[Closed] Unhelpful bike shops - is it because I'm a women?

I wouldn't worry so much - there are a lot of threads on here about poor service from local bike shops (albeit some about very very good ones)

A very quick google search brings up this which may be useful. Now stick the kettle on and make us a cup of tea love 🙂

[url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/which-lbs-around-shrewsbury ]STW opinion[/url]

Dunno, but that sounds like a lot of cash. A simple re-spray/powder coat shouldn't be more than a couple of hundred at most - at least that's what a couple of LBS have quoted me. Spose it depends what othe stuff you are speccing?

http://www.argoscycles.com/renovations/prices/

Respray / coat shouldn't be much more than 150 (I've had both SS and FS done for about 80 in total) so yeah, it does seem very steep

Seat post and bars should be about 160 new
Bottom bracket about 25-40 depending where you buy it (LBS prices - not German websites)
Brakes - again, a few hundred maximum - or 300 for hope)

So yeah - mebbe 600 at the very outside but could be done considerably cheaper

Found in the past Bike shops in Shrewsbury can be a bit hit and miss, it seems as they are always very busy. One day bend over backwards, the next a bit frustrating.

Recently got my frame powdercoated. It was really good professional job. They were charging (for a hard tail frame):

£50 for a normal colour (eg white, red, blue, black etc)
£60 for pearl / metallic colour
£100ish for fancy colour options like 2 tone

There is quite a bit of labour involved in stripping the bike down and building it back up, plus postage if required. £200 isn't crazy, but maybe ask them to breakdown the costs (coating, labour & postage) and it might make more sense.

Don't think it's because your a women , lots of shops are poor with there customer service.

As for respray try Argos racing cycles though not sure if they will do the strip and rebuild of a whole bike

What a lucky fella

My mrs would just have a list of DIY jobs waiting for me if when I came home from a 6mth tour.

Don't think its because you're a women. I'm sure there are exceptions but I personally haven't found any local bike shops which were particularly good at answering emails...I've been grateful to get any response most of the time!

Wouldn't want my mrs respraying and messing with my bike while i was away.

How many 'saucy maid' outfits can you buy with £600?

Just saying,like.

TBH, unless he already has a very specific list of the bits he wants, I'd be thinking that £600-800 goes a helluva way towards the cost of a new bike. Bear in mind that even if he's said "[i]I'd rather just have this one painted[/i]" he's probably lying 🙂

What a first class pressie!!!

(don't forget the helicopter tape)

I was quoted £290 for the shop to strip down the bike, courier to Argos for a respray and then courier back and rebuild. The respray is £140-£160 on the Argos page so with courier fees thought the prices was reasonable. Then with parts and labour for the other upgrades it will be close to £600.

Saucy maid sitting on a resprayed and upgraded bike will be his heaven!

He'll love it!

[img] [/img]

Wouldn't take it personally, I think you've just picked a bad time of year. Bike shops will be maxed out with work at the mo as everyone decides to buy and service their bikes in the nice weather, plus you're asking a lbs for a respray, which will have to be done by a specialist at more logistical cost to your lbs.

Edit: oh, and what scotroutes said

I find you need to work at building up a relationship with bike shops, mate of mine gets fantastic deals from Dave Mellor's, I tend to do better at Stans, there's a new shop called Trailhead just round the corner from Dave's (I think he has something to do with it actually), that might be a bit keen seeing as they are new 01743 537124.

I was impressed by http://www.thebicyclehub.co.uk/ when I popped into their original little shop in Iron Bridge, seemed very friendly and passionate, have you tried them?

Lizzie, I'm also posted near Cosford and may be able to help you out a bit. Email in profile.

Lizzie, I'm also posted near Cosford and may be able to help you out a bit. Email in profile.

Uh huh! Man away for 6 month sort of [i]help[/i] 😉

Have you tried Fred Williams Cycles in Wolverhampton, they are an established helpful family run shop?

Have you tried Fred Williams Cycles in Wolverhampton, they are an established helpful family run shop?

