Pick-a-bike-part

[avgas]

Hey guys, I was thinking recently (I know its rare!) about how most of the bike wreckers I have dealt with in the past are all "behind the counter".
Where you go to them, request a part - and they dig around the back for the part and come back to you at the counter.

Are there any "pick-a-part" style bike wreckers? Ones were you can walk amongst the stock - grab the parts you want and pay for them at the counter?

Reason for me asking this - is quite often I go looking for bike stuff, but I don't know specifically what I want as I may want to put something different in (e.g. cool brake light, bug eye headlights etc).
This means I have had to do 1 of the following:

- Research what I want it to look like (e.g. R1 brake-light, RGV forks......) and then go to wreckers.
- Buy something that looks cool online (mostly aftermarket stuff - and new)
- Replace with whatever was original.
- Build up a huge long term relationship with the local bike wrecker, to the point where he lets you behind the counter.

So what are your thoughts on this - could a Pick-a-bike-part style bike wreckers work? Or are we all a bunch of thieves and can't be trusted?

[onearmedbandit]

I remember Jap Bike Spares (I think that was their name) on Tuam St in Christchurch, they would let you look through all their stock out the back, and they had bins of parts out the front you could look through too. Falsgrave wreckers in town were like this too, but I understand they have moved premises so I'm not sure if they still operate this way.

I prefer it that way too, I have an idea in my head of what I'm after and I'd like to look through the parts myself to choose what suits best. To be honest I think theft would not be a big issue as long as you're smart about security.

[rie]

that's quite a nifty idea. basically a parts shop.

i'm rather sick of calling up wreckers all the time asking for parts every few months "in case they've wrecked a xyz" since the last time i'd called [yes i am a nuisance]. is there a more efficient way to do this?

[The Pastor]

one of the reasons they don't let you is customers pull bits out and put them in the wrong box. (honda cam shaft into a yamaha box etc) making a mess etc.

[SS90]

Hang on a sec guys.

The days of these things happening are well and truly in the past.

The main reason (wrong parts in box was one reason), but the main reason is Health and safety.

The first time some hapless geezer cuts his hand deeply on something, and has to go to hospital, and fills out the form as to how and where he got the injury, you local O.S.H inspector will be waiting at the door for the owner Monday morning at 7:59 am, with the authority to enter the premises and inspect a) the accident area, and b) any damned thing he likes.

With in a week, the shop will be closed down (just think about how many violations you have at a normal bike workshop, let alone a wreckers (glass,sharp mechanical parts,oil, fuel.... the list goes on)

Look at factories, that have designated Health and safety reps, believe it or, any business should have such a system, and, sweet FA actually do.

Like alot of customers perceptions of how the bike industry SHOULD be, such wants (unfortunately) are unrealistic.

Just be grateful some wreckers still allow you in the door.

Plenty prefer to operate online, and only ship to the customer.

[pete376403]

The concept seems to work ok for pick-a-part car wreckers. There's a bit for form filling (you sign an indemnity) and have to wear a flouro safety vest, there are some rules about what tools you can use (no oxy) but apart from that it's pretty loose.

[SS90]

The concept seems to work ok for pick-a-part car wreckers. There's a bit for form filling (you sign an indemnity) and have to wear a flouro safety vest, there are some rules about what tools you can use (no oxy) but apart from that it's pretty loose.

I remember hearing about such things.

I can't help but be pessimistic about it though.

If someone was to die as a result of looking for parts in a wreckers yard (not as far fetched as you would think) I think no indemnity form in the world would save the person who authorised the customer to come in, as well as the owner from prosecution.

The letter of the law when it comes to O.S.H is frightening, and most of the time inspections only happen when there is a fatality or serious injury, kind of like someone justifying their exsistance in my opinion, but the fact remains that if someone was to get seriously hurt in that situation, indemnity form or not, someone will be charged.

Personally, I love the idea of scrounging around for parts in a wreckers yard, but the world has changed for the worst.

[onearmedbandit]

Ain't that fucking right...

[avgas]

SS90 you speaketh the truth
Unfortunately I don't understand why I can rock on down to pickapart get a ford bit that fits the mazda bit I want to replace.......but I can't find get a (insert model here) tail section that looks sort of what I like and I can hack it to bits to make it fit the bike.
I have to all the measurements etc before hand, do the research, buy the damn thing only to find that what I get in the post wont work.

[FJRider]

Just explain to the dude "behind the counter" what you have ... and what you have in mind ... if "standard part" is not the ideal part replacement you have to have. And willing to look at other bits that will fit.

[vindy500]

SS90 you speaketh the truth
Unfortunately I don't understand why I can rock on down to pickapart get a ford bit that fits the mazda bit I want to replace.......but I can't find get a (insert model here) tail section that looks sort of what I like and I can hack it to bits to make it fit the bike.
I have to all the measurements etc before hand, do the research, buy the damn thing only to find that what I get in the post wont work.

economies of scale

[avgas]

Just explain to the dude "behind the counter" what you have ... and what you have in mind ... if "standard part" is not the ideal part replacement you have to have. And willing to look at other bits that will fit.
Tried that a few times. Dunno if it was just the wrecker I was talking to at the time of what - but all I got back was a confused blank look and "So you want to fit non gb400 pegs to a gb400? but you don't know which ones??? I don't see how I can help you?" (how about get some pegs that are roughly the same size and coming back???)

As it stood I did some digging through the old mans shed, found some XS850 pillion pegs - with a bit of angle grinding work it worked a charm and were more solid than the standard set, with less scrapeage mid corner.

But would be good if I could do what I did in the shed at an actual wreckers. With more variety than my old man. Who knows what my imagination could have spawned.

[pete376403]

[QUOTE=SS90;1129830214 Personally, I love the idea of scrounging around for parts in a wreckers yard, but the world has changed for the worst.[/QUOTE]
So do I, and so do a lot of other people, which is why Pick-A-Part at Wingate (Lower Hutt) is doing a roaring trade.

[F5 Dave]

Old thread but yeah it is a drag if you need to find something odd hybrid style.
Many of my conversations tend to start with "Well I don't actually have an XYZ600 but I want the fandango from one if it fits in this hole"

An old mate was a wrecker & it made it good to pick through stuff. But he'd been burnt, tools & small bits inexplicably disappeared having been there earlier that day, esp if there was two or they had to answer the counter.

Would make me reluctant to let anyone behind the counter. Plus the type of person usually haggles for teh price once he's found the unobtanium bit.

[avgas]

Would make me reluctant to let anyone behind the counter. Plus the type of person usually haggles for teh price once he's found the unobtanium bit.
I hate people who do this.
I remember having a indian customer (who seem to be the best hagglers) say to me "Can I get it any cheaper?"
I tried to bite my tongue - but eventually said "Sure - but I would have to remove all the operating components"
Fucking wankers - this is the price, deal with it or fuck off a shop elsewhere.
Perhaps I am not very good at sales.