Surv0MTB Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Most businesses like plumbers and electricians etc have a minimum call out charge and most are happy to pay it because the work is usually something they cannot do. You cannot change/add sealant, yet you expect to deliver your bike to a LBS and ask them to do it and expect to pay nothing or very little?? Maybe in future you should ask how much it will cost before the work is done. As a bottle of Stans is in the region of R500, so R109 is not far off being around 20% of a bottle which is probably what they used... unless you specified a cheaper sealant to be used? I bet if it was your own business you would consider charging as time is money when you are a business owner. You refering to a 1lt stans bottle? The 475ml is about R200 bucks or so. I would not want 200ml of stans sealant in one of my tubes. That said, R50 bucks is fair, from any LBS. People need to just ask before and not assume...
JKK Posted August 28, 2015 Author Posted August 28, 2015 Nowhere did I say that I expected it to happen for free. I expected in the range of 50 - 75 Rand. Many guys have commented saying that is what they usually get charged. I felt the need to mention that this was once done for me in Pretoria for free.. Implying that it is not a very time consuming/difficult job. The wheel was handed back to my wife within 5 mins. How much can they do in 5 minutes. I stated: R109 for sealant. Must have gold chips in it. If you are paying R500 for a bottle of Stan's, you must be shopping at Leigh's...
Davedk Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Just a general question- what do you think their overheads are? Like Rent? What do you guys think they pay for rent?
PJP2013 Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Not a fan of theirs for many of my own reasons and don't shop there, but you can't criticise prices unless you know the overheads. You pay for the extra stuff like 7 day a week opening, weekdays till 7pm, prime location in a shopping mall, easy for the wife to drop off the bike etc. Not quite the same overheads as guy operating in a residential area, 8-5 Mon to Fri and 12 on Sat. Same reason people gladly pay 35 rand for 2l milk at the petrol station, but if your local Checkers tried that......
Mawbs Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 always ask first how much it will cost. Secondly learn to do it yourself it is very easy
Veebee Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 all said above are well related to owning a business. But with all said and done, I think if these guys offered better service, they would attract a bigger clientele and in-turn would be able to offer more competitive pricing.
HDW Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Nowhere did I say that I expected it to happen for free. I expected in the range of 50 - 75 Rand. Many guys have commented saying that is what they usually get charged. I felt the need to mention that this was once done for me in Pretoria for free.. Implying that it is not a very time consuming/difficult job. The wheel was handed back to my wife within 5 mins. How much can they do in 5 minutes. I stated: R109 for sealant. Must have gold chips in it. If you are paying R500 for a bottle of Stan's, you must be shopping at Leigh's... Don't waste your time arguing here anymore - some people will argue all silly angles with you. You did the right thing, which is warn other Hubbers of the ridiculous price this specific store charges for said job. Thanks
HDW Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Not a fan of theirs for many of my own reasons and don't shop there, but you can't criticise prices unless you know the overheads. You pay for the extra stuff like 7 day a week opening, weekdays till 7pm, prime location in a shopping mall, easy for the wife to drop off the bike etc. Not quite the same overheads as guy operating in a residential area, 8-5 Mon to Fri and 12 on Sat. Same reason people gladly pay 35 rand for 2l milk at the petrol station, but if your local Checkers tried that...... See, the problem is not that it is more expensive because of the possible convenience factor, but rather the margin by which it is larger. R30 for milk at the Quick shop is about 1.5x more expensive than your Checkers. Most people here pay around R60 for the above job, which in turn would make the 1.x rate about R90. Not R210.
JXV Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 I think the price seems a little high unless as mentioned, maybe new valve or tape had to be fitted. Have known Leigh since junior school in the 70s. If he was routinely giving his customers bad service and ripping them off royally he would not have stayed in business for several decades. Overheads adjacent the main entrance in a major mall 60 sec away from the N3 is not cheap. Was in there recently and prices were generally on par with other LBS. I bought an expensive item there. Not only the price was on par but he was the only LBS in dbn that had stock.
Patchelicious Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Don't waste your time arguing here anymore - some people will argue all silly angles with you. You did the right thing, which is warn other Hubbers of the ridiculous price this specific store charges for said job. Thanks No one is arguing here. But you cannot just post something and expect everybody to simply agree with you. If it all it takes to get yourself named and shamed these days is to charge R200 for a repair and sealant then we have become a bit sensitive in my opinion. Usually it takes a few transgressions to be brought on Hub trial. Perhaps R200 is a bit high, who am I to tell someone what to charge in their business, but we are also responsible to ask what stuff will cost, especially if it's the first time you use a new shop....
KingTJ Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Leigh's Cycle Center are one of the best! Sealant cost money, so does labour...Yeah, they are Excellent bike shop...always been happy with their service!!
Aurora Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Never had good service from them, have used them only when I have to as their new shop is close to home but they are expensive and the staff are arrogant and not at all helpful.
Surv0MTB Posted August 31, 2015 Posted August 31, 2015 IMO setting up in a mall means you are trying to target people who might otherwise not know any better when it comes to prices. This allows them to pay their rent I guess. This goes for every single mall related cycling store I know of. That said, if you know your prices and bike stuff, stay away from malls
Sepia Posted August 31, 2015 Posted August 31, 2015 and nobody smiles in that shop and it would appear the staff are not happy????Don't know.(Bet they smile after you walk out the shop and they are holding your cash for an overcharged purchase)
Sharkie 2 Posted August 31, 2015 Posted August 31, 2015 Do you okes piss and moan on car forums about the prices of services as well? Go and see what the running labour rate is at vehicle service centres....anything from R650-R900 p/hour. Your service there never takes the amount of time they book on your jobcard but do you moan their as well? Time is time whether working on a car, bike, boat, doctor attending to you etc.
Surv0MTB Posted August 31, 2015 Posted August 31, 2015 Just dont shop there, better prices, including service exist in many other places. No need to try justify their high prices at the end of the day, just go somewhere else.
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