yesterday, I got annoyed with a LBS

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yesterday, I got annoyed with a LBS

44 posts & 30 voices | Started 3 months ago by ciderinsport | Latest reply from Pimpmaster Jazz

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ciderinsport - Member

I needed a chain, I new what I wanted, and I wanted it now! I was prepared to pay 'now' price, not mail order price...

I called a LBS and asked 'do you have one, I need it today?'

Was told (after a delay) yes - the computer says we have 3! Great I said, will be there in 10 mins!

'Ok', mr sales chap says - 'let me check the shelf!'

Some time passes......

'sorry none on the self - must be in the box out back'.

ok, I say, I can pop down, I can look in the box and find one!

'oh, I can't ask you to do that, I will look for you, pop down in a few days when I've had time to look.....'

I need it today, I said!

Sales chap said 'sorry I am to busy with important customers to find a chain'

I drove past 'that' shop and brought it at another near shop.....

Posted 3 months ago #
smell_it - Member

You bought it at another shop, then brought it home.

Yep, that would be poor service.

Posted 3 months ago #
ciderinsport - Member

smell_it - Member
You bought it at another shop, then brought it home.

Doh! Thats 2 out of 2 that I got wrong tonight!!

tomorrow, I will study grammer, or whatever!!!!

Posted 3 months ago #
lipseal - Member

Moral is you should have a spare one in your parts box?

Posted 3 months ago #
Rorschach - Member

It's ok,I get annoyed with customers most days.
It evens out.

Posted 3 months ago #
nealglover - Member

Did he really say "sorry I'm too busy with important customers"

Or did he just say he was too busy "at the moment" or similar.

(he may have had customers in the shop looking at bikes and didn't want to lose a sale)

Posted 3 months ago #
porter_jamie - Member

Grammar

Posted 3 months ago #
neil853 - Member

Moral is you should have a spare one in your parts box?

Do people really have 'spare' chains?

Posted 3 months ago #
joao3v16 - Member

pop down in a few days when I've had time to look

A few days to look ?!?!

Clearly, it is a particularly massive box ...

Posted 3 months ago #
neilsonwheels - Member

Try:

"if you pop down to Halfords and buy one (a spoke) then we will fit it.!

I give up them...

On the flip side of that my local Indian would pop down to the garage on a fag run while you ate your meal. Now that's customer service.

Posted 3 months ago #
chakaping - Member

Do people really have 'spare' chains?

Several.

They can be expensive if you pay RRP so I stock up when I see them half price.

Posted 3 months ago #
Shackleton - Member

Do people really have 'spare' chains?

Yes. Between the wife and I we have 5 bikes that take 9 speed chains. So I consider it prudent to keep a spare as that saves the "I need one NOW" problem that can spoil the chance of a ride. In the same way I keep spare brake pads and inner tubes.

Posted 3 months ago #
Speshpaul - Member

"I new what I wanted" Know, i don't think you did:-)

6/10 for a above average rant about nothing.

Posted 3 months ago #
zilog6128 - Member

Do people really have 'spare' chains?

Yes, because they're cheap, and I don't want to miss out on a ride because I can't get one from my unhelpful LBS

to OP, it sounds like your LBS sucks somewhat, but they (like most small businesses) survive on repeat customers. They don't survive by you buying one chain per year. If they are busy you have to expect them to put their best customers first. Have you ever thought of becoming one of said "important customers" yourself so you can jump to the front of the queue?

Posted 3 months ago #
wwaswas - Member

I'm just coming to the end of the Chain Reaction Flood Sale chains I bought.

The last cassette is on a bike too

Posted 3 months ago #
neil853 - Member

I change my drivetrain once every 12-18 months, just don't see the need to do change stuff any more than that

Posted 3 months ago #
chakaping - Member

I'm just coming to the end of the Chain Reaction Flood Sale chains I bought.

I've still got one or two.

Good times eh? (apart from for poor CRC of course)

Posted 3 months ago #
martinhutch - Member

Have you ever thought of becoming one of said "important customers" yourself so you can jump to the front of the queue?

Sounds like a plan. How much would I have to spend monthly to join the VIPs?

Even if you're buying bits and bobs regularly, surely the point of not pissing you off is that when it comes to the bigger spend, they're in the running for that.

Posted 3 months ago #
zilog6128 - Member

Sounds like a plan. How much would I have to spend monthly to join the VIPs?

Clearly you're being facetious but it could be as simple as showing your face regularly - going in for little bits, joining them for shop rides or just popping in for a browse and a chat.

