LBS Dilema

Loomer

I want to order a new DC fork (Sherman Slider +), wheelset
(Mavic Deemax) and an E13 chainguide from my LBS.

He can't touch the total cost of what I can get online, free
shipping, no tax etc., and I have a fixed budget.

If I order through him I could only get the fork and one
wheel for the same price. I know he isn't gouging me and I
want to support a local business but it will be a long time
before I can spend that much on my bike. Also I do all of my
own work so all I need are the parts.

Should I buy online or lose parts I need and help him?

Slacker

loomer wrote:

> I want to order a new DC fork (Sherman Slider +), wheelset
> (Mavic Deemax) and an E13 chainguide from my LBS.
>
> He can't touch the total cost of what I can get online,
> free shipping, no tax etc., and I have a fixed budget.
>
> If I order through him I could only get the fork and one
> wheel for the same price. I know he isn't gouging me and I
> want to support a local business but it will be a long
> time before I can spend that much on my bike. Also I do
> all of my own work so all I need are the parts.
>
> Should I buy online or lose parts I need and help him?
>
>
<now that I'm a little more awake>

Are you crazy! Buy it from wherever you want or need to. You
don't owe anyone your business. Sure it's great to support a
LBS, but sometimes it's just not feasible.

BTW, you might want to do a little more research on those
DeeMax's before you plunk down the cabbage. I don't think
that's what you want? I know they look bitch'n (was going to
get a pair myself), but after reading about them, I decided
to go another route.

--
Slacker

Tcmedara

loomer <adsas@sadasd.com> wrote:
> I want to order a new DC fork (Sherman Slider +), wheelset
> (Mavic Deemax) and an E13 chainguide from my LBS.
>
> He can't touch the total cost of what I can get online,
> free shipping, no tax etc., and I have a fixed budget.
>
> If I order through him I could only get the fork and one
> wheel for the same price. I know he isn't gouging me and I
> want to support a local business but it will be a long
> time before I can spend that much on my bike. Also I do
> all of my own work so all I need are the parts.
>
> Should I buy online or lose parts I need and help him?

You've got to assess for yourself if what you get from
paying the LBS premium is worth it. If it is, then support
the LBS. If it isn't, then its about charity, not business.
If the parts must be ordered either way and you're doing the
work yourself, then ordering them through the LBS is just
adding a middleman. It wouldn't surprise me if the LBS
ordered them from the same place! If the LBS has parts in
stock, can get them faster, or will provide some assistance,
then it might be worth it. Or maybe it will make you feel
better to support a local business. Price is pretty
straightforward, only you can determine "value."

....of course my opinions on such things have been
questioned of late.

Tom

Westie

Slacker wrote:
>> Should I buy online or lose parts I need and help him?
>>
>>
> <now that I'm a little more awake>
>
> Are you crazy! Buy it from wherever you want or need to.
> You don't owe anyone your business. Sure it's great to
> support a LBS, but sometimes it's just not feasible.

I was looking at Marz forks a few months back. The LBS best
quote was something like $2300NZD and I could get them
online in this country for $1800, cut to fit and next day
deliverly. How can you NOT buy online for something like
that? Support the LBS where you can but don't become a
pauper in the process.

> BTW, you might want to do a little more research on those
> DeeMax's before you plunk down the cabbage. I don't think
> that's what you want? I know they look bitch'n (was going
> to get a pair myself), but after reading about them, I
> decided to go another route.

Can't say that I've done much reading about the Deemax's but
I do have a pair that I got a reasonable 'end of season'
deal on from the importer here. Got them for less than I
could build up a comparable set. Bomb-proof so far but you'd
expect that from a full-on DH wheelset. Those stylish yellow
hubs make all the difference, you know! ;-)
--
Westie (Replace 'invalid' with 'yahoo' when replying.)

Ashley

Do you mean he can't touch the online price or isn't
interested in touching
it. There's huge markups on most things bought. He'll get
those things at the trade price, then mark up to the
retail price. Online stuff isn't sold at a loss, even
online you're probably buying from a shop somewhere.

If the LBS can't get near what you want to pay, buy online.
His loss not yours.

