[Closed] Do no LBSs want my trade?....is business that good!?

Why do you need a shop to swap a shock, surely you could do it yourself?

Quicker than phoning around as well.

Erm, its really not that hard to do however the fact you're relying on an LBS makes me think you've probably not bought the right shock or have the right bushes etc.

Phoned my LBS this morning for a small part - said they had a selection. when I got there the selection was neatly arranged on the counter. The mechanic then came over and went over the pro's and cons of each. When I made my decision he got it out of the package to make sure it worked properly before I left.

So not all bad

[url= http://www.redkitecycles.co.uk ]Red Kite Bikes[/url]

Why be wasting time swapping shock when you can pay the shop to do it while you enjoy riding another bike - or at least thats the plan if you can find a shop that actually likes getting paid.

So you're riding you're bike 24/7 and have zero time in the day to do a 20 min job eh.

Why waste time taking the bike to a shop for a 10 min job?

Either they thought you were taking the piss as it's such a simple job, or they're understandably aggrieved that you bypassed them and bought elsewhere (online?) and expect them to squeeze in a low value job that would have been FOC if you'd bought the shock from them. 😉

Does seem like a slightly odd request... you're happy enough to identify and purchase the correct shock but not fit it? As above, some shops might be aggrieved that you didn't give them a chance of the sale (and almost certainly then would have fitted it for free). Of course there may be perfectly good reasons for that.

But we're happy to help - more mid-Wales than south but if Hay is within range, give us a shout and we'll take a look for you. Wouldn't necessarily have the bushings you'll need in stock though, depending on spec, so may be best to drop us an email first.

Why do you need a call back ?

You phone shop - if they are there - they answer. You request a price and time scale for fitting shock and then agree to take it in at a time suits them.

Bike shops on the whole are stuck in 1990and email is pretty cutting edge and time consuming (consuming in the the office masses expect someone monitoring it at all times and a reply within 30seconds)

I know some shops that still don't have internet at the shop - the owner does the ordering and emails from his house ! ( And they ain't suffering for it) .

They might not need the work. My 2 nearest LBS's have their workshops booked solid for weeks ahead.

Cheeky buggers the lot of you....i've never done a shock so want it done properly.
Headsets, BBs, cassettes, chains, brakes, tyres etc I'm fine with.

Never had a problem with an LBS fitting internet sourced gear, it's the changing world we live in, adapt or fail.
Just this week I had them swap over the running gear from a steel HT to an Alu one....at £100 odd quid they did well out of it....the sanctimony on this thread is strong.

Sod it, I'll try it myself tomorrow and use an LBS if/when I cock it up.

Sod it, I'll try it myself tomorrow and use an LBS if/when I cock it up.

I've just bought some cheap steak from Lidl, but I want my local restaurant to cook it and serve it properly for a cheeky little part fee, as I don't have the right grill or knowledge to do so myself. They just don't seem interested somehow, the lazy buggers. Are all chefs driving round in Rolls Royces?

Headsets, BBs, cassettes, chains, brakes, tyres etc I'm fine with

Much easier than any of these.

Cheeky buggers the lot of you....i've never done a shock so want it done properly.

It's two bolts! How did you learn how to use laptops and internets and forums before allen keys?

I've just bought some cheap steak from Lidl, but I want my local restaurant to cook it and serve it properly for a cheeky little part fee

This. Most parts come with free fitting at decent bike shops.

There's at least 2 shops here in Sheffield that have realised that competing with the internet is difficult, and are more than happy to fit your internet sourced items. If they need to supply extra parts they tend to price match.

Sometimes I buy things thinking I'll fit it myself then find I don't have time / CBS

It could be a bit of a nightmare if you can't remove the original bushings?

Correct me if I'm wrong....

I'd be worried as an lbs that you presented the wrong length/stroke/tune shock for fitting and then blamed the shop for any subsequent problems.