Unless there is a road race on Eurosport, then the staff are glued to the TV 😉

as a surprise for him I am trying to have his bike resprayed and some elements upgraded

2nd Fred Williams

I shared a flat with an army couple once. When he came back (slightly early) from 6 weeks in Kenya all he got was an Aussie barman in the cupboard ! True story. Poor guy was stuck in their for hours. I had to leave I couldn't keep a straight face.

I think that sounds like a very nice present !!

I often found bike shops patronising, somebody needs to tell them that women have their own money now, we can vote too, and drive.

Do you know exactly what Bars and brakes he would want upgrading to?

Women ! you will want equal pay as well next ! 🙄

like others have said, i doubt its because you are a woman.
the majority of lbs offer little to no customer service.
hope the refurb of hubbys bike goes well.

K - he would like Shimano SLX brakes

Houns and Tomaso - I have emailed Fred Williams, waiting on a response.

Nick - Dave Mellor did not respond to by email and even after I called them 3 times they have still not replied. Will try the new ones you suggested.

I reckon that I've been lucky as my lbs have been fantastic over many years. They supported me when I organised ladies only rides, organised demo bikes, get honest advice and always go the extra mile.

I think that your problem is e-mailing bike shops, you'd be better off visiting in person. However, I would question whether it's worth spending that sort of money and that would depend on what the bike is, age, age of components etc.

Lizzie, it's not because you are a woman, it's because they are bike shops.

All bike shops are [b]NOT[/b] the same!

The problem is all the shops are 30 mins - 1 hour away so difficult to visit in person to arrange works. As if I take the bike they might say no and a wasted trip and if they say yes there could still be a waiting list and I need to return at a later stage.

I just thought bike shops would be keen on the work.

Use the phone, emails and bike shops dont normally mix.

I understand what you're saying and would suggest that you post up here the model of bike and its components, approximate age etc. There's some really helpful folk on here who would be happy to advise.

All bike shops are NOT the same!

No, some are even worse.......

As above, call them. Certainly don't go without calling, you will likely stand for ages waiting for some attention with an unhelpful result anyway.

OP if you were localish I'd have helped you out find a decent powerdcoater and even fitted the bits (ordered by you mail order) as I've 'had abit of practice at frameswap/builds and resprays' 8)

Is there anyone more local to the OP who can assist?

600-800 is too much IMO.

What bike is it? There are a fair few good options out there

[url= http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/mtb-parts/bars-stems/handlebars-riser/easton-haven-carbon-riser-bar.html ]Good bars[/url]

[url= http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/mtb-parts/brakes/disc-brakes/shimano-disc-brakes/shimano-slx-m675-disc-brake.html ]Good brakes[/url]

If ANY business lists an email it should mean its used/read/replied.

I've found alot of companies will reply even when they don't stock or can't help. Thats the mark of a good customer service/shop IMO.

I have a cycling friend who does lots of long distance, solo cycle touring around all parts of the world. She is however thoroughly uninterested in bikes and maintenance. She’s into riding, not bikes, so though she knows how to fix/bodge things at the side of the road to keep going, she has no idea what parts are good, what are bad, what standards have changed, what bits fit which other bits etc.

Whenever she has cause to go to a bike shop she first asks me what she needs to be telling them, then asks for a list of patronising crap they’ll likely spout back, and what comebacks might best stub them out. I’m usually quite on the mark.

If I ran an LBS it would be a priority to have women on the team. The boys club feeling you get in many local bike shops is a relic from a darker age.

All that said, to the OP I do feel inclined to point out that if anyone – no matter how much I loved them – so much as adjusted the brake lever reach on my bike while I was away I’d probably have an aneurism. So tread very carefully.

It is a Surly Karate Monkey singlespeed with a Moonlander fork and large marge lit front wheel.

I am looking to add carbon flat bars

Carbon layback seat post 27.2mm

Hope stainless steel bottom bracket

Shimano SLX brakes full fit including discs middle burn cranks and chain ring.

