Bike Forums - Is your LBS older-rider friendly?

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- - Is your LBS older-rider friendly? (https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plus-50/914179-your-lbs-older-rider-friendly.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdon (Post 16090788)

Mine are friendly to cyclists of all ages and don't treat a $500 customer any different than a $10,000 customer. The guys tattoos are ok but mine is better. ;)

And make sure the guy in back turning wrenches has those big disk thingies in his ears.:lol:

The LBS I visited is a high end one , it carries Wilier and Colnago only . Fully built bike goes from $5000.0 up to $12,000 . The owner knows old folks like us can fork out this kind of cash for a bike . So yes , I get treated very well every time visit there .

Quote:

Originally Posted by mapeiboy (Post 16091795)

Not all old folk can fork out 5 to 12 grand on a bike.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badenoch (Post 16090034)

It had been three decades since I’d last visited a bike shop. In my day I rode a lot, followed bikes and knew a fair bit about them. Now firmly in my mid-50’s and having decided to take it up again I checked a few websites and started on a tour of the local outlets.

Store #1
Good reputation. Nice website. Dingy location, crammed with bikes, salesperson with tats, piercings and whose main contribution was saying, “Dude, this bike is AWESOME.” Next.

Store #2
Probably the best known in the area. Caters to the local races clubs. Smallish well-appointed store in the downtown. Two sales people there. Very intense and fit looking young men who seemed to regard me as a bit of a fossil which while perhaps somewhat justified is not all that conducive to me opening my wallet. Sorry to have wasted their time. Moving on.

Store #3
Two season store. Bikes in summer, snow sports in winter. I understand the logic but they weren’t pure LBS in my opinion. The sales person was a part owner, a bit closer to my age and seemed genuinely interested in walking me through what had changed in the last 30 years and what would be most suitable for my needs. My many questions were answered and I was treated like an adult. I didn’t buy the bike he suggested but he certainly didn’t object when I chose an upgraded version of the same model. I’ve been back for service and to correct a small problem and was warmly greeted both times. I've bought several accessories there and am now thinking about buying a second bike next year.

So is your LBS older-rider friendly?

I'm pleased to say that My LBS is very older-rider friendly. They stock lots of different styles of bikes, and have something
for everyone. A little funkiness to the place, and that's fine. Maybe I should point out that they have many customers who have been doing business with them
for years, or even decades, hence their older-rider friendly attitude.

What they do not have: Tattooed, facial jewelry types who say such inspiring things as "Dude, this bike is awesome!" And they do not have young supermen who adamantly insist
that "You need carbon fiber, because that's what everyone else has!!!"

I'd be a little suspicious of "Seasonal" bike shops. We have had them around the Boston area. Bikes in the summer, as you describe, and something else in the winter. i.e. Camping,
cross country skiing, etc. Or... places where the bike business is a side business to something else, such as lawn and garden supplies. Yeah, they still exist.

small town, one bike shop
been in there 2 times. one time with my older (now gone) bike needing a bottom bracket. Owner spent most of his time trying to talk me into a newer bike. 2nd time, after I fixed the bottom bracket myself and needing a chain, the discussion led to ......hey I can make a great deal on this bike 279 down and balance in 90 days. last time I was in there. I noticed he did not approach younger riders in there like that, so maybe he thought hey....here is an old guy....prob has money...sell him a new bike
so everything now is either on line, or 25 minute car ride away.

Ive spoken with other older bike riders in the area, they have same feeling...

few years ago, another bike shop tried to open in town, same street, his windows kept getting broken out and stuff stolen, so he decided to go give up

We have several superb bike shops in our area. Since I do not consider myself old, I have not noticed any difference to how I am treated compared to others. However, due to my track record of purchases with shops, many times I am afforded fast service and quick turnaround on maintenance and orders. IMO, it is the older riders who provide most of the profit to bike shops. Team deals and specials that are offered to clubs do not provide much margin and consume a lot of resources. Some of the best bike shop personnel have tattoos and piecing. I do not see that as evidence of lack of friendliness, capability or smarts but more lifestyle. Having said that, there are clueless sales people but I have observed that in all retail.

I don't usually like bothering LBS guys with my little searches for low-profit-margin components so I don't really know them that well. Last time I bought a bike and all kinds of stuff to go with it from an LBS was in '86. :50:

4 shops in town the closest to me is high end trek too much money for my taste, the best shop in town has been around the longest owner operator one man store very 50+ friendly always offering encouragement to myself and the wife. the other 2 I haven't been in them enough to say.

Im now 74 and I have never noticed any problem with age in the LBSs here in Lincoln. One or two get a little quirky when I mention I ride bents tho.

The LBS I frequent seems to be friendly to the older riders. Might be because generally they have more money to spend than the younger riders.

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve0257 (Post 16093774)

The LBS I frequent seems to be friendly to the older riders. Might be because generally they have more money to spend than the younger riders.

