| IBD's; Or do you webi click click!! | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 14 2014, 04:52 PM (270 Views) | |
| Dave le Trek | Sep 14 2014, 04:52 PM Post #1 |
Mud Lover
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After a great In Gear club ride (roadie for those who don't know me) today with 9 up for it riders, I needed to do a few mechanical checks on my bike when i arrived back at the shop. As I was there I served a few customers..one of which stated that he was over the moon with the advise and level of service he had received (not just from me). He did add that after visiting 2 major cycling outlets in the not so local area he felt that a light at the end of the tunnel existed. So.....my question is : just how much do you support your local bike shop? 20 30 or 50% of your spend per year?? I look forward to seeing a few resonses....and FYI...This has not come about due to my full time job at a bike shop....I supported Ahead cycles in Crawley for 4 years...they went down due to Evans aggressive marketing. DLT.... <_< |
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| robbo167 | Sep 14 2014, 08:34 PM Post #2 |
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Bog Monster
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You're going to get me started here... For me a shop has to have a certain "thing " about it.....I hate the supermarket style of shop...give me quirky everytime...and the only thing that will get people to return is your staff,the personal connection for me is Everything....i don't use my local shops at all...South Downs Bikes and Quest Adventure...fed up with dealing with saturday boy/uni gap filler cheap labour ..every business knows it has to invest in it's staff,it's biggest asset when all said and done,yet this lesson appears to have passed the bike trade by,certainly in my area anyway....(Bitter?..yes ,just a bit) Anybody that talks about selling bikes as "moving units" is automatically on my Drive Right Past List too... I don.t buy much these days (mainly because I dont ride much !) but what I do get I trawl around the web for...not on a price basis at all...it's just easier thats all...there's absolutely no desire to go to a shop if's there is no one there I want to talk to. Rant over.... |
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| guy | Sep 15 2014, 06:57 AM Post #3 |
Mudking
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I seem to have used Quest Adventure pretty much since they started, as well as the Bike Store in in Worthing to a lesser extent. However I do take a pragmatic approach to using my LBS vs internet. I would guess that the current split is 50-50 between bikeshops and internet. Ive been shafted on a couple of occasions by bike shops and online shops, not for ages though and not by any that I now use. Really bad service means I simply don't go back. I don't buy bikes very often but my Marin was brought from Quest after a test day ( always gets major shop services by them too due to warranty support), my Singlespeed was built up at home ( mix of internet shopping, lots of local bike shop special offers plus various spare parts I already had) and my road bike was an Evans online special offer ( but I did go to Gatwick to do a final test ride on it when I picked it up). I wouldn't usually buy a bike online (frames are another matter though). My road bike was a bit of change though as I had originallly intended to buy from the Bike Store but they didnt have the bike in to test on the day I had booked it (after I had phoned up 30 minutes earlier to get a final confirmation that, yes, they did have the bike in but then told in the shop that I would have to wait for 2months...they did apologise) Evans got the order instead after I had figured that a 30day no hassle money back guarantee was enough to persuade me to press "buy" online. Most spare parts that I buy now tend to come from Wiggle/CRC or, v. occasionally, specialist online bearing suppliers (who are slightly cheaper if you are servicing hubs BTW). This is because of time pressures and finding slots in a bike shop workshop can be a PITA. Even with my awful bike mechanic skills I can now tend to do most jobs on the bike except suspension servicing, wheel building/repairs and headset installation and I actually quite like being able to keep my bikes running myself as at very least I can practise using lots of swear words in the privacy of my garage. However, a lot of my gear still comes from Bikes Shops. I always get my helmets from bike shops as I need to try them on. Quest seem to do pretty well out of me for some of my clothing (however most of my road kit is from Wiggle), mountain bike tyres (dont start...), various bits and bobs and my Stans/Hope wheels were from Quest as I know and trust the guy who built them. The big repair job on my Marin frame this year was organised through Quest as well. It may help that I know the owner JP and some of the guys who work in there pretty well too as they have always been pretty good to me. JP also introduced me to the delights of Strava too... Buying local is all about relationships and trust, I am happy to pay a bit more for that. However, you cant go drunken late night shopping in you LBS though, for that the internet is king 
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| robbo167 | Sep 15 2014, 12:57 PM Post #4 |
