First trip to the LBS - and a question!

[GulfCoastAmy]

So after one month riding I finally stepped into the LBS for the first time today (two, actually). The first one I HATED. I walked in there with my husband and immediately the sales guy said "How can I help you sir?". Um, hello! What am I, invisible? My hubby doesn't even ride. So, I blow it off and tell him what I'm looking for and yet he still keeps talking to my husband instead of me! Needless to say, I will be taking my business elsewhere.

LBS #2 was WAY better! The guy was very friendly and helpful. I ordered my slicks and here's where my question comes in. He said to bring my bike when they come in and he'll put them on for me. Does anyone know if there's a charge for this and/or if I'm supposed to tip? I'd just like to be prepared.

Thanks!

[KnottedYet]

Ask. And don't give a tip. Ever. Give beer or homemade cookies, but not money.

My LBS doesn't charge for installing goodies I buy from them. Unless it's something really exciting like a new compact double crank... that gets charged by the usual mechanic per hour rate.

I like to give them a 6-pack when I have something large (over $30) done to my bike. As a result, most of the wrenches and sales folks know me by sight, and a solid 4 or 5 know me by name and bikes. That's good stuff.

Treat your wrenches with love, because they treat your bike with love.

[Dazeepetals]

At my BF store, they don't typically charge to install tires, unless they have to replace tubes. I agree, I see alot of customers bring them beer especially when they do something big or make a big sale. Never tip!!!

[Geonz]

I bring cookies to the bike shop as I would bring gifts to a shrine, not the tipping of someone providing a service. I also bring 'em business when I can, and stories of the adventures I've been able to have.

[GulfCoastAmy]

Good advice - thank you! :D

[lph]

You know how you always think of what you should have said, way too late? Well, even better - I've thought of what you should have said, even later. Here it is, free of charge! ;)

Obnoxious Sales Guy: "Can I help you sir?"
Husband: "uh..."
You, chiming in: "Well, I was looking for a bike store with people in it that would talk to me and sell me things, even though I'm a woman. But I see I can't find that here. Goodbye."

Good luck being best friends with LBS2 - and tell them this story so they realize why you chose them!

[GulfCoastAmy]

Love it! I'm SO very non-confrontational but I really would have loved to have said something.

[ccbloom]

Oh goodness! I know your pain. I went to 3 LBS and ended up buying from the one I liked the least ONLY because they had a deal I couldn't refuse. I visited this LBS 3x, and with every visit it just seemed to get worse. So bad that when I mentioned adding shims to the shifters, the employee said under his breath, "You're killing me...". Pretty nice, huh?

On the upside, I went back there yesterday to purchase a few things with my 10% discount, and the guy that waited on me was soooo nice and understanding and really took the time to help me out. I really, really wish he was the one who had sold me the bike - he was standing right there the day I bought it, but the other guy beat him to me. It just left a bad taste in my mouth, but the other guy helped redeem the shop again.

[TrekWSDmechanic]

Amy,

If the first dealer you went to happens to be a Trek or Fisher dealer, would you mind naming and shaming?

I only ask because we have a program by which one of the four of us demo chicks will go into a store to conduct staff trainings on providing top notch customer service to women. This is free for our dealers, and if the one you were in is a Trek dealer, then we obviously need to follow up to make sure that this sort of behavior, which we teach against, doesn't happen to someone else.

[GulfCoastAmy]

If the first dealer you went to happens to be a Trek or Fisher dealer, would you mind naming and shaming?

I only ask because we have a program by which one of the four of us demo chicks will go into a store to conduct staff trainings on providing top notch customer service to women. This is free for our dealers, and if the one you were in is a Trek dealer, then we obviously need to follow up to make sure that this sort of behavior, which we teach against, doesn't happen to someone else.

I'm not sure if they are or not. I'm sending you a PM with the name of the store. That si so cool that you do staff trainings on customer service to women. Huge kudos to you!! :D