Posted 3 months ago #
jonba - Member

I have spares of most consumables. I tend to buy chains 3 at a time as it is cheaper. I often have spare cassettes and rings as I will buy them when I have a £X off when you spend £y voucher. If you have the available cash then long term it works out cheaper to buy in larger numbers or when you can get them cheaper rather than when you desparately need them.

Posted 3 months ago #
enfht - Member

my lbs wanted 38 quid for a chain. Others on here boast how they get a discount at the same lbs. Suffice to say I don't use them.

Posted 3 months ago #
carlphillips - Member

last time I used any lbs was when I phoned them for a part,
"yes mate got one here" says he
so a 20min drive into town, paid for my parking and a few minutes walk later I arrive in the shop, me "hi, I phoned earlier about x part"
him "no mate we don't do them"

AAARRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH F********G T!"£$%^&*()

Posted 3 months ago #
neilsonwheels - Member

They don't survive by you buying one chain per year. If they are busy you have to expect them to put their best customers first. Have you ever thought of becoming one of said "important customers" yourself so you can jump to the front of the queue?

Is this sort of customer service the reserve of the bike shop.? Nearly all the the shops I go into, especially the independents will bent over backwards to sell you £15 worth of stuff. The "LBS" shops round here seem to be in a different world. The bike shop I tend use if I am desperate is 20 miles away and there customer service is great. They have taken cleats off a shoe before because they didn't have any in stock. Even though they are fivers worth of derv away I would rather use them than the local ones.

Posted 3 months ago #
sugdenr - Member

3 chains - bulk buy discount - swap regularly, if you snafu a chain (as I have done more than once) and try put new chain on worn drivetrain, it goes into involuntary autochange mode. Keep a spare in the car incase of a snafu event horizon - so it doesn't necessarily ruin a days riding.

Posted 3 months ago #
hels - Member

When I raced XC I had a collection of chains and casettes with varying amounts of wear, for how important the race was, the conditions.

I even had a "lucky chain".

Posted 3 months ago #
thisisnotaspoon - Member

I had a collection of chains and casettes with varying amounts of wear, for how important the race was, the conditions.

+1, I like the new bike feeling so tend to change them whenever they come up cheep on CRC, the old ones used to go back on for the winter, but since going SS over the winters I've not used them (and the 'summer' kit lasts ages!

Posted 3 months ago #
b r - Member

I change my drivetrain once every 12-18 months, just don't see the need to do change stuff any more than that

You need to get out and ride more mate.

Posted 3 months ago #
neil853 - Member

I think once to twice a week is enough

(I do keep my bike immaculate however)

Posted 3 months ago #
Sancho - Member

We had a customer in yesterday, who had just bought a new cassette on line so now needed a chain to go with it, we had three 9 speed varieties in stock, he chose the one he wanted and bought it, we had a chat for a minute or two and he left, it was all very normal

Posted 3 months ago #
njee20 - Member

3 chains - bulk buy discount - swap regularly, if you snafu a chain

Snafu's not really the right acronym there, if you want to use some pseudo-rude acronym then fubar would be better.

If you have a chain tool breaking a chain needn't ruin a ride anyway. And how often do you break a chain at the car? Having one there is fairly pointless

I try and change chains reasonably regularly now cassettes are so expensive. In fact this thread reminded me I ought to do it soonish, so I've bought a (probably fake) X10SL from Taiwan for £23. Bargain.

I think once to twice a week is enough

(I do keep my bike immaculate however)

I keep mine very clean, and ride it once a week at the very most, it's still utterly shagged after a year if I don't change anything!

Posted 3 months ago #
neil853 - Member

I keep mine very clean, and ride it once a week at the very most, it's still utterly shagged after a year if I don't change anything!

and?

Posted 3 months ago #
njee20 - Member

You're saying that yours lasts 12-18 months and you see no reason to change more often than that. I'm giving you an example of why you would, and that is that it's utterly fooked in less time. I've always snapped a chain before 18 months anyway, and then your hand's forced.

Posted 3 months ago #
neil853 - Member

you're implying by what you said that it wasn't possible for me to have mine last that long. My point was that if people kept their drivetrains cleaner they would last longer, so many times I've went out on rides and peoples bikes are filthy, then they tell me that they go through three chains a year

Posted 3 months ago #
njee20 - Member

Right, and I'm telling you that it's not always that way, mine's always very clean. There are other factors.

Posted 3 months ago #
neil853 - Member

I'm telling you

Oh, that's alright then, I'll listen now

Posted 3 months ago #

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