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Dang! Find a good shop with good people and what happens, they close! That sucks. Went there yesterday after my MTB ride to maybe pickup a few spare tubes 'n stuff, to find a 'CLEARANCE' sign, bare walls and almost all the bikes and stock gone! Last day! Ok, so I got a pair of SIDI Zephyr Carbons for 90 bucks and some shorts cheap but dang. Sad to see them go. RIP. :(:(
We are trying to not let it happen to us, but it's really tough out there right now.
Just the other day I was thinking of doing a post to ask everyone to please please support their LBS! I had one of those days where we seemed to have a plethora of "internet shoppers" in the store. The ones that bring their internet purchases in and want you to put the cleats on their shoes, fix the mess they made trying to install said purchase, etc.
We do it, and charge them labor accordingly, but I wish they would have just given us a chance in the first place.
I had a guy w/ a pretty nice specialized looking to get some work done on it. We gave him a price for a new shifter and he said "well I saw it for xx on price point. so why don't you order from them". I thought my mechanics head was gonna pop off, but he remained cool.
And then there was the lady who brought her kids mongoose wal mart bike in yesterday. She wanted new tubes and tires, so we set her up. She left to run a few errands, and came back w/a set of tires that she found "cheaper" at wal mart. She wanted us to take the ones we had just installed off, and put the cheaper ones on. We told her sure, but since we had already done the work, and the bmx bike had pegs so was a lot of labor, that we would have to charge her double labor. So that negated anything she saved on those tires. She also pointed out that our slime tubes are more expensive than wal mart. sigh...
I know that money is tight, and you have to be a smart consumer. But if you have a good lbs, and want to be able to count on them being there, please consider spending a few extra bucks every once in awhile to keep them afloat.
RM, best of luck to you and your shop. I've worked in local bike shops, and several that I used to work in have long since closed up. It's a shame that folks don't see the connection between small businesses that pay living wages to their staff and slightly higher prices. I say, if you go to Walmart-Performance type stores, you don't have a right to complain when the local bike shop goes out of business. They rely on customers, and we are the customers.
I haven't checked with my favorite bike shop in Maryland for while since I moved away. I hope the shop is doing okay--any DCers know how Proteus is doing?
We're losing our lbs, too. It is soooo sad. But keep in mind that it's not just the bike shops. We all have to shop locally in order to save our small businesses that are the backbone of our communities. I only internet shop when what I want/need is unavailable locally. Unfortunately that's becoming more the norm as small businesses go out.
Tulip, I haven't heard any bad news about Proteus. They have been around a while and have such a rep I think they'll be OK.
I know I'm doing my part to keep the LBS in business. i was there yesterday, sold my bike, went inside and gave the $650 to Brian to put down on my new bike then spent $70 on a windbreaker and a lock :p
Zen- Whatcha getting????
We make an effort to support our LBS. Sometimes it's frustrating. I have a friend who could have helped me frame save my bike. I took it to the LBS. It was supposed to be done last Tuesday. They haven't started it yet. I've been without my bike (that one) for 2 weeks, and they still haven't looked at it. Meanwhile they're telling me that they have no service work:confused::confused: I'm trying to support them, but I confess I'm a bit frustrated.
Running Mommy- I certainly hope you guys are able to hang in there. Sounds like you have a fabulous shop!
CA
I liked my Trek FX so much I'm getting a higher level FX (the 7.6) to ride as a road bike.
For some reason the WSD series only goes to 7.6 (tiagra :() while the men's goes to 7.9 (Ultegra).
I might switch up to a higher end drive train (105 or Ultegra) if someone can convince me it would make much difference.
Very pretty!!! Honestly, I'm not much of a component snob. I've ridden Tiagra, and haven't had any problems. Lots of the components on our Bike Fridays are Tiagra in a (failed) attempt to keep the bikes somewhat reasonable in price. Replace 'em with something better when they wear out, but I wouldn't change them out just because...
CA
I'm all for supporting LBS that is competent, not just because it's local. If they are not doing a good job, then I have no problem going to another shop. I just do my best to take my business to an independent shop; it doesn't have to be the closest shop. So sorry to hear about your bike, CA. It'll be spring soon (it will, it will) and I hope you have your bike before the weather gets nice.
