Support your LBS! or don`t.

[eddy]

LBS = local bike SHOP

 

Definition of shop = a mercantile establishment for the RETAIL SALE of goods

 

I don't understand your concerns. A shop is where you BUY things and their business model assumes that they will put a mark-up on goods they themselves buy from wholesalers/local agents/ manufacturors out of which they pay overheads like rent,salaries, stock carrying costs, etc before they make a profit which goes to the owners.

 

Bicycle retailing is tough and I know that the bulk of the price you pay does NOT go the the shop owner and that bike retail is the most competative and least profiatble component in the cycling value chain.

 

Bike shops also have to carry the cost of a workshop staffed by mechanics, all of which needs to paid for out of the margin they make, and the economics of the business necessarily requires cross subsidisation of their servicing by their primary business of retailing.

 

If you want to buy things from shops that can under-cut full service shops because they do not have to carry the overheads of a service department, learn to service you own bikes or use the services of an independent mechanic ( there are a number on the hub), but don't expect a (typically) small business to tie up their operation to do you a favour - and yes, i mean favour.

 

Ps. I support two bike SHOPS by SHOPPING. On those occasions that they cannot supply what i need, neither has ever bitched about fitting parts bought elsewhere.

Edited August 7, 2012 by eddy

[HappyMartin]

I have supported a particular LBS for years. Last year I had an off on my road bike on a Saturday. Got out of casualty with an instruction to see a surgeon ASAP about a plate on my collar bone. Late Saturday phoned the guys from my LBS and asked for help. They contacted a client who is a surgeon and he called me on Sunday morning. Monday at 6 am I saw the surgeon and was operated on Monday afternoon. All sorted out with a call to my LBS after hours

 

Do that with your best buy Internet shop.

[BergForce]

I have supported a particular LBS for years. Last year I had an off on my road bike on a Saturday. Got out of casualty with an instruction to see a surgeon ASAP about a plate on my collar bone. Late Saturday phoned the guys from my LBS and asked for help. They contacted a client who is a surgeon and he called me on Sunday morning. Monday at 6 am I saw the surgeon and was operated on Monday afternoon. All sorted out with a call to my LBS after hours

 

Do that with your best buy Internet shop.

 

I never knew medical admin work was included in the LBS prices. I`m gonna cancel my medical insurance and rely on my LBS for medical assistance from now on. I never knew medical assistance was included in the high prices of the LBS. You learn something new everyday.

[udxcob]

And the LBS took your call after hours?

[Big H*]

I have supported a particular LBS for years. Last year I had an off on my road bike on a Saturday. Got out of casualty with an instruction to see a surgeon ASAP about a plate on my collar bone. Late Saturday phoned the guys from my LBS and asked for help. They contacted a client who is a surgeon and he called me on Sunday morning. Monday at 6 am I saw the surgeon and was operated on Monday afternoon. All sorted out with a call to my LBS after hours

 

Do that with your best buy Internet shop.

 

Weird and fatally flawed

[Big H*]

I need a LBS where they don`t throw me out of the shop because I bought some part elsewhere/online. The old school blind loyalty expensive LBS type of shops should catch a wake-up. They should start ordering stuff from online shops as a service to the customers. They do this anyway without you knowing, they order your part online but not tell you, cause you just might see their mark-up.

 

Learn to work on your bike yourself, use the expensive LBS for window shopping and to do your research and order over the internet.

[Bennie Dikwiel]

It's one of the reasons I'm learning to service my own bike.

 

Same here, remember Google and youtube are our friends.

[rouxtjie]

I never knew medical admin work was included in the LBS prices. I`m gonna cancel my medical insurance and rely on my LBS for medical assistance from now on. I never knew medical assistance was included in the high prices of the LBS. You learn something new everyday.

You are missing the point, they add value to your hobby at a cost. It's up to you to decide if its worth it or not, choose your poison so to speak

 

LBS are:

1. Convenient
   
2. Add value add services in the form of club rides...advise...emergency assistance like in the example above and presence at races
   
3. Should carry a local guarantee / warranty should you need to exchange goods
   
4. Are not cheaper than DIY with imported goods and they don't carry the same range of goods. The above mentioned comes at a cost, its up to you to decide if it's worth it or not.
   

[Cassie]

You are missing the point, they add value to your hobby at a cost. It's up to you to decide if its worth it or not, choose your poison so to speak

 

LBS are:

1. Convenient
   
2. Add value add services in the form of club rides...advise...emergency assistance like in the example above and presence at races
   
3. Should carry a local guarantee / warranty should you need to exchange goods
   
4. Are not cheaper than DIY with imported goods and they don't carry the same range of goods. The above mentioned comes at a cost, its up to you to decide if it's worth it or not.
   

