CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

Unhelpful bike shop of the day award goes to....

(32 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by recombodna
  • Latest reply from Cyclingmollie

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12

  1. recombodna
    Member

    .....Bicycle repair man!
    Out and about on the bike this morning ( and what a great morning to be out on a bike eh?) and my back wheel felt a bit spongey. I needed preasure the sort of preasure that could only be provided by a good track pump and as I was far from home I decided to pay a friendly visit to Bicycle repair man. The nice guy's in Bicycle repair man would surely be able to help me with my preasure cravings and I could also buy a new inner tube as my old has more patches than heavy metal fan's jacket.
    I took my bike into the shop and the conversation went like this

    Me 'Morning mate nice day eh? Any chance I could pump my back tyre up a wee bit with your track pump?'

    BRM 'No.'

    Me 'Eh? really?'

    BRM 'No it's shop policy not to lend track pumps'

    Me ' Oh what's the reason for that?'

    BRM 'It's just shop policy people might break them.'

    Me ' Thank's alot mate I'll go elsewhere then.'

    BRM 'Yeah yeah.'

    So here's to Bicycle repair man.
    xoxoxo

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. Dave
    Member

    Funny, especially as it cost them a sale. The Bicycle Works is where you need to go for your pressure fix - I've done just what you describe there on several occasions.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. SRD
    Moderator

    Bikerepairman does say very clearly in the window "we don't lend tools'.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. Rabid Hamster
    Member

    The logic of 'carrot and stick' could be applied...

    Hi, Nice day? Can I buy a new tube please, oh and while I'm in could you put some air in my existing tyre please? Ta very much, have a good day. Bye.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. recombodna
    Member

    Bikerepairman does say very clearly in the window "we don't lend tools'.

    does it? ........ yolks on me then.

    @Rabid Hamster You're right I should have sucked up to him a bit more but I didn't think he'd make such a big deal out of borrowing a pump for a few seconds.Ho Hum you live and learn. Life's too short for that sort of shenanigans... au revoir.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. Dave
    Member

    Don't get me wrong, I think a bike shop has every right not to blow up people's tyres and send them to a competitor - absolutely.

    I just think it's slightly funny business practice. I'm sure they're not stupid, so it means that the trade lost isn't worth it in terms of something (surely not wear and tear costs on their existing workshop pump??)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. SRD
    Moderator

    "so it means that the trade lost isn't worth it in terms of something"

    Availability of tools/space when other customers call in? I suppose if an employee's been told 'don't let people borrow tools' then s/he's not going to contradict the boss, even if the shop is empty.

    Maybe they know they aren't going to get much business from the 'do-it-yourself' type, who probably buys parts etc elsewhere.

    At any rate, have always found them helpful when I needed an emergency patch etc and we've bought some useful bits of kit there too.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. ruggtomcat
    Member

    they can be a bit odd in there, depends who's in. pretty dour tho.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    "so it means that the trade lost isn't worth it in terms of something"

    Bike shops and lending tools is a difficult one.

    At least that shop has a 'no tools' notice.

    Some shops have had tools stolen.

    Some will lend to 'known customers'.

    Some chain a track pump outside.

    But would you ask for a pump in Halfords?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  10. steveo
    Member

    But would you ask for a pump in Halfords?

    If it was the only "bike shop" in the area probably though i'd rather go down to a local shop get my tyre blown up and get an inner tube from them if they would rather not have my business then i'd move onward. Would you ask it Tesco is the question.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  11. LaidBack
    Member

    But would you ask for a pump in Halfords?

    Or from a web shop?
    They could send you a virtual one for your iPhone...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  12. thebikechain
    Member

    We have 3 track pumps on the shop floor for you to borrow here.

    We don't lend other toold but are happy to adjust things on the shop floor with spanners etc - i.e. non workshop jobs.
    We will not touch brakes and stuff though - just raise and lower saddles and repair punctures etc,

    Anything that involves 'adult' tools is booked in to the workshop.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  13. recombodna
    Member

    We have 3 track pumps on the shop floor for you to borrow here.

    That's great. I wouldn't expect to borrow tools but pumps are a different matter. Anyone want's to borrow my track pump is more than welcome. It's just common courtesy and I suppose that's what annoyed me about the BRM. Their policy sucks the fat one. I'll try my best to help anyone in trouble at the side of the road no matter what their mode of transport. A winning smile will get you a long way in this world.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  14. LaidBack
    Member

    We have 3 track pumps on the shop floor for you to borrow here.

    That's good. Worth knowing. D

    Posted 13 years ago #

  15. recombodna
    Member

    Bicycle works guy gave me two crank bolts gratis this morning...... now that's what I'm talking about!!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  16. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Bicycle Works leant me their cable cutters after I'd fitted a new brake cable with no questions asked. Seems like that kind of place.