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Bog Monster
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So it's just me then?....fair enough. |
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| robbo167 | Sep 15 2014, 05:40 PM Post #5 |
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Bog Monster
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Just heard from a guy who I did Cytech 2 with...just got a job with Halfords up near Aylesbury....£6.81 an hour!!!...is it a surprise that chain stores are rubbish?...and this is from a company thats just made a big deal about relaunching the cycle side of their business too! He tells my that the mechanic that has been there 2 years just fitted Sram shifters to Shimano mechs and wondered why the indexing wouldnt work!..he was all set to send it out too... |
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| belugabob | Sep 15 2014, 06:54 PM Post #6 |
Mudking
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As my LBS is Evana at Gatwick, i do tend to use them for a fair amount stuff - especially if 'I have to have it immediately' - but buy from the internet in equal measures. Wait for it - I do get things from Halfords on a regular basis (there you go, I admitted it) as they do have good deals from time to time, and I can 'click and collect' within 24 hours. I'd like to have a proper LBS - the nearest I've come to this was London Road Cycles in East Grinstead, but Nick sold up and the new guy just didn't didn't have the right vibes. (Nick wouldn't bat an eyelid at giving me things ike new cones for my wheels, because he knew that I pointed several bike sales in his direction - and he chaged the handlebars for different shape ones at no cost, too) I do tend to prefer spending my money with people who deserve/need it, but this an opportunity that's just too rare nowadays, so I'd urge you all to grasp such an opportunity with both hands. P.S. Forgot to big-up woolyhatshop.com, who have a warehouse just round the corner from my office. Their stock is a bit eclectic, but their staff are always helpful and willing to bring items out for me to compare against broken bits - shame it's not a proper shop any more, but that's a sign of the times, I suppose. P.P.S. What's an IBD? |
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| robbo167 | Sep 15 2014, 07:10 PM Post #7 |
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Bog Monster
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Independent Bicycle Dealer.... |
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| Ming the Merciless | Sep 15 2014, 07:46 PM Post #8 |
Overlord of all Known Sheds!
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I will probably never buy anything from Evans again, twice I have visited the Crawley main branch and had appalling service. I try to support my LBS's (Kontour and Evo), I try to buy bikes from them for back up etc and use them for most repairs that involve bearing replacements (Trek your BB's are worse than Mini ball joints) and anything that will involve possible Ming Mantrums ©. I'll also use them for things like cables, chains, lubes, gels etc. However when it comes to things like cassettes, chain sets, handlebars and lights then the internet is king. I wouldn't dream of asking the shops to price match CRC/Merlin/Tweeks/Wiggle sale prices. Don't get me started on forks, how Fox can charge nearly 1K for a fork with a 20hr minor service interval is beyond me so ebay and nearly new/old stock is a better bet especially as 26 bikes catch fire or give you Cat Ebola or something and are going out of fashion. Brand new set of DT Swiss 120 mm forks for £200 anyone? |
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| Jim | Sep 16 2014, 05:51 AM Post #9 |
If this was a combat situation, we'd be dead by now.
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Consumables I get from the 'net, important stuff or bits I'm not sure about I'll go to my LBS. I think it's well worth cultivating a good relationship with the staff; it's nice walking into a shop and everyone greets you by name. It's also a good way to get a discount and peripheral goodies; I've gotten samples of new product lines to try, tea and biscuits etc. |
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| Dave le Trek | Sep 16 2014, 09:00 AM Post #10 |
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Mud Lover
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It would seem that a large amount are over the 50% mark then, agreeing that having a relationship with the LBS is a great way forward. It will be interesting to see how Halfords develop over 2015, seeing as 'TOP' exces have moved from Evans & Wiggle to push 'The Hut' forward. One thing is for sure...In Gear will continue to serve the EX Halfords/Evans customers, who regularly visit us with poorly built bikes with all sorts of issues. Rob...does the basement sound any better yet??...You'll be dealing with a much higher quality of customer.......and laff at the error of others.. Interestingly I served a customer who upgraded his wheels with us and provided his own new cassette n chain (from Ribble) the 11spd cassette was missing the 11tooth cog and the chain was missing 12 links (should of had 116)....O the joys of cheap unboxed 'original parts'... Thanks for all your comments. DLT.. 