I've just bought some cheap steak from Lidl, but I want my local restaurant to cook it and serve it properly for a cheeky little part fee

But thats not really the same thing at all is it...

alandavidpetrie79 - Member
It could be a bit of a nightmare if you can't remove the original bushings?
Correct me if I'm wrong....

Top reducers will need moved from old to new assuming new Ines haven't been ordered. If the shock has a bush in, what will be, the lower eyelet that will also need removed due to Giants system of mounting straight onto the pivot axle. If going from Fox/RS to Cane Creek it also ain't going to fit onto said axle as the eyelets are a different size.

Definitely odd to pick your own shock without knowing how to fit it, but still scope for a balls-up

Does seem a little odd not being able to book job in by phone , at work we are a little slow with email responce as we only tend to check it at the start of the day.

Id not turn down work no matter how simple. Lbs times are piss poor

I've just bought some cheap steak from Lidl, but I want my local restaurant to cook it and serve it properly for a cheeky little part fee, as I don't have the right grill or knowledge to do so myself. They just don't seem interested somehow, the lazy buggers. Are all chefs driving round in Rolls Royces?

I imagine shop will make more on labour than parts. So ordering from elsewhere and expecting fitting isn't asking too much - when you expect to pay fairly for the fitting as the OP suggests he is used to.

Just this week I had them swap over the running gear from a steel HT to an Alu one....at £100 odd quid

Crikey.. That about an hours work.. maybe a bit longer with tea and cake

Maybe look into how easy bike maintenance is with just a few tools

I get round this problem by buying from a store that fits the correct bushes. Can easily swap them though if I have to

It might go like this
Bloke buys expensive stuff online even though he doesn't know how do to a simple job like fit a shock
He more than probably will moan if it costs more the three quid and will almost certainly blame the shop if anything happens to the shock or the frame at any point in the next three years
Might not be you op but it is an awful lot of people .

Anyone who thinks what he wants to pay a bike shop to do is the same as taking your own steak to a restaurant is clearly insane.

My LBS refuse to price match. I went in to see if they'd match the internet price on a Giant Control Post and the best they were prepared to offer was free fitting, effectively charging me 30 quid to swap a saddle over and tighten 3 bolts...

Where in South Wales are You? Give me a ring tomorrow if you near Swansea (Thebikehub 01792 466944) and as long as we can establish correct length etc I can most likely fit in in tomorrow for you

Doomanic they can't match it !!
They would sell you the post and spent workshop time fitting it which they should be charging for

I imagine shop will make more on labour than parts. So ordering from elsewhere and expecting fitting isn't asking too much - when you expect to pay fairly for the fitting as the OP suggests he is used to.

Fitting a shock is going to be about £10, you think bike shops would exist if they made less than a tenner selling a £400-500 shock?

It's more the assumption that stuff is cheaper online that gets annoying, people will buy something online to get fitted without checking what the shop would charge for the parts.

I got asked to price match wiggle on an item a few days ago, when I checked they were selling for £5 more than I was the customer just assumed it was cheaper on wiggle without even checking

Phoned my LBS this morning for a small part - said they had a selection. when I got there the selection was neatly arranged on the counter. The mechanic then came over and went over the pro's and cons of each. When I made my decision he got it out of the package to make sure it worked properly before I left.

So not all bad

Red Kite Bikes

My old LBS, glad to see they're still decent.

Can't really see what the problem is with the OP's requirement. He's bought a shock & wants it fitting by a bike shop.
Fitting it may not be difficult but neither is the request for a shop to do it.

AS others have siad - bike shops around my way tend to be booked up for months and a fair minimum price would be £25 IMO - would you pay that? As for £100 to swap parts over - sounds incredibly cheap if it included cabling and setting up gears etc. I'm a decent mechanic and that would take me a good few hours to do it properly - new cables, set up gears, cut brake hoses to length and bleed brakes, set up brakes properly centralising them and ensuring everything runs silently

Perhaps they just can't be arsed with such a small job. We had a broken roof tile and it was a right pain trying to find someone to replace it.

