New bike - supplier resistance to swapping components.

[SpokeyDokey]

So today I toddled off to look at four bikes ranging from £1299 to £1799 - not top end by any stretch but a reasonable amount for a bike.

Hit a bit of a problem as I really liked two but wanted the rear mech' (105 & Ultegra respectively) changed for longer cage and the 11-28 cassette changed to 11-32 to work in conjunction with 46/36 front.

Shop is happy to do the swap (plus new chain) but don't want to include as part of the deal so I end up with a mech',cassette & chain to sell on.

Not the end of the world but I really don't understand the attitude - I can't imagine that they will not be able to use the three components in pretty short order as part of their bike servicing business.

What's the CC view on this?

 

[midlife]

You have never been to a Mini Dealer and asked about swapping the wheels.........

Shaun

 

[steveindenmark]

That sounds fair enough. What would the shop do with the gear left behind? It is not that easy to sell on as new.

I think what they have done is regular practice.

 

[PK99]

My lbs gets a lot of business from me and has been happy to swap out components or wheels and take the originals into stock.

I would not expect that service from a shop I did not have a relationship with.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

That sounds fair enough. What would the shop do with the gear left behind? It is not that easy to sell on as new.

I think what they have done is regular practice.

They have a busy servicing department - surely the parts could be used there?

 

[SpokeyDokey]

My lbs gets a lot of business from me and has been happy to swap out components or wheels and take the originals into stock.

I would not expect that service from a shop I did not have a relationship with.

I hear what you say but maybe if the shop did change the parts they would get the relationship from me?

I guess it depends on who you think has to work harder to build a relationship - the shop or the customer.

In every business I have ever run I have always accepted that it was incumbent on the business to 'go first' in terms of building customer relationships.

In the example I have quoted maybe the swap would cost them £20-30 by using the parts in their servicing dep't vs me possibly/probably not buying from them and costing them what £3-500?

Simple maths would say that the swap deal works for the shop.

On the other hand, I accept that they may be so amazingly busy that they don't need my business.

 

[steveindenmark]

They have a busy servicing department - surely the parts could be used there?

If I found my LBS were using parts off other bikes on my bike I would go elsewhere.

If I cant find a bike with all the parts I want on it I expect my LBS to charge me for what I want changing and to give me the original parts off the bike. I have a good relationship with my LBS.

 

[Arrowfoot]

The brick and mortar store is the end of the line and they get supplied with such standard components from the bike supplier. The parts taken out need a box or the original package if not a potential customer would not touch it. It will be difficult to unload the stuff.

 

[Cubist]

As others have said, the parts that come with the bike are often OEM and don't come with packaging. Occasionally they differ from retail parts in small details, so the shop can only sell them on as such, nowhere near the retail prices. As Steve says above, any customer further down the line fi ding they had been unwittingly supplied and charged for OEM bits would feel aggrieved, so unless they have a customer base of folk willing to go down that route, its more trouble than it worth it to the shop.

Personally, I look for upgrade rejects online and fit them myself to upgrade my bikes, but then I do my own spannering anyway, and know how to shift the surplus bits.

 

[Onyer]

My LBS changed the rear mech and cassette to the same combination as required by OP. Just charged me the extra fiver difference between the retail price of the rear mechs. I guess it will depend on the size of the LBS and whether they will be able to use the replaced items, which were brand new and unused, on other bikes in for service/repair.

 

[youngoldbloke]

This is why my last bike came from Rose - the ability to specify the cassette and cage length, handlebar width, stem length, crank length, etc etc - and a choice of components in the first place of course. I would be amazed if I ever found a bike that fitted me in stock at a LBS.

 

[mustang1]

@SpokeyDokey while I understand your frustration, if the lbs doesnt want to use or sell the offloaded parts, surely you could sell the parts on eBay, maybe even on cc.

 

[Drago]

I can't see an issue myself. Buy any other product from any other retailer and they'll equally charge to supply and fit different components, that if they agree to do it at all.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I really don't see why you can't be offered a choice of chainring sizes eg 52/36 v 50/34, crank length, and cassette/ mech short or long, even if the lbs has to order one in.
I also think you should be offered a choice of saddle (or none).

 

[MichaelW2]

The parts left over would be "used" from the point of manufacturers warrantee.