Does he have a bunch of riding mates? that can help, One of my riding buddies did a tour in afganistan with 2 para a few years ago and we (the riding group) did a similar thing for him. I stripped his old frame down and sent it off to argos for a re spray we got some decals made up (the cove logo on a union jack rather than the maple leaf) new drive train brake service etc etc

Back to the point if he has a group of riding friends can you ask them to help to get the bike sorted and the new parts fitted/ordered etc?

They will probably take your money, be late doing the work, ignore your calls, blame suppliers, fit totally random parts then charge you even more for it.

Don't give them a hard time though, it will just be an honest mistake

It is a Surly Karate Monkey singlespeed with a Moonlander fork and large marge lit front wheel.

I am looking to add carbon flat bars

Carbon layback seat post 27.2mm

Hope stainless steel bottom bracket

Shimano SLX brakes full fit including discs middle burn cranks and chain ring.

You could order all those bits at a good price online (see my link for the SLX brakes for one)- MerlinCycles is good as a whole.. and a mobile mechanic in your area could fit them for you for a reasonable rate (after strip/send off to a powerdcoater).

They will probably take your money, be late doing the work, ignore your calls, blame suppliers, fit totally random parts then charge you even more for it.
Don't give them a hard time though, it will just be an honest mistake

And I have 3 logins that I can use to defend them if anyone complains 😉

My mate own a paint stripping business, I'm seeing him on friday, so I will see what he says, i think they have a partnership with a paint spraying company too, but they don't normally do bikes, but it would be a lot cheaper as it would be a favor.

I work about ten mins away from Cosford.

As for breaking it down, buy the tool for taking out the bottom bracket and the rest is pretty straight forward

My LBS is brilliant in person and on the phone, but crap at email and SMS. It's just the way they are: fearless with spanners and scared of typing.

Genuinely don't think any of those issues are down to you being a woman.

Sounds about normal for the large majority of bike shops I've ever used.

Also Seems highly unlikely that they would turn down circa £800 of work purely because you're female.

I'd try Sandy at Trailhead in Shrewsbury. If you go down the route of using a random powder coater or someone who doesn't know bikes, make sure that they cover all the threaded bits and inside of the head tube or you will have a whole world of pain getting the bike put back togther again...

As has been said by most folk above me, nearly every bike shop I've dealt with has been crap at email. Suspect the staff don't spend much time on the computer apart from checking spec and ordering stuff so emails get left unattended to. Phone call and personal visits get the best results but appreciate that dropping in to them all isnt always easy.

[b]hels[/b] - I often found bike shops patronising, somebody needs to tell them that women have their own money now, we can vote too, and drive.

I have on occasion started my bike shop conversations by placing a packet of hob nobs on the counter whilst pointing at a bunch of bike shaped components

never fails

If you don't get a decent reply from a shop soon feel free to email me because I think £600 is steep. I live a a bit of a trip way away but I know a few very good shops by me so I'd happily strip the bike, send it off for a respray, order the parts and come back a rebuild if it helps out and you cant find anywhere decent or someone closer.

That's a really thoughtful thing you're thinking of there...

BUT (and I'm a woman) if anyone stripped/resprayed/fiddled/adjusted/altered any of my bikes (or even looked at one a bit funny) without my express, detailed, written authority and instructions ... I would be very very upset, very upset.

The bike shop thing. No, not because you're a woman, they just have (on the whole, yes, there are exceptions) staggeringly bad customer service.

I would come and help but I'm far away and others, who are closer, will help you.

*waves to Cinnamon_Girl*

^^ I'm going to echo this, you need to be really really sure this is what your husband wants and he's cool with you doing it. Bikes are very personal and familiar things, to people who care about them. A casual conversation on the subject or what you may have taken as a 'hint' are not enough IMO.

Thanks for the comments but I know him well enough to know that he will love the new bike and parts.

Fair dos, good luck and put up a pic when you're done!

scruff - Member
Use the phone, emails and bike shops dont normally mix.

POSTED 4 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST

This.

