Not sure where this goes so...
I'm a novice bike builder, and while I can do most jobs myself, there's one or two I just can't/don't trust myself to yet, gear cables and such, that I might take a bike into a shop for.
So why is it that every bike shop I go to is sub-par when it comes to servicing?
I took an old Peugeot I was building into a singlespeed into my local shop last year for some odd bits (I'd unknowingly put an incorrect bb in, and some suspect crank arms). Two weeks pass and nothing was done to my bike, it was just sitting in plain sight on the shop floor where it was left two weeks prior. After enquiring I was told he was waiting on parts. It was done the next day, parts were magically 'found' on the shelf... Decided not to go there again, especially after hearing a rumour that the shop only had a mechanic one day a week.
Based on a recommendation next time I needed something doing (different mid-range road bike) I went to the late Surosa in Oldham, who weren't very friendly, and tried to put me off having work done to my bike by telling me it wasn't really worth working on unless the bike had sentimental value?! Then when I went to pick it up a very gloomy/disinterested seeming young salesperson tried to tell me it needed more work doing to it 'oh your cassette's worn, you need a new one, and a chain too'.
I've now gone to another shop with my Kona asking them to put a set of cables and a chain on it. First they told me to come back in 2 days as they were full, okay, I do, and they take it in second time round, quoting me £45ish to do it.
I get a call today saying it's done, oh your cassette (that I bought off this forum!) is worn, we've replaced that too, and serviced your bike, £72 please.
Eh? I told them I didn't ask for servicing or a new cassette, and they say they'll take it off then, reducing the cost by £23.
I'm still not happy, and I want to make sure I get a cassette and spacer of some description back when I get my bike back so I'm off to sort it out tomorrow. Could have asked before they start charging me almost £30 over quoted and doing things I didn't even ask for (to inflate labour costs?)!
Why do bike shops insist on swapping cassettes and chains together, is it a fleecing tactic or good practise?
And just in case I need one again, can anyone recommend a decent, honest bike shop about east Manchester?
I'm a novice bike builder, and while I can do most jobs myself, there's one or two I just can't/don't trust myself to yet, gear cables and such, that I might take a bike into a shop for.
So why is it that every bike shop I go to is sub-par when it comes to servicing?
I took an old Peugeot I was building into a singlespeed into my local shop last year for some odd bits (I'd unknowingly put an incorrect bb in, and some suspect crank arms). Two weeks pass and nothing was done to my bike, it was just sitting in plain sight on the shop floor where it was left two weeks prior. After enquiring I was told he was waiting on parts. It was done the next day, parts were magically 'found' on the shelf... Decided not to go there again, especially after hearing a rumour that the shop only had a mechanic one day a week.
Based on a recommendation next time I needed something doing (different mid-range road bike) I went to the late Surosa in Oldham, who weren't very friendly, and tried to put me off having work done to my bike by telling me it wasn't really worth working on unless the bike had sentimental value?! Then when I went to pick it up a very gloomy/disinterested seeming young salesperson tried to tell me it needed more work doing to it 'oh your cassette's worn, you need a new one, and a chain too'.
I've now gone to another shop with my Kona asking them to put a set of cables and a chain on it. First they told me to come back in 2 days as they were full, okay, I do, and they take it in second time round, quoting me £45ish to do it.
I get a call today saying it's done, oh your cassette (that I bought off this forum!) is worn, we've replaced that too, and serviced your bike, £72 please.
Eh? I told them I didn't ask for servicing or a new cassette, and they say they'll take it off then, reducing the cost by £23.
I'm still not happy, and I want to make sure I get a cassette and spacer of some description back when I get my bike back so I'm off to sort it out tomorrow. Could have asked before they start charging me almost £30 over quoted and doing things I didn't even ask for (to inflate labour costs?)!
Why do bike shops insist on swapping cassettes and chains together, is it a fleecing tactic or good practise?
And just in case I need one again, can anyone recommend a decent, honest bike shop about east Manchester?