Obnoxious cycle shop owners.

[Sore Thumb]

Perhaps the shop owner gets fed up with people going in to his shop and quoting online prices at him all the time in an attempt to beat him down on price. This doesn't excuse his rudeness though.

I did not quote any on line price to them until they had said a firm no and turned his back to me. It was a parting shot from me as I left.

So he was obnoxious to me before this.

 

[ziggys101]

My local LBS is pretty good, when looking for my last bike I asked him if he could get close to deals I'd seen online he tried but couldn't get near, so I didn't buy from him but because he tried and was helpful i have bought nearly everything else I have bought for the bike from him, he always gives me a small discount. If the service is right then I dont mind paying a little extra for it.

 

[ianrauk]

Careful what you say on here about local bike shops you might get banned and certainly don't say anything good about Halfords

Why do you say that?
No one has ever got a ban for having a bad experience with a bike shop and posting about it on here.

 

[Sore Thumb]

The jacket is probably still going to be for sale in his shop for the next year anyway.
He will probably be forced to drop it to the price I was prepared to pay in the next few months.

He's just lost more money by not offering me the deal due to the fact I will never buy from him again and anyone cyclist that ask me where the good cycle shops are, I will tell them not to go to his.
So he will probably loose hundreds now rather than a few quid.

 

[Nebulous]

I very determinedly don't add up what I spend on bike stuff, but my lbs gets a reasonable chunk of it. Even my local Halfords gets a bit.
Its a bit like this, if it is a planned purchase I shop around and get the best deal I can, generally online. There are quite a lot of times though when I want it now. Examples would be fettling my bike, deciding something needs replacing and buying it. Online prices are no good if I want my bike back together in half-an-hour.

 

[subaqua]

i use whatever source i can for parts clothing etc. depends how quickly i want it.mostlyt the price in the LBS is as near as dammit same as online anyway.

a dive forum (the) i frequent has people bemoaning poor service form dive shops ( LDS) so it could well be any enthusiast

 

[Pale Rider]

Given the thread title, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Spa Cycles in Harrogate.



Actually, I rather like the guy.

 

[Dave 123]

We used to run a small garden centre, The amount of people coming in and asking for raffle prizes was alarming. The final straw was giving 3 away in a morning that I'd taken NO money, but spent over a grand in cash on stock. The 4th person came in... "have you a raffle prize for the local school....?"
I answered with "No, sorry". There then followed a discussion and I explained what had gone on that morning, and that schools are funded from taxes. He saw my point in the end.
Maybe your man was having a bad day, too mant requests for discount?
But you're right, he didn't have to be rude.

 

[mickle]

To be fair - it can be very difficult to retain a cheerful disposition when faced with a near constant stream of penny pinching price matchers - Interspersed with people wasting your time by trying on items from your stock only to go away and buy on-line.

 

[G3CWI]

To be fair - it can be very difficult to retain a cheerful disposition when faced with a near constant stream of penny pinching price matchers - Interspersed with people wasting your time by trying on items from your stock only to go away and buy on-line.

...so you have to adapt to the trading environment or go extinct.

 

[inkd]

...so you have to adapt to the trading environment or go extinct.

As a local bike chain has near me with a good internet sales site. I went into my LBS asked for an item they had on offer online but had sold out, It costs me around a fiver in petrol to get to my LBS, Got home and ordered on their website with free postage, got it 3 days later from one of their other stores. http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/ Excellent service from them and not the closest to me.

 

[nickyboy]

The LBS business model seems a bit of an anachronism these days. Bit like the ironmongers. Low stock turns, extensive inventory range, ease of comparison with online pricing. And unfortunately a lot of owners who are bike enthusiasts but don't grasp the modern expectations regarding customer service

Fast forward 10 years I do wonder how many LBS will exist selling bikes and components. I think the following will survive and proseper:

1) Specialist LBS selling high end products or niche products for which customers will travel long distances and will appreciate the specialist advice
2) Big chain stores offering a "retailing experience" much like going to a supermarket
3) LBS who concentrate on service and repair

And all the rest of the business will be online

 

[gb155]

I was told I was too fat for a trek 6700 mtb (at 25 stone) after the shop had sold it to me.

This was done on a busy Saturday afternoon

Guess what, I've never ever set foot in there since and when friends ask about it I'm happy to share my experience

Vote with your feet, it's, sadly, the only way!!!

 

[MontyVeda]

...
The other day they sold me the wrong size ball bearings. I can't see them lasting much longer unless they get their act together. Sad really but I don't feel that I owe them a living.

Years ago (95ish) there was a new cycle shop in Lancaster called Cycle 2000... it was a massive shop, loads of nice bikes and accessories, and they also offered secure bike parking for £1 a day (they had that much space)....

anyway, I went in for some headset bearings as I was doing up my first MTB, and the bloke tried to sell me an entire headset for £22. I told them i didn't need an entire headset, just the loose bearings, but he told me "you can't buy loose beatings." which was obviously bull.

I told the bloke, who clearly thought he was the be all and end all of bicycle repair, that I've bought loose bearings many times before, for about 50p a set... he told me i was talking out of my **** so I left, never to return again.

I went to the next nearest LBS and bought said loose bearings for 68p.

Cycle 2000 didn't last very long.. can't think why.

 

[beastie]

The LBS business model seems a bit of an anachronism these days. Bit like the ironmongers. Low stock turns, extensive inventory range, ease of comparison with online pricing. And unfortunately a lot of owners who are bike enthusiasts but don't grasp the modern expectations regarding customer service

Fast forward 10 years I do wonder how many LBS will exist selling bikes and components. I think the following will survive and proseper:

1) Specialist LBS selling high end products or niche products for which customers will travel long distances and will appreciate the specialist advice
2) Big chain stores offering a "retailing experience" much like going to a supermarket
3) LBS who concentrate on service and repair

And all the rest of the business will be online

I would have thought most LBS would see the value in service and repair. It's a growth market.
The LBS in Penrith Arragons cycles has a busy service section with 4 guys working. It's very popular with locals and they also do emergency repairs for people on C2C.

Another thing they do is run a ladies social ride , training rides and a Triathlon club. I expect the club members are more likely to use the store than not.