It's not like I don't have other bikes:rolleyes::rolleyes: I just want that one back. It's the Green Trek you've seen (and it happens to have my trainer skewer in it at the moment - so I can't ride the trainer without it). This shop is usually great - one of the mechanics is really scatter-brained (even he'd admit it). Thankfully not once he's actually working on a bike - just with remembering to get started. That's why it's late. The other mechanic now knows about it - and I can guarantee it'll be done by mid-week.
CA
You know you will HAVE to post pics of your new ride. :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Zen
Running Mommy, I will do what I can to help support our LBS. I'm so sorry your store is struggling. I will always remember how well you supported your kids who shopped at your store.
I do my part! I can get gel, tubes, seatposts cheaper online but the bike shop is right by my work they know my bike and I get the instant gratification. I have them wrap my bars, sure I could do it myself but I am not patient. Today I had a catastrophic failure on my bike- my seatpost broke on the trail! So Tess is at the shop getting all snazzied up. DH could put on his own chain but really, they charge $8 we will jsut let them. ;)
Zen- I find Tiagra when kept in tune works just fine. Maybe not quite as crisp as 105 but isn't completely awful. Just support the LBS by getting regular tune ups!
I get free lifetime tune-ups when I buy a bike there. this bike will make number three from them :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama
I heart my LBS.
Even if you think you found a deal online it usually isn't by the time you pay shipping.
My LBS got my contribution to keeping their lights on this spring, to the tone of a new bike and related accessories.
They are so awesome I haven't even really considered buying anything online recently, and honestly by the time I factor in the club discount I get I can't do THAT much better online unless something is on super closeout.
Oh that's such a bummer. I thought the name sounded familiar and as it turns out they're one of our clients at work. Sad news, for sure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zen
I agree. About the only thing I go online for is shorts because the LBS hasn't figured out bibs are way better.
Clothes - I go online for (or to REI). My LBS hasn't figured out to carry much women's wear at all - and certainly not my preferred shorts.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama
Within reason, though, LBS. I give them almost every part order, usually buy all tires and tubes, locks, etc. there.
CA
Do they know this?Quote:
Originally Posted by CA_in_NC
I had the good timing to be at the shop when the PI rep was there recently, taking an order for next fall. You can bet he and the owner heard more from me than I'm sure they wanted to.
They have a gorgeous wool jacket coming...
Yep - I've talked to the manager at length. Have also tried to get him to focus on women's fit issues. He would love to do more, but with a limited budget he buys what he knows will sell. Truthfully, I think the decision may be being made higher up than him. He doesn't really have the money in the budget to experiment much (they're part of a small, local chain - 5 stores). He has a hard time even getting certain kinds of bikes in the store.
CA
I do hit up the LBS sale for clothes or even sometimes I pay full price. Most of my jerseys came from there courtesy of DH. I bought my pedals there, my new snazzy Atmos helmet, mountain shoes, all those gels, CO2, tubes, floor pump. We often buy tires from the shop because they have a great selection and I can have it today, no shipping, no waiting. I really rely on the LBS and mostly go online when it is something the LBS doesn't carry.
I am an REI member so they do get some business as well. ;) I wonder when we get that dividend? March?
I asked Friday when I was in the store - they said they mail them on March 1.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama
Oh goody. We bought a lot this year, a lot of sale but a lot not. Might be halfway decent.Quote:
Originally Posted by CA_in_NC
Yeah march 1!
I love my lbs too! I have been asking them how they are doing, and they think they are going to be fine for a while! I sure hope so!
I think the one I frequent will be fine because it is the powerhouse of Austin but some of the smaller guys may not. I would prefer to frequent those because the service is personal but the selection is so much better at mine. I have really gotten to know the service department and they don't remember my name but they know me. I can't remember any of their names but I know which one listens best and wrapped my bars to me liking. Good enough.
As for the clothes... UGH it's hard. I have an entire womens section and cant sell anything to save my life. I'd like to think I have a nice selection of jerseys, but they just don't sell. So I'm sitting on a bunch of dead stock that I plan on practically giving away at our sidewalk sale next month.
I think most women are going online for clothes. Great for TE, not so much for us. But thats ok. We are going to go in a new direction and move more towards custom shop jerseys.
And thanks to you ladies you have sparked my creative side to design some cool one! :D
Aint Doody had a great point! For all of those who buy online, we are the reason that our local businesses aren't doing well!! Of course, the local business has some of that responsibility as well... but the reality is that we have to some degree created this!
If your local business doesn't carry what you want, perhaps they can special order it for you... I know that happens quite a bit in our area. If that isn't an option, then you have no choice.
