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Today I was i passing by on the hunt for a new cockpit system for my project build, on this hunt I visited the Swinley Bike Hub. I'm really not usually one to complain whatsoever, but the rude attitude and hurtful nature of the manager really set me aback.
I was told that because they didn't stock it, it was nothing to do with them which is fair enough completely, but I was treated like a Neanderthal with I quote "Have you tried using the Internet? You've got a phone" before being told to basically bugger off with "stop bothering my mechanics with this as we are busy and don't need these stupid questions" a simple no would have been fine 🙁
All I asked was a sweet one liner of "Have you got anything that might suit my build cockpit wise, or know anyone locally that might?" And I was greeted by nothing but a very condescending and rude response as I've heard I am not the first!
Certainly will never be back 🙁
What cockpit were you building? Concord?
You'd think so, but a simple bar and stem combination would've done the trick!
I think you probably got what you deserved if you went in asking for a cockpit system.
Were you looking to purchase, or for freebies?
Total opposite of my experience.
Took a trip up to Swinley from Pompey a few months ago.
Mate's Superstar freewheel started to slip part way round Stickler, pawls were shredded.
Limped back along blue to the hub. Asked them about renting a bike but just taking the wheel and they happily just lent a wheel with just the old wheel as deposit. Even swapped rotor and cassette over too. Then they swapped the bits over again when we got back from our ride.
Mate bought a nw chainring from them as 'payment' and they offered to fit it while they were faffing wih his wheel.
Roger over, over under.
Were they busy? Were you bothering them?
You may have seen the use of the word 'cockpit' in a magazine to describe your bar and stem, however it should never ever be used by a grown up talking to real people.
Do you need a hug?
What is a 'cockpit system'?
Was it [i]really[/i] an awful experience?
You lost me at cockpit system as well.
I don't know any other trade that shows potential customers the door just because of their choice of words. It doesn't even come under customer service, its just common courtesy...
Neanderthals were pretty clever, you know - they built rock sculptures in caves.
Anyhow, are you sure it wasn't a total mutual misunderstanding thing? A few months back I had a phone call from someone who said he was a scholar and kept looking behind himself - I spent five minutes thinking this was some sort of weird metaphorical joke or something before I twigged he was saying "sculler" and he wanted to see when he was rowing.
I don't know any other trade that shows potential customers the door just because of their choice of words.
Ah, you've never been to a proper old-school book shop or music shop, then? They've almost all died out.
Spooky.
ever been to a lap dancing club with drunk mates and their choice of words. The door was shown quick.
A new cockpit for the user interface on your bipedal powered personal transportation device?
Must have been shocking, I hope you went home and had a unni outdoor wood fired pizza experience to sooth your nerves.
9/10, very good.
9/10, very good.
I thought the use of
a sweet one liner
was a bit of a giveaway.
You ok hun? Xx
... which is indeed fair enoughI was told that because they didn't stock it, it was nothing to do with them
After that, it's a bit hard to work out what happened
It is a bank holiday weekend and I'm guessing they were very busy but, yeah, if they really upset you, don't go back
do you say this stuff ? Out loud ?cockpit system for my project build
You probably would of got a more supportive forum response if you also happened to see a ghost on said visit.
I have got to point where i do not go in bike shops anymore because of the general lack of good customer service.
TUP
the hunt for a new cockpit system
I'm not surprised you got the bum's rush saying stuff like that.
The 27.5 Enduro enquiry would have been for a steering and control solution for your sled.
As any fule know.
+1 for bike shops often being an altogether 'unique' customer service experience. Wonder why this business model isn't working out all that well, kids? 1 times out of ten, they are brilliant though, pity they can't improve on this!
+1 for use of the term 'cockpit system' - I genuinely thought the OP was talking about some sort of handlebar mounted GPS computing interface. Maybe they did too?
