Specialized forced themselves out of my LBS

[Jiffer]

I tried on some Specialized gloves today at my LBS. They were the only pair that had PINK on them. But they were a size small, which was too small for me. I asked if they could get a medium in for me to try on and the guy told me they don't order from Specialized any more. Just what they have left in the store. I guess the Specialized rep came in telling them if they were going to sell Specialized they couldn't sell Cannondale or anything else. So ... they just don't sell Specialized anymore. Specialized wanted them to not only sell Specialized bikes exclusively, but everything else as well ... jerseys, gloves, etc.

I guess Trek did the same thing a while back, which frustrated the cycling world and now Specialized is doing the same thing. Dh says it's because there are so many other brands out there now to compete with, they are trying to push out the competition. Lucky for me, I'm not a huge Specialized fan. I ride Cannondale. (Only cause that's what Dh likes and bought me! What do I know?!)

[DigUpHerBones07]

We have the same thing here, a "Specialized only" store and a "Trek only" and they aren't even that great of stores. The store I go to has a few different brands and are really knowledgeable about all of them. I heart my LBS.

[Jiffer]

I heart my LBS too!!! They always take good care of me. Today they charged me like half the regular rate to adjust my derailers, put a new chain on and new handlebar tape. They go out of their way to make you want to come back. Of course, we've spent a ton of money there and sent them a lot of business, so that probably helps.

[Becky]

I heart my LBS too!!! They always take good care of me. Today they charged me like half the regular rate to adjust my derailers, put a new chain on and new handlebar tape. They go out of their way to make you want to come back. Of course, we've spent a ton of money there and sent them a lot of business, so that probably helps.

Labor is one of the few things that I can comp without getting permission from 3 managers, a district rep, and the boss's dog Customers who are regulars, polite and easy-going, or all of the above get reduced labor charges if I can sneak it by the boss. Customers who are rude, belligerent, or self-entitled get to pay full price.

[Zen]

My shop sells Trek, Gary Fisher, Cannondale, Felt, Seven, Haro, and probably others I haven noticed yet.
No Specialized though.

[sundial]

My shop sells Trek, Gary Fisher, Cannondale, Felt, Seven, Haro, and probably others I haven noticed yet.
No Specialized though.

Interesting. My fav LBS sells Specialized AND Trek under one roof. Oh, and Pinarello, Gary Fisher, and Kuota.

[newfsmith]

My LBS just stopped carrying Specialized for similar reasons. Now they are mainly a Giant store, although I think they could order a Surly or Jamis if you asked them. However, I am worried about them because they also dropped the Felt line. Unfortunately for them, Landry's (a local Boston area chain) moved one of their locations from 20 miles a way to 2 miles away, right here in town. I like Landry's, I think they are one of the better big stores in the Boston area, but I don't want to do business at their local branch. I really think they are damaging the LBS base in this area. My LBS's owner's brother and nephew each run small shops in nearby towns, each carrying a slightly different line. Landry's is sort of the big box store of cycling, threatening all of them. They tend to carry only the toplines, leaving the kids and lower economic levels with nothing to choose but Wal-Mart or ToysRUs. Personally, I think it important to have small shops with good mechanics scattered all over the place. It makes it possible for cyclists to tour, it makes it more likely that you can find a place close to a commuting route for service. I think it will be a real shame if the small shops are lost. Specialized should be supporting them, not torpedoing them.

[Crankin]

One of the smaller shops near me carries Specialized and Trek. I think they carry Giant, too. I have never bought anything there, bought I know a lot of people who have and they are happy. My son worked there and had to put up with a lot of rude people.
The shop where I got my bike is much more for racer types. Although, in addition to carrying many lines of very high end bikes, some of which I have never heard of, they do carry many different models of Giants and some cool looking kid's bikes. But, it is not the place for someone who is looking to buy a road bike for the first time. While they did me right by giving me a new frame after two years and treating me very nicely, there have been enough "things" that make me not want to do a ton of business there.
Newfsmith, I bought my first 2 road bikes at Landry's and it was not such a great experience. First, I bought a low end Cannondale and they barely took the time to fit me. The bike was OK, but the components were crappy and I ended up hating it because it never shifted right. Then I bought a Trek 5200 there. That was after they tried to convince me to get a flat bar road bike, after I already had dropped bars on the Cannondale. Then they put my computer on backwards, totally wrong and forgot to put the Speedplay pedals on when I picked it up.
Thankfully, my husband does all of the mechanics, except for the disc brakes on the mountain bikes (no tool for that).
We bought our Jamis' at Quad Cycles in Arlington. That was a cool little shop, with all kinds of bikes. They were SO nice. Too bad it's too far away when you have to run out and get something. Truthfully, we buy almost everything on line and don't need an LBS for the mechanics.