What I have learned is this: after 17 years I certainly do NOT know everything. Just because something sold one year, it doesn't mean that it will the next year. Some times certain price points change completely from one year to the next. The key is to pay attention to what your customers want... and that is something that happens constantly. That is something that many businesses forget... we have so much to do, but the reality is that if you don't pay attention... then you have very little customers.
I would encourage everyone to shop locally! Try and support the smaller local business, in the long run, most are the ones that will help when you need it.
RM, as for you online customers, do the repair work and EDUCATE them at the same time. Explain to them what is happening, and the difference in quality between what Walmart has and what you offer. If they choose to shop online, then that's their choice. When I go to my local car mechanic, if I buy tires elsewhere... they charge me more for labor! That's a standard practice!! Explain to them that in order to keep you labor rate down, you make a small amount on parts... if you don't sell parts then the labor rate unfortunately has to go up.
Lastly, for all of you who want to service your own bikes; I think that's wonderful. However, with all of the information here and other websites, you are taking business away from your LBS. I realize that we all want to save money, but the other side of that coin, is exactly what we are talking about here in this forum!!
I hope that local business does survive this next year or so, and I would encourage all of you to work with them and help make that happen. CAn you suggest to a friend or coworker where to buy something? Local business keeps money in your area... and that is something that helps everyone!
Well said, Ridebikeme!
I am friendly with the owners of four local LBSs, and I can see the predicament that they're in. Campagnolo, for instance, forces LBSs to maintain a strict pricing structure, lest they be threatened with "removal" from their vendor list. I saw the price lists – even the official cover page forbids the bike shop owners from discussing "other shop prices."
For high-end boutiques – whose clientele is 50%+ Campagnolo – it's a no win situation. European companies are not bound by the laws of forced pricing, enabling them to be more competitive, and in many cases, crushing their North American counterparts.
Take PBK, for example. I bought a bunch of Campy Record chains for $34 (no tax, free shipping). In comparison, my LBS's wholesale cost is $50. Their suggested retail price is $90. It's not fair. And while I try to throw them a bone once in a while (my bikes are serviced more often than need be, admittedly), the savings difference is too extreme to stay domestic.
As much as people harp on a company like Specialized for being heavy handed towards their vendors, their ban on selling the bikes online has saved many an LBS. You are pretty much forced to buy through a dealer, and those Specialized Concept Stores are better off than a lot of independents, who see their online competitors undercut them on almost everything.
P.S. I'm sad to see Agoura Cycles go, but a former employee told me they were hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to Giant. Bicycles John's, another reputable bike store and a big club/team supporter, is supposedly taking over the place.
After reading this thread, I headed over to my lbs and bought a few things, a co2 inflator, a tube, splurged on tires for dbf's road bike. Then, Jim tried to sell dbf a Pinarello frame "cheap". Um, yeah. I've been down that road before. There's no cheap way to set up a Pinarello for picky dbf. Had he tried, instead, to sell me a 'cross bike, I may be posting a pic right now.
I hope he's not reading this. I'm trying to refrain from more bikes.
They seem to be doing okay, though.
I'm not sure it makes enough difference to warrant the amount of money you'd have to put into it to do it - shifters are expensive.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zen
But if you want to compare, you're near me, you sound like you're my size & I've got one bike that's a 10 speed 105 triple & one bike that's a 10 speed ultegra double. I can't really tell the difference between the 105 & ultegra shifting.
I do prefer 10 speed shifters to the 9 speed 105's though.
I'm one of those bad shopping online people. I only do it when it's something that I can't get cheaper in the local bike shop. I went into the bicycle escape the other weekend and bought a chain & a powerlink... I looked at some of the other stuff, but couldn't see paying $50 for red skewers when I can get $15 ones shipped online. Now, maybe they're higher quality $50 red skewers... but I just want red. I tried to get a front derailleur from a lbs the other weekend, but they didn't have one that would work.
I have noticed that I'm buying a lot more from smaller LBS's online than from say performance or nashbar... Lots of bike shop ebay sellers or small websites. So maybe that would help Running Mommy move some more merchandise.
I buy things online but I don't buy online if I can't put it on and I can't do much work on my bike (or chose not to). My LBS is putting a new seat post on my bike I ordered through them and are not charging labor. Works for me.
I bought my bike used online (but it was from someone I knew) - the bike came with only frame and wheels, nothing else. So I took it to my LBS (Coventry Cycle Works) and had them order the parts I wanted and they built it up for me. Yes, I could have bought the parts cheaper elsewhere and had a friend put it together, but I wanted to give that business to the shop.
