Why I love my LBS's m(not)

[the great roberto]

So I decide to take all teh bits off teh 16" Zaskar and transfer them to my 19" Zaskar;on a saturday morning.

The only bit I break is is a banjo fitting on the rear Hope caliper.

Phoned the first LBS. None in stock,no complete hoses either, but can get them for thursday. THURSDAY !

Called the second who reckoned they could help. Half hour later I'm over there. But they couldn't no banjo fittings, and no complete kits.

Tried a third who said " come back in an hour and we'll sort something out for you ". Well I came back after the hour to be told they had no fittings.............and they said they were too busy anyway.

Came home and ordered a complete hoes kit from CRC.Should be here tuesday.


OK, so I realise that a banjo fitting or even complete hose kits may not be bigg sellers, but all three of these shops ( and certainly the first two) sell some serious bikes. And claim to offfer a service to suit.
This should be where they win every time. A customer who is happy to either buy teh bits or have them make up a hose and recognicse that he's prepared to pay for it.

Any way.Rode teh 19" Zaskar on just teh front brake and it's fine.
Now i just need to sell the 16"

 

[saltyman]

out of all the LBS around my area, including atleast a dozen large stores, they never have much stock and wont answer phones, and the staff are useless.......i never bother with mine anymore.

everything is cheaper, and available in some cases 24hrs through the post via e-bay and the net.

 

[the great roberto]

I was a bit stuffed and eager to ride the 19" zaskar. But in the end did what i would have done anyway. Shame really

 

[brocklanders023]

One of my two LBS's can usually sort me out but the prices are mental. Cost going on for £50 for Deore gear and brake cables + outers. CRC can do XT ones for far less. :evil:

 

[mikee]

i love my LBS

"have a rake around in the back shop see if theres anything you want "

is often the response to my do you have requests

me with arm full of stuff "how much?"

ohh just drop some biscuits in ,often the reply

or the " just call it £x" if i buy new stuff

top shop imho

do use crc/thebay as well tho

 

[the great roberto]

The 2 newer LBS's have only been there for less than 10 years, so not much to rummage through. The other one is just grumpy. Looked at me funny when I wanted to negociate over some M739 sti's that they wanted £90 for last year. Yes they were NOS and boxed. But asking their original 1999 price in 2009 :?:

 

[uktyler]

My 'local' LBS is awful, its a 35km ride away and they don't carry a lot of stock, and its all pricey.

In the UK one of my LBS's is less than 5 minutes away, and sells second hand bikes. Its run as a charity. I often go down for a rummage, 99.9% of stuff is crap, Apollo bikes and bits, but occasionally you come across a real gem, and the bits are never much.

I've had a Flite saddle for £1.50 and a set of Maguras with new pads for £14.