Machka 

I don't have an LBS ... sure there are several bicycle shops around and we'll pop in now and then, and occasionally even buy something (bought winter gloves from one just the other day) ... but they aren't MY shops. I feel no particular attachment to them anymore than I do to the local Target.

And most of the time we shop online.

birru

I try to shop locally when possible and my rule is generally my business is theirs to lose. As long as their prices are fair and roughly in line with typical street prices, I'm happy. I also don't expect a typical retailer to match gray market and secondary market pricing. And there's wiggle room there if customer service is truly exceptional. My favorite LBS is smart. In addition to running a good shop, the owners live in town, are active in the community, and staff/friends of the shop are often seen on local roads and trails in branded jerseys. I'd be lying if I said that didn't have an effect on me as a customer.

On the flip side, I've run into some local shops where prices are outdated and high (to the point where manufacturer MSRP has been reduced and the shop won't budge) or customer service is slow, indifferent and unhelpful. Then I'm more than happy to shop online rather than subsidize a lousy business just because they're in my community. At that point I don't support them and hope they close to give another business a chance.

Kedosto

Go back to your LBS and explain your situation. Tell the owner/manager of the struggle you're having with coming to terms with your choice between supporting a local business versus getting a better deal on the wheels. That person is either going to understand and try to seek a mutually satisfactory solution, or will blow you off by not giving a damn. In either case you're going to come out ahead; a better deal on the wheels, or knowing that you're not a valued customer and you can buy online with a clear conscience. You really have nothing to lose.


-Kedosto

fietsbob

You dont Know I cannot guess.

Gweedo1

Simple: support and go to brick and mortar shops whenever you can.

shipwreck

The owner of the bike shop in my home town once grabbed some gloves out of my hand and started tearing off the msrp price, which was 15 dollars less than he had just told me. While he scraped it off, he offered them to me for only 10 over msrp. That was not even the thing that made me absolutely swear never to go in again. Not gonna support the local shop.

Other shops in the nearest city vary, but generally don't seem geared to sell to and support an established rider who occasionally needs a part for bikes that they did not sell. They either tell you they can order something that you can order yourself cheaper without driving two hours to pick it up, or tell you that you need to upgrade to something that they sell. Most shops seem to make the most money from the new rider who has no clue they are paying more, and cannot work on it themselves so do need the support of a shop mechanic.

There are some good shops that support their local cycling community with event support and organization, and I will try to buy a water bottle or something from them as its all I need and am willing to pay more for than you can get it online.

hanshananigan

Most bike shops around here have the minimally informed sales staff interface with the public and keep their mechanics in the back turning the wrench. If I have a specific question, like whether a wheel is built in house, I usually get a half of an answer from the sales associate then have to push for them to take 10 steps toward the back and ask the mechanic. Or in the too often scenario when there's no mechanic or bike fit specialist in the store at the moment, good night. Very frustrating. For me, that is a bigger hassle than driving across town.

Rant aside, I would prefer to use my LBS but I don't get much back for it considering what I'm typically looking for.

All that said, I have also had excellent (and poor) experiences with sales staff as well when looking for a new bike.

highrpm

If it were me, I would go and talk to them again. Show them the online price and see if they can get within 10% of it.


I can see paying 8-10% more than the online price. If the shop won't come down for you, then forget it and must order online. Long term, their business model won't work and they will close anyway, whether you buy the overpriced wheels from them or not.

MRT2

Maybe yes, maybe no. People who hang around this forum or other online forums have a fair amount of knowledge. There is a huge number of casual riders who have absolutely no idea about bikes, and it goes beyond wheels.

travbikeman

I used to be willing to pay more with my LBS, mainly due to the people whom used to work there really worked with me and helped out on a lot of things. But have noticed the past couple times, these guys are no longer working there. Plus I get a real bad feeling the shop is no longer doing well, especially seeing the service is starting to slide since the owner can no longer keep his workers for some reason.

So admitting, I've been working on my own maintenance and will shop around for better deals now at other more established larger LBS or online. Which is a bummer, because I like seeing the smaller shops thrive.

Gweedo1

Like I said, "whenever you can" and sometimes you can't but at least try first before going on line.

I know that there are many riders who go into their LBS or any BS and try on/check out gear etc just to see if it fits etc and then go order on line...riders/shoppers like that are scum bags IMO.

And how about orders that are wrong, or don't fit/work etc when ordering on-line, or at times money that just disappears as nothing is sent? The list of on-line bad experiences is as long as the list of bad BS experiences.

I support my local bike shops and any bike shop whenever I can. Think BS owners are rip off artists? Better include shoppers in that thought process as well. There's an old expression in sales, "the buyer is the liar" and if anybody has worked in retail, he/she is likely to agree with that.

Dan333SP

Most of the time I'm too price-sensitive to not buy online.

Still, if/when I'm in a position to buy a whole new bike, I'm 100% buying from my LBS. I have no problem with bikesdirect or similar direct-sale online retailers and normally I'd go with one of those for price reasons, but my shop operates as a non-profit with all proceeds going to fund a cycling-related charity for inner city youth. Buying a bike there would cost me hundreds more than online, but most of that money is going to support the kids.

Yea, it'd be more efficient if I just bought the cheap online bike and gave directly to the charity, but I believe in their mission and happen to like the brands of bikes they carry, so there's that.

jorglueke

I don't mind paying a little more to a local business if they compensate with service. If the service doesn't bring me back then I'll go online.

Phil_gretz

I have many alternatives to the "local bike shop", so no, I would pay no premium simply to keep a shop in business. None.


My wife and I cannot pay premium prices for convenience or any other reason. We are very, very price sensitive. Always have been. That's how we've gotten along on one salary for decades.


