LBS Dilema

loomer said:

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 [censored]'n (was going to get a pair myself), but after
reading about them, I decided to go another route.

--
Slacker

loomer said:

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

Slacker said:

Quoted message said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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 [censored]'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.)

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" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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?

"loomer" <[email hidden]> skrev i en meddelelse
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

If I order through him I could only get the fork and one wheel for the

same

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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

"Slacker" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Are you crazy!

Yes!

Quoted message said:

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 [censored]'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.

"Slacker" <[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

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 [censored]'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?

"Kasper Navrbjerg" <[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

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.

"loomer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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

Loomer said:

"Slacker" <[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

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 [censored]'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 said:

"Kasper Navrbjerg" <[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

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.

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

"gabrielle" <[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

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.

Quoted message said:

Subject: Re: LBS Dilema
From: "tcmedara" [email hidden]
Date: 6/27/2004 5:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id: <E1HDc.30944$cj3.17393@lakeread01>

loomer said:

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 [censored] 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!

Quoted message said:

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

Being a [censored] 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

"loomer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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 ve got mavic 321's (absoutly brill) with hope 20mm bulb hubs prices vary
as titainium or alluminium hubs fitted, also got front conversion to 12mm to
fit standard folks, only down side, (not for me) there disc only. apart from
that there bloody strong and good value, trust i slam mine as i do big dirt
jumps on my costom built (by me) oversized xc frame. oh you can pick just
the rims for bout £40. enjoy