So, riding home last night, stopped off at Cycle Surgery to pick up an order. All the way there my gears had been slipping, so when I'd picked up my order, I checked the chain and an outer plate had come off. Very doubtful it would get me the rest of the way home, so got out my trusty (it was a present from Mummy years ago and I've never used it!) multi tool to remove a couple of links.. found that this crappy chain tool actually needed a 4mm allen key to operate it, so popped back in the shop and asked if they had one. Guy rummages through a little tin under the counter (they have a workshop there), nope only 5mm and some valve caps.
So I have to buy a multi-tool to fix my chain!
I guess I was lucky to be at a bike shop where I could buy the tool, but I'm sure if I'd been working there I would've let a customer borrow a single little allen key for a couple of minutes... or would that be expecting too much?
What multi-tool? As I know the topeak hexus has the allen bit built into the tyre lever.
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I would be very surprised at a multi-tool with a chain breaker, that didn't have a similar feature.
I guess the free loan of tools to people to fix their own bikes ain't a great business model?
That and the tools get screwed up or not returned!
[i]I guess the free loan of tools to people to fix their own bikes ain't a great business model?[/i]
I'd just spent £50 in the damn shop!
Jamie... that's it! the allen keys are missing from the tool cos I have others in my bag! Duh! 😳
[i]That and the tools get screwed up or not returned![/i]
Yeah, of course - I'm right outside the door. And you can 'screw up' a single allen key?
I guess the free loan of tools to people to fix their own bikes ain't a great business model?
If a shop wouldn't lend me a simple, cheap tool for a couple of minutes so that I could get hme, i'd never shop there for anything. So I'd say the opposite rrealy. There's something caled custoemr service, which is rather important in any business model.
@stoffel: Exactly 🙂
It's gash, especially as you were a paying customer.
I'd have loaned you a tool (if they've got a workshop, they'll have 4 mm ak's ffs), or probably done it for you if I had a spare 5 minutes.
They said they didn't have one (Surprising as that is)? Or did I read that wrong.
Did you not follow up by asking to borrow their chain tool?
[i]They said they didn't have one [/i]
He only looked in a little tin box of crap under the counter. too much effort to look in the workshop, I suppose.
Was in a hurry by then so just bought the tool.. it's a Park one if anyone wants it. I've got loads of the bloody things!
I've told you before Dezzy Baby. You need to replace that threadbare, almost translucent lycra. He clearly wanted you away from his shop as quickly as possible, as you were scaring off the other customers, and subliminally reminding him he was having bangers and mash for his tea 😉
should have just bought a 4mm allen key 🙂
We got a puncture on our push chair once. £8 for a tube in a local bike shop and he got arsey when I asked if I could borrow a tyre lever and a pump to change the tube in the shop with the baby asleep in the push chair. I've not been back.
Other customers?? There was one bloke asking if he needed a long cage or medium cage mech on the front.
Sorry but you are a victim of the dis-honest. Yes, people do pinch loan tools, and yes, some can even knacker a simple tool just by holding it.
Blanket policy of not lending out workshop tools would seem a bit harsh in this case but best go prepared, no point in carrying a tool that you can't use.
[i]Was in a hurry by then so just bought the tool.. it's a Park one if anyone wants it. I've got loads of the bloody things! [/i]
Maybe handy if you carried one of them with you?
nope only 5mm and some valve caps.
You should have asked to borrow the welding equipment kept under the counter then you could have gone all A-Team and made a new bike out of the contents of the tin.
[i]Maybe handy if you carried one of them with you?[/i]
F me! A genius!
Who normally owns the workshop tools in a bikeshop? Are they the mechanics, or the shops?
I think have similar multi tool for the chain splitter part, as you say needs external 4mm AK - mine's Ritchey Compact Pocket Rescue - CPR-5 - [img] 
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A couple of months ago I popped into Imperial Cycles in west London to ask whether they could undo the main bolt in the Ultra Torque cranks as I needed to replace the bearings. George lent me a nice big Park workshop allen key for me to do it at home. I try and support them whenever I can, and they're next door but one to a great ice cream shop.
I have had a shop refuse to lend me a chain breaker, and another shop when asked if I could borrow an allen key, gave me one and said don't bother bringing it back. I know which one I'd go back to.
vinnyeh - Member
Who normally owns the workshop tools in a bikeshop? Are they the mechanics, or the shops?
It could be either for hand tools, should be provided at a chain store.
Trouble is, if you lend out tools and they go for a walk, how do the mechanics do their job?
Coming from an engineering background, go in someone else's toolbox without asking is equivalent to shagging their girlfriend.
[quote=pondo ]another shop when asked if I could borrow an allen key, gave me one and said don't bother bringing it back.
Was the shop Cycle Surgery and the size 4mm??
@pondo That's because it was cursed!