You're in peak season. 2 bank holidays and a half term this month!

I left the bike retail biz last year. Really hard to keep up with emails and not saying your's are, but I found service enquiries via email the most time consuming things as they're usually the least black 'n' white subject to discuss ... back and forth sometimes over days.

I was the guy generally in charge of the inbox (at an independant shop) but with 50+ emails a day on a busy shop floor I learnt fairly early on though with these types of enquiries to just get on the 'phone asap .. maybe your local retailers haven't.

show you're serious and 'phone them. My experience was that 'How much would this be' emails were generally (though not saying all) people just testing the water or shopping around so I'd fire back a couple of standard phrases unless I recognised the customer or there was something slightly unusual. Have you mentioned the actual bike on the emails .. that would get my trigger finger itching.

If the line's busy have patience or send them another emails saying you're struggling to get through on the phone

Oh: and in such a male dominated environment we'd always bend over backwards when anything approaching a female entered/contacted the shop. Highlight of the day .. so work it.

I can of course - in hindsight - appreciate how bending over backwards may also be interpreted as general patronising/leching/oggling. 🙂

I'm pretty sure (read definitely sure) that if I emailed any of my local shops with a job like this, I would never hear back from them. Even to call them would not get much answer.

You guys may know all about respraying, but I can almost guarantee that this is something my lbs would run a mile from. I love my local shops, and depend very heavily on them, but they do need a lot of cajoling.

Sounds like a nice idea to me- and you're doing it right by getting a bike shop to do it rather than getting a mate to strip it and powder coat it. If you're doing it as a surprise Argos will do a job he'll be 100% happy with and get the right decals. It will look as if it came out of a factory, whereas a powder coat job and buying decals online will always look a little bit "fake". Obviously you'll know what colours he'll like and so I doubt it will disappoint!

Bike shops are better with the phone, but the best thing to do is go in. You can leave a bike with a larger shop for a while (heck, I used to work in a tiny shop and people left their bikes with us for entire summers...) so if you do take it with you they may be able to keep it so you don't have to do another trip. Taking the bike with you will show them you're serious about spending the money- a lot of folk come in saying "oh, I might get it resprayed" and you don't see them again- but don't be too disappointed if they don't have room to keep the bike- bikes are bulky thing and the shops often don't have much space for those in for repair.

As for being a woman, it's usually much nicer for a shop to work with women as they listen to what advice you give them and don't bugger you about so much, so that's not the issue.

The bits you've chosen should appeal to a Karate Monkey owner nicely, though I would say maybe go up to XT brakes- they have shiny bits on (as you'll know, mountain bikers love shiny bits) and are a bit posher. No discernible performance benefit but more bling will mean a happier boy.

Let us know his reaction!

I use a chemical stripping company in Cradley Heath (near stourbridge so not too far away) and a powder coaters also near Stourbridge.
The chemical strip cost £10 and the powder coat costs between £10 and £15.
The finish is always top class and all the frames I have had done still look good now. They also ensure no paint/powder gets on the bottom bracket threads and where the headset fits / bearing surfaces etc.
I can let you know contact details if you want.
From experience of ringing around other chemical strippers and powder coaters (for work and my bikes) the price didn't vary by much.

Andy

Bike is all done.

Before:

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/9848092/

After:

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/9848091/

Nice mate!!!!

I'm sure he will love it. 😀

Very nice. Where did you get it done in the end?

Swinntertons Cycles at Cannock chase ( http://www.bikechase.co.uk), very helpful bike shop and everyone there was keen to discuss options and the re spray.

Spray was done with Argos

Can highly recommend both and will be going back to Swinntertons in the future.

glad you got it sorted out - looks good 🙂

looks flippin brilliant!

nice!

What a great result.
He is one lucky fella.

Think I will be popping up there. Really struggling to get any decent service in my local bike shops (Birmingham area). Reckon its because I often end up going in in jeans with my daughter in tow rather than a full lycra suit and bombers in hand. 😉

Bright blue! New cranks and brakes as well. 😀