Rip off price for a bike service

[Soup890]

Ok guys no joking

I know this should not be posted on commuting section but I feel like I get a good response here.

Ok, I put my bike in for a service. They did not tell me a price up front. So today I collect my bike and the damage is £137.00!!!!!

This is the break down.

Mudguards £16
Brakes £9
Cassette £30
Service £70
Clean £12

Total £137

 

[morrisman]

May be a good price dependent on what level the service was, a complete strip and grease of all the bnearings for £70 seems cheap enough. Clean at £12 is just to teach you not to take sh1tty bikes in to be serviced.

 

[screenman]

What bit do you not like? Seems fair to me.

 

[smokeysmoo]

They did not tell me a price up front.

Did you askt? Clearly not or they would have told you.

If you are not able to fettle your own bike then always agree a price up front, and also make an agreement on what the LBS needs to do in the event of finding more parts that may need to be replaced.

Rocket science it 'aint!

 

[fossyant]

The mudguards are a good price as are the brake blocks. the 30 for the cassette isn't too bad (internet searches could have got a bit cheaper). Fitting of these and a general service takes time.

You could have done it yourself for much cheaper, and bought the tools.

 

[summerdays]

I think my first service cost me £200 almost, but I didn't know how to do very much and there were various parts in that too. But it did make me realise that it was important to agree what was likely to be done beforehand, and to maintain it a bit myself. Now I'm clearer about what I want them to do when I get it serviced. But in comparison to the cost of the bike servicing is going to add up. That's why I don't have a problem for MPs claiming bike mileage, if they have cycled, as it isn't completely free once you have a bike as some people think!

Look at it another way, how much would you be spending on public transport instead and do you want to be riding a well maintained bike or something likely to let you down.

 

[User6179]

Would depend on what they serviced , most newer bikes have unserviceable cartridge bearings in the wheels , head set and BB so unless they changed some of these or trued the wheels or replaced cables then £70 is steep
Did they not fit a new chain with the cassette?

 

[SS Retro]

Learn to do it yourself make you tube your friend, bicycles arnt computer controlled rocket ships they were utilitarian transport designed to be looked after and fixed by there owner!
I am sympathetic to LBS they have to make money somewhere with the internet giants able to offer the same bikes they might stock at hundreds of pounds discount.
Mind went in Evans in Kendal and they had signs up saying puncture repair £5 I had to laugh wtf!

 

[4F]

Top tip, learn to do it yourself. Priceless..

 

[Soup890]

The mudguards are a good price as are the brake blocks. the 30 for the cassette isn't too bad (internet searches could have got a bit cheaper). Fitting of these and a general service takes time.

You could have done it yourself for much cheaper, and bought the tools.

I know this is a big ask. But could you tell me what tools will be good for the job, for the future?

Thanks

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Give the guy a break!!!!!

Not everybody is mechanically minded, in fact some people are scared of fixing anything.

I'm sure next time the OP will ask all the right questions.

I do my own servicing so I have no idea whether £70 is a fair price for the service or not. When I take my car for servicing I leave it under the instruction that they call me before they change anything.

 

[subaqua]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-tools-bike-tool-kit-18-piece/rp-prod40997

is a good start , or you can buy them individually for a few quid more .

I worked out what i needed from looking at the equipment on my bike and then looking on tinternet and buying the best i could afford. park are good but can be a bit expensive.

decathlon have a reasonable kit too and you could use the list of tools to get u started

 

[Soup890]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-tools-bike-tool-kit-18-piece/rp-prod40997

is a good start , or you can buy them individually for a few quid more .

I worked out what i needed from looking at the equipment on my bike and then looking on tinternet and buying the best i could afford. park are good but can be a bit expensive.

decathlon have a reasonable kit too and you could use the list of tools to get u started

Thank you so much. I have saved it to my iPhone home screen page. This month's pay day I will buy it straight away.

Once again thanks.

 

[simon the viking]

My LBS charges £30 labour plus any parts..... unless there is some catastrophic damage/problems the parts will be fitted as part of the £30..... very reasonable I reckon as a car garage charges between £60 and £100 quid (and main dealers can be even more) per hour..... he did say himself though I'd be best to buy some cone spanners and service my own hubs it would be a lot cheaper.........

 

[smokeysmoo]

A starter kit like subaqua posted is a good starting point. Some things in there you may never use, (depending on bikes BB for example), other things you might wear out and buy a better version of as you go along.

IME though there's no need for the DIY bike mechanic to spend silly money on Park tools. I do have some Park stuff, (from when it's been on offer), but most of my other tools are things like Ice Toolz and Fat Spanner brands, and TBH I have no doubt they will all outlast me. The only exception to this is a chain splitter, cheap ones are made of cheese, so buy a decent one.

Or if you're happy to spend a bit you could always get the Park Tool MK-210 Master Mechanic tool kit, a snip at £6000