Help... triple optional question

[Wahine]

So I have a friend... no really.

Anyway she's thinking of buying a new bike. The LBS has her bike in but it comes with a standard double. From what I understand that is how it was delivered to the LBS.

So here's the question as she put it to me:

Question: If, in the catalog, a triple crank is noted as "optional" does
that mean the bike store should be able to order it for me at no extra
charge - and just charge me to install it???

I haven't purchase a bike in oh, 9 years. :eek::eek: And I don't know what the protocol is for these things. I would think that if it's an option in the catalogue the LBS should be able to switch it out and only charge for additional service, but I really have no idea.

Also, ..... I was wondering what is an economical
price for pedals?

See comment above... I have no clue.

So all input appreciated.

TIA

[OakLeaf]

If the bike's already in stock, that's how they got it from the manufacturer, and they're not going to be able to send parts back.

So she can order a whole new bike with the triple, but if she wants the actual bike that's in stock now, she's going to have to buy the crank (and shifter).

I ordered my new bike with the triple, but because my frame size came with 170s and I need 165s, I had to buy the crank. (Cannibalized the chainrings for later use, and gave the crankarms away on this board.) LBS did the installation free as part of setting up the bike.

And pedals.... an economical price for what pedals?

[Eden]

It sounds like they should be able to order the bike from the manufacturer with a triple - in that case there should not be any extra charge from the shop as they would be building the bike up anyway and not having to actually swap anything... the price may however be slightly different, since it will after all be a different crank, bb, shifters etc. - it all depends on whether or not the triple gruppo is more expensive or not - for that matter it might even be less expensive.

Now if she were to ask to have equipment switched on an already built up bike then I'd expect the shop to charge not only for the difference in price for the swapped items, but for the service time too.

[KnottedYet]

My Surly CC came with a standard double. It had the bolt spots for a triple, though. So I spent $19 for a granny ring, and my LBS stuck it onto the bike for free. (essentially I upgraded from a double to a triple for $19.) My shifters are compatible for double or triple, so there was no issue there.

[Triskeliongirl]

I would say it depends on the bike shop. If its a high end bike and they want to make the sale they may do it for no charge. But, if its already been reduced, or other things need to also be changed like shifters, then they charge up to the difference in price for the parts and labor. Again, depends on how badly they wanna make the sale. But I am sure they could order her exactly what she wants and as others said then there should be no surcharges (or if they have unbuilt bike in stocks they may be willing to swap out some parts and build it to her specs if they can use the still new parts on other builds).

[Eden]

That's unusual Knot - most of the time changing to a triple involves at least a new, wider, bottom bracket and often a new front derailleur. (and that's assuming you are using friction shifters - if you have STI's you sometimes have to change at least one of those to - though some are double/triple compatible)

I'm also thinking its was odd that your bike was running around naked of its outer ring..... I think they may have done it that way since its a cross bike and its spec'd with a pretty small big ring. It may be difficult to get a 48 tooth ring with the right bolt pattern to use on double.

[KnottedYet]

Sorry! I meant the inner ring (the littlest of the three) is what they put on.

They did end up switching the Shimano front der for a Campy with a longer cage (no charge) to make it shift better, but that was all they had to do. It shifted ok with the Shimano, but better with the Campy. My barcons handled the switch no problem.

The Surly is what I rode when we went from Kenmore up to 2020 Bike shop. I really loved my new granny going up that one road (who's name starts with an "I" and I can't remember) on Capitol Hill.

There might have been a spacer or something on the bike when it had a double. I know the shop pulled the bits apart when they installed the little ring, but beyond that I know nothing.

Edit: Recycled Cycles did the switch for me. Free Range had also said they could throw a little ring on no problem, so maybe Surly puts the Cross Check together in a way that makes it easy to add?

[7rider]

Why doesn't your friend ask these questions of her LBS??

My shop will swap out components for you, mainly free of charge on new bikes. You may pay for the difference on a part, if your new part is more expensive, however. It's part of the whole fitting and getting the bike right for your process.

An economical price for pedals depends on what kind of pedals she wants and what she's willing to pay. For some, $20 for standard cage pedals is good. For others, $200 for ti pedals is a good thing.

