Well done Owen and Cycle lab somerset west

[avatar]

So on last minute on Friday I realize that my bike needs a little bit of TLC and a component or 2. Unfortunately, I just didn't have the tools to get the bike fixed up perfectly otherwise I would have done it myself so I took it to one of the cycle shops in Somerset west, the guy completely overcharges me on a little item and for the few minutes, probably 5, that the mechanic spent adjusting something charges me R50 labor for that, I was flabbergasted to say the least! first time ever someone charges me for something like that.

 

Disgusted I walk out and decide to have a look at Owen Hannie's new Cycle lab that just opened around the corner. He was there and showed us around the shop. I was not planning to buy anything but walked out with a new set of oakleys that i couldn't find anywhere else and even gave me discount. Well done and thanks for the help and being so nice, hope you guys do well! go pay them a visit if you are in the area!

[Red Zone]

Well done to Hannie, hope it goes well for him. But as for your experience in the other shop, why do you expect to walk into someone's business and get them to work on your bike for free? Perhaps if you are a loyal long term customer, they may do you a favour, but a warm fuzzy feeling from helping you for free doesn't pay the rent, salaries and put food on the table. If you didn't want to pay you should have done it yourself or at least asked before hand if they were going to hit you with a bill.

[reteid]

i agree with red zone on this.you cannot expext to get anything for free these days.

[akneethling]

R50 is nothing. You should be lucky they never charged you the minimum 1hr

 

Incidently....... What was done for R50?

[Velouria]

So Avatar - I want to hang a cool picture on my wall but don't own a hammer. Can you come around and do it for me please? Shouldn't take you more than 5 minutes. Thanks.

[Mojoman]

It would depend on what was done and how much of a customer relationship the shop owner wanted to build. I know people rag Cajees but I like the one in Krugersdorp as the owner will go out of his way for me (to the extent of once lending me some tools to use at home to make sure they work before I bought them) and often will not charge for small arbitary things such as cable ends or some loose bearings.

[fabes]

Well done to Hannie, hope it goes well for him. But as for your experience in the other shop, why do you expect to walk into someone's business and get them to work on your bike for free? Perhaps if you are a loyal long term customer, they may do you a favour, but a warm fuzzy feeling from helping you for free doesn't pay the rent, salaries and put food on the table. If you didn't want to pay you should have done it yourself or at least asked before hand if they were going to hit you with a bill.

 

[Cassie]

Agreed on the expected free service.....BUt if it was a small item and really no effort to quickly fix...the LBS owner might have made a much bigger sale if he "sacrificed" the earlier order in order to win soem loyalty!

 

I'm currenlty in a moral dilemma...I really want to support my own LBS BUT...CWC is just so much chearper....By R250 on a pair of shoes...and R200 on a new helmut (I desperately need both items)....now what do i do? I do not like to have to quibble for a better price with a dude that i know....This AFTER my wife "surprised" me with a Camelbak for my birthday.... from his store that I could have gotten anywhere cheaper by R350...

 

Moral dilemma indeed?

[Mojoman]

Agreed on the expected free service.....BUt if it was a small item and really no effort to quickly fix...the LBS owner might have made a much bigger sale if he "sacrificed" the earlier order in order to win soem loyalty!

 

I'm currenlty in a moral dilemma...I really want to support my own LBS BUT...CWC is just so much chearper....By R250 on a pair of shoes...and R200 on a new helmut (I desperately need both items)....now what do i do? I do not like to have to quibble for a better price with a dude that i know....This AFTER my wife "surprised" me with a Camelbak for my birthday.... from his store that I could have gotten anywhere cheaper by R350...

 

Moral dilemma indeed?

Nothing moral about it in todays ever tightening economy. Buy online, save some money, support local when you can but above all just make sure you can ride!