If I need something *that day*, then the bike shop earns its profit on that item. This happens rarely, because I stock my consumables, planning and buying at the best market price. It's just the way one would do it, no?

SpeshulEd 

Wow! I wouldn't support that shop either. I guess it's always best to be an informed consumer. I usually know the prices of things that I'm interested in before going to the shop, if the price is similar and I need the item, I'll go ahead and buy it at the shop...and my shop will usually give me 10% off or some other special.

I forget not everyone lives in a bigger city/town and might only have one or two shops to choose from. I have 5 within 10-20 miles from me. I have one that I go to primarily, but I do spread the love around.

I'm also a fan of visiting bike shops when I'm on vacation - I usually try to buy a cap or a tshirt to show my support.

tgmcmonigle

This is a tired argument that pops up in every sports type forum. Do you do the same when you shop for cars? Do you feel like if you test drive a car at Dealer A and Dealer B offers you a better deal that you're locked in to Dealer A just because you test drove his car?

If not, why? It's the same principle.

You want my money, you earn it. I have mouths to feed just like anybody else does, and they're not entitled to my business just because they're "local". Good businessmen know how to add value to their product and make you want to shop there, even if the price is higher. Poor businessmen go out of business. Survival of the fittest.

tgmcmonigle

See my above post. Do you buy a car at the first dealer you test drive at, or do you shop around for the best deal? If you shop around, in your words, you're a scum bag. There may be a difference in the dollar amount, but the principle remains the same.

shelbyfv

Edit- This discussion continued awhile and deteriorated. I'm deleting my part of it with the observation that some things can't be fixed. Bye.

tgmcmonigle

Deny it all you want, it's the exact same thing. The dealer that you test drive at first has cost associated with that as well. It's not ethics, it's business. A lot of your on-line retailers have brick and mortar presences as well. Lots of Amazon retailers are shops that have branched out into the on-line world and increased their sales.

The fact that you can't grasp this shows the level of your hypocrisy. It seems that you have bought into the "group-think" that poor businessmen have been perpetuating since public access to the internet has been allowed. That's okay, as it's your money to spend, just don't criticize people who are more discerning with their money.

Gweedo1

What load of horse dongs!! Keep telling yourself that BS all you want, but scumbags are people who have no intention of buying from their LBS, but go there to try on or check out what they've already decided to order on line to make sure it'll fit etc...they have zero intention of "shopping" or comparing, but just "using" the investment and sweat of others to their advantage...scum bags!!

Your analogy is so very weak, as scum bag internet buyers who use brick and mortar shops to make sure about what they're buying aren't shopping, they're *confirming*. If you want to shop on line... stay on line and suffer the consequences of poor fit or quality that buying "blind" comes with, otherwise, pay the price and support your local LBS.

Scum bags who call themselves cyclists and who then abuse their fellow cyclists are the worst type scum bags, and especially those who try to defend their despicable actions!!

tgmcmonigle

Yeah, you two are the enlightened ones. Making assumptions as to my education, job, and television watching habits are straw man arguments at best, since you're both totally ignorant as to any of the above. It really weakens your arguments when you have to resort to ad hominem attacks. If you don't understand what that means, there's this really neat thing called Google that can help educate you.

What you are exhibiting is hypocritical behavior, since Dealer A has costs associated with the car as well as the salesman's time when you test drive it. The only difference in my example is that the amount of money exceeds your personal threshold.

As I said, it's your money to spend as you see fit, just don't criticize people who are smarter than you.

Seattle Forrest

I'm going to be buying some expensive wheels soon. They're the same price no matter where I get them, although there's the sales tax vs internet choice.

I'm leaning toward buying the wheels from an "L"BS about 200 miles away. The shop has provided me with a lot of value over the years and has the opportunity to do more of the same in the future.

wphamilton

There is another consideration for retail businesses that people tend to overlook. Anyone walking in is a potential customer, regardless of their intention. Whether or not someone has any intention of buying something, you want them to walk in the door. You want them wandering around all of your displays, seeing your product there, giving your salesmen a chance work them.

Even the guy that's planning to order online after checking something out locally, you want a shot at convincing that guy to buy it now, from you, and the best place to do that is in your store. You don't want him sitting at home, haunting the forums for advice - that helps you none at all. You want that same guy to come in to check things out. If nothing else, even if you fail with the big ticket sell you want to sell him the higher margin accessories. If not now, there's always a chance later.

That's not to say I'd go in to plumb someone's knowledge, take their time and then take it elsewhere. There are people who will try that. There's a line to be drawn there, and it usually falls on the business to draw it. You tell them enough, but at some point of detail that's after the sale support and the good ones point that out. If on the other hand they're just competing on price, then there's nothing wrong with a couple of questions, browsing and going with the best price. There is nothing wrong with asking questions and finding out what value the business adds either, and deciding that it's not enough for the price. Or that it is, as the case may be. It's up to the salesman to make that case though, not the customer.

I can understand the business owner's ire at the lookie-lous with their neverending questions, as I've been there. But that "scumbag" stuff, un-evolved human, and so on, that's for venting off in the back room. That guy doesn't really cost the business anything unless you let it, and the owner - if he's a good retail businessman - wants that guy in there doing what he's doing.

tgmcmonigle

FWIW, I have taken several ethics classes in college over the years. I have no lack of education, and it's obvious that you are not lacking there, either. The issue here is that our definition of ethics doesn't coincide. C'est la vie.

tcarl

It depends on the situation. I just bought a Brooks saddle. List price is $150. I found, and bought it, online for $103. On the other hand I just ordered a rather expensive set of rims and hubs from the bike shop because I know that when they arrive I'll be asking the shop to figure out spoke lengths and get them for me.