[tulip]

It seems to me that "optional" is like in cars. A sunroof is "optional," but you have to pay for it.

She should ask the bike shop, but I can't imagine them doing it for free.

[smilingcat]

definitly ask the LBS. Never hurts to ask and if they are decent LBS, they wouldn't mind being asked.

A long long time ago, an elliptical (sp??) chain rings were in vogue. I hated that thing because it was only good for those who mashed the pedals. So when I bought a complete bike, I asked them to remove and put more traditional circular/round chain ring. They swapped it for "free". "free" because the regular chain ring was cheaper than the elliptical one and they never gave me a credit for the difference... :( but they didn't charge me for the labor either so it was a wash...

smilingcat

[bike4ever]

Many bikes come as a double or a triple. The LBS chooses whether to stock one or the other or both. Often the triple is about $50 more than the double. The "optional" description means the shop can order that bike as a triple. It is up to the LBS as to their policy for special order bikes. I know my shop will order any bike in for a customer. I have to have payment in full, and I have charged a 20% restocking fee if the order is cancelled. I explain this policy up front on doing the special order.

[alpinerabbit]

as for the pedals, an economical one would be a combo platform - shimano clipless:

Nashbar Rodeo Pedal-Silver - 27 $

[Wahine]

Why doesn't your friend ask these questions of her LBS??

Her husband went to an LBS and put $500 down on a bike so he could take one home to have under the tree for Christmas with the understanding that my friend would come in after christmas, get the bike she wants and they would honor the deposit. So that has her locked into a particular LBS. The tough part is that although this LBS is very shiney and impressive and carries lots of stock, their customer service policies are a little shady IMHO. She wanted to get an impression of what goes on "out there" before we went in to do some test riding, ask questions etc tomorrow because we really don't have enough background to know if they are feeding us a load of cr@p. But all you wonderful ladies here on TE have helped us establish some ideas of what to expect or not expect.

Thank you!!

[Triskeliongirl]

The way we do these kinds of gifts with our kids is to wrap up a printed certificate "this entitles to the bearer to gift X" with a picture of the item, and put it in a big box and wrap the box. Then they pick out what they want where they want to and we pay for it. The way he did it robs her of negotiating power since they know she is now committed to buying something from them. But at this point its done, so good luck!

It does seem that they should honor the deposit on a special order though, if that turns out to be the cheapest way for her to get her triple.

[Wahine]

The way he did it robs her of negotiating power since they know she is now committed to buying something from them. But at this point its done, so good luck!

It does seem that they should honor the deposit on a special order though, if that turns out to be the cheapest way for her to get her triple.

I agree and the LBS has already tried to feed her some lines of BS. But anyway it is what it is. We have 2 shops in town. The one he wen't to gets more of the "I wanna impress my friends so sell me you most sparkly Ti " kinda crowd. The other store is much less visually impressive but has great customer service and the owners are just really nice people. But it's easy to get sucked in to the "sparkly" store.

[Triskeliongirl]

Well, if they tell her a triple is more expensive that isn't BS, but it should only be a marginal difference. Hopefully she'll get what she wants. If you wanna be prepared, you could research either the difference in the price of the different parts themselves, or the difference in list prices between the 2 configurations if they are posted at the man. website.

[Wahine]

Nah, that's not it. They told her some other stuff that sounded like they were trying to sell her something that would likely be inappropriate.

I've had problems with these guys trying to make me pay for something they ordered that was different from what I very clearly asked them to order. But because they didn't spot the exact item in their catalogue right away, they orderer the closest thing. It wasn't until I asked them to give me the catalogue and showed them the item I wanted and how it was very precisely labeled exactly as I requested, did they back off. That's when I stopped buying anything from them if I can avoid it.

[Triskeliongirl]

Well, let us know what she ends up with! It sounds like she'll get her way, but it may not be the most pleasant experience. We have a shop here like that too, really glitzy and with some nice bikes, but they know a lot less than they think, and also try to talk me into why I should buy something they have already rather than ordering me what I want. So, now I just order it myself AND save $. You know, some of us try to support our LBS, but they have to earn that support by giving back something too, and part of that includes respect and a pleasant shopping experience.