If they already have 5 days worked booked, then 6 days.

Whose job would you like to delay so yours can be done quicker?

What’s more important to them, selling new bikes or truing wheels???

If you’ve done a good enough deal, then truing wheels?

There is a little bit more to it than fitting wheels and reflectors.

(Yes, I know it’s not rocket surgery, but still…)

Perhaps learn to do it yourself????

I had to wait nearly 2 weeks just for my LBS to do a PDI on a bike and tighten a couple of bolts. I offered to do it myself (as I’d do it anyway – they’re not the best), even offering to sign some kind of waiver, but they wouldn’t go for it.

First positive recommendation I’ve heard. East St in Walton is down the road from me and I’d say 80% of the time they’re totally unhelpful. The rest of the time they’re decent enough but I only go there in emergencies.

An illustrative example – So I order a wheel in to be built. Parts and labour – £120, assume 10% “profit” so £12 for the shop. Today is booked solid, so will be built tomorrow, pick up tomorrow PM.
An hour later man walks in and orders a £2500 bike (10% profit again = £250 for shop), but in a size not built up but in stock. Shop says, oh we can build that that for you in the AM, pick up after lunch. So my wheel is not now built until tomorrow PM. They kindly phone me and say – sorry but we won’t have your wheel ready for collection until day after tomorrow, sorry.
Day 2 another fella walks in and orders a £1000 bike that is built up but wants to swap out some bits which are agreed at another £100 plus another half day to do the work. He can pick up day 3 and 10% profit again so another £110 for shop.

Question – assuming people keep buying more expensive stuff that needs workshop input, how long do the shop keep putting off building my wheel? How many put backs do I put up with before telling em to stuff it and go elsewhere never to return. What happens to shop when it’s that time of year when new bike sales drop off and now there is no work for the workshop as all the after sales customers have gone elsewhere cos the shop only want to do that work when it suits them.

I believe it’s called prioritising? And that doesn’t necessarily mean that the highest paying jobs are always done first. Customer care?

1961Bikie – but this was a bike that they knew woudl be arriving yesterday and had said would be built up and ready to collect today…

Customer service means having things ready when you said you would, not mucking people about and going from Thursday to ‘next Tuesday’ with no explanation?

Sounds a bit poor, especially if they knew it was coming.

Did you do somethign to upset them?

Very true – a good build at the shop is the difference between a reliable bike and one which has persistent problems. Sure, you can slap it together in 10 minutes as it comes from the factory, but this is just going to cause more hassles down the line. Of course, if the shop doesn’t offer a free servicing period after sale this can just generate more work for them (yes there are those out there which operate like this…).

To the crux of the matter though, if they ordered it last week, knew it was coming today, you’d think they could have scheduled the time to get it built today. Unless of course they have a two week back log.

As to whether it’s more profitable to build a bike or true a wheel – it’s a moot point – got to keep the customer satisfied. Clearly he’s not.

this is simple stuff for a bike shop, you have a mechanic to do servicing and repairs and you have other fully qualified/experienced staff member who can build a bike up in another wokrstand/area.

I ordered my new bike last Friday, it arrived Monday afternoon, I took it home Tuesday morning. Get yourself a better bike shop. 🙄
Edit: I could have had it on Monday but I went out for a ride on the Quantocks instead. 😛

Pah. Lightweights. I paid a deposit on a custom Lynskey at the beginning of March. After several delays the frame was finally shipped on the 29th June. It took a couple of weeks to get to my (no longer local) shop but I STILL haven’t received the bike.

12 weeks to build a bike!

Not good, but myself have never taken abike to them and never would.The best mechanic they had left years ago.

Well I never. After weeks of waiting, the day I post on here with a slight whinge, I get an email saying the bike’s ready.

OP – sorry you ar eright. My responce was more in reply to others comments. Did you ask for an explanation? It does eem ludicrous in your situation, but who knows, maybe their spanner is off ill or something, or maybe the bike has arrived minus a part which won’t come for 5 days. But the shop should explain why this job has suddenly gone out to 6 days. If they can’t have you got the bottle to cancel? Have they had a deposit/card details? I’d be tempted to ask for an explanation and ask for a pair of tyres/cycle top/whatever (within reason) as compensation. If they can’t improve the delivery or are not willing to compensate you then if you’re in a position to do so, walk away. I know that’s easier said than done especially if you have already waited weeks for delivery, but it’s the only way I can see that the will be educated in custoimer service.

Best of luck fella.

Yeah just wait a few weeks. The bikeshop owner will be sweating abit and more than happy to turn around things quickly…..then he’ll go all quie t on you again in a couple of months pushing you off 😉