RIP Agoura Cycles...

[Aggie_Ama]

I get free lifetime tune-ups when I buy a bike there. this bike will make number three from them

I heart my LBS.
Even if you think you found a deal online it usually isn't by the time you pay shipping.

I agree. About the only thing I go online for is shorts because the LBS hasn't figured out bibs are way better.

[Blueberry]

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.

Within reason, though, LBS. I give them almost every part order, usually buy all tires and tubes, locks, etc. there.

CA

[Zen]

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.

Do they know this?

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...

[Blueberry]

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

[Aggie_Ama]

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?

[Blueberry]

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.

[Aggie_Ama]

I asked Friday when I was in the store - they said they mail them on March 1.

Oh goody. We bought a lot this year, a lot of sale but a lot not. Might be halfway decent.

[crazycanuck]

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..

[aly]

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.

[Aint Doody]

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.

[ridebikeme]

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?

[Aint Doody]

Amen.

[Running Mommy]

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.

[aly]

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.