Especially the empty nesters. The wife and I have found we spend less now that the children are gone.

steve +1

Any LBS that treats an older person badly is being a fool. Many older people and baby boomer retireees probably have the money to buy anything they want.

Some better that others. The shop closest to our place has hired a hot shot mechanic who think's he's the sharpest knife in the drawer who's a real turn off most of the time who would be better off behind a solid wall unseen 99% of the time so I act like he is when looking for needed supplies to keep 7 bikes on the road. The shop on the other end of the county is awesome as far as customer appreciation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rydabent (Post 16094695)

steve +1

Any LBS that treats an older person badly is being a fool. Many older people and baby boomer retireees probably have the money to buy anything they want.

This applies to Clydes too. I fall into that category as well and have experienced that those that stay in business treat everyone well, even old and fat like me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badenoch (Post 16090034)

Each of your bike shops reminds me of an LBS. The first would be the shop downtown. If tats turn you off, not a good place to go. I know lots of the people there, so I have a good rapport. And yes, they are great with older riders. Given their urban setting, they have a lot of city bikes, a few cruisers, some mountain bikes, some touring bikes, stuff like that. They have racing bikes too, but just as one of the many times they carry. They're a little low on actual stock (one or two of each, but as a 6'-2" guy, not too much in my size). I haven't bought a bike from them, but I have bought supplies and parts. They advised me in my first wheel build and I bought the parts from them. The wheel is holding up great. My wife, who isn't a bike person, is a little intimidated by the place.

Store #2 in my case is on the trendy west side, lots of high-end custom stuff (it's where you go to buy an Orbea, for example), and they supply a lot of local racers. They can do other stuff too, but they're on the premium end in terms of what they offer. They're friendly to people of all ages, as long as you bring money.

Store #3 in my area is a year-round bike shop, but it sounds kind of like the place you describe. It's actually a local chain of about 4 shops, but they have huge stock so you can get whatever you want off the shelf. They are much friendlier to the non-cyclist, but very knowledgeable and can sell up to whatever level you want. They also sponsor local racing teams, and they've been around forever.

Stumbled on to my LBS after having bought my bike at a store that went out of business here. Young guy (twenties) is one of the owners and the guy I deal with mostly. He was friendly and courteous when I first went in and became more so when he found out that I am retired military and that I normally carry a sidearm. His shop carries everything from around $700 on up into the $5,000+ range. In our conversations, I've told him of a couple of problems I've had and he had the solutions available either gratis or for a reasonable price.

I went to him to get my rear sprocket changed (yeah, I know I'm lazy) and his guys in the back made several suggestions that have really helped this old man.

The customers I've seen in the shop when I've been in there run the whole range from kids with their youngish-looking parents to other older Clydesdales like me.

Most of the bike shops here are pretty good and respect all customers. The one closest to home I tend to avoid. The employees are good, it's the owner who's a patronizing, condescending twit.

This issue has never even crossed my mind at any time while I have been in many many bike shops over the years. There have been good sales staff and bad ones, really had nothing to do with my age. I enjoy the young sales staff almost more than the ones my age. I get a kick out of finding out about them, their bicycle experience, their racing experience, etc.

I dealt with senior populations as part of my job for many years and I found there to be just as much, or more, of a bias against younger people than younger folk's bias against older folks.

My LBS has always treated me (or anyone else I'm aware of) with friendliness and respect regardless of age. I even thought so before I retired from "real life" and started working for them part time. :)

Well, my local LBS is like store #1 including the mechs with tats and piercings. And some without. I go there for two reasons. First, they've been helpful. Second, they're closest to me. Their customers have been all ages from teenagers to older folks.

When I bought a bike there a few years ago the sales/mech asked intelligent questions and was very helpful in finding the bike I wanted.

The LBS that I use most (over 90% of the time) is very consumer friendly. I've not observed them making distinctions based on age, body size, gender, type of riding, etc. The staff there reflects a wide range of age, includes both genders, and collectively are very diverse riders from cruising, BMX, cross, road racing, touring, Mt. biking, etc. Many participate in multiple disciplines of cycling.

Why were you offended that a person with tattoos said a bike was awesome?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebel1916 (Post 16098601)

Why were you offended that a person with tattoos said a bike was awesome?

It probably was an awesome bike. Many of them are.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebel1916 (Post 16098601)

Why were you offended that a person with tattoos said a bike was awesome?

Because that's all he had to offer other than a blank look when asked anything specific about the bike. The bike may have been awesome. The salesman was anything but.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badenoch (Post 16100856)

Because that's all he had to offer other than a blank look when asked anything specific about the bike. The bike may have been awesome. The salesman was anything but.

But that's not what you said at first. In fact, you came off as being kinda unfriendly to what I'm assuming was a member of a younger generation than you. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the reason you seemed to be having a problem with this, is that you have some pretty strong prejudices against other generations yourself.