LBS vs discount prices

[KnottedYet]

I love my LBS. I'll usually look for stuff online, window shopping. Then I go to the LBS to buy it. If they don't have it, I ask them to order it for me. A couple times they've said they couldn't get me something, but they've offered something else which made me just as happy.

I don't mind the wait for ordered things; since I'd be waiting if I ordered them myself anyway. I don't mind paying a bit more because their economic survival is important to me. They get to make a profit, I get my goodie, and if I have a problem with the item they help me.

And I give them beer...

Feel the love!

[redrhodie]

I love my LBS. I'll usually look for stuff online, window shopping. Then I go to the LBS to buy it. If they don't have it, I ask them to order it for me. A couple times they've said they couldn't get me something, but they've offered something else which made me just as happy.

I don't mind the wait for ordered things; since I'd be waiting if I ordered them myself anyway. I don't mind paying a bit more because their economic survival is important to me. They get to make a profit, I get my goodie, and if I have a problem with the item they help me.

And I give them beer...

Feel the love!

I could have written this post! I love my lbs.

[Crankin]

I guess I am the anomaly. I generally support local businesses and I did buy my bike at the local lbs (where I believe they scoped me out as someone who would pay the crazy amount of $ I spent on it). The shop caters mostly to racers, but they do carry a decent line of all type of Giant bikes, along with a lot of "boutique" brands. But, I buy everything else online. Well, I buy the clothes on line, since I won't spend $40.00 on a pair of gloves (the shop's price) or $150.00 for a jersey. I will spend good money, but pretty much, I started buying at Terry when I started cycling, because they carry my size (x small) and a lot of places don't. I also buy from TE.
DH buys all of his parts, our tubes, etc. on line. He is an expert mechanic and we don't have to go to the shop for usual and most complicated maintenance or repairs. We do go to the shop for emergency type supplies, a tube here and there, or when our disc brakes on the mountain bikes break, because we don't have tools for those. My DH had to learn the mechanics when our son was racing; it was getting financially prohibitive to bring the bike in every time he needed something, after crashes, etc.
Now, if I wasn't married to a mechanical genius, I would work really hard to develop a good relationship with a shop mechanic. I feel that i was not treated that well by 2 of the 4 other shops I have dealt with, and they mostly spoke only to DH. The place I bought my Jamis was really cool, but it is not close enough for me to go there on a regular basis. I do run in to another LBS for small stuff, which is just as close as the one where I bought my bike. They are more family oriented, carry a wide variety of brands, and my son used to work there, so they know me well. But, the clothes are expensive and so are the parts.
We have referred quite a few people to the shop where we bought our bikes to buy bikes, and he will thank us, but that's about it.

[blackhillsbiker]

I guess I am the anomaly. I generally support local businesses and I did buy my bike at the local lbs (where I believe they scoped me out as someone who would pay the crazy amount of $ I spent on it). The shop caters mostly to racers, but they do carry a decent line of all type of Giant bikes, along with a lot of "boutique" brands.

There is one LBS I won't support here. The service/salespeople are terrible unless you are out to spend major $$. If not, you are just an inconvenience and relegated to the high school guy who works part time on weekends, if you can get him away from his friends long enough to get a bike down for you. Then you're on your own. They used to be a great shop, but they changed hands and everyone who was decent left.

[OakLeaf]

My opinion? In this economy, you'd be crazy to spend your money anywhere but locally.

Why in the world would I send any more of the money that's desperately needed where I live, to already-wealthy corporate executives and faraway places?

[Owlie]

The shop where I bought my bike is a 40-minute drive away, and I don't have a car, so when/if I can get there is dependent on other people. Would I like to spend money there? Yes, as they're nice guys and they do a good job. Even my bike shop-snob boyfriend (who spent the entire trip there holding his front wheel and saying "I doubt they have the appropriate equipment to true my billion-dollar wheel...") was impressed. Getting there, though, is just not practical. This means I do a lot of my shopping at a) another LBS, b) Performance, or c) online. Both the other LBS and Performance are accessible by bus (and as a student, I get an unlimited-use RTA pass for $25).

Most of the stuff I've purchased since buying my bike has been clothing or small accessories (computer, tail light). I bought my first pair of shorts at Performance (their house brand), but I've bought all the rest of my clothes online. The bike shops here have relatively limited selections of women's clothes, and what they do have is not something I'm willing to pay for--I don't NEED $70 shorts just yet. I have enough disposable income to bike, but I don't have enough that I can afford to pay shop prices for things I can get online for less.

Bottom line: Clothes I'll buy online. I feel more comfortable buying parts from the LBS.

[tctrek]

+1 on supporting your local bike shop. We go in our LBS and it's like visiting family. I know I can trust their advice and even if I don't buy anything, they know I'll be back. It's a win-win.

[Kiwi Stoker]

If I can buy locally I will.

However because NZ doesn't stock everything if there's something I need/want I cannot get here I buy it online. For example 700c 28 tyres for our tandem. Cycle clothing that's not just boring plain colours etc.

I totally understand that the market here and Australia is too small to have everything, so sadly the LBS will miss out.

[Crankin]

I have never felt like I was visiting family at any LBS I have bought bikes at. And while it IS better to support local shops, they just charge outrageous prices. Is supporting the extremely wealthy owner of the LBS where I bought my bike any better than supporting a wealthy owner in another city or state? This guy is loved by many, but disliked by just as large of a contingent. One of my physicians keeps going in there to look at bikes, and he is constantly being shown bikes that cost 10-15K, just because he is a doctor. He stopped looking. I have not experienced any of the special treatment I've read about here at any shop, large, small, family owned, or part of a local chain. Frankly, I am glad I don't have to deal with it, the same way I am glad I don't shop at department stores anymore and deal with them.