs or mtb snobs (yes, there really is such a thing) or somebody pissed me off and I never went back.

Once in a mostly mtb store two guys had spent the entire time talking. I walked around for several minutes, looking at everything, while these two clowns yakked about how important they were to the local mtb scene or whatever.

Two years later I decided to give them another chance... and the same thing happened.

That'd make a great sig.

cyccommute 

Nay. Three second cable adjustment.

billbass

Folks, I hate to tell you, but they treat MOST people that way!!! One of the major lbs in town I just won't set foot in. I'm 6ft-3in, but a thin 180lber. I can walk in, tell them what I want, and they'll say "No you don't. You need this!" Last time there I finally said I didn't ask you what I needed. I told you what I want. I'll gladly go elsewhere to get it, spun round, and walked out. There are more bike shops down the road. I feel your pain!!
Billbass
www.billrountree.net

CliftonGK1

The shop I frequent doesn't treat anyone that way. I've never seen customers get ignored, even if it means all they get when they walk in is a "Just a few minutes and someone can help you" when the shop is really busy.
I'm a regular there, and even I get a "You need any help, or just looking around?" when the shop is packed.

tabnlu

I like going to the main store of Richardson Bike Mart even though the Garland Rd. store is closer. Last time at the Garland Rd store, I was looking for a Trek 7000 and the guy kept pushing me to a more expensive bike because they didn't have my size in stock. Once he realized I wasn't going to budge from that bike, he just blew me off after that. At the main store, I told them what I wanted the bike for and they were saying "That's the perfect bike for what you need!" not trying to sell me something I didn't want. This also happened when I bought yellow bike from them 8 years ago. If I make a major purchase, it's going to be at the main store.

conurejade

+1 +1 +1
My LBS is great! They have always treated me with respect and intelligence - even when this oh-so Athena first walked into their shop looking for one of the lowest end hybrids available

Also, part of what you pay for with an LBS is their service and experience. I'ts one thing to order online if you know exactly what you need and how to put it together when you get it, but I'm certainly far from there. I just got my first road bike 2 months ago - the LBS helped me narrow down my choices and refine my fit. I have been trying several different stem lengths and different reach handlebars - all at no extra cost - to resolve fit issues. I get free tune-ups. Try all that with an online sale.

ovrrdrive

I took my bikesdirect bike to the LBS and they were more than happy to fine tune it for me. I got the check out and tune done, and had them mount a Sigma 906 on it for me all for $75. I'm pretty happy with them.

A good bike shop will service bikes they don't sell with a smile. They're probably making more from the service and aftermarket parts anyway.

PATH

I am loyal to TOGA Bikes of Nyack. I have never had a bad experience there and there is no hard sell. They have three stores in NYC which are pretty cool and they are TOGA and GOTHAM. I have been properly fitted on all my bikes and they have been courteous to a fault. Mind you that I am an over 300 lb. clyde!

They tuned up and checked both of my Bianchi bikes which I bought elsewhere. I was never made to feel uncomfortable even though Bianchi is one of the brands they sell. They are seriously Clydesdale friendly! I don't work there so I am being straight up! I also am a big fan of their road side assistance plan if you break diown within a certain radius of the store they come get you!

No snobs at TOGA!! https://togabikes.com/index.cfm

irabidfish

I went into a small bike shop near my home town to buy a shifter cable, and the guy tried to sell me some proprietary brand of cable that would have cost me $60 for a package telling me all the reasons why he was sure I didn't want to risk trying to put the wrong kind of cable into the break levers on my $300 bike...
I tried again, explaining I just needed standard break cables, he was very insistant on this proprietary model, and was sure I would destroy my bike if I didnt buy it. I rolled my eyes and left the store. I was about 210 lbs at the time, and just getting into cycling, but I knew any kind of cable should not cost me more than $5.
I have since lost weight (down to 184! in just 3 months) and I find the more in shape I get, the better reception I get from a LBS. Its a shame how judgmental people can be, especially in the cycling community.

Bizurke

My local Trek dealer has always treated me like crap, I luckily found another LBS that treats me like I'm one of their good old friends. The unfortunate thing is that in my daily business the Trek shop is very convenient and the other shop is way out of my way. I stopped in to browse at the Trek shop yesterday and there was a new guy working and being trained on how to answer the phone etc. A lady came in wanting a bike and knew nothing, she'd never bought one before. The guys replies to her questions were very lacking but I chalk it up to a lack of experience on his part. I talked with her a bit and helped her pick out the bike that suits/fits her best and she bought it on the spot. After that I talked to the owner/mechanic about some parts I wanted to get and the prices seemed to fall quite a bit and he was real nice to me.

It's sad that I had to help them sell a bike in order to get respect, IMHO bike shops should be one of the few places left that anyone can walk in to and feel welcome.

flip18436572

I have tried to post on this thread about 4 times now, and have deleted my posts each time. This time I will post it, but it will be very short. I have had mutliple bad experiences with TREK dealers in multiple states and will not say it is every Trek dealer, because there are a few small dealers that seem to care, but why does everyone seem to need or want a Trek bike. Is it all because of Lance? I think that is a large part of it, but it was the LBS that sold me a bike, not the name. I thought I wanted a Trek, but bought Jamis because the LBS treated me decent and the Trek dealers were anything but decent. I don't think there is a problem with the Trek bicycle, I think it is the dealer that makes the difference, and it might be because the corporate policy is driving the smaller dealers out of business because of corporate requirements. I don't know, but I will probably never buy a Trek because of the very poor business practices of the stores selling the bikes. I don't live in Jackson, TN or LaGrange, GA, but both of those Trek dealers would be the only two of the twenty Trek stores that I would buy anything in, and only one of those would be a bike the other would only be parts for my Jamis bike.

