LBS - love them or hate them?

[kfergos]

I really love bacon.

And I really love my LBS.

I have to agree. Tough choice.

[Bluetree]

I hang around bike shops so much people think I'm a groupie.

It's a tough question to answer because so many bike shops offer so many different things. Of the two dozen-or-so LBSs within an hour's drive, I would rate six or seven of them with an "A" in terms of knowledge, service and product quality. For three of them, I can say I have very good relationships/friendships with the owner or mechanics.

However, I've heard some people say they are intimidated by those same "snobby" boutique stores and prefer to go to the ones that I wouldn't set foot in. My BS Detector goes off whenever I feel the "she's-just-a-girl-so-she-doesn't-know-anything" vibe.

BTW... the LBS where I spend the most money is ranked VERY low on my list when it comes to customer service. The only reason I go there is because they sponsor my club. Sometimes, you just gotta take one for the team

EDIT: I answered "bacon"