What do you want from your LBS

[nazmo]

I must give big kudos to Epic Bike Shop, i worked with Neville.

I got a frame off the hub, went to this large LBS, assuming they are big, they will have the bits and bobs I need to swop frames, as well as a 10 station workshop.

 

The guy before me with his Bianci was spoken to so nicely and all that, not the same with me and my entry level bike and off the hub frame :/

 

The guy at the workshop didnt quite get what I was asking when i referred to bottom bracket requirements and such, he just said "we busy today (was a thursday), bring your bike in next monday".... I walked around the shop and asked 3 "sales people" about bottom bracket adapters and such (24vs30 or something), nobody knew what i was talking about, neither did I , i need advice and would have purchased what is needed right there.

 

Not impressed, I went to EBS, within 1 minute they could explain the potential issues i will have, what adapters and such was needed, gave me an amazing deal on an awesome BB/Crankset, and built it all without having an attitude that I came in there with my own frame.

 

What do you know, A week later they got me another great deal on a DA groupset bits, and they did that for me as well. Through all this service I was given, not once did I go and google better prices, because saving a few hundred is not worth inconvenience and lack of knowledge.

[rawbone]

On the subject of buying online vs from the LBS, it's really hard. I love my LBS, have bought a few bikes from them and also referred a few friends who have spent plenty with them.

 

For a few hundred rand saving on a bill of a thousand or a few thousand - no brainer I won't google.

 

But this month I had to choose between spending R3500 at the LBS and R1700 for the same thing on special online - the difference between getting or not getting what I wanted. I feel bad but man that's a lot of $$$ for me

[Edge540]

On the subject of buying online vs from the LBS, it's really hard. I love my LBS, have bought a few bikes from them and also referred a few friends who have spent plenty with them.

 

For a few hundred rand saving on a bill of a thousand or a few thousand - no brainer I won't google.

 

But this month I had to choose between spending R3500 at the LBS and R1700 for the same thing on special online - the difference between getting or not getting what I wanted. I feel bad but man that's a lot of $$$ for me

I really don't get why you should feel bad about saving R1800.00, in fact my LBS has even told me to buy elsewhere when they can't match the price and they're more than happy to fit the parts I supply. Ultimately they're still going to make bucks from me for the labour. As a result I'll support them as much as possible unless I'm going to be significantly out of pocket.

[EmptyB]

On the subject of buying online vs from the LBS, it's really hard. I love my LBS, have bought a few bikes from them and also referred a few friends who have spent plenty with them.

 

For a few hundred rand saving on a bill of a thousand or a few thousand - no brainer I won't google.

 

But this month I had to choose between spending R3500 at the LBS and R1700 for the same thing on special online - the difference between getting or not getting what I wanted. I feel bad but man that's a lot of $$$ for me

 

Why feel bad, its fair enough and you still support them otherwise.....

[Eddy Gordo]

Focus is given to the stock that moves. Shiny bits are nice, but they're flippen expensive to just have sitting on your shelf for people to drool over and not actually buy. Margins are already tight, holding costs will eat profits.

 

Stems are among the worst - 50, 50, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120mm, 0, 5, 10 degree rise... at a conservative R 500 cost each. Do the maths.

 

Rather let the distributor sit with all the stock for the country and draw off as needed - 3 days of waiting for something you've been eyeballing for 6 months won't kill you.

I have to agree. I am in retail as well, and we try to stock as much as possible. Not in the bike industry yet!! However we do order items specifically for customers and even take a 50% deposit. 

 

When customers enquire about certain items and we take their details to call them back they almost never answer or return a call. Another big obstacle we face is that the supplier takes their time to get back to us. Mostly next day. So somtimes its not always possible to call our customers back on the same day.

 

I think the same thing happens in the cycle industry. What i gather is that the suppliers are busy, doing shipping ordering etc as well. When they have a moment then ........

[dimsum]

Service matters more than cost, a big plus is if they shop stocks a lot of the specialized stuff, like riser bars, flat shoes etc. 

 

I go to a LBS if the guys are friendly and the service is good. My LBS of choice is Revolution bikes in town Best services, good price and lekker dudes

[rawbone]

I really don't get why you should feel bad about saving R1800.00, in fact my LBS has even told me to buy elsewhere when they can't match the price and they're more than happy to fit the parts I supply. Ultimately they're still going to make bucks from me for the labour. As a result I'll support them as much as possible unless I'm going to be significantly out of pocket.

 

 

Why feel bad, its fair enough and you still support them otherwise.....

 

Well I guess I'm not losing sleep over it... but I feel bad for them because it's hard enough to run a small business without having to compete with online retailers... Guess that's the way the world is going...

[Long Wheel Base]

On the subject of buying online vs from the LBS, it's really hard. I love my LBS, have bought a few bikes from them and also referred a few friends who have spent plenty with them.

 

For a few hundred rand saving on a bill of a thousand or a few thousand - no brainer I won't google.

 

But this month I had to choose between spending R3500 at the LBS and R1700 for the same thing on special online - the difference between getting or not getting what I wanted. I feel bad but man that's a lot of $$$ for me

I will always give my LBS first choice and when its a big difference like that I will even tell him upfront. Last time I needed something that there was no stock at that very moment from the dealers my LBS didn't mind at all that I went via CRC. At the end of the day I definitely spend more per year at my LBS than I do online elsewhere.

 

I also try local (south african) online stores before I go to CRC or any other online store.