Tales from the LBS.... When the day starts like this you KNOW your in trouble..

[OakLeaf]

I'm wondering how many of you shop at big box stores for things other than bikes?

Okay, can't resist the drift (and for the record, I'll shop at Best Buy, Lowe's and B&N, but not WM; the closest closely-held electronics and book stores to me are over an hour's drive; I prefer to shop the local hardware store but they often don't have what I need).

I concede that when setting up a new household, most of the mom-and-pops that would carry things like plastic trash cans for the bathroom have already been driven out of business by WW, so there isn't much of an alternative if you don't want or can't afford Architectural Digest grade trash cans.

But there's a more important difference. A pair of polyester stretch pants with the seams sewn crooked won't kill or seriously injure you or your child. An improperly assembled bicycle very easily could.

[salsabike]

I liked your story. It is why I read this, in addition to getting great help and support. Please write more...I got you (and I bet most everyone else did too).

Ditto here, Denise.

[Zen]

Ok. After getting some PM's suggesting that my post was out of line, or may not be so good for business, I am going to let this thread go now. And I think this is the last edition of "tales from the lbs".

Ignore them. I know exactly what you were trying to convey here and saw nothing "out of line". Some men are like that. I have words for them but will refrain from expression lest I upset some delicate sensibilities.

[ridebikeme]

WOW! I'm sorry that this thread has upset some people; I truly don't think that it was intended that way. Communicating online is something that people do several times a day, but there are lots of misunderstandings simply because we aren't talking to each other face to face.

I know several shops that don't work on Wallyworld bikes, and that's their choice. Like so many of you have mentioned, I choose to educate people on the difference and have sold many bikes because of it. However, it does take alot of time to do this, and perhaps some shops simply choose not to MAKE the time.,,, it's not up to me to judge them for that.

Every one of us has something that we don't have a lot of experience with, and it's wonderful when people will take the time to educate us.

I for one, have been in the situation where business is slow and it's very scary. The bike world is not one where we will become wealthy... it's more of a lifestyle than anything else. It's one where you will always have customers that you love, and others that will drive you crazy... but that's life in the real world. Running a business is simply another life lesson, and one that we learn from each and every day. The issue that I do have with this post is this: for the most part we can't choose who are customers are, all we can do is give them the best service that we can. We will always have customers that are saints, and others who remind us how wonderful some people are. I for one, don't understand where venting about how your business is doing or NOT doing is helpful online. (unless it's targeted at friends, family etc) It's comfusing to read posts like that, and then to see another venting about certain customers. Perhaps I'm too old school, but it seems that it's a huge contradiction and not an impression I would want to leave with people.

This post is NOT meant to upset anyone, I'm simply sharing the view that I have whether it's shared by others or not.