The arrogance of bike shops

[rbelisle1]

Having read all the posts, I understand the liability issue with breaking the hub. That could have been easily sorted out by asking me if I would sign away a liability. I wasn’t even given that option. Ok, chalk that up to bad business or good business either way you look at. But I do appreciate the opinions expressed and these opinions have given me a better understanding of the bike shop world.

As for doing it myself. Yep, I did do it myself, out of necessity. Just like I learned just about every other trade in home building and business. I can fix anything from a car to an ac unit, to framing and cabinetry. Electronics and mechanical issues are my strong suite. So why didn’t I try and fix the wheel myself in the first place. Well, I have never seen it done before, but the internet sure showed me how!!!!!!! BTW the wheel is still true after 5 or 6 rides!!!!!!

I really like the bike co-op... In fact I searched one out in Phoenix (Tempe really, which is a suburb of PHX) and I plan on going to their workshop this Sunday. In fact, I hope to blow their minds when I pull up on an electric bike!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, thanks for the explanations of the bike shop world... it helps me to understand that I am indeed a cheapskate and that I can true a wheel myself!!!!!!!!!!

Bob

 

[nitecheck]

Hi all...A car driver clipped my front hub today (very hard) - the usual story - apparently cyclist do not have a right to ride on the road & car drivers may simply muscle the cyclist as as they see fit. In my case -the elderly "gentlemen" who hit me (apparently I was going a little slow for him - so he decided to try to push past me & failed) - fled the scene with many a look in his rear mirror ...leaving me negoiate the pot hole ridden busy intersection with a warped rim.....

Anyway back on point - I have had similar experiences with my 2 local bike shops (staff at one shop were really quite blunt & down right rude when questioning me as to why I would ride an electic bike - needless to say I no longer am a customer of this shop. The other shop which is 4 times further from home have some nice competent staff working for them - but they are a little "snooty" with me if I bring the my electric in (even if I'm simply picking up bits) - but as happy as larry to work on my road or MTB (both non-assisted bikes).

SO here's my dilema - does anyone know of a LBS in Sydney Oz that is actually friendly to E/assisted bicycle owners...?? I need to get the hub laced in to a new rim & I would rather someone with experience to do the job - rather than me doing a trial/error method - to fix..

Thanks

 

[docnjoj]

I've had nothing but good luck with my LBS "Eastern Shore Cycles" in Daphne, AL. They too have many high end bikes, but also carry low end quality in the $300-700 range. They dont even blink when the "wierd big guy with the electric trike" comes in for a wheel truing or to buy parts. They just say, "It should be ready Wednesday" and always charge a fair price for their work! I'm grateful!
otherDoc

 

[Cackalacka]

I have a Grand Unified Theory of Hobby-Shops.

This applies to biking, guitar shops, art-supply shops, cutlery stores, jewelers, etc: the amount of professional customer service you can expect is proportional to the number of employees a given establishment has.

There are outliers (like the tiny LBS where I got my bike) but they are certainly the exception.

It sucks, I'd like to think of myself as anti-Wal Mart, but once a douche with shaved legs and a Prince beard talks down to me, my wallet pulls me out the door for all eternity. And, while I do have a couple mom & pop places that I'll go to first to get guitar strings or bike accessories, I know when I go to a Guitar Center or REI, the folks that work there know that they're paid to be helpful, not condescending.

I've received more than enough chortle-spit to move this assertion from the "based on anecdotal evidence" to "based on data."