The Chainlink

Support Your Local Bike Shop - Now's the Time!

Working in a Bike Shop (not naming names) - I just wanted to say that if you were thinking about a new bike purchase for 2009 or overhauling a bike or having one built - this is the best time.

You will get the most attention and best quality of service in the dead of winter, compared to in a few months when shops will have business lining up out the door, 2-3 week long turn around times on repairs, wait times for builds and less personal attention.

Yesterday at work, me and a fellow mechanic were able to spend almost 2 hours with a customer working out details for a bike build, selecting components and measuring for fit. In the spring, their won't be enough time for this level of service.

So just a heads up to all of you cyclists with new bike plans for '09! Get in and get your bike fixed now or buy that new fantastic bike!

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Permalink Reply by root on January 27, 2009 at 9:38am
speaks the truth ^
Permalink Reply by Jamie on January 27, 2009 at 10:01am
2nd that... and that was kind of an unecessary pile-on. it's not like dude was shilling for a particular shop or anything.

bike shopping in the winter definitely has it's benefits!!
Permalink Reply by J on January 27, 2009 at 10:25am
The suggestions to establish a relationship with a local shop are legitimate and important, especially if you want special attention during the busy months. This is especially true for owner-operated shops. I for one am completely guilty of the sin: if in August when I'm backed up for days, and a valued repeat customer is in need of an urgent wheelbuild, the truth is that (s)he will go to the front of the line.

Particularly for smaller shops, it's all about reciprocity: every single product I sell can be had for less online, and customers know that, and yet the folks who like the shop and want to see it survive will consciously choose to order things locally. And it's understood that I will do my best to take care of them in exchange: staying open late, moving them up in the queue, taking weird and tiny special orders, even home deliveries.

The converse is also absolutely true, whether or not consumers realize it. The guy who buys everything online will be charged extra for labor and will not see quick turnarounds on service. But even in this case, I have customers who fit this mold and yet totally accept it.
Permalink Reply by Vondo on January 27, 2009 at 12:28pm
"I hope that more Chicago bicyclists will follow this model: Get to know your local bike shop and develop a relationship with them. If you find that you don't like the relationship, find a different shop."

This is exactly all I meant, it takes two to make a business relationship work. Get your money's worth and don't continue to support a shop that is not consistently satisfying your needs just because it is "local". On the other hand, be a reasonable consumer with your demands of your shop, the golden rule applies here too.
Permalink Reply by Ali on January 28, 2009 at 1:05am
Well we are not talking about your Walmart/Target bike brands here hopefully. I have bought 3 bikes online all above a $1000+ range and have never had a single issue with that could not be dealt with in a timely manner. Its all about buying from a reputable online retailer, someone who has a lot to lose if I post on one bad review on one of the many biking forums that I am a part of. Because these people are making what they lack in profit in amount of sales. Sure a local dealer would have seen to it that a bike on their showroom was tip-top shape, but the fact that I saved hundreds of dollars simply in mark-ups made it worthwhile not to mention that the so called "free adjustments for a year" is just a gimmick. And with enough research and knowledge I have not come up with a part that cannot be bought online, the key is to know model numbers. I can even buy a single spring for my brifter, while my LBS once told me that I was better of with upgrading the whole get-up rather than servicing it.

-Ali

spacemodular said:
I have built a number of bikes for people who purchased them off of the internet and then attempted to assemble them themselves. Some went ok and why the purchaser didn't finish can be attributed to their inexperience and desire to see it done right. Other bikes have been a nightmare, because they had broken components, bad wheel sets (out of dish and/or not round) or incomplete parts sets. They ended up spending way more then necessary, because they thought they would get a better deal off of the internet. A new but destroyed wheel set is not a bargain. I hope that more Chicago bicyclists will follow this model: Get to know your local bike shop and develop a relationship with them. If you find that you don't like the relationship, find a different shop.

I prefer going to shops where people know my name and I am treated with kindness and respect. You can find this in many local Chicago bike shops if you frequent them enough. No, you won't get the Amazon.com style instant buying gratification of the web, but the internet can't fix your bike for you or deal with your warranty issues. You can do it yourself (more power to you) or pay someone else who can guarantee their work (local bike shop).
Permalink Reply by spacemodular on January 28, 2009 at 8:37am
You are the exception rather than the rule. Most people do not work on their own bikes or build them. A service plan with a new bike is not a gimmick to someone who does not know bike mechanics. Making a wheel true or doing derailleur adjustments goes over most riders heads, not because they lack intelligence, but because they haven't spent the time learning it. Their is also the investment in tools. A fairly complete basic bench set up is about $1000.

Some people are willing to pay for service and the satisfaction that comes with it. Cash savings by someone who doesn't fit into this model (a person who does the work themselves and buys everything on the web) is the exception. Time is the other factor that you do not mention. People are paying someone else to do this work so they don't have to make the time investment. Not everyone wants to build their bike just so they can ride it. Or learn how to repair it for that matter. This is why local shops exist. The internet can't provide for the time investment.

Service is the key difference between local shops and all other types of bike vendors. Like I said before - if you can do it yourself more power to you - but if not, establish a relationship with a local shop and find people that you trust do the work.

So Ali - I won't expect to see you in any local bike shops. Enjoy your internets...
Permalink Reply by jonathan on January 28, 2009 at 12:39pm
I have had a love hate relationship with Turin. I once went in to tighten a nut on a fender and the sales person said i couldn't use a wrench. I was livid. I pointed to the $200 dollar light i had purchased there and mentioned that I had bought some very expensive lake winter shoes from them and walked out. But another time I brought in my Vega light after the mounting system had broken and a different sales person handed me a whole new light.

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