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| robbo167 | Sep 16 2014, 01:30 PM Post #11 |
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Bog Monster
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Evans and Halfords can have all the top excecs in the world but if you don't pay your customer facing staff properly your are not going to attract the right people and the whole thing crashes and burns (again!) Dave...I would love to work with you but my mild claustrophobia means I can't work in a cellar without any natural light....if you had a workshop that matched the stuff you sell I would be there like a shot. |
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| andyjh | Sep 16 2014, 09:46 PM Post #12 |
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Mud Lover
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My LBS is South Down Bikes in Storrington and I, unlike Rob, do use them a lot Yes they do have some junior staff but they are all very keen cyclists themselves and will always try to help I have found. They also have good senior staff who are very knowledgable and experienced, seem to do quite well in most races. I ride with the bike club and support the shop where I can. The mechanics are helpful and don't seem to mind the odd 'help me' situation, lol. To be honest, if it wasn't for this shop and the supporting service, I probably would not of got past the step fitness curve to enjoy riding on the South Downs! I also use Evans Gatwick as it is close to my work and they are the main warehouse so it satisfies my 'must have now' tendency! Some of the staff are knowledgable but you have to pick carefully. The difference I have found is when they don't know, they don't give a cr@p either. Now that I hate!! I bought my BMC from they but the after sales has been appalling. They don't know anything about the bike, can't tell me what parts I need without me bringing the bike to them apparently! Makes me mad that I gave them so my money for this bike but it was a good deal and I love the bike :wacko: Consumable parts, can't beat the online retailers for deals. Some of them are getting really smart with their package deals and shopping experience also. I noticed chainreaction now do configurable bundles when buying things like 1X10 setups, very smart. Right now I'm looking at options for new bikes, window shopping for a while probably. There are a lot of good deals out there but without paying over the odds I will try and buy through the LBS to make sure I get the after sales service this time. |
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| robbo167 | Sep 16 2014, 09:58 PM Post #13 |
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Bog Monster
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Andy...I'm glad it works for you,don't get me wrong,SDB have done a lot for the local scene and it obviously attracts a lot of custom...it just doesn't do it for me (miserable ,cynical old git that I am). Anyway,how was Afan? |
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| Ollie | Sep 17 2014, 05:35 AM Post #14 |
Mudthing
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I don't really have an LBS (there is one but its very small in terms of stock) but I have never really found one where they really take customer service seriously. If I'm waiting for a part for six weeks whilst my bike sits unridable, I don't really expect to have to chase them every 10 days for an update when they fail to ring me after they keep telling me it'll be ready in 5 days, repeatedly, until I give up and collect the parts still broken. I'm sure they exist but I've not found one. Other than that, for parts, I think LBS's will always struggle now the internet has so much choice, probably the best way to get us in the door is to have parking available, a decent range and an 'I can get that for you tomorrow and I WILL ring/text you when it arrives attitude' rather than expecting you to take a chance that its in. Helmets and shoes are difficult to buy online so have a good range, and have a good offer in hand to collar those who have come in to find their size and are about to head out the door to CRC to buy it 20% cheaper! And also its nice to know your custom is appreciated and that you think you are getting a good deal, but without bartering over the counter, so perhaps a simple customer database that adds up spend at the till so you can earn your discount would be attractive. |
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| Bryn | Sep 18 2014, 08:49 PM Post #15 |
Slightly Splattered
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My Local LBS is either D@D cycles in Barnham or City cycles in Chichester I much prefer the service from D@D as the guys that run the shop are active mountain bikers, explain part options, really speedy with there service. I use my LBS for mainly fitting of Bearing/Bash guards/rear mechs/ and anything else that I've either not got the tools to fit myself or skill to do it. Online gets clothing/helmets/gloves/gels etc etc although last year went to the cycle show and spent silly money on things I really didn't need. I would use my LBS for more but you can't beat the range and price that the online market offers, I'm a marlin fan but do often use eBay. Hate CRC such a massive range but you either need to be super small or XXL. Is it just me the feels like a kid at Christmas then the postman drops of your newly purchased cycling goodies you brought online. |
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