Dang - that explains the uncanny run of outrageous bad luck I've suffered from ever since. 🙁
For some reason or another I couldn't tighten the headset on my bike recently and managed to snap the star nut. Took it to a local shop (pedals in edinburgh near toll cross) and asked them to fit one and adjust it for me as I needed to use it that afternoon.
Not only did the chap take time out from another job to fit it, but he also provided a starnut and spacers and didn't charge me a thing. Said it was Karma...which in this case it will be given I'll be dropping off a four pack of beers this afternoon, plus will recommend them to mates in future.
Was the shop Cycle Surgery and the size 4mm??
T'was a 4 milly but a different shop - torn between naming them so they get praise and not naming them so they don't have a queue of people asking for free allen keys. 🙂
We used to have the 'loaner' allen key set for this kind of thing, cheap £1.99 set (several actually, as well as loaner spanners and other stuff) that got leant out without any worry if they got mashed or lost.
Minimal cost to us and all the kudos of being able to help when needed and without inconveniencing the workshop.
i can understand shops not wanting to lend out expensive tools, but a 4mm ak, for fs, how petty is that, take your business elsewhere and f-em, its gonna cost them more than a 4mm ak in the long run, without good customer service what use is a local bike shop anyway?
Yeah, I might return the stuff I bought for a refund. Just to make a poin, like #cutoffnosetospiteface
[i]Trouble is, if you lend out tools and they go for a walk, how do the mechanics do their job?[/i]
They've got a wall full of pissing multi-tools!
Put together even a handful of self assembly furniture and you'll have a set of useful enough AKs. As above, no skin off the shops nose to have hand me downs like that for general use really..
DezB - Member
Yeah, I might return the stuff I bought for a refund. Just to make a poin, like #cutoffnosetospiteface'Trouble is, if you lend out tools and they go for a walk, how do the mechanics do their job?'
They've got a wall full of pissing multi-tools!
Fair enough and I don't blame you.
The only reason they have a wall full is because they don't lend them out, obviously. 🙄
dont blame you op, theres certain local bike shops ive stopped using due to similar customer service issues, its their loss, theres always another shop to buy stuff from and get better service from.
Go to Halfords instead. I bought a new emergency chain after three side plates disintegrated and they kindly lent me the tool to fit it in the shop.
The Hexus chain tool is excellent. I just didn't have it with me on the fixed wheel commuter.
I know a branch of the same shop wouldn't lend tools to customers for "insurance" reasons.
btw, it would take the salesman longer to reverse the transaction, and give you your money back, than it would of taken him to go in the workshop and look for a 4mm ak, which ever way you look at it, its just piss poor customer service, especially having just spent £50 in the shop, you have a lot more patience than me op, that £50 would already be winging its way back into my account by now.
if you have just spent £50 and you need a tool to borrow and they do not lend then it is a terrible business model IMHO
PS return the multi tool claiming it does not have the correct spanner you need 😉
No tool borrowed but just pricematched a chain and cassette from £83 down to £37 at c.s.
Normally go out of my way to go to my LBS but as it's closer c.s. does have it's uses on a rainy day.
I can appreciate a not lending tools policy.
But if they weren't busy I would have been nice for him to say
"bring it here and I'll pop that on for you in the workshop".
5min of his time today, many pounds in his pocket in the future.
I know a branch of the same shop wouldn't lend tools to customers for "insurance" reasons.
I'd be more offended by such blatant lying than just simple refusla to lend mr the tool.
DezB; I would return to that shop. to try on clothes/shoes etc, then buy online. They dsrve it for not appreciating why customer service is important.
Interesting one. As a bike shop worker, I can tell you tools DO get lost and damaged, I do tend to let folk use them though.
It can get frustrating when someone wants to fix their bike in the shop, the only free space is generally the most used, by the counter, the customer/borrower may then have no idea what he's doing, ask for help/force you to help cos his bike is in bits on your floor.
But if they weren't busy I would have been nice for him to say
"bring it here and I'll pop that on for you in the workshop".
Dream on.
More like "you worked on my bike for free last time, why charge me now?"
What do you do tell us how much you like doing for free?
Do you go into a restuarant asking how to cook their meals? Etc...
Do you go into a restuarant asking how to cook their meals? Etc...
If you're looking for a suitable analogy, then it would be like going inot a restuarant and asking for a glass of water. They've still had to pay for the lgass, but it ewould be extremely mean spirited of them to refuse you.
The guy in halfords told me that it was policy not to lend out tools when I wanted a cable cutter after I bought a new gear cable but he would look the other way if I helped myself
+1 for Imperial Cycles built me a nice set of wheels and posted em up to Scotland for me inhume for ews and icycles in inners were kind enough to receive them for me
You probably paid him with the wrong kind of biscuits, try some bourbom creams next time maybe.
