So, I would have been happy with a refund. But it didn't get that far.
After the owner promised to "take care of it personally"; I drop off my bike and call a few hours later. I get the answer "Oh, IDK I think *other bike mechanic* was working on your bike" so much for taking care of it personally *eye roll*. I get the feeling the owner is just being nice to me to keep business, but the only people who warrant personal attention are the serious lycra-roadies. Anyway.
So the rear derailleur was "splayed open". I couldn't get a better description from him than that. It was replaced as well as the chain, the problem was blamed on a "bad shift"; and let it be known that I DON'T shift under pressure (I've been riding the 5 speed mixte for 5 months, it's a heck of a lot more cranky at shifting than the Soma so I know better), nor do I take this bike over anything larger than a storm-drain (mostly for fear of damaging the super-long fenders, lol). He wasn't sure if it was something I did, or a problem with the bike that caused it - but there was lots of "you probably wouldn't have noticed when it happened" and lots of small comments that amounted too "but it's really your fault" followed by "but I'm not blaming you"; it was frustrating and I really just wanted to stop talking to him more than anything. I didn't have this problem before the fenders were installed, but whatever. It seems to be fixed; the problem was pseudo-blamed on my use of the largest front chain ring as my default. So I just use the middle one now, no problems yet and I'm happy enough.
: /
I get a free tune up in a month, and when I'm done with this frigging LBS I'm never going back.
For reference, an LBS 3 cities over where I got my beater mixte was AWESOME. The owner there made sure I was comfortable on the bike I bought, lowered the seat because I was a new rider and it's a bit easier to start out that way - and he *wasn't* snotty about the fact that it didn't fit, just told me I might want to push it up higher later on. He also changed the top-tube shifters to a thumb shifter for free and it was his suggestion; because as a new rider he didn't want me having a hard time with shifters on top of learning how to ride in traffic.
I swear I am not a difficult customer. I am not picky or demanding and up until now I have have tipped every mechanic that has ever looked at one of my bikes or helped me fix it myself, and one time even brought them cookies.
I like my new bike, but grudgingly, if that makes any sense.