Found someone eventually. He came round and did it there and then. Cost me £90 but as I wasn't prepared to go onto the roof myself I paid it willingly. Had I been able to reach the tile from the ladder I would've done so, but bugger climbing half way up the roof now. Done it when I was younger, but I'd be more than likely to feature on the next installment of 24 Hours in A&E if I tried now.

Not everyone wants any job no matter how small. We often turn down work that's unprofitable, or more trouble than it's worth. Having said that we also supply a very small customer, hold stock at our expense and deliver small quantities without up charge. But then I ike him and he never takes the piss. Build a relationship with your LBS. Use them or lose them.

Fitting a shock is going to be about £10, you think bike shops would exist if they made less than a tenner selling a £400-500 shock?

Yes,when the average profit margins are wafer thin. Several posters on here in the industry have said pretty much this - and that their shops survive on the worship trade.

Should add the shock is the same eye to eye as the existing one and even the same brand so every chance of having the same bushings....just can't believe a shop wont crack that job out and take my money!

Like I said, phone me tomorrow if your near to Swansea and i'll fit it if you get it to me early enough ( We keep Saturdays relatively clear of jobs for this reason) bear in mind that the lower mount runs through the lower link so will need the cranks and rear wheel removing to ensure the lower link and chainstays don't fo flapping in the wind, its not a 5 minute job so will more likely cost around £20 or so (depending on bolts being seized etc)

and that their shops survive on the worship trade.

They are probably doomed if they are praying for business..

Two.
Bolts.

That said an hours workshop time booked to.....
Two.
Bolts.

They are probably doomed if they are praying for business..

Indeed! 😉

Sometimes I actually hate installing new shocks. Sometimes the bushings don't seem to be be sized as accurately as they might be or they were not pressed in correctly and it can be a PITA to sort.

So, even though I do the vast majority of my own more complex maintenance I can understand the OP's desire to have it sorted by someone else.

Spev, thats actually very kind of you and sort of why i came on here spouting off....sadly i have a tattoo session booked at 10am but whats the name of your shop for future reference?
Service like that is worth remembering.

Drovercycles ditto, cheers guys.

Its [url= http://thebikehub.co.uk/ ]THEBIKEHUB[/url] deviant , always try to help if we can, could probably squeeze it in Monday if that helps

My Lad replaced the brain shock on his Spesh with a brainless one. He ended up taking it to Bike Scene in Guisborough cos the bushings were different, he wasn't sure so he made sure it was done right. (charged him pittance & gave him a pasty cos he was hungry)
Same with the OP's request I'd think. Why don't one of you lot do it for him?

Anyone who thinks what he wants to pay a bike shop to do is the same as taking your own steak to a restaurant is clearly insane.

Go on then, explain the difference.

Go on then, explain the difference.

if you really don't know the difference there is no point explaining to you as you'd clearly not understand.

Go on then, explain the difference.

You go to a bike shop for a service, just like a car tyre shop

You go to a restaurant for an experience (and sometimes memory)

You pay for somebody to do things that either you can't, don't want to or do not have the tools to do.

You go to a restaurant for an experience

Workshop is the most profitable but it doesn't generate large revenues like selling bikes or p&a -which are less profitable

You can complete four £80 services in 6 hours, or sell a £2000 road bike in 1 hour...easy to sell lots of bikes with workshop building out of box with pdi, setup and 1st free service.

Servicing is profitable but difficult to scale up and it's time consuming, intensive, dirty work.

Our workshop is booked up 5 days in advance even this time of year. We certainly fit parts bought online, I often have 1-2 bikes a day being rebuilt with groupset bought online.

Customer service is key, many shops I've worked in its been shockingly poor, bike industry needs to work on it as most of the retail world has moved on!

