Local Bike Shop (LBS)

[Kapenschtaten]

Hi Hubbers! What the heck is going on with bikes shops lately????

 

So I sell my MTB as I no longer have any time to ride trails, as my son is priority number 1. Anyways, to try something different, I buy a fixer-upper, cheapie road bike, my first road bike since 1987....I have a new job, so I find a new LBS to buy a few essentials (R1240.00 worth) and get a service (R300.00). I was hoping for a new experience, but alas its the same old same old.....more BS than local. Of all the bike shops Ive used in the past 15 years, every time I walk away after spending money, I just get that distinct feeling Ive been ripped off.

 

Only 1 shop in that whole time, did I ever have a great experience. (It was in Somerset West)

 

What is it? Where has the vibe gone? Or is it just the fact that R1540.00 is just not worth the effort?

 

I think from now on I'll buy tubes ect from Sportsmans Warehouse, plus I hear some of them service bikes....

[Belgarath]

Sportsman's even more of a rip-off. Bought brand new Shimano pedals from the LBS for R400, walked in the next day at Sportman's and they were R620...

[Sparki 1]

Hi Hubbers! What the heck is going on with bikes shops lately???? So I sell my MTB as I no longer have any time to ride trails, as my son is priority number 1. Anyways, to try something different, I buy a fixer-upper, cheapie road bike, my first road bike since 1987....I have a new job, so I find a new LBS to buy a few essentials (R1240.00 worth) and get a service (R300.00). I was hoping for a new experience, but alas its the same old same old.....more BS than local. Of all the bike shops Ive used in the past 15 years, every time I walk away after spending money, I just get that distinct feeling Ive been ripped off. Only 1 shop in that whole time, did I ever have a great experience. (It was in Somerset West) What is it? Where has the vibe gone? Or is it just the fact that R1540.00 is just not worth the effort? I think from now on I'll buy tubes ect from Sportsmans Warehouse, plus I hear some of them service bikes....

I feel your pain and share your sentiments dude, however the question is what did you all get for your R1240? it may just have been a real bargain .

 

Does any1 know of a real great LBS in and around CT? or even better, does any1 have a great bicycle mechanic that works from home. I had a great mechanic that worked from home but unfortunately he immigrated to NZ. I find that the guys working for themselves tend to go the extra mile and always give good solid advice. They dont sell you parts etc.. so they not making a killing on profit and hence dont replace parts just to make more moola at your expense.

[Long Wheel Base]

If I may ask, what did you get for R1240 because now a days that really isn't much in the way of "essentials". Retail shops are not cheap to maintain these days. Rent is high, Most shops have 2 or 3 mechanics and maybe a few salesman with an extra guy on the weekends. I have a buddy that runs a LBS and he works his backside off and Yes his shop is almost always busy but when I compare the prices between other LBS they all seem to be similar. That's also why online stores like CWC and CRC can charge a bit less because the overheads are lower. (I know CWC does have a retail store but i'm not from cape town so don't know what their online and store prices are like).

I will always support my LBS first and only if they cant supply me with what I need, when I need, do I go online and as my LBS is a friend of mine I tell him and he understands. In the past 2/3 years all i'v had to buy online was a new 6800 ultegra crankset because coolheat are not up to scratch and a specific tubeless tyre for my old 26er so most of the time my LBS wins.

[EmptyB]

Sort of Friday thread...

[Sparki 1]

If I may ask, what did you get for R1240 because now a days that really isn't much in the way of "essentials". Retail shops are not cheap to maintain these days. Rent is high, Most shops have 2 or 3 mechanics and maybe a few salesman with an extra guy on the weekends. I have a buddy that runs a LBS and he works his backside off and Yes his shop is almost always busy but when I compare the prices between other LBS they all seem to be similar. That's also why online stores like CWC and CRC can charge a bit less because the overheads are lower. (I know CWC does have a retail store but i'm not from cape town so don't know what their online and store prices are like).

I will always support my LBS first and only if they cant supply me with what I need, when I need, do I go online and as my LBS is a friend of mine I tell him and he understands. In the past 2/3 years all i'v had to buy online was a new 6800 ultegra crankset because coolheat are not up to scratch and a specific tubeless tyre for my old 26er so most of the time my LBS wins.

ok, now how do i make a buddy that owns a LBS?

[Tumbleweed]

Sportsman's even more of a rip-off. Bought brand new Shimano pedals from the LBS for R400, walked in the next day at Sportman's and they were R620...

 

What ever happened to that dude who posted here to tell us all about developments at a new Sportsmans store?  

 

Anyone remember that?

[Yusran]

I have the same feelings as the OP. I took two of my friends to visit an LBS far away from home (60km+) because we were in the area and my one friend just came home from being abroad for a year.

