WORST bike shops

[vifferman]

There's a consistent theme here though - bike shops as a species are generally not doing a good job with making their customers feel valued. In fact, they're not doing a particularly good job compared to other retailers, and don't seem to care.
Maybe it's because they're usually owned and crewed by bikers (or former bikers). We're a bad lot, y'know.

[Big Dave]

There's a consistent theme here though - bike shops as a species are generally not doing a good job with making their customers feel valued. In fact, they're not doing a particularly good job compared to other retailers, and don't seem to care.
Maybe it's because they're usually owned and crewed by bikers (or former bikers). We're a bad lot, y'know.

Not my experience.

And there are many times the amount of satisfied customers who don't bleat online - for each of them.

[Cajun]

Like any business, there are people that like/dislike the place, for many different reason, just the people who dislike are more vocal.

I don't like some bike shops, but friends love same bike shop. where ones i like others do not.

[DarkLord]

I was in both Cycletreads and Spectrum Motorcycles this morning to pick up a set of brake pads for my Hyobag, and both shops were great. Cycletreads didn't have the pads but said if I could get them they would install them for me.

I picked the pads up at Spectrum (who very nicely gave me a discount) and got them installed at Cycletreads. Both shops were great and it's nice to have front brakes that stop me without making a grinding racket anymore.

[vifferman]

Not my experience.

Yeah, but everyone knows and respects The Big Dave, and wants to be his mate, so they can be kewl too! Try imagining being less kewl'n'confident, and the sort of service you might get...

And there are many times the amount of satisfied customers who don't bleat online - for each of them.

True dat.
People expect good service, so don't mention getting it, unless it's way better'n expected.

To be honest, in 35-ish years of motorbicycling, I've had a only a very few instances of notably crap dealings with bike shops, and only two (2!) I can recall. One incident gave me sufficient misgivings that I haven't been back (but might go again), and only one instance that made me decide to never, ever return, no matter what. The positive stuff far outweighs that, and gnerally it's because of a few individuals that made me feel like a valued client or went above and beyond expectations to help me out.

[vifferman]

I picked the pads up at Spectrum (who very nicely gave me a discount) and got them installed at Cycletreads.

How come you bought them at Spectrum, but didn't have them installed there?

[Ixion]

I don't patronise bike shops that much, but I must say, in over 50 years of hanging round them, I don't think I've ever had actually *bad* service. Mediocre, yes. Slack, or non-existent (I am the original invisible man), often. But bad, to the point that I would loudly complain, I can't recall an instance.

And although I am, as everyone knows, a sweet gentle old man, I have had treatment in other shops bad enough to make me complain - sweetly, gently but VERY LOUDLY. So I do not think it is just that I am undemanding

[DarkLord]

How come you bought them at Spectrum, but didn't have them installed there?

They were down a mechanic apparently and just couldn't fit it in.

I wasn't fussed though, they were really helpful and I was just grateful they had the pads!

[Big Dave]

Yeah, but everyone knows and respects The Big Dave, and wants to be his mate, so they can be kewl too! Try imagining being less kewl'n'confident, and the sort of service you might get...

True dat.
People expect good service, so don't mention getting it, unless it's way better'n expected.

If he's so cool how come he's yappin' in a thread he derided huh.

Better managing customer expectations is valid.

We are on beautiful islands in a vast ocean with a national population the size of a state capital elsewhere.

It comes at a cost logistically.

[Fatt Max]

I blame the Poms.


Skyryder

Why, whats the mater with the Poms?

Oh yeah, we are a bunch of whinging gits....and loving it..!!

[Forest]

This remains the crapest thread ever on KB.

Given that your living depends on advertising dollars from bike shops, you'll forgive me if I suspect a hint of bias.

This thread is about bike shop horror stories. So it isn't surprising when people bag shops for treating them horribly.

There's a shop in Auckland that does work for me. They do it really well, at a good price, and encourage me to source my own parts from overseas. Only I won't mention them here as this is a thread about "WORST bike shops".

[Big Dave]

Given that your living depends on advertising dollars from bike shops, you'll forgive me if I suspect a hint of bias.

I'm comfortable with the term 'industry spokesperson' if the message is HTFU and support your local bike shop.

[Big Dog]

I agree in principle... however there are a few shops in Auckland that will never see my cash again for anything that can be sourced elsewhere, even if it costs more.

To make my list they had to be rude to the point of beligerance or try to take advantange.

Yes I know they are in business to make a profit but they don't have to make it all off of me.

Colemans and Haldanes will not be seeing my custom unless they are holding something I need ransom.

One thought their newspaper was more important than a buyer wanting a demo while carrying more than 50% in cash.
The other was more uninterested.

There are other reasons as well but that was the beginning of a hatred of those shops that has since been born out with other attempted dealings.

Too right sometimes as consumers we need to HTFU, but sometimes as businesses they have to accept
1 - that word of mouth is the most potent form of advertising on the planet
2 - the customer in the store is the more valuable than 500 who saw their add in Kiwi Rider because that person has already made the effort to come in.
Adequate customer service is an obligation in these tough times.
Good customer service will be the difference between a franchise going under and making a killing.

[Big Dog]

One should also note:
There is a difference between discounting and good customer service.
I hate shops that try to substitute good customer service with a discount.
IF your aim is to sell cheaper with no customer service don't inflate your price just to discount it. Costs less in stickers that way too.

[MarkH]

I'm comfortable with the term 'industry spokesperson' if the message is HTFU and support your local bike shop.

I have personally spent over $2K in gear at one local bike shop which I have praised in another thread. It doesn't mean I am not interested in what bad experiences others have had with various bike shops. Reading about a bad experience doesn't mean that I want to terminate my dealings with the same shop if my own experience has been nothing but positive.

This is simply a thread where people are free to have a winge and relay their experiences, I support the rights of all here to do so - even if some disagree.