Ash

"loomer" <adsas@sadasd.com> wrote in message news:5UGDc.165-
01$bs4.15502@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> I want to order a new DC fork (Sherman Slider +), wheelset
> (Mavic Deemax) and an E13 chainguide from my LBS.
>
> He can't touch the total cost of what I can get online,
> free shipping, no tax etc., and I have a fixed budget.
>
> If I order through him I could only get the fork and one
> wheel for the
same
> price. I know he isn't gouging me and I want to support a
> local business but it will be a long time before I can
> spend that much on my bike. Also
I
> do all of my own work so all I need are the parts.
>
> Should I buy online or lose parts I need and help him?

Kasper Navrbjer

"loomer" <adsas@sadasd.com> skrev i en meddelelse
news:5UGDc.16501$bs4.15502@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> If I order through him I could only get the fork and one
> wheel for the
same
> price. I know he isn't gouging me and I want to support a
> local business but it will be a long time before I can
> spend that much on my bike. Also
I
> do all of my own work so all I need are the parts.
>
> Should I buy online or lose parts I need and help him?

Difficult question that is! You could argue both ways, I
won't be the judge but here's how I do it. My skills (and
tool collection) is limited and my first rule is "If I
can't install or build it myself I buy the thing from my
LBS and have him make it for me" -I'm satisfied with
knowing that he builds
10.000 more wheels than I do, so they're probably gonna last
better. Or he has some kind of advice when a certain
problem shows up because he's seen 1000 more bikes than I
have. Or in other words: I don't mind paying for his
expertise. Second rule is "If I don't know which "brand
or type" I want and need to go check and test the item at
LBS then I buy it the same place" This means no going
down there to check what size of baggie-shorts I need to
buy online! Third rule is for the one I think applies to
you: If I know what I want and I know how to fit it I
don't mind bying it online... That's how I do it.. Happy
decidings, Kasper

Loomer

"Slacker" <slacker7@sbcglobal.net>
> Are you crazy!

Yes!

> BTW, you might want to do a little more research on those
> DeeMax's before you plunk down the cabbage. I don't think
> that's what you want? I know they look bitch'n (was going
> to get a pair myself), but after reading about them, I
> decided to go another route.
>
> --
> Slacker

Ya well the owner of the LBS told me (he is a pro DH racer)
that he hasn't seen or heard about the curret (silver rim)
Deemax's having problems like you read about on MTBR. I
think they are ok.

Loomer

"Slacker" <slacker7@sbcglobal.net
> BTW, you might want to do a little more research on those
> DeeMax's before you plunk down the cabbage. I don't think
> that's what you want? I know they look bitch'n (was going
> to get a pair myself), but after reading about them, I
> decided to go another route.
>
> --
> Slacker

So what did you go with and where did you get them?

Loomer

"Kasper Navrbjerg" <fornavn@efternavn.dk
> Third rule is for the one I think applies to you: If I
> know what I want and I know how to fit it I don't mind
> bying it online... That's how I do it.. Happy
> decidings, Kasper

Thanks I just feel bad doing it because I used to be self
employed and I really reallly want this shop to last. They
are .5 miles from my house and are really trying to have the
high end stuff available.

Chris

"loomer" <adsas@sadasd.com> wrote in message
news:5UGDc.16501$bs4.15502@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> I want to order a new DC fork (Sherman Slider +), wheelset
> (Mavic Deemax) and an E13 chainguide from my LBS.
>
> He can't touch the total cost of what I can get online,
> free shipping, no tax etc., and I have a fixed budget.
>
> If I order through him I could only get the fork and one
> wheel for the
same
> price. I know he isn't gouging me and I want to support a
> local business but it will be a long time before I can
> spend that much on my bike. Also
I
> do all of my own work so all I need are the parts.
>
> Should I buy online or lose parts I need and help him?
>
>

I scream a lot on this board about shopping at the LBS, but
you can't _always_. My most recent build saw me buying all
the parts for a complete bike, and I only picked up the
frame/fork, bar tape, FD, saddle, steer-tube-canti-hanger
dealie, and tubes at my LBS. I'm in college and close enough
to broke that PricePoint/Cambria/Jenson/Supergo/even Nashbar
simply won the battle.

In a perfect world there wouldn't be a question, but
hey, you're looking to save, what, almost $500? Online
it is, man.

Someone else on this thread mentioned that LBSs get parts at
competitive prices but force a huge markup on parts. This
isn't usually true - online places have crazy sources,
including the "gray market" of stripping down hundreds of
bikes for parts, that often allow them to sell at prices
below wholesale catalogs like J&B or Quality. I shopped
online sometimes when I was a shop rat - Jenson and Cambria
in particular often beat the price I could get at the shop,
even with an employee discount.

