Your worst LBS experience...
 

So some of you know I ordered a Trek 2.1 like 3 weeks ago, then I go to the LBS a week and a half after ordering and they tell me they lost the order. So I order it again after they apologize. Now I get a call today (a week after ordering it a 2nd time) from the LBS and I was all excited even though the weather is crap (I can still put it on my trainer, right?).. but Noooo they called me up to tell me that Trek doesn't have my size 2.1 in stock and its back ordered with an estimated time of 3 weeks.

WTF?

Oh and if anyone has a 2.1 can you post a whole ton of pics & close-ups so I can live vicariously through you?

LBS == "Lying B**tard's Store"

In my experience LBS's that sell trek are.... Hmm, I just don't go there.

Freds?

No, more used car salesmen then cyclists. Just gives me that kinda dirty feeling. They used to be a good shop, before they sold trek.
Might only be my trek dealer though.

I have a lbs near me that is a high presure type of environment. I went in one day looking for a rear axel for a road bike and within minutes, and before I knew what the hell had happened, he had me all wrote up for a new rear wheel for $90.00. once I came to my senses, I canceled the order, went home and took a shower, to get the creepieness off me. found a new bs. bought a 5.00 rear axel. Aaahhhhhhh, good times.

come on now..... dsellinger... spill the store beans... I gotta know who your talking about.

The time I went into a famous bike shop near Peoria to verify my fit calculations and they tried to charge me $150 for a "fit". I think they lost about $500 of my biz. with that stunt.

The time I went into a shop in Chicago that rhymes with "dickbike" and they made me disassemble, in the eff'n lobby, my 27" wheels I wanted to rebuild before they would measure the parts for the spokes I needed. eff'lkbk. When I did have them build up a pair of wheels... I had to retrue/retorque them about 2 rides later. They are the reason I learned how to build my own (strong) wheels.

The time I ...how far do you want me to go wth the &h!+ service I have recieved from an LBS?

I have other stories from shops like D&B and International in Detroit (area) as well...

If you can over look the forgotten order thing the other is not their falt.

It means that the second time they had his order they waited week to put it in. or a week to call him to let him know.

Yeah well it would have been nice (and not out of line IMO) if they offered to take a few bucks off or throw in a bottle & cage or whatever but all I got was a single phone call 3 weeks after the fact. I know its not their fault, guess I'm just more upset with the fact that I don't have the bike I want. I could go get an Allez or a CAAD9 probably at another LBS today but I don't want them.. Why is it the stuff you want never seems to be available but everything else is?

Oh and I will have to say they never tried to upsell me or make me feel pressured into buying anything with them. They are a good shop and stock a LOT of gear & bikes. Maybe I'm just being selfish.

By not upselling, you don't know what you're missing out on.

Not to me but the LBS told my riding buddy that his Wal-Mart Schwinn Varsity "Would NEVER make it" on the ride across Indiana. Agreed the bike isn't the best out there, in fact it is probably close to the worst new road bike you could buy, but I doubt he would have had to abandon it halfway through the ride, heck the thing was heavy but also pretty much bullet proof. Once he was sure he liked the whole biking thing he bought a Roubaix from the shop down the road, he didn't even consider the Cannondales, Treks and Giants his original shop carried. That road nazi comment cost them about $2K.

Dude, the shop didn't want your friend getting stranded in the middle of BFE. It's not about being a nazi.

The bike was solid.. just stupid.

Wrong.

Here's a story.

I went to the bike store on my birthday (March 14) to buy my Trek 2.1 (which I had been looking at every other weekend for months). Guy at the store lets me test ride the 58 which was on the floor; says I could go for a 60cm cause I might grow some more. They don't have it in stock; he calls another store, turns out they do (but it isn't built). He says that they WILL get it done for me by 6pm that day, no matter what.

I also noticed the seatpost it came with was aluminum, not carbon as it should've been. I pointed this out, and they installed a carbon one instead. :thumb:

They ran over to the other store (easily 12 miles away), picked up the bike, built it, and had it ready for me by 3:30. I am eternally in their debt.

To the OP, I'd post pics but I'm no photographer...and I have no idea how. :roflmao2:

that ^ sounds awful

Yea i'm gonna post that in the good thread. :)

thank you ;)

Did 60 turn out to be a good size?

It certainly did.

I haven't been able to ride it as much as I'd like, but I've put a touch over 100 miles on it.
Vast improvement over the old bike.

here.. just got it last weekend..

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/7227/img0163m.jpg

I can't even count the BF mistakes you made within that picture. You knocked it out of the park!

i guess i fail to understand... this is exactly how it was purchased? Granted the wheel reflectors are gone, it now has clipless pedals, etc.. Please inform me what is wrong with purchasing a bike and taking a picture of it.

Go to LBs looking for an entry level bike to get me started cycling and loosing weight after gaining a ton of weight being off the bike for a few years. The guy looks at me with this condescending and insulting look as if saying: "what is this fat fok doing here". I tell him it has been a few years since I have been riding and would like to get some rough measurements done to get an idea what size bike I wold need. I also wanted to test ride a couple of the bikes in the store, but since I did not know what size I would fit, I figured I would start with the measuring part. They tell me they would not do the measurements and that besides the guy that does it is not there. So, I said, how am I supposed to know what size I should look for. He tells me to "order a bike I like and then they will measure me to find out the size". I said not thanks and walked out. Bought a bike across town where I did not get the insulting looks and attitude. Came back to said store once again giving them the benefit of the doubt as someone had recommended them highly despite my story. I had lost a significant amount of weight by then. Same attitude and "service". They have easily lost over $20,000K worth of business from me alone in less than 1.5 years!! That has gone to Pedal Force, another 2 shops in another town, PBK, and The Maestro.

If it makes you feel any better, I'm still waiting for my LBS to finish getting built. They started painting last weekend. I could go to another BS an hour away, but I'd rather give business to the local boys. They have returned all of my emails very quickly. Only downside is that it is a somewhat typical Trek dealer with about 10% of MSRP for price. Not terrible, but not cheap either. We definitely need some more 2.1 pics though. I still need to buy a computer and pedals yet, so that will give me something to do for a couple weeks. I hope you get your bike soon.

To verify...You went to a shop to measure you so that they can verify your fit calculations so you can order a bike elsewhere and your upset that they wanted to charge you for a fit?

Thanks.. I'm looking for a computer too (HR + speedtrap compatible). Let me know what you pick up

I did almost the complete opposite today. I went to go test ride a bike, with full intention of buying it online, and ended up putting a deposit down on it. I'll pick it up next wednesday or thursday. I really wanted to find a cool shop I like, and these guys were a great help. All Star Bike Shop on Ridge Rd. in Raleigh.
-Gene-

The bike is fine, looks great!!

But if you photographed it from the drive side, we can see more of its beauty.