They don't keep a TiRush in stock on the floor, so they liked having it there for a couple weeks. A couple different customers saw my bike and ended up buying one for themselves, through the shop. I'm not too good working on my own bike, and neither is my dh - so we let Coventry do it for us. It's the only recumbent bike shop in Portland, we'd be in trouble if it closed down. So we all try to do our part to help keep them around. And now, especially since it has a new owner - a woman - who is a friend of ours - I really want to support her in her new adventure :-)
Edna
Hey RM (& anyone else that has an lbs near them)!!!
Does your shop sell Pearl Izumi full fingered gel gloves? If you come across a pair, please contact me.... I could buy them online but i'd rather support a shop.
I am dying to buy a new pair of my fave PI gloves but can't find them anywhere in Perth!!! GAGHHG... All my favourite bike shops just don't have them :(
Our bike shop dude opened his shop late last year & is VERY VERY busy. He's a well respected roadie/mtb dude & overall one of the two best mechanics in Perth. Alot of folks who knew him from his previous shop followed him when he left..:cool:
I was sad to see that Agoura Cycles closed. It was the only store around that had a WSD Lemond in my size when I was desperate to do a test ride, and it was in their parking lot that I finally felt what people meant when they talked about the right fit. I ended up buying my bike in Pasadena for a much, much lower price, but made many other purchases at Agoura since it's set right smack on my favorite loop.
However, I am very happy to hear that John will be moving into the spot. I haven't stopped into Bicycle John's lately, so I didn't know about this move. John's is my favorite store and he's been expanding like crazy. He is also currently expanding his Reseda store and has all sorts of fun plans for the space. I'm sure I'll be making plenty of contributions to the LBS as soon as the Agoura store opens.
I'm sure I'll hear big time about this reply, but I cannot help it. It is WRONG to find an item at a retailer, try it out, use it and take up their time and then purchase the same thing elsewhere. If you think their prices are too high, don't fondle their merchandise--that they have bought--and then get the identical thing elsewhere.
I totally agree with you Aint D!! I think it is very disrespectful to take advantage of someones time and expertise and then buy somewhere else. If the business with the lower price was so terrific, why don't people buy there orginally?
I read about people complaining about shops all the time on this forum. One of the reasons that people feel like they aren't being treated like a valuable customer is for this same behavior!! After countless hours of working with a customer, giving them all the information that you can etc.... how do you think these shops feel when you go somewhere else? You've certainly have wasted their time... and in todays world time is money!
I would remind people that regardless of what you are buying, service is also something that you are paying for. I personally wouldn't want to purchase something, knowing that the business doesn't have the ability to service it when I need help. I like the fact that my car mechanic, the person that works on my lawn mower, and the companies that I buy product from for the shop also know who I am and what it is that I am looking for. Perhaps they offer sales trends that I'm not aware of, or possibly a better alternative. The fact remains that you get what you pay for!! So, when we continue to shop in this current state... who will be around for you when you need service or have questions?
Amen.
aint D.... That is the exact reason why so many shops have stopped carrying shoes- esp sidi's. People come in, try them on, and then buy them online.
We watch online retailers to try to keep our prices in the ballpark. Sometimes it's hard, esp. with closeout stuff you see on Chain love, price point, and nashbar. But we are pretty competitive with current merchandise.
I respect your opinions, and understand your point, but don't believe I was in the wrong. The price difference was about $400 and he knew that I had found it elsewhere before I even rode (as a side note, the bike I actually rode there wasn't the Tourmalet that I bought, but was an Etape, it was just the only Lemond around in my size frame).
I talked to the owner about the one I found and told him the price. As a new rider, I was probably telling him a lot more than he even cared to hear. He wasn't going to be able to match it. He didn't seem to mind. I became a somewhat regular customer because he was so helpful about the whole thing that I enjoyed going back in and making my smaller purchases, this was probably worth the 15 minutes we spent talking. When it came to test riding, I had to run around town and try what I could where I could. The only other option would be to have me LBS order bikes in my frame size that I wasn't certain I would buy. Most of the shops weren't thrilled about that either since small wsd frames don't seem too popular and, according to many of the shops I went to, sit on the racks and tie up money.
I have no problem paying a little more to support my LBS, but when it is a huge difference, I have to pay attention to that as well. And... I did buy my Sidi's at the shop where I tried them on.