Do not ever tellthe LBS that...

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LBS's tend to be swamped at this time of year since cycling numbers go up greatly during the spring and summer. Having said that I tend to think that more than a week is a little excessive. Can you imagine taking your car in for a service and being told it'll not be ready before next week?
+1

(I've posted this before)

Just to remind people, it's not just LBSs. I crashed my bike and destroyed the front wheel. Took it to Evans at Canary Wharf, as that was the most convenient place. The told me a replacement wheel (I needed something specific) would be 2 to 3 weeks. I rang the supplier (who do not sell to public) and was told 2 or 3 days. Took this back to Evans, who explained it was 3 days from supplier to their warehouse, and then another 2 weeks to the store.

Oh, and could I please come and take my bike, as their workshop is very small?

Rang the supplier again, they told me which LBS near my home they supply and Saturday morning I had my new wheel and was back on the road. And a beautiful relationship with same LBS began.
 

Sittingduck

Legendary Member
Location
Somewhere flat
I probably wouldn't say anything about how much of a rush I was or wasn't in. See what ETA they give when you go in and if it's not acceptable ask them to push it through sooner. If it is ok, then no problem. Saying you are in no rush is asking for problems, as it's down to interpretation. I suppose it's easy to mention that there isn't a huge rush but 2 weeks sounds like a p*ss take to me.
 

gbb

Squire
Location
Peterborough
The workshop in a LBS,s not so different from an engineering company, fabricators or machine shops...they've a never ending series of work coming in, all with differing urgencies.
Having dealt with engineering companies for 30 years, you learn that if you say there's no rush...it usually doesnt get touched until you chase it up, then its given more attention.
I used to get really annoyed with them, then it dawns on you, tell 'em its urgent if you need it within a week, extremely urgent if you need it sooner, or give them a specific date you need it by.

Of course, if the LBS's workshop's empty and there's nothing much going on in there...they're lazy buggers.:biggrin:
 

Mad at urage

New Member
You told them that you "do not need it asap" and "i am off work." - they may well have interpreted that as "please hang on a bit until I get work and am able to pay you for the job". Sounds to me like they were, in their view, doing you a favour by storing it for you. Nice service IMO.
 
OP
OP
cyberknight

cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
You told them that you "do not need it asap" and "i am off work." - they may well have interpreted that as "please hang on a bit until I get work and am able to pay you for the job". Sounds to me like they were, in their view, doing you a favour by storing it for you. Nice service IMO.

off work = holiday , and they knew that .
 

Lucheni

Active Member
Location
Cornwall
I've had a similar experience at my LBS. I dropped the bike in on a Tuesday and told them I wasn't in a rush but would want it Monday at the latest. When I rang up Monday lunchtime they said they hadn't started on it but it'd be ready in about an hour. It was a communication issue and I should have been more specific and said I want it done by Monday lunchtime, or Monday morning. The bike was indeed ready in an hour and I had no other complaints. I really treasure my LBS even though I felt they'd been a little cheeky on that occasion.

"Not in a rush" implies that you're willing to wait while others take priority so don't say it unless you mean it and always specify a deadline.
 
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