    Though I can understand places being reticent to lend out tools for the ease with which they might disappear or be wrecked. That said, I personally wouldn't think of a track pump as a 'tool'!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  17. steveo
    Member

    As a bike shop worker on another forum I frequent once said,

    "Its always worth giving good service, even for free. If the customer is happy they might tell one friend how good we are if the customer is unhappy they will tell every one."

    Posted 13 years ago #

  18. Dave
    Member

    I think that's fair. See here - Bicycle Repair Man seems to have a bad rep (deserved or not) while everybody is now going to the Bicycle Works for free crankbolts...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  19. recombodna
    Member

    I've had a good craic with one of the guy's in BRM before and I'm sure if he'd been in there would have been no problem borrowing a pump.
    Alas I can't be bothered with tiresome bike shop politics so just go elsewhere and meet new friends.
    The old puch 531 racer's coming along nicely though just need some cableage and she's good to go.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  20. 1lesscar
    Member

    I like the BRM. I have used him on many occasions over the years. I think if you had hinted at making a purchase prior to asking to borrow his pump, you would have had no problems at all.

    I have even been offered a coffee whilst waiting for some minor repairs adjustments etc. They are top blokes IMHO.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  21. Claggy Cog
    Member

    My gear shifter broke on the way to meet at the C'wealth Pool for a Saturday ride, so I cycled to the Bicycle Repair Man shop, where they sorted it out for me, there and then, allowing me to catch up with the others with a new gear shifter and cable. Marvellous, top service. I have never had a problem, but on the other hand I have never asked to borrow any equipment. I have discussed buying tools from them for repairs and the advice they have given me has always been sound. Their prices are reasonable and I find the staff just fine... I would recommend the shop to anyone.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  22. recombodna
    Member

    That's great I'm glad to hear that.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  23. 2wheels1guy
    Member

    I've had problems with the bicycle repair man too, so have some of my mates.
    Wouldn't let me pump a tyre too, also wouldn't sell me a chain unless i bought a cassette as well or put it in for a service. (chain & cass was new)

    When you see how it should be done like the bike chain for example, it's about building relationships that bring customers back.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  24. Dave
    Member

    Send them your wiggle receipt for the chain you bought, perhaps. ;-)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  25. Stepdoh
    Member

    He wouldn't sell you a chain, that just seems weird. Isn't it usually 2-3 chains per cassette?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  26. chdot
    Admin

    "Isn't it usually 2-3 chains per cassette?"

    Interesting question.

    Never actually seen that 'rule'.

    'Replace chain and block' is an easy instruction.

    It partly depends on a) whether you ride mostly in the high gears (wear quicker) b) whether you will tolerate a bit of skipping if you replace a chain and not block and c) whether you replace chain before it's too far gone and block/cassette is really 'worn out'.

    Bike maintenance philosophy

    Posted 13 years ago #

  27. ruggtomcat
    Member

    I think it really does depend who serves you. I have a good experience 5 out of 7 times. *shrug* I still give them money occasionally.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  28. 2wheels1guy
    Member

    I get 2-3 chains per cassette if i change chain before 0.75 wear.
    I was a bit shocked at his "buy a cassette or you don't get a chain" response.
    Very rude & unhelpful place, looking forward to the "going out of business sign"

    Posted 13 years ago #

  29. chdot
    Admin

    "I get 2-3 chains per cassette if i change chain before 0.75 wear."

    http://www.rohloff.de/uploads/media/Beschreibung_Caliber_2.en.pdf

    http://www.rohloff.de/en/technical/chaindrive/chain_wear/

    Posted 13 years ago #

  30. Arellcat
    Moderator

    More than you thought you needed to know about measuring chain wear:

    http://pardo.net/bike/pic/fail-004/000.html

    The upshot of that long, long page is that most chain wear tools are inaccurate.

    "The important issue of chain wear is that the spacing changes, causing the chain to ride up on the sprocket teeth. Thus, it is important to measure pin/bushing wear. However, bushing/roller wear does not affect chain performance unless it becomes so severe that it affects structural integrity. Thus, bushing/roller wear should not be included in overall wear measurements."

    KMC digital caliper - wrong
    Rohloff Caliber 2 - wrong
    Park Tool CC-2 - wrong
    Park Tool CC-3 - wrong
    ProGold Chain Gauge - wrong
    Speedtech CW-1089 - wrong
    Shimano TL-CN40 - right
    Shimano TL-CN41 - right
    Wipperman - wrong

    So while I've been diligently measuring my chains with my steel ruler, and throwing them away after the 1/16" elongation stage, I've been doing things right. But since moving to a quick check using my Park CC-3 tool, I've been doing it wrong. In either case, I've been cleaning, lubing and measuring my bike chains properly for the past ten years or so, and have never had to change both chain and sprockets at the same time.

    Posted 13 years ago #

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