nellie Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Depends on how busy they are i guess... I swung by my LBS while on my way home from my ride yesterday. Asked if they could check the shocks for me which might need a service and just maybe do a check of the wheels / disks too.. So he the guy gave it a quick glance and told me what they'd probably need to do and that they'll have to book it in to do a thorough job. He said that if i brought it in in an hour or so they'll have it done by today or latest Saturday... The reason for this being two events this weekend (OFM's replacement race) and everyone brought their bikes in for full services... So told him i understood and seeing that i don't really need my bike this weekend i told him i'd rather come in next week when they're not so busy... So next week i'll probably get it back the same day...whereas in the off-season i can sometimes pop in and wait for my bike while they work on it simply because they have little or no other bikes they are working on then So this time of the year / close to major events i generally don't give them too much hassle about having it done the same day. But try calling them beforehand anyways and ask them how long the services will be taking and arrange for a day that they're less busy?
MTBer Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Booked it a day before. I fully understand if they are busy, but it just seems like all shops are the same. I am yet to come across a shop that can have you bike back to you within 2 days.Linden Cycles do, unless they cant get a part
Tacet Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Cycle House is normally finished within a day or two. The only time I've really had to wait was when they had to take a shock back to a supplier under warranty. I'm really happy with CH's service.
Skinnyone Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 We as South Africans have come to accept sub-standard service mostly because that is what we get, and this only just annoys me even more because I'm sure we can all agree that it shouldn't be that way.Like you said, this is a cut throat industry and it comes down to the shop owners not being prepared to "stand their ground" so to say as they are scared that you as a client will go elsewhere, so what happens is that the jobs are squeezed into the workshop, the prices of parts/labour are cut to keep you happy. At the end of the month/year there are no bonuses/incentives for the staff so the staff fall into a lull where they'll do the bare minimum to keep their job and not really care about you as a client... Now before I get flamed I know that a bonus is a privilege that is earned and not a right BUT how would you feel if you had put in extra hours, gone that little but further out of your way to do your job to your fullest for the whole year, to get told "sorry there is no money for a 13th cheque"?
Vangar Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Like you said, this is a cut throat industry and it comes down to the shop owners not being prepared to "stand their ground" so to say as they are scared that you as a client will go elsewhere, so what happens is that the jobs are squeezed into the workshop, the prices of parts/labour are cut to keep you happy. At the end of the month/year there are no bonuses/incentives for the staff so the staff fall into a lull where they'll do the bare minimum to keep their job and not really care about you as a client... Now before I get flamed I know that a bonus is a privilege that is earned and not a right BUT how would you feel if you had put in extra hours, gone that little but further out of your way to do your job to your fullest for the whole year, to get told "sorry there is no money for a 13th cheque"? Story of my life for 10 of the 13 years I've been working. But my service is always at the best it can be. That's another whole can of worms we can open as to how labour is run in South Africa.
Dirkitech Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Linden Cycles do, unless they cant get a part or is I said in my previous post.. they don't even bother to replace parts you requested to be replaced in the first place.
droo Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Thanks for the insight about parts availability, that was something I hadn't considered. But then again, if I ride a stock bike with common parts, that reasoning shouldn't fly. I reckon there has to be a big gap for a pure workshop down here in slaapies, one that's really jacked. I do my own basic maintenance, and when I do take the bike in, I always make a booking. But I'm still dissapointed with the service (in some way) three times out of five. And that's from a good LBS. There's got to be a better way. The unicorn you're hunting is a mom and pop store that can afford to hold a million rand's worth of stock. On the mom and pop side, you've got the tiny workshop where the owner works on the bikes so the job's always done right, but there's no leverage for the business to become big enough to become a major stockist. The flipside is the big shop where the work is done by the oke who'd accept the rate they were paying him, which is never going to result in the same quality of work - unfortunately the work ethic and attention to detail among the labour force in this country isn't up to the kind of level I'd trust to work on a R 100k + bike. There are a few exceptions, some have been mentioned in this thread, but most of the time you'll end up with some sort of a compromise.
DIPSLICK Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Do you do French?Nope, that's why I can do volume
An3 Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 I upgraded the brakes on my wife's bike late last night.Couldn't finish the job as I did not have the correct brake adapters or the necessary parts to shorten the rear brake hose.I dropped the bike off at Cycle Lab (Boksburg) as they opened their doors this morning.Although they were very busy, Pieter stayed late to finish the bike.Thank you Cycle Lab!!!
JohnnyReggae Posted November 3, 2014 Posted November 3, 2014 Like you said, this is a cut throat industry and it comes down to the shop owners not being prepared to "stand their ground" so to say as they are scared that you as a client will go elsewhere, so what happens is that the jobs are squeezed into the workshop, the prices of parts/labour are cut to keep you happy. At the end of the month/year there are no bonuses/incentives for the staff so the staff fall into a lull where they'll do the bare minimum to keep their job and not really care about you as a client... Now before I get flamed I know that a bonus is a privilege that is earned and not a right BUT how would you feel if you had put in extra hours, gone that little but further out of your way to do your job to your fullest for the whole year, to get told "sorry there is no money for a 13th cheque"? I'm not implying that good service = cheaper rates/prices. I would quite happily, and I'm sure most people would, pay a little more for good/efficient service.
CogitoErgoSum Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 Cycle House is normally finished within a day or two. The only time I've really had to wait was when they had to take a shock back to a supplier under warranty. I'm really happy with CH's service.Yip, took my mtb in to Cycle House for some minor parts replacement and full service yesterday. Actually told them to take their time, I will collect in 2 or 3 days. Be reasonable with your lbs, and they will be.
hayleyearth Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 Yip, took my mtb in to Cycle House for some minor parts replacement and full service yesterday. Actually told them to take their time, I will collect in 2 or 3 days. Be reasonable with your lbs, and they will be. What does a "full service" mean at a lbs?
Kranswurm Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 What does a "full service" mean at a lbs?I know what a full service means at Mikes Bikes They strip everything off my SC into a boxClean the frame in a paraffin tankRebuild the bike servicing the shock,fork and bearings and replacing what ever needs to be replaced on the drive train and brakes.
CogitoErgoSum Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 What does a "full service" mean at a lbs?Yeah its an ambigous (?) phrase. They open everything with bearings and clean and grease it, asked them to bleed the brakes (was never done before) and check the pads, check the sealant (it is around 10 months old), give her a good cleansing, replace any broken parts. Basicly I don't have the time to do it myself, nor the know-how, nor the funds to fix something if I stuff it up. Unlike those that are liking your post
Wyatt Earp Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 What does a "full service" mean at a lbs?A wash with a high pressure hose and a Mr. Min polish.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.