Running my little bike shop I come across all sorts of scenarios where I'm in a bit of predicament as to what to charge or what is expected from me. I'll give two recent examples:
1. Having done pretty much a full strip and rebuild of a tatty old BSO getting it back to a useable state the owner picked it up and happily rode off on it. About an hour later I get a phone call informing me that a jockey wheel had fallen off (my fault for not checking them I'm ashamed to admit). I jumped in my car and did a roadside repair and offered him a free new set of pedals when he brings his bike in next week for a new bb and chainset. As a result of this I have fast forwarded the service checklist making sure that no bolt remains unchecked.
2. Fella brings in a low quality but ok rear wheel with two broken spokes. As they were on the driveside I needed to get the freewheel off unfortunately exerting the force vertically through the wheel to remove the freewheel resulted in the wheel buckling to the point of beyond repair. I quoted the original work to be £15. Now it needs a new wheel, but I can't get an exact match so I am getting a new pair of wheels. Furthermore the freewheel is not ever going to come off the old wheel so I need to replace the freewheel and the worn out chain too. I quoted him £35 for the new wheelset, chain and freewheel taking his old front that I can sell on I won't be out of pocket but he hasn't got to pay out loads more than I quoted.
Opinions on the above but also your own horror stories or stories of greatness will be equally appreciated.
1. Having done pretty much a full strip and rebuild of a tatty old BSO getting it back to a useable state the owner picked it up and happily rode off on it. About an hour later I get a phone call informing me that a jockey wheel had fallen off (my fault for not checking them I'm ashamed to admit). I jumped in my car and did a roadside repair and offered him a free new set of pedals when he brings his bike in next week for a new bb and chainset. As a result of this I have fast forwarded the service checklist making sure that no bolt remains unchecked.
2. Fella brings in a low quality but ok rear wheel with two broken spokes. As they were on the driveside I needed to get the freewheel off unfortunately exerting the force vertically through the wheel to remove the freewheel resulted in the wheel buckling to the point of beyond repair. I quoted the original work to be £15. Now it needs a new wheel, but I can't get an exact match so I am getting a new pair of wheels. Furthermore the freewheel is not ever going to come off the old wheel so I need to replace the freewheel and the worn out chain too. I quoted him £35 for the new wheelset, chain and freewheel taking his old front that I can sell on I won't be out of pocket but he hasn't got to pay out loads more than I quoted.
Opinions on the above but also your own horror stories or stories of greatness will be equally appreciated.