Finding a good LBS...an adventure....

(Rob Woozle) said:

Whew - it pays to shop around.

The other day I mangled one of my clipless pedals riding in the forest. My
mechanical skills are non-existent so I took the offending pedal off to the
shop that services my bike to look at. The bored guy behind the counter took a
quick look at it and said there was a piece missing and I needed to buy new
pedals. He then proceeded to not be bothered to talk to me about new pedals -
no sale there.

So...took the pedal to another LBS.....they said it could be fixed but "why
would you bother". Left there in a hurry.

At this stage I am resigned to getting new pedals....until...on the way to work
I went into a third LBS.....the guy looks at the pedal.....says that the
"tensioning spring" is out of place. Then he advises me that they can fix it if
I like. No worries. I set an upper limit for the repair as suggested by the
sotre guy at $25.

Today I got my pedal back.....fixed for $15.40....and I'm off into the forest
as soon as it gets dark ;-)

So, a BIG thumbs up to Lonsdale Street Cyclery in Braddon in the ACT.

A big raspberry to the other two shops which I will never set foot in again!!!

don't be a wuss, tell us what the other shops were 😉

Quoted message said:

Cheers,
Rob

On 09 Jan 2004 07:57:47 GMT, Rob Woozle <[email hidden]> Wrote :

Quoted message said:

Whew - it pays to shop around.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Today I got my pedal back.....fixed for $15.40....and I'm off into the forest
as soon as it gets dark ;-)

So, a BIG thumbs up to Lonsdale Street Cyclery in Braddon in the ACT.

I've heard that before about those guys. Looks like you've got a new
LBS eh ?? ...:-)

--

BAH Humbug

Rob Woozle <[email hidden]> wrote:
: Whew - it pays to shop around.

SNIP
: A big raspberry to the other two shops which I will never set foot in again!!!

Here's my version of a similar experience with LBSs. At the local hardware
store I came upon a friend trying to buy bolts to mount mudgards to a MTB.
When I asked why she didn't try the LBS, she said they had told her they
were too busy to do the job and merely gave her a list of bolts required
for the job.

In the end, I fitted the guards for her and sorted a few other things out
on the bike. Probably spending an hour or so - that's real money for a
bike shop.

Now, while I'm not fond of the local LBS and its proprietors, I wouldn't
go out of my way to do damage to them - other than refusing to ever enter
their shop again. They seem to be able to do enough damage to
themselves without my help. By all reports, the shop is struggling and it
isn't hard to imagine why, so it seems quite nuts to be turning customers
away. Perhaps they want to become bankrupt, but there's easier ways of
doing that than deliberately alienating customers (me being an
ex-customer).

Go figure!

Cheerz,
Lynzz

Well, I won't tell you their names but the initials of one are MA and the other
one is OB.

Both are in Canberra.

I'm sure locals can work them out :-)

Quoted message said:

don't be a wuss, tell us what the other shops were 😉

Rob Woozle said:

Well, I won't tell you their names but the initials of one are MA and
the other one is OB.
Both are in Canberra.
I'm sure locals can work them out :-)

Quoted message said:

don't be a wuss, tell us what the other shops were 😉

One comment, non-withstanding with other's opinions, is that judgemen
must be fair. A single case is not enough to judge an LBS in this case

If the MA is the MA that I think, you just stumbled over a bad apple
They are generally good and knowledgeable. OB, again if the one
think it is, is more of a chain store, so one should not expect muc
from them

I basically go to LSC, BC and RS first because mechanics and sale
people are generally knowledgeable, helpful and fair. The after sal
service at LSC is second to none

-

Rob Woozle said:

Whew - it pays to shop around.
So, a BIG thumbs up to Lonsdale Street Cyclery in Braddon in the ACT.
A big raspberry to the other two shops which I will never set foot
in again!!!
Cheers, Rob

Hi Rob You are the first person in Canberra that I know who has a goo
word to say about Lonsdale Street Cyclery

-

Quoted message said:

Hi Rob You are the first person in Canberra that I know who has a good
word to say about Lonsdale Street Cyclery.

Well someone else in this thread liked them as well so that makes two ;-)

Seriously though - their attitude from two staff members was excellent, they
didn't patronise me or look down their noses at my "cheapish" VP pedals and
they were friendly.

In the other two places that I went they made me feel like I wasn't worthy to
be in their store (especially MA). I do not profess to be a cycling guru of any
kind but I ride my MTB and my road bike a LOT and I like to be taken remotely
seriously when I go to them, money in hand, for assistance.

Cheers!
Rob