LBS in the age of online shopping

shuts confessional

Father forgive me, but I doubt the powers of my LBS to order the most
basic of parts. Yes, it's a lot more fun to run down three blocks,
order something, then get a phone call a week later, pick it up, go
down and have a hang at the shop. If that could happen.

My faith began to wane this past summer when they were unable to order
anything from the great saintly Wald. Blasphemy! It has become
seriously endangered as of late as I've waited three weeks for a pair
of rims. First they ordered the wrong size from QBP, had me come down,
and it was I who had to show them they were 26" not 700c. Now it's
been 2 weeks since that occurred, and no rims. I think I'm going to
just fix the slight bulge in the current set with some channel-locks
and tell them to let the rims hang on the wall when they come.
Blurrrg. I offered to pay up front--but they said tut-tut, I guess
that was foreboding.

I got no problem paying markup for brick and mortar--but if I can get
something in five or fewer business days via UPS--I expect the same or
better from an LBS.

[/rant]

consider business practices? LBS may be operating with a minimum
order, owner's instructions, they get what the distributor sends them?
Problem goes beyond you're ugly, smell bad, carry a serious contagious
disease: the shop empties when you roll in. Or LBS is retarded or
preoccupied.
Sometimes, hard figuring what's happening in there.

Landotter writes;

I got no problem paying markup for brick and mortar--but
if I can get something in five or fewer business
days via UPS--I expect the same or better from an
LBS.

I'm curious, what's your town/cities population?

Best Regards - Mike Baldwin

On Mar 9, 11:39 am, (Michael Baldwin) wrote:
Landotter writes;

I got no problem paying markup for brick and mortar--but
if I can get something in five or fewer business
days via UPS--I expect the same or better from an
LBS.

I'm curious, what's your town/cities population?

I'm in Nashville, a city of a million and a major shipping hub. I
usually get 'net shipments surface from Nash/perf/aebike/REI in 3-4
business days. Bikeman takes five.

and Zappos?

On Mar 9, 12:58 pm, datakoll wrote:
and Zappos?

often next day if I order in the morning.

zzzzzzzzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaP

helmet time !!

"landotter" wrote in message
...
shuts confessional

Father forgive me, but I doubt the powers of my LBS to order the most
basic of parts. Yes, it's a lot more fun to run down three blocks,
order something, then get a phone call a week later, pick it up, go
down and have a hang at the shop. If that could happen.

My faith began to wane this past summer when they were unable to order
anything from the great saintly Wald. Blasphemy! It has become
seriously endangered as of late as I've waited three weeks for a pair
of rims. First they ordered the wrong size from QBP, had me come down,
and it was I who had to show them they were 26" not 700c. Now it's
been 2 weeks since that occurred, and no rims. I think I'm going to
just fix the slight bulge in the current set with some channel-locks
and tell them to let the rims hang on the wall when they come.
Blurrrg. I offered to pay up front--but they said tut-tut, I guess
that was foreboding.

I got no problem paying markup for brick and mortar--but if I can get
something in five or fewer business days via UPS--I expect the same or
better from an LBS.

[/rant]

You speak the truth, LO:

The Internet has indeed changed everything. When I left my previous employer
10 years ago, I told them in my exit interview, their business was doomed.
They are now out of business. Too slow to adapt to a changing environment.
What is left of their business is being done in India.

Many RBT regulars have enough bike experience, so they do not need a LBS for
any repairs. For the rest of us, the LBS plays an important role.

At this point, I am down to two LBS. One near work (Rapid Transit
Cycleshop). The other near home (Performance Bike retail store).

J.

YO Colin, where is the fabled LBS?

Landotter writes;
I got no problem paying markup for brick and mortar--but
if I can get something in five or fewer business
days via UPS--I expect the same or better from an
LBS.

Michael Baldwin wrote:
I'm curious, what's your town/cities population?

1-1/4 million roughly
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971