The changing face of bike mechanics

[peejus]

Sounds like an empire records type of hobby shop.
I think the ideal is a shop full of folks who just love what they do. Everything else is just sales.
The best guy for folks like the good people of this group would be the parts guy.
This is the mechanically inclined guy who has collected all the spare bits, and knows where everything is and after YEARS of doing this, knows exactly what you are talking about

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[DrHax]

There's a bike shop where I live that me and my fiance have been screwed, chewed, and tattoo'd by. They ripped off my fiance by charging her 80 dollars YES 80 dollars to install 1 Yes ONE tire. Which they didn't even check the size of it. They just slapped on a 26 inch beach cruiser tire which then was rubbing against the fender which had a freaking rut in it. They gouged the heck out of the seat post removing paint and everything! They told her the bike need X Y and Z and tried to get her to pay 110 to get it all "Fixed". Where I was wondering if they caused the issues in the first place.

We went back to them and they discounted the right size tire to my fiance. ( Trying to blame us for it. I was there and I stood my ground.) when I got tires for my firestone after its rear wheel exploded in front of their shop I was able to knock them down for 61 bucks for both front and rear tires.. However I stranded there and desperate.. I Still feel ripped off. They "Specialize" In bmx's since BMX racing is a big thing around here (apparently.) But we vow never to set foot into that place again.

In one way I can thank them. because of them I am now here researching this stuff so I never have to go to them again.

Oh yeah they recommended to us too that we buy a new bike instead of fixing the monark, since it would cheaper in the long run.

 

[honestherman]

Support your LBS ! Huh? I went into a newer little LBS in a small town near me. I called and asked what price was to true wheels. He said I'm retired and I charge 5.00 each . I brought in 4 wheels and told the counter guy to call me with an estimate . He said ". He will be Mad cause he does not like to do that " I got a call 4 days later he said 58.00. I said no just straighten two for the 5 each . I went to pick up the wheels and my bill wAs 28.00 just to straighten the two wheels not on tires no spoke replacement

 

[DrHax]

I doubt these people know how to true a wheel or anything like that. They charge more then the local tire shop does to mount and balance automotive tire. They're just a BMX candy store. Gotta get those middle schoolers to spend their money on coloured chains for their walmart specials. Oh you're bike is old! Must be a POS! here buy this chinese bike Whata' mean you don't want a new bike.

The prices of some of these places are insane. I liked one bike store I went into who charge per speed of bike to do anything. Yupe five dollars a gear. So if you need a mountain bike tire replaced. You're paying per each gear before parts and labour. Why people are willing to pay that are beyond me.

 

[Bicycle808]

Sounds like an empire records type of hobby shop.
I think the ideal is a shop full of folks who just love what they do. Everything else is just sales.
The best guy for folks like the good people of this group would be the parts guy.
This is the mechanically inclined guy who has collected all the spare bits, and knows where everything is and after YEARS of doing this, knows exactly what you are talking about

Maybe you haven't heard, but LBSes are going out of business at an alarming rate; these days, you gotta cast a wide net. From what i recall of Empire Records, it was a movie that spoofed Tower, and the employees of the shop were basically all the same types of young, conspicuously disenfranchised 90s kids, right? I'm talking about casting a wide net; different types of employees to cater to different types of riders. If you can't hit multiple rider demographics, you won't make it...

A shop full of folks who love what they do sounds great, but you need the sales part of the equation. No sales = no revenue = no more bike shop.

 

[franconuevo]

A shop full of folks who love what they do sounds great, but you need the sales part of the equation. No sales = no revenue = no more bike shop.

Bingo...there you go. That's the bottom line
It's magical thinking to imagine a bike workshop full of happy whistling people. I think (like in most places), that's a hard business to sustain...
There's 2 shops in my area and neither have any interesting old bikes.or staff. there was a third, beach-side, and that guy just went out of business.
What's in the LBS store..BMX tricked out bikes or a row of beach cruisers that are new.$350.00 and up..and all look the same,( but in different colors), with no personality at all.
Bland..like most new cars today...no fins, no curves, no patina, no chrome, no fenders..just blah.

Anyway, there's only a handful of Bike NUtz that wrench their own...and they stockpile parts like every good bike nut. 95% of people here are looking for rehabbed bikes on Craigslist..you know, DUI bikes.

 

[peejus]

Hell, ALL hobby shops of any kind are shutting down!

Almost every hobby based forum has a thread just like this, be it model airplanes and boats to audiophiles, to quilting.
Every forum is lamenting the loss of their local brick and mortar supply store.
Electronic enthusiasts are lamenting the loss of radio shack!
Seems to me that the only brick and mortar hobby stores that are thriving nowadays are home brew supply shops and bottle shops.
Btw, looking back, I think the primary focus of the movie empire records was Liv Tyler crying, so I apologize for the comparison.

Sales and marketing are key in any industry. Trust me, I'm not an official sales and marketing guy, but I've been tasked with training our new social media person. And I'm regularly hitting up bars, talking up bar managers, and always selling the brand. I coordinate with accounts and social groups in brand promotion and community envolvment.

This is why I don't really don't mind the "hipster" shops with the open workshop and counter and the coffee bar with a Couple microbrews on tap.
A lot of them are trying to create connections and community envolvement, hosting weekend rides, races and sponsoring teams.
That's what I meet about people that love their jobs...
In this, I completely agree with the in store specialist concept, and you will usually find those guys in the new stores while the old school stores tend, from my experience, to be jack of all trades type places.


Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Chad T]

I was reminded of this thread today. There's a high end bike shop close to my house. The owner is a real guru and it's great when he's the only one there and you can ask him questions. I was in there last week and had an inner tube on order.

Well I went in there today and he wasn't there it was just a couple hipsters. One cool one with a beard and another less cool one. They had no idea where a tube would be or if he had any cantilever bosses that I was looking for so I'll have to stop back when the owner is there.

They were super swamped so didn't have much time to look for anything but the guy (less cool one) acted like the brake boss I handed him was some foreign object. When I got home I thought of this thread..lol