 

We walk into the LBS with the most hype online etc. from the forums and from word of mouth, and its a nice shop, layout is good, goods are visible and not hidden from sight. Then one of the floor staff asks, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

 

Politely we greet, smile and say, "Thanks, but we would like to look around for a bit so we will give you a shout if there is anything we need and can't find."

 

Gorgeous bicycles everywhere by the way. He walks away and back to the other staff crew, shop was quiet that time of day while everyone is generally at work.

 

Shortly after, another one of the floor staff comes over and asks, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

 

Our reposnse is, "Thanks, but we are all good for now."

 

He walks off looking very happy with himself, cool now we can browse and drool and select things we like and find things that we didn't even know we needed

 

The next guy that came over asked the same thing, so I started a conversation around the handbuilt steel roadie frame I was having built and that I would need disc-specific rims laced Hope hubs of choice for 11 speed road and with thru axle in front for the Whiskey fork and... the guy unprepared for my enthusiam, he seemed lost and confused and I told him we were all good.

 

However the same thing happened several more times during our stay, and the same questions and answers were repeated. Which is fine, is isn't a problem so no danger; it's probably protocol and how people are trained and expected to treat cutomers etc. however I would of liked it if there was a little more effort, adding that something special to the experience, something that would make us want to come back again and again.

 

Even asking things like, "What type of riding do you do?" or "We have a special on tubes at the moment!" or even "Where are you guys from? Did you do the One Tonner?" just anything really other that a repeated and seemingly automated response before going back to chat with your mates. Come chat with us customers rather

 

In the end we got the consumables that we needed and left.

 

 

However this has happended with ALL of my favourite LBS's... I used to rave about them but now its like meh... I don't want to even rant actually.

 

It's more fun to buy stuff online - its easier, most of the things are there and if they are not well then on to the next site. Nothing worse than trekking to an LBS, near or far, only to find that they don't have what is advertised online in stock or they haven't ordered the parts you asked them for a week ago and forgot to phone you back to let you know when the Ultegra Di2 group will be in stock and how much it costs - whereas online its there at the click of a button.

 

I like local bike shops, I would gladly spend most of my time and money there if it was a bit more of a fun experience. Sad to see when awesome staff members leave, but I won't give up on the LBS's and hopefully the next time I visit a spark will be re-lit.

 

It's Friday!!!

[Maniax]

Stuff is expensive. Most of the stock is imported and suffers massively under the rand/dollar exchange add import tax and levies onto that. Its crazy.

 

Dont blame your LBS for the high prices. Blame Jan van Riebeeck like everyone else.

 

Just make sure that the value given by your LBS is worth the cost.

[Kapenschtaten]

I specifically wanted to support a LBS. If I go into Sportsmans to buy say some waterbottles (for example), I have a medium to low expectation, hit & run purchase. If they are R25 each & a generic sales person is friendly, my experience is a good one. I go into a LBS, expectation is high, Im expecting a R30 waterbottle, perve at some sexy bikes out of my price range and a chance to talk some smack to a fellow cyclist who will give good advise. Wrong, R45 for the same waterbottle and this cat has not much to say cause Im wasting his time. But I still need a new waterbottle, so I buy it anyway. THATS what Im talking about. Expectation and perceived value for money.

[Tumbleweed]

Stuff is expensive. Most of the stock is imported and suffers massively under the rand/dollar exchange add import tax and levies onto that. Its crazy.

 

Dont blame your LBS for the high prices. Blame Jan van Riebeeck like everyone else.

 

Just make sure that the value given by your LBS is worth the cost.

 

But wouldn't bikes have been cheaper in the Cape than other parts of the world in his time*? The Cape was kinda handy for ships coming from the East. 

 

*Hypothetically...

[Kapenschtaten]

BTW I work in the retail/service industry.

[Cat2forLife]

First question: Do you not have friends? Why is there this expectation that people who work at bikes shops are always in the mood to talk crap? They're not there to talk crap, they're there to work and usually are busy with something else which is more important to the running of the shop than entertaining you while you tell him how lank-knarly that jump was that you took yesterday.

 

Second question: Why is it that everyone wants stuff for free? Stuff cost money. It's a shop, it's a business. It has rent to pay, salaries to pay. You think you're being ripped off? Go to Sportsmans or Mr Price Sport. You'll pay double for the same thing.

 

Remember you chose this sport and you knew how much it would cost. If you want something cheap, start running.

 

Sorry OP, this rant is not directed at you, it's just a beef I have with some people in general.

[Sparki 1]

BTW I work in the retail/service industry.

Dude, pls tell us what you got for your R1240.

[Cat2forLife]

Dude, pls tell us what you got for your R1240.

 

A pair of gloves

[NotSoBigBen]

Whenever I see these 'generic' all bike shops complaints I wonder if there is something wrong with me that most of my interaction with them is pleasant and I walk away happy?

 

If I am unhappy with something I do let them know so I am not some 'just let it go' type person ......