@no_eyed LBS are struggling as peope, a happy to buy stuff of the internet if they can find it there 1p cheaper (direct quote from a thread)
so you didnt want to hire a bike or get your serviced?
you might have been better off in a bike shop
Last year I had a tyre explode on me at Swinley. Even though it was in the now obscure and obsolete 26" size I was a bit surprised that the shop there couldn't supply a replacement - I would have thought that sort of thing was their bread and butter. They were perfectly polite about it though. tbf if I'd asked them for a "cockpit system" I would have expected them to laugh.
in the FIRST line, and people are acting like this isn't a joke/troll?new cockpit system for my project build
Ok.
Slightly confusing rant, but I feel seething anger, good effort.
Anyway I've always found them very helpful, I suspect they were very busy bank gold in it
Ive actually know the owner he's a top, bloke, and SBH put a lot back in, organising rides, trail building, BBQ s and sponsoring xc, DH and Enduro racers I'll mention your cockpit woes next time I see him
So every magazine and bike publication (including this one) uses the term 'Cockpit' but punters aren't allowed?
Weirdos
So every magazine and bike publication (including this one) uses the term 'Cockpit' but punters aren't allowed?
This thread is the first time I've ever heard it mentioned in relation to bikes.
You've got to remember, the vast majority of people "in the industry" are rehashing the same tired old shit day after day after day. So they've got to make it sound interesting. So they make stuff up.
Cockpit. Yeah. Sound like someone s****ed over their mochacocka****achino when thinking that up in regards to a bar and stem.
😉
on the hunt for a new cockpit system for my project build,
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a new cockpit system for my project build
Sounds so ****ish that is has to be a wind up.
The thing that gets me in bike journo language is widespread use of the term 'generous' to describe anything and everything.
Apparently a toptube can be 'generous' in length. Erm, no it's just long(er). A cockpit finishing kit can also be 'generous'. No it's just well-speced. No one's given you an extra dollop of pudding.
Then there's 'aggressive', used for describing everything from 'angles', no, erm, sorry, frame geometry, to the number of nobbles on your tyre.
Don't get me started on 'predatory'...
To be fair the bike hub ain't a bike shop. It ain't an lbs. It is a tiny Hut at the lookout that rents bikes primarily. It has tubes and a few overpriced clothing bits aswell as other stuff you may need in an emergency (chain links etc). Guys there are good lads.... Sort rides out and do decent bbq's in the summer. It's not really a shop.
In my few conversations with the guy in charge of the bike hub he's not always come across *that* well, but he has always done his absolute best to be helpful. And as mentioned it's not really a 'proper' lbs with loads of space for stock, I always got the impression their bread and butter was bike hire.
😆
cockpit
😆
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I've had a mixed experience at sbh. The main guy in charge has always been helpful and seems to know his stuff.
One of the other guys is not the sharpest tool in the draw. I went to demo a foxy and they didn't have a large or xl. He tried to sell me a medium and recommend I put a long stem on it. A few weeks later I went back and tried to use the bike wash. I was told it was closed as they had to wash demo bikes. Ok, no worries, what time is it open for future reference? Err, well it's kind of in the middle of the day. So what are the hours roughly? Well it depends. **** me, the guy couldn't even give me a rough idea of when the bike wash was open.
The next time I went back a different guy gave me a straight answer. No idea how the other guy managed to get a job at a bike shop.
Is that "the shed" near the car park? TBH I've used the bike wash and that was about it. Not somewhere I'd go to ask a question.
Anyway......
Stem, Hope or Thompson
Bar Easton, Raceface or Thompson....
Yes wookster. The shed. It's not a bloody bike shop so op take your cockpit and shove it up your flight deck!
I initially thought it was a troll/'joke' but you wouldn't be stupid enough to name and shame the shop if that were the case.
You used the wrong words thats why they wern't helpful.
If you had asked for 'high end H M I' they might have known what you were talking about.
Trying to rebuild the last flying Concord in your Dads garden shed isnt going to work if you ask a bike hire shop for an artificial horizon
Love a good cockpit to finish off a build, can't beat the ground control landing rubber either 😀
But on a serious note I have heard some of some interesting and disappointing stories from the so called 'shed' especially on customer service! Personally use another LBS for all of my workshop jobs and some parts.
