Tails from the LBS....

[KnottedYet]

Oooh, I also like the idea of a bulletin board of bikes and their new owners!

[sundial]

Oooh, I also like the idea of a bulletin board of bikes and their new owners!

Me too! Honda does that with their new car owners.

What an interesting couple you met. I would have enjoyed seeing pics of the bike. And congratulations on your sale!

[Tri Girl]

Oh, I love the idea of the bulletin board! How neat that people could see their picture up there when they come in to buy more things from you and get their bike serviced. Would really make them feel like part of a family. Great idea!

[Running Mommy]

Thats a GREAT idea!!! And I do have some wall space... hmmm...

So it gets better. I was trying to sneak a day off from the shop today. I was just about to go for a 10 mile run when my husband called in a panic. "Rosa is here to be fitted". Rosa is a woman that is part of our tri club and knows the woman that I sold the bike to yesterday. Apparently they had breakfast together today, and they got to talking bikes... And fitting..
So, my day off was cancelled and I made a beeline down here. She actually won 390.00 towards a bike at my competitor in an auction, and had upgraded to a womens road bike. BUT she was not happy with the way he fit her, and she wanted to talk to me about it.
I ran her measurements and came up with a 46cm. He told her she was a 48. So he was close, but I just think a 48 is going to be way too big for her, as she is quite petite- and her measurements reflected that.
I asked her how he measured her and she said he took a spring loaded wooden device and basically had her straddle it. But that was ALL he did. So basically just inseam length. sigh....
I HATE to see people being treated that way! Reach is so much a part of fit, and so many shops ignore that. UGH
So I gave her some advice on how he should fit her to it once the bike comes in, and my husband showed her a BETTER bike that we could give her- for a way better price- In the correct size!
I could tell that she felt way more comfortable with us, but she was heading up there to pick up her bike. I offered to help her if he didn't.
OY...
So anyway.... Here we go.. I guess I'll try to get my 10 miler in later...

[maillotpois]

Way to go!! Great stories!

[Mr. Bloom]

I ran her measurements and came up with a 46cm. He told her she was a 48. So he was close, but I just think a 48 is going to be way too big for her, as she is quite petite- and her measurements reflected that.

Way to go on the success story. I think that fitting expertise will really be a competitive advantage.

Today, I rode SilverSon's 50cm TrekPilot instead of my 49cm Lemond Reno.

I went in to buy the same Pilot last spring, but Fred at my LBS was emphatic that the difference would be noticable and after riding the 50cm today, I agree that 1cm can be a big deal. I love my Reno and I'm considerably more comfortable on it despite similar geometry with the Pilot.

But remember: As Fred at bikegarage says: "Most people come in here with a question mark and I need to get them to a period." If they can't get past the question mark, YOU need to just give them the period. period. and get them to buy then and there

[vmax]

Way to go with the bike sale! It sounds like you have the customer service element nailed down -- which, in my humble opinion, is missing in retail business these days.

Heck, I wish that you had a shop in Minneapolis as I'd love to have a woman-owned bike shop in town.

I wish you luck in getting in your run

- Vivian, MN

[missymaya]

Way to go for the sale and going through all the options to find the right fit for her! It feels good to get somebody on a bike that fits them and see how happy they are. Thats what I love about the business, seeing people who havent ridden a bike in years jump on one and its like their little kids on their first bike, big smiles and all! Or getting those their first race machine or keeping their new years resolution.
The board is a good idea. There's another LBS in town that does something similar, but only for the team that's sponsored by the LBS.I think anybody who buys a bike from the shop, should go up. Kinda like what some doctors do for the new borns.