Source
r/MTB•
torotech

Benefits of supporting your LBS

So, I snapped the chain on my Rockhopper because of my own stupidity and several sticks getting lodged in my derailleur. Fix chain but in a hurry I forget to fully tighten up rear wheel. Rear wheel comes loose and gets bent, as well as rotor. Begin looking at $$$ of rims / wheelsets and decide to try getting it fixed. Take bike into LBS, in 45 minutes everything is fixed up and they even take care of a few other issues that I wasn't aware of. As I'm ready to check out, LBS guy say's the repairs are on the house since my bike was only a year old. I was so happy that I dropped $100 on some new tires/grips that I was originally going to order online.

It's also worth mentioning that the LBS puts on the coolest races and group rides around and helps out the local trail maintenance crews.

Posted Apr 20, 2011, 12:55 AM UTC

1728
aad02•

however my LBS recently took two weeks to not fix the only thing wrong with my bike and threw in a "tune" of my rear derailleur which until that point had never skipped a gear ... ever. They were then kind enough to charge me $249 for the service.

I now buy my all my tools and parts from my local internet bike shop

5
kettelsCommencal supreme dh team•

sounds similar to my last experience. Took bike down to get rear brake bled. First get quoted $15 over the price on their website. Then the guy couldn't do it and did something to it. So they had to send it off the the importer here. Finally after almost a month I got my brake back and a nice $100 service fee.

2
torotechOP•

Sorry to hear about your bad experience. My LBS is actually an hour drive and in a major touristy area and farther away than 4 other bike shops. I only go there because of their reputation and the support they provide to local events.

2
[deleted]•

In my 16 or so years of mountain biking I have run into very few bad bike shops, and a ton of good ones. Just recently I ended up buying a completely different bike then I had intended to buy on the recommendation of the shops owner. Because of his recommendation I ended up spending about a 1-1.5k less then he knew I was prepared to spend, and I ended up with a bike that suits me very well. Since I bought the bike I haven't paid for any of the three times it's been in for service, and I get a massive discount on parts.

4
torotechOP•

In my case, shop owner suggested I buy a better bike then what I originally planned, but he gave me a good discount on the nicer model. He was concerned I would bust up the cheaper model because of where I was riding. He was probably right and I'm really happy with the bike.

Buy nice bike = love sport and ride it long. Buy cheap bike = frustration.

3
[deleted]•

Yep, sometimes a cheap bike is just false economy. So can be buying online, as you don't get the direct or indirect benefits of having a bike shop to support you.

In my case he talked me into a more mass produced bike, rather then a more custom brand. Doesn't have a lot of the cool points as the more gucci brand, but still tears up trails!

2
[deleted]•

Benefits of supporting your LBS

edit: That's not me in the spandex; he's a team member on our university cycling team who volunteers at the shop often.

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torotechOP•

Sweeet! Your friend knows carrot-top!

2
Lemoribond•

My LBS knows I am a poor college student so they always give me a good discount on parts and the service is always free. I bought my two bikes from them at cost because I redid their website for free.

Its an odd relationship because i often find myself arguing with them to charge me full retail but they simply refuse.

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petemck'09 Gary Fisher Superfly, '15 Trek Fuel Ex 9 27.5•

woah, wild coincidence. I just got the exact same deal from my LBS. Website for parts/bikes at cost. Also a college student.

3
Lemoribond•

Good to know the bartering system is still alive and well

3
GoinDHV10c, Tazer VP, Tracer 275•

Burning Man much?

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
InTheBayVancouver - 2014 Transition Bandit 27.5 - Bike Industry•

Well, compared to my work, honestly your bike shop is great! Its rare that we do freebies like that, but sometimes we do for good customers. God on you for supporting your LBS!

2
TechnoTrain•

That sucks. We pass out freebies like crazy, and I love it. Are you a dick? Then it's gonna cost $30 to change that tube for you. And you'll have to leave until tomorrow morning.

Are you cool? You get to use tools for free, we'll pass you whatever discounts and freebies we can get away with, etc.

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InTheBayVancouver - 2014 Transition Bandit 27.5 - Bike Industry•

Personally, i do my best, i get you out the door for 10$ + tube in 3 minutes for a flat, 5$ if you bought your bike from the store. But the biss has strict rules. :/

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torotechOP•

I guess I'm a good customer since I spent $1200 at their shop last year. I'll probably spend 2x next year when I buy a new bike. I really never expect freebies, just good work at a reasonable rate.

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cecole1•

I definitely support my LBS. Bought two Cannondale bikes and various other items there. One day I was there and mentioned I'd have to get a shock pump really soon. The tech went to the back, grabbed one from the shop and gave it too me! Sure it has been well loved, but it works like a charm.

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torotechOP•

Yeah, forgot to mention that about a week ago when I bought a chain, I mentioned that I needed some tubes. He gave me a few that had came with a bike but had no box, so he couldn't sell them. Also gave me some extra links for free.

At the races, they are always giving away tons of swag, clearance, and odd-ball stuff. Last race, I got some derailleur cable and a multitool. On our last ride, my friends derailleur cable started fraying so I passed it along to him.

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s7cardSanta Cruz Blur TRC/Chameleon SS•

My LBS also happens to be a major Internet bike shop.... best of both worlds. Oh and their mechanics are good.

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torotechOP•

Lucky man. Sometimes, they have some crazy good deals.

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petemck'09 Gary Fisher Superfly, '15 Trek Fuel Ex 9 27.5•

I work at my campus bike shop which offers 100% free service to all students. Tell you school to get with it.

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lavaracer•

As a downhiller, the average LBS is useless beyond an expensive, same-day source of housing, tubes and chain links. DH is too small and geography-specific for LBSs to bother. Go-ride is my shop, they are very knowledgeable and happy to tie up phone lines chatting about the industry.

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livetoride•

If you live in a big bike place that people come for bike vacations ask your shop for a locals discount. In my experience shops will drop 5-10% on stuff, let the rich out of towners pay full price.

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torotechOP•

LBS has a huge rentals business that helps pay the bills.

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livetoride•

ya, without rentals I don't think we would have bike shops in Aspen.

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GoinDHV10c, Tazer VP, Tracer 275•

Same here, we rent beach style cruisers to the burning man crowd and with out that i don't think we could make it through the winter.

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MrAvenger•

I spent the last three years working at a bike shop and it's little perks like these that keep people coming back. And the more you come back, the more frequent the little discounts and services on the house become. Bike shops survive on return customers and we'd do whatever we can to make someone's day and give them nothing but good things to say about us. Although some people just can't be please no matter how hard you try, but that's life.

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torotechOP•

I went back monday to convert my tires to tubeless. I bought 2 tires at the shop and a tube of stans. They put rim tape on and mounted the tires, stems, and showed me how to use stan's. Looking at the cost, it was cheaper then what I was going to pay for a stan's diy kit and tires online. It's shit like this LBS, that makes me come back.

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