 

Your point are only valid for the smaller owned bike shops, I think...

 

The "larger" shiny shops have no real relationship with you...once you have walked out their doors having spend a truckload of dough on a new bike...

[rouxtjie]

 

Your point are only valid for the smaller owned bike shops, I think...

 

The "larger" shiny shops have no real relationship with you...once you have walked out their doors having spend a truckload of dough on a new bike...

If that is your experience you must change LBS. If they are not providing these value add's + charging premium for goods, you are pulling on the short end. My experience is different from one of the "shiny" shops. I receive absolutely awesome service + value add from them and I haven't spend that much to be honest. I play both sides of the so-called fence. I import stuff and do most maintenance myself on my bike because I actually enjoy it, saving some bucks is an extra. There are however some things that I go to my LBS for and I am happy to pay for the markup, I think there is a place under the sun for both online and LBS depending on my needs at the time.

[BergForce]

I only suggest a slight change in attitude and business model, otherwise more and more people will buy their own tools and stuff online and service their own bikes.

[Andrew_ew]

I am lucky to have a fantastic LBS - Cycle & Sport - also on theHub https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum/user/28892-cyclesport/ at the Westville Mall

 

Sean Marsh runs things there and provides a fantastic and very honest service. Took my rear AM hub in as it was not engaging on one of the pawls. I was fully expecting to have to replace it.

 

Sean sorted it out the same day with a service that was so cheap I asked him to increase his charge! He could easily have said to me that I needed to replace it and I would have accepted that advice without qualm.

 

I have been there a few times now for wrench matters that were beyond my very limited talent and I have always had the same brilliant service.

 

His prices for the things I have bought - bottle cages, an XT derailleur, etc. - are reasonable and not that much more than ordering from the internet - in this case the derailleur price was so close to the local internet shop price that it was worth the small extra cost to have the advice and personal contact in case things should go wrong with the part.

[HappyMartin]

I have their cell numbers. Thought that would be obvious really. Apparently not.

 

My point for those that are determined to be obtuse is that the LBS if chosen with care adds value. My story with the medical assistance was an example of the type of assistance you can get. Simple really.

 

I value that type of relationship. Not everyone does.

 

No. It's not medical aid. Good grief.

[Caerus]

I am lucky to have a fantastic LBS - Cycle & Sport - also on theHub http://www.thehubsa....892-cyclesport/ at the Westville Mall

 

Sean Marsh runs things there and provides a fantastic and very honest service. Took my rear AM hub in as it was not engaging on one of the pawls. I was fully expecting to have to replace it.

 

Sean sorted it out the same day with a service that was so cheap I asked him to increase his charge! He could easily have said to me that I needed to replace it and I would have accepted that advice without qualm.

 

I have been there a few times now for wrench matters that were beyond my very limited talent and I have always had the same brilliant service.

 

His prices for the things I have bought - bottle cages, an XT derailleur, etc. - are reasonable and not that much more than ordering from the internet - in this case the derailleur price was so close to the local internet shop price that it was worth the small extra cost to have the advice and personal contact in case things should go wrong with the part.

I've only had good service from them, they even helped me sort out my tubeless conversion problem, free nogal and pumped my tyres for free as well. There prices are a little on the high side, but have also heard of stories of them going above an beyond helping guys out. Edited August 8, 2012 by Caerus

[Winkdinkerson]

Not really thrown out a shop just exaggerating. I think times have changed and the LBS of today should offer ordering of parts online on your behalf and not be unhappy when you don`t buy everything from them. They can even charge a bit extra ordering and installing supplied parts.

So do you go to the spur with your own steak and ask them to cook it?

Bike shops need to pay overheads, staff ETC, so if they are a few rand more on a part then why not support them? If we don't support them then they won't be around for very long and then who will fit the parts for you?? Some backyard hacker with a pair of pliers and hacksaw?

[BergForce]

So do you go to the spur with your own steak and ask them to cook it?

Bike shops need to pay overheads, staff ETC, so if they are a few rand more on a part then why not support them? If we don't support them then they won't be around for very long and then who will fit the parts for you?? Some backyard hacker with a pair of pliers and hacksaw?

 

So every time you feel like steak you go to the Spur? Have you ever cooked a steak at home? If you have then you are disloyal to your local Spur! I understand that the LBS need to pay bills, but hey what do you know, so do I.

Edited August 8, 2012 by Berg Bok