Help with building custom bike thru LBS (long)

[indysteel]

I think it's obnoxious, too, that they're not giving me the discounted rate, but I'm also trying to keep the bigger picture in mind. One moment, I'm pissed off. The next, I'm zen about it. There are other things the shop has done--like refit me at no additional expense on my Bianchi after changes I made to it months earlier through another shop caused some biomechanical problems--that make me want to cut them some slack. But then again, I'm throwing them a big chunk of business at a time when a lot of people are cutting WAY back on luxury items.

Argh. There are times that I feel like my most complicated relationship in my life is with my LBS. I usually reserve that role for my mother!

[Biciclista]

and the truth of the matter is that even great bike shops don't always deliver the bike you wanted.
in some ways, by going custom, you stand a greater chance of it not being exactly what was planned.
my husband had chroming done on his bike. It went back to the chrome shop 3 times. In the end, he did not get what he asked for.
Another person i know wanted plenty of fender clearance for his tandem. frame came back with enough room for 25mm tires and fenders, but no bigger. They were pretty upset.

good luck.
oh, and they are never done when they say they'll be!

[SadieKate]

Another person i know wanted plenty of fender clearance for his tandem. frame came back with enough room for 25mm tires and fenders, but no bigger. They were pretty upset.

Was the frame replaced? A max size of 25mm tires on a tandem is just stupid.

[Biciclista]

that's max with fenders. And i don't know how it was resolved.

[dachshund]

My advice is to politely question any obvious mis-quotes. They could have just made a typo or innocent mistake. I didn't get a price breakdown other than a general difference in total price based on specific upgrades. But this isn't to say that you shouldn't ask for one.

My experience taught me to ask anything and everything about what they're putting on the bike. I made mistakes by not asking enough questions or getting confirmation about the parts and the schedule. I would recommend being overly assertive on this, to prevent misunderstandings. Some of the "odd" part recommendations could be choices they make for the average customer. Wheels are really important - if you want something different, then push for it. It can all be redone, but it adds to delays in getting your bike. We had several verbal agreements that were forgotten, and then I made sure we had written or email confirmation of everything.

For what its worth, my LBS includes a 90 day free pass on making changes, where they only charge the difference in the price of the components. No labor charges, in other words, to swap out something I didn't like after riding the bike for a while.