It's Swinley. Got to moan about something if it's not about parking charges, shit/expensive coffee, ginger, cobbles, the f'cking Stickler or ground nesting bloody birds.
😛
Having seen/read of bike riders being referred to as Pilots, the use of the term Cockpit makes some sense here.
3/10.
I thought it was going to be a rant about the lack of free trade coffee and organic sandwiches in the "cafe".
Hang on, just gone and had a look
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I was told that because they didn't stock it, it was nothing to do with them which is fair enough completely, but I was treated like a Neanderthal with I quote "Have you tried using the Internet? You've got a phone" before being told to basically bugger off with "stop bothering my mechanics with this as we are busy and don't need these stupid questions" a simple no would have been fine
They probably got the right idea, you were wasting their time! You were asking about stuff they don't sell, stock or have space for when they were probably trying to earn money doing what they do. Did you reply in the middle of the stuff you quoted?
They probably got the right idea, you were wasting their time! You were asking about stuff they don't sell, stock or have space for when they were probably trying to earn money doing what they do. Did you reply in the middle of the stuff you quoted?
How the hell is anyone supposed to know that without asking ? You can't be wasting the time of a bike looking business asking if they sell bike parts... jeez, they have bikes, bits and parts on the wall, what else would they be selling ?
If he walked over and asked for a loaf of sourdough, now that would be wasting their time...
I'm mostly thinking the quotes have some important text missing weeksy....
If he walked over and asked for a loaf of sourdough, now that would be wasting their time...
You've not shopped in many London bike shops lately then?
http://www.lookmumnohands.com/menus/old-street-breakfast-menu
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As I understand it the shed is the limiting factor, there's a oodles of space for an often closed cafe but barely anything for the bike shop,
quite impressive that they've got any sort of business going there, doesn't excuse grumpiness tho, even if the Op was being a cock(pit)
I got the sense from the opening post that the initial question of 'have you got' was then followed up by several further ones wanting advice, when there were other people to be served and other things to do.
I also get the feeling it's a mild troll - maybe it happened but it's been embellished for effect. If it's totally made up, then it's grossly unfair to rubbish someone's business and reputation to get a rise.
I've never had any bad dealings with them, but I've never asked them for a sweet cockpit setup to furnish my steed ready for some shredding either.
We have a notice displayed in our shop stating...........
Small amounts of free advice will be free, and freely given. Large amounts of free advice will probably not happen!
If we are not busy we do break our own rule on that second bit, simply to create goodwill, but when you are busy, and especially when you know that some big company on the internet will probably reap the financial reward for your imparted wisdom, then we just smile and direct the punter's attention to the notice.
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you ever seen a grown man naked?
We have a notice displayed in our shop stating...........Small amounts of free advice will be free, and freely given. Large amounts of free advice will probably not happen!
If we are not busy we do break our own rule on that second bit, simply to create goodwill, but when you are busy, and especially when you know that some big company on the internet will probably reap the financial reward for your imparted wisdom, then we just smile and direct the punter's attention to the notice.
This is everything that is wrong with cycle shops these days. Maybe you could charge for advice and your customers could get that charge back if they make a purchase?
Give the OP a break. He hasn't said he went looking for free advice. He hasn't suggested he's looking to price match an impossibly low price off the internet and none of us know how long he's been into cycling. If the OP is fairly new to the sport and has got all his knowledge from magazines or internet it would not be surprising he's calling it a 'cockpit system'. As we all know, some parts of the media are so full of bullshit it's untrue. 'Gnarpoon', 'trail weapon', need I say much more...
Slightly off topic but is that Mark sat in the window of that shop up there? ^^
That's not a shop, it's an aeroplane.
They may have not seemed that happy about it but I bet it kept them laughing all day after you left.
When you climb out of your cockpit, do you high five over a game of volleyball?
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When you climb out of your cockpit, do you high five over a game of volleyball?
I do! Then pop off for five minutes of special 'me time'.