For most people the saving grace of LBS shopping is the
common, at least around here, rule of "free installation on
parts bought here" policy. You don't need that, so, despite
what you'd _like_ to do, you should go online with it.

Chris

Slacker

Loomer wrote:
> "Slacker" <slacker7@sbcglobal.net
>
>>BTW, you might want to do a little more research on those
>>DeeMax's before you plunk down the cabbage. I don't think
>>that's what you want? I know they look bitch'n (was going
>>to get a pair myself), but after reading about them, I
>>decided to go another route.
>>
>>--
>>Slacker
>
>
> So what did you go with and where did you get them?
>
>
Front: 321, Marzocchi 20mm, 14g Wheel Smith spokes Rear:
321, Hadley, 14g Wheel Smith spokes

I had my LBS (The Path in Tustin, CA) build them for me. I
also bought my Shiver from them; I had the $ and like the
thought that I'm helping to keep them in business. Plus,
this same shop had previously rebuilt a pair of 521's for
me, and they have been absolutely bombproof.

*But* my mail order option was/is Go-Ride. They have good
prices and you can't beat their experience and know-how.
Both Krispy and V-dub can build ya a smoking wheel set. I
did buy a bunch of other stuff from them though.

I ended up buying my frame from a local SuperGo, so I did a
little mail order and the LBS thing, which was cool...
everyone got a piece of the pie.

--
Slacker

Loomer

"gabrielle" <gabrielle@gorge.net
> Something I have done with local shops (not LBS, though,
> construction materials) is to discuss the situation with
> the owner/other person who has the authority to make
> deals. I explain that I can get it for $X online, but
> really want to support the local shop & could we maybe
> split the difference. This usually makes everyone happy.
> The trick is to not sound like you're just saying "Well, I
> can get it sooo much cheaper over here."
>
> HTH gabrielle

Thanks, I have been talking with the owner trying to do
just this.

Mtbscottie

>Subject: Re: LBS Dilema
>From: "tcmedara" tcmedara@REMOVEhotmail.com
>Date: 6/27/2004 5:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time
>Message-id: <E1HDc.30944$cj3.17393@lakeread01>
>
>loomer <adsas@sadasd.com> wrote:
>> I want to order a new DC fork (Sherman Slider +),
>> wheelset (Mavic Deemax) and an E13 chainguide from
>> my LBS.
>>
>> He can't touch the total cost of what I can get online,
>> free shipping, no tax etc., and I have a fixed budget.
>>
>> If I order through him I could only get the fork and one
>> wheel for the same price. I know he isn't gouging me and
>> I want to support a local business but it will be a long
>> time before I can spend that much on my bike. Also I do
>> all of my own work so all I need are the parts.
>>
>> Should I buy online or lose parts I need and help him?
>
>You've got to assess for yourself if what you get from
>paying the LBS premium is worth it. If it is, then support
>the LBS. If it isn't, then its about charity, not business.
>If the parts must be ordered either way and you're doing
>the work yourself, then ordering them through the LBS is
>just adding a middleman. It wouldn't surprise me if the LBS
>ordered them from the same place! If the LBS has parts in
>stock, can get them faster, or will provide some
>assistance, then it might be worth it. Or maybe it will
>make you feel better to support a local business. Price is
>pretty straightforward, only you can determine "value."
>

Here's the Tom Medara offical equation for
"value".................

Being a prick in a bike shop + getting freebies because
you've pestered the shop owner to the point that he'll give
you what you want to get out = Value!

Just don't let the shop S-Q-U-E-E-Z-E any money out of you!

Tcmedara

> Here's the Tom Medara offical equation for
> "value".................
>
> Being a prick in a bike shop + getting freebies because
> you've pestered the shop owner to the point that he'll
> give you what you want to get out = Value!
>
>
> Just don't let the shop S-Q-U-E-E-Z-E any money out of
> you!

You crack me up Spanky, you really do. It's gonna pain you
to know that the shop gave me some free suspension linkage
bolts after they f'ed up my order. I didn't even have to
ask, they just handed 'em to me and said "Don't worry about
it, this one's on us." You should have seen it, you would
have been just downright apoplectic over that little scene.

Hey, maybe you should email 'em again and tell them what you
think. I'm sure the opinion of a spanky-boy will be
important to them.

Keep trying Spankster, it's fun to watch.

Tom