Service from bike shops

[Weight Weenie]

Well Ive never really had good service anywhere, but ive always written it off to me being young and not really spending much in the shops. 

 

But recently i dropped 25k on a new mtb in a shop in Pretoria and ive now bought another 4k's worth of stuff and I now want to get 2,5k's worth of stuff again. 

 

Sent my wheels in to get olympic strips and new tyres and blue nipples.  They couldnt get blue nipples and even had the odasity to ask me where I saw them as if such a thing doesnt exist!!!  JB has gotten them for me chop chop so why cant they make an effort??? 

 

They struggled for 2 weeks to get the tyres and the strips so I couldnt ride in that time and they never called me to inform me of whats going on as they said they would, even after I asked them to do so repeated times.  Calling the shop the guy I dealt with was never available and when i finally got hold of them they couldnt tell me when it will arive or what it will cost me

 

Finally got the stuff and payed for it and now they have none of the new stuff i want and again i had to call the shop to find out what was going on, they didnt call me as they said the would.  I could go on and on with the problems ive had with them, but my point is that Ive tried to build up a relationship with shop and one of the guys there AND ive spent allot of money there considering im a student and the current economic climate, so I would atleast expect them to offer some level of something that resembles service...

 

What is your opinion on this matter??? Where should I go in Pretoria?

[pastapouch]

at this time of the year you're gonna battle with service. the Argus, Epic and Ironman is coming up in the next 5 weeks so everybody will want their bikes serviced so many of the bike shops will be quite busy. Unfortunately they don't wanna say "hey, we're a bit loaded" and rather piss you off! Can't understand why they don't get a few temp technicians in to help with the workload. (TTMS - oh wait, that costs money...)

[gummibear]

Find one that give s good service and stick with them.

[Weight Weenie]

Yeah but you know I dont mind waiting or paying more, as long as the job is done correctly and im informed of what the situation is with stock or the workshop of the shop, but I just didnt get any info and the uncertainty is not lekker!

 

Me and some friends of mine have been to a variety of shops in Pretoria and it all seems to be the same story, so im getting a bit moedeloos here..

[Dustbin Dog]

I have the same problem with a bike shop on the East Rand. sandstone2009-02-27 00:17:56

[AndreZA]

I like getting bad service from a shop, it means I never have to bother taking my money their again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dustbin Dog]

I like getting bad service from a shop' date=' it means I never have to bother taking my money their again.


[/quote']

 

Mampara you would think the bike shops in question would realise they are loosing good business.

[Weight Weenie]

Exactly stone, but they seem to just not care as long as the guy working in the shop gets his sallary at the end of the month. 

 

And with the economy on the down, id think they would actually be keen to help you if you are still wanting to spend some money, but it doesnt seem like it!

[Sammajoor]

Your money keeps a shop open.. if they give bad service or screw you over, vote with your wallet...   go somewhere else

[shadowchaser-d]

Exactly stone' date=' but they seem to just not care as long as the guy working in the shop gets his sallary at the end of the month. 

 

And with the economy on the down, id think they would actually be keen to help you if you are still wanting to spend some money, but it doesnt seem like it!

[/quote']

 

Have you been to hot spot cycles??  Ask for Jaque, he is the owner, should be able to sort you out.

[Sammajoor]

 

 

Exactly stone' date=' but they seem to just not care as long as the guy working in the shop gets his sallary at the end of the month. 

 

And with the economy on the down, id think they would actually be keen to help you if you are still wanting to spend some money, but it doesnt seem like it!

[/quote']

 

Have you been to hot spot cycles??  Ask for Jaque, he is the owner, should be able to sort you out.

 

Not hot spot cycles............... more like rip off stores......  they ARE expensive

 

Go somewhere else

sammajoor2009-02-27 02:00:15

[Weight Weenie]

I WILL NEVER GO TO HOT SPOT, NOT EVEN FOR A TUBE !!!

 

THey have a huge bunch of oukies working there and none of them have a friggin clue about what is going on in the store or about biking in general. 

 

Was there a couple of years back and they LOST my new tyres and gave me nevegals back, which are crappy tyres for xc/xcm so I was really not impressed.

 

Had to go there a while back to get my dad a helmet as he is a non cyclist with a big head so all helmets are uncomfy to him.  they have Rudy Projects with loads of padding so he tried them on and liked it but wanted black not red, so they ordered it for him. 

 

After a long wait I had to take time off work and go get it and it was the wrong helmet in the wrong size!  I had to stand around for 15 minutes while the guy we ordered with was searching for the helmet and this is after he called my dad to come and collect it, WTF???

 

Oh and its been a week or two now with the helmet lying in the box at home and they still have not contacted us with info about the actual helmet they were supposed to get for my dad...

