Was I dissed by the LBS?
 

So, I was riding my bike about ten miles to a LBS in nearby Matchbook City (pop. 26,550) to buy a few parts. I knew the store would be open and not busy on a mid-afternoon Saturday. It's a combination of paved roads and a gravel towpath that passes a few blocks from downtown where the store is located. I got a flat front tire with about a mile to go to get there. I carry tools and a patch kit with me, but decided just to walk my bike the last mile to the store. Parked my bike in the rack in front, walked in and asked the owner (the store is owned by a husband and wife) if he would put new tube in my front wheel. He responded:"You me now? I can't leave the front of the store right now, I'm the only one here." In the ten square block downtown area of Matchbook City, there were probably twenty pedestrians. Only one of us was interested in the local bike shop. So I said, "OK, just sell me a tube, and I'll go sit on a bench at the park and change it myself." So I bought the tube, and the other parts I came for. Before the transaction was completed, the co-owner came down from upstairs. The owner still did not offer to fix my tire. As I was leaving, I said to myself "this place is not getting a good Yelp review from me." I just want opinions from some of you, were my expectations unreasonable? I've made a few purchases there, but never a bike.

Why didn't you take the bike into the shop so s/he could do the repairs and not leave the store unattended? I surprised the owner didn't suggest that you bring the bike in. Most bike shops welcome bikes inside the store.

Rule #83 .

"Be Self Sufficient:
Unless you are followed by a team car, you will repair your own punctures. You will do so expediently, employing your own skills, using your own equipment, and without complaining that your expensive tyres are too tight for your puny thumbs to fit over your expensive rim. The fate of a rider who has failed to equip himself pursuant to Rule 31, or who knows not how to use said equipment, shall be determined at the discretion of any accompanying or approaching rider in accordance with Rule 84."

I don't think that's a "diss", just a lack of customer service. He should have said, "I'll be happy to, but it'll be a couple of minutes until Jimbo is back and I can get on it" or words to that effect. I'm assuming they charge and you were willing to pay to have a flat fixed, as opposed to just buying new tube.

1 post and you came to the forum to whine about the LBS not shutting down it's front end to do a repair that you should be prepared to do at any time by the roadside yourself?

Go Yelp.

-Bandera

I wouldn't pay someone to fix a flat. Not in a million zillion years.

Dissed - no. Handled well - no. A mom and pop store with the owners the only employees on a Saturday afternoon is a pretty small operation and I can understand why he would not want to leave the store unattended even for a minute. You already told him you would install the tube yourself before his wife appeared. He followed through on what you told him.

Why didn't you just take the front wheel off and bring it into the store when you first arrived? If it has quick release, that shouldn't have taken more than a minute to do by releasing the brake and opening the quick release. His tools are in the shop so that's where it makes sense to fix it. He didn't chase you out the store or get in an argument so why would you bother to go on Yelp and complain. Maybe you are a bit sensitive?

doesn't warrant a thread...

What's odd to me is that the OP joined in 2012 and this is the first post he's ever made.

This makes no sense. If you wanted service on your bike, why wouldn't you bring it inside? Am I missing something?

Of course. You're missing the whole other side of the story.

I was wondering that as well

My opinion is your expectations were unreasonable. You asked.....

I didn't realize it was proper etiquette to barge right into the store with a bike before asking permission. That's why I left it in the rack, outside the front door, and went in to ask. Now I know to be more bold. I guess it didn't seem unreasonable that a bike shop near a busy bike path would do on the spot repairs. Wrong on both counts. I wasn't really complaining, just expressing the thought going through my mind as I was leaving. Sat on the bench, made the repair, and rode home. For the most part, an enjoyable summer afternoon.

It sounds to me like he figured you were freeloading and trying to get a free service on a part that isn't even $10.

Barging into a bike shop with a bike???
What the what...
Bike shops don't mind you bringing your bike into their shop, really they don't..
What did you expect him to do fix your flat, buy you dinner and give you a ride home?...lol

After you Yelp you should probably write your Congressman a letter.

This.

The guy lost me with the Yelp thing. Like you say, the other side of the story is missing.

If I need to have my bike repaired, I usually call first for an appointment; if I happen to just walk in without an appointment, they tell me how long it will take. I usually ask for a loaner (since they know me) and they'll go out of their way to provide me with a loaner bike.

unreasonable to expect on the spot fix, then bad yelp about it.
standard procedure at most LBS is to drop the bike off for repair,
anywhere between end of business day to 24hrs reasonable turnaround for simple jobs like that

if that sounds too long, fix your own flats

[QUOTE=Srcpt;17049437]I didn't realize it was proper etiquette to barge right into the store with a bike before asking permission./QUOTE]


I take my bike into my LBS all the time - and I'm never getting a repair, but just stopping in to pick up a spare tube or some other part. It would never occur to me that a bike shop would have a problem with me bringing my bike inside so I don't have to lock it up outside. I guess if they had a rack outside I'd consider leaving it there.

I think the guys at the shops I go to would look at me funny if I asked them to change a tube for me. But then I'd never walk a mile instead of doing a 5 minute fix on the road.

The shop I frequent will drop what they are doing to do a flat repair, and as they are replacing the tube teach the customer about how to do it themselves (I saw this recently).

As far as bringing the bike into the shop, I think I would avoid any shop that asked me to keep my bike outside. I always bring my bike or wheels in any time I need work done... no need to ask.

In the OPs situation, if I wanted them to install the tube and inflate it instead of taking the time to do it myself, I would have carried the wheel in, and asked them, "How much for a new tube with installation to get me back on the road?"

That ... and also ask if they are able to do it just then. Could be they are busy with someone else's bicycle.

All of this.. but I'm usually just stopping in the LBS to BS with the owner, I try to buy all my consumables etc there too, just to keep the support up. On second thought, if I asked my LBS to do a flat repair for me, I guarantee I would get laughed at... but just cause they know me.