CliftonGK1

I've heard that routine at a couple of the shops in Redmond. (I won't mention names, except to say it wasn't SVC.) "Oh, you should definitely get the Brand X cables over the bulk cabling off the spool. They're smoother shifting and lower maintenance, with sealed ferrules and lined housings."

... yep, I'm almost certain that grimy $11 Tourney derailleur is going to feel just like a brand new XTR with those $40 cables. I ran pay-by-the-foot Shimano bulk cut cable on my old Stumpjumper for all 18 years I owned it and I never had any problems. I also never had anyone try to talk me into expensive stuff I didn't need, but maybe that's because a) I knew what I was talking about, or b) my bike looked like I stole it from a homeless circus clown, so they assumed I couldn't afford anything expensive.

jyossarian

My mechanic and Lennard Zinn both said the same thing about needing brand specific cables: You need Campy cables for Campy shifters. Then the mechanic told me the cost and I ordered them online for $20-$30 less and installed them myself. But I still like my mechanic and my LBS even though I don't spend huge amounts of money in there.

badgermac

Being new "back in the game" I've hit the LBS in the Milwaukee area here. The big local LBS chain here is dropping Giant because, as one of the guys said "Trek made us a killer offer to be more exclusive". I found a LBS just outside the city proper and the guy has been nothing but helpful. I'll buy my roadbike there this fall (he's earned my business) once I lose some weight and beat the hell out of this older Trek I bought.

flip18436572

I was wondering about that kind of thing. Too bad, because they are going to lose more people with attitudes like that. Maybe they will buy everyone, and we will just have to buy Trek no matter what or buy custom.

SpaceNerd

Living in Phoenix gives me access to a multitude of bike shops that are usually no more than 15 minutes away. You would think I would have tons of places that I could go but unfortunatly not. In the course of 2 days I went to 6 different bike shops trying to find myself a low end road bike that I thought might be what I wanted. The first shop i set foot in asked me what they could help me with and when i told them I wanted to figure out what size bike i needed and start looking the guy immediately asked me how many miles a week I planned to ride it. Once I told him he went into a hard sell on a bike that was way out of my price range and waaaay more than I needed for the miles i told him. I walked out pretty quickly. The next bike shop I went to was respectful of my price range but kept trying to put me on a bike that felt way too big and uncomfortable even though the bike they were putting me on was already sold and the smaller one that fit me better was not sold.

One store seemed completly uninterested in selling me anything though their other location was marginally more helpful. The other two stores didn't have anything in my size and really wanted to put me on larger bikes than I was comfortable on.

FINALLY, I showed up at one last LBS tired of the crap and hoping that these people wouldn't lie to me. They immediately put me on the bike I was looking at and then decided that I needed the next size smaller. I was looking at a low end trek road bike in the $700 range and instead of lying to me and telling me I had to jump up several models the salesman told me that the low end bike is fine but that I may have to replace or upgrade components in the future.They made me sit on the bike and sized me to it knowing that i had no interest in buying or test riding that day. He then went to the trouble to talk to me for half an hour about what you can do to make the ride more comfortable adjustment wise and how the smaller bike would really be better for me because my torso is shorter. I walked out of that shop pretty well knowing where I would be buying my bike. I went back the next day to test ride it. The following week I walked in and purchased the bike a computer, pump and tube from them. The never once acted snobby or like my business didn't matter and it got them the sale. I'm soo glad that I didn't assume that all of the shops would be the same way because I ended up feeling a lot more confident about my purchase and my future cycling needs.

hoytbasses

yeah, what bill bass (closet clydesdale) says:

it's true for most specialty shops (biking, music stores, camping, climbing gear etc.......) they're staffed by enthusiasts or semi-pros or posers who need to make you feel inferior with their snobbery that they are knowledgeable and competent and their 'expertise' is far beyond your simple needs! They're jerks and losing their owners money! I love messing with those kids when I go into a shop like that . I'm old, fat, but have worked in bike shops off and on for 30 years. I've logged thousands of miles a year, can lace wheels like a pro, and have seen every bad idea in cycling from chiorda and viscount to huffy. I've forgotten more than they know and I love playing 'stump the chump'..... o.k.... I'm a little passive agressive....

The bike business is paid for with family and recreational bikers, yet people who work in too many shops only want to make the big sale for the carbon fiber campagnologruppo wing bling mummajabba bike (of which they will sell 3 or 4 all season.......as opposed to 200 low-moderate priced bikes in the same season......

I will ALWAYS pay a little extra to the shop who treats me respectfully, and stands by their product without a lot of crapola, nickel and diming, and up-selling.

lastly: there are two major shops on my end of the cape: One is the TREK dealer and they act like the above snobbish types. The other focuses on the family business, rentals, and good service: The Trek dealer is withering on the vine IMHO, while the family business is expanding by leaps and bounds (and selling their share of boutique bikes as well....)

In billbass'es end of the cape, his bike shops are all crappy!

Karl

badgermac

It was actually a funny discussion. The guy who I was workign with at the store said "Yea, so I heard about this trek thing, got my mountain bike magazine with all the new bikes and review and top 10's, and Trek had none in there and Giant had like 4.