We get it wrong from time to time, but are working hard to meet customers expectations,the industry is undergoing a massive transformation with compaction, consolidation and people going to the wall already

if you really don't know the difference there is no point explaining to you as you'd clearly not understand.

Ahh. The old cop-out line

Go on, try me, because all that says to me is that you're just trying to sound clever but don't really have a clue..... 🙂

You go to a bike shop for a service, just like a car tyre shop

You go to a restaurant for an experience (and sometimes memory)

Yup. You could have the same experience supplying your own steak* though, couldn't you? 🙂
neither of those points explains the difference.

Keep trying. 🙂

Personally, as an LBS mechanic, I think it's a really good parallel. Describes it well.

*Probably better. I've spent £25 on steak in a posh-ish restaurant and the meat wasn't as good as I can get myself.

Anybody knows that you go to a posh place to eat to enjoy their quality ingredients, and the special way in which they mix them together, and the nice atmosphere of the place and the quality of service too, which is a context into which it'd be impossible to go in and ask them to cook an Aldi steak: It'd be part of 'how they do things' to order food only from certain places so they can be of the quality they want.

For a bike shop, they have a work shop where they can bolt parts together, and some of these parts are bought from them for which they probably won't charge a fee, and some of them customers bring in to be bolted together - for which they'll charge a fee to cover their time and perhaps use of tools & grease etc too (I've never worked in a bike workshop so don't know about tool use etc being included).

The two are quite different, and it's nuts with a capital N to conflate the two. 🙂

Anybody knows that you go to a posh place to eat to enjoy

For a bike shop, they have a work shop where they can bolt parts together,

The two are quite different, and it's nuts with a capital N to conflate the two.

They're both skilled people, and you're paying for their skills in a bike shop if you pay them to fit something, which I don't see as taking the mickey, since you're paying for their expertise if you're paying them to fit something.

I do go to my local bike shops first if I'm after something, and ring and see if they have it, and I've never been rebuffed when asking for something to be fitted too.

Edit: A late family friend used to make me want to smile, because by her 60's she was an amazing cook, and she'd talk about being able to cook something just as nice or better at home, she almost created a rod for own back by becoming a very good cook when it came to eating out. It's something I aspire to, to get that good at cooking. 🙂

Ultimately, the difference is down to what is considered "normal" in the marketplace. I've never come across a restaurant which would cook food you supplied, but there are at least 3 bike shops on this thread offering to do what the OP is asking, so it's not an entirely obscure request.

Similarly. I'm sure if there was a demand for it, someone would be happy to open a restaurant where you bring your own food in order to meet that demand. But until now, it's not even something I've ever heard being proposed.

Also, the analogy falls down pretty quickly.

E.g. I buy a shock from a shop and I want to fit it myself. Well you wouldn't walk into a restaurant and expect them to sell you the steak without cooking it.

I buy a new shock from a shop for them to fit onto my bike. Well you wouldn't expect a restaurant to cook a steak and have you supply the plates and cutlery.

Bike shops and restaurants are fundamentally different and equating the two is, like others have said, crazy.

That being said if a shop doesn't want to fit parts a customer supplies, they don't have to. Customers while either go elsewhere or buy from the shop next time. But I'd guess as long as there is demand for fitting parts online someone will fill that demand.

It's becoming an odd thread with these comparisons.

Whether a bIke shop wants to fit parts bought elsewhere is entirely up to them and their business model: that's not crap service. Not replying to emails and phone calls, as the OP suggests, however...

A lot of bike shops/small businesses really struggle with this. I don't think it's intentional, they just don't have a system or process they follow [edit] or the resource to cope with rising online/telephone enquiries

Boring, boring, boring.

A lot of bike shops/small businesses really struggle with this. I don't think it's intentional, they just don't have a system or process they follow [edit] or the resource to cope with rising online/telephone enquiries

Er, yes. *looks guiltily at the 74 messages in my inbox*