Weight Weenie2009-02-27 12:22:34

[leet2269]

I work in the hospitality sector in a kitchen and when "you" guys meaning customers are unhappy with waiting 5 minutes for a cup of coffee or your burger , you tell us about it. Its call the manager , its what am i going to get for waiting or this food is not to my liking im not paying for it. YOu get up and walk out. Why dont you do the same in the LBS? Why do ppl act differntly as soon as they go to a hotel or resturant?

[porky]

I work in the hospitality sector in a kitchen and when "you" guys meaning customers are unhappy with waiting 5 minutes for a cup of coffee or your burger ' date=' you tell us about it. Its call the manager , its what am i going to get for waiting or this food is not to my liking im not paying for it. YOu get up and walk out. Why dont you do the same in the LBS? Why do ppl act differntly as soon as they go to a hotel or resturant?

[/quote']

 

Hah, Quite correct Leet.

 

.............but let me tell you why.

 

Its cause most of the time the same guys / gals go to the same shop, recieve the same crappy service and suck it up for the right to stand around the table on a weekend and shoot the bull with the owner, or for the right to get a free cup of cheap instant coffee with powdered milk, or..................... - it kinda makes them feel special you know.!

 

As for me I am differant (as Harryn will attest to ) - I dont want a free cup of coffee, I dont want to hang around the shop and talk bicycles (how flippen boring) I dont want to be the owners next best chum, I dont want special prices (if I think its too expensive I buy elsewhere or the internet) - all I want is a smile and an acknowledgement of my entrance, quick and effecient service and I will pay up and leave.

 

........................but as you suggest, if its not forthcoming, I walk out never to return.!

 

...............maybe I am wrong, but thats my opinion anyway.!

 

  

 

[The_Break]

3 best things I ever did for my services:

 

1) Realized I was the only person who really cares about myself as a customer (and I mean REALLY cares like I want my bike to be cared for)

 

2) Bought myself all the tools necessary to service my bike in full, except for the really big tools like hanger bracket alignment guage, etc.

 

3) Took the time to learn how to service and maintain my equipment myself according to the manufacturers specifications.

 

In the past 3 years I have only ever had the following problems:

 

Rear shifter cable snapped in STI twice on 2 different bikes.

 

During this time I had completely built, rebuilt all 3 of my bikes at least 3 times, serviced them more than that each and this includes full service of the hubs (campy bora ultra and shamal ultra)

 

I took my bike to the local bike shop 3 times:

 

Once to get a front derailliear alignment "washer" for a frame I had just bought. I let up and let the shop fit it. Got dropped in 1st race because it was not fitted correctly.

Once to have a new chain fitted because my chain breaker was still on its way back from germany in the post. The LBS put the link in on the wrong side and scuff, scuff, scuff everytime it came past the front deraillear.

Once to have a bent hanger bracket straightened with a tool I never had. I watched like a hawk.

 

2 out of 3 got stuffed up!

 

Total cost of labour in all those years = R0

 

I am not boasting, but just goes to show that you guys can do it yourself, save a stack of cash and when you gunning down a hill at 100km/h you will know what has happened to your bike and if you have done your job correctly, you gonna be safe and happy.

The_Break2009-02-27 13:16:35

[paulvs]

 

 

 

 

I WILL NEVER GO TO HOT SPOT' date=' NOT EVEN FOR A TUBE !!!

 

?

 

THey have a huge bunch of oukies working there and none of them have a friggin clue about what is going on in the store or about biking in general.?

 

?

 

Was there a couple of years back and they LOST my new tyres and gave me nevegals back, which are crappy tyres for xc/xcm so I was really not impressed.

 

?

 

Had to go there a while back to get my dad a helmet as he is a non cyclist with a big head so all helmets are uncomfy to him.? they have Rudy Projects with loads of padding so he tried them on and liked it but wanted black not red, so they ordered it for him.?

 

?

 

After a long wait I had to take time off work and?go get it and it was the wrong helmet in the wrong size!? I had to stand around for 15 minutes while the guy we ordered with was searching for the helmet and this is after he called my dad to come and collect it, WTF???

 

?

 

Oh and its been a week or two now with the helmet lying in the box at home and they still have not contacted us with info about the actual helmet they were supposed to get for my dad...

[/quote']

 

 

 

 

 

Okay. That is quite enough. Lets keep in mind its the distributors knocking the prices up so much and the lbs only ups the margin a bit but it stays a rip off. Unfortunately bike shops cant pay guys too much and they tend to leave quite often loosing not only skills but business knowledge. Your local lbs is fully aware of the situations they face. And lets face it we will never be 100% satisfied with the service we receive. . .