Buying a bike local or internet, which is better?

[Gripshift]

I would prefer to buy a bike at my LBS, they can fit the bike for me just the way I want it. I am not mechanically sufficient, so I make good on taking the bike back for a tune up and, any other adjustments. However this fall I ordered Egg Beaters, Easton Carbon Post, and a seat from the internet. I bought the items off the internet because none of the four LBS could not come close to the prices or have the selection.

[calfzilla, aka KeithRiege]

As a LBS owner, I have a few comments. I agree that over paying for things is not wise unless your rich. Sure there are some great internet deals but a deal on something just because it's cheap and not exactly what you want isn't really a deal. Some have posted that accessories and tools are "twice as expensive at the LBS', I think this is an exaggeration. I sell a Park tools for the same price as mail order and they are in stock, we can instruct you how to get the best use out of it and make sure that you don't need another tool for correct adjustments. We, like other LBS's offer to match pricing and quickly order items that are not in stock. On most special orders, we will be able to have the item in 2 or 3 days. One post mentioned an item not in stock at the LBS so they went home and ordered it via internet. My question is, couldn't the item have been ordered at the LBS and picked up in the same amount of time? Supporting your LBS helps your community from being run down with vacant store fronts and keeps your property values up, keeps tax dollars coming back to the community for parks and trails, schools, road improvements etc. This helps your city to be a place where goods and services are available when you need them. I try to buy my gas, eat at restaurants, and shop in my neighborhood to keep my money local where it can do some good where I live, not CA, WA or wherever. I understand that there are some shops out there that are expensive and they are not interested in competing for your dollars but I am NOT one of them, and there are others. I value my customers and want your business. Give your LBS a chance to earn your business and I think (hope) you will be pleasantly surprised.

[Tom_L.]

As a LBS owner, I have a few comments. I agree that over paying for things is not wise unless your rich. Sure there are some great internet deals but a deal on something just because it's cheap and not exactly what you want isn't really a deal. Some have posted that accessories and tools are "twice as expensive at the LBS', I think this is an exaggeration. I sell a Park tools for the same price as mail order and they are in stock, we can instruct you how to get the best use out of it and make sure that you don't need another tool for correct adjustments. We, like other LBS's offer to match pricing and quickly order items that are not in stock. On most special orders, we will be able to have the item in 2 or 3 days. One post mentioned an item not in stock at the LBS so they went home and ordered it via internet. My question is, couldn't the item have been ordered at the LBS and picked up in the same amount of time? Supporting your LBS helps your community from being run down with vacant store fronts and keeps your property values up, keeps tax dollars coming back to the community for parks and trails, schools, road improvements etc. This helps your city to be a place where goods and services are available when you need them. I try to buy my gas, eat at restaurants, and shop in my neighborhood to keep my money local where it can do some good where I live, not CA, WA or wherever. I understand that there are some shops out there that are expensive and they are not interested in competing for your dollars but I am NOT one of them, and there are others. I value my customers and want your business. Give your LBS a chance to earn your business and I think (hope) you will be pleasantly surprised.

A big problem is that most shops wait until they have a significant amount of things to order before placing an order. This may be once every week or even two weeks. If a shop had a steady source of internet derived orders they could order once per day. The fact is that most people can get a part not only cheaper, but more importantly, faster by ordering it themselves. I also will NOT pay 50-100% more for something just to support my local whatever. I think it's foolish to support poor business practices in the interest of being nice to your neighbors and local businesses. You're only delaying, for the moment, what's inevitable: the collapse of that business and its ripple effect in the community.

[Roy]

Keith,
I support My LSB as much as possible, but you got to start reading Nashbar's price list and start adjusting some of your prices. My LBS wanted $85 for a part I could get at Nashbar for $44. I refused to pay double. If when I asked for a price on that part the shop had said, " it lists for $84, but we have it on special for $59", I would of boutht at my LBS.

[CYCLEFIT]

...soon my cycling brotheren, soon.

[Eric_Malzahn]

My next bike will most likely come from an out of state/internet store. Why? No one in Michigan sells Yeti and Titus. I foresee myself driving to Speedgoat in Pennsylvania to "kick the tires" and to take a short spin on these bikes.

I imagine that once I have it, Continental in Hazel Park will be my adopted LBS for repairs and quick parts.

[Rod]

Many of the people on this board seem mechanically advanced enough on how to install components on a bike or ,for instance, know what the difference is between standard/compact or post mount/international. But for all the rest of the folks out there, there needs to be a place that has the right tools and knowledge of bicycles for all these other people to go to.

Not everyone out there knows how to get the correct chainline, check proper der. alignment, true wheels (properly), or install a headset, etc, etc..

Also true, on many accounts a LBS does not have the buying power to challenge the prices of a mailorder outfit. I'm sure you'll also find that even though Alfred is doing mailorder, he still doesn't have the buying power that Supergo or Cambria has. But price is not only measured in the cost only of the part, it's the people you deal with as well. In my local shop, if a job is botched for some reason, then replacement or fixing of the job is done for free if its the fault of the mechanic.

Skot, which shop *beep* you off so much? Do you have any idea what overhead costs are for a business? In order for a shop to exist in the first place it must make money to pay their staff way less than what they are worth , while trying to compete for the elitist customer. Past a certain point of knowledge you can go pure mailorder but I'm guessing there aren't a lot of people out there that can. I'm also guessing that if shops you go to know of your attitude towards them, they wouldn't want your business anyways.

Rod

[scat silvurz]

little, thanks for the compliment - I really have to get that 666 tattoo on the top of my scalp one of these days....

I agree with a lot of all yous guys points and I have no pity for a shop that just cant make it - thats the cold cruel world of business. I may have empathy for a struggling shop, but no pity. And yes, alfred e bike has a good email biz, via QBC. Interestingly, I have noticed that many a bike shop uses QBC, and they must set their own prices on top of QBC's baseline price. Early this winter I was looking for Nokian Extremes and Alfred E had them for about 70 bucks ea. I checked out a few more online sources, that interestingly used the same interface, and their prices were much higher. I eventually bought them at KLM in Rochester and they gave me a real good price after I asked for the MMBA discount. They have a great shop and their prices are fair. Too bad I live in novi and they are so far away.

As for supporting my local shop - shoes, helmets, lube, tubes, cables, spokes, tools, pumps, horns, etc - and all the other nick nacks, but I will never buy a 500 buck Judy or a 90 buck xt rear der. on any day.

I was soured at my Northville LBS after they wouldnt budge on their exhorbitant pricing on their plain ol xt rear der....they can keep it [it's still there after a year - not too smart biz practice]...but, I like the shop and it is super close to home, so I still go there first. Nevertheless, however friendly our relationship, I dont owe them their existence.

[calfzilla, aka KeithRiege]

Roy
It is hard for me to comment on an item your LBS had for $85 and NASHBAR had it for $44. I do not know what it was. The bike industry has used the mail order companies to dump product for years. It's not legal and not illegal to do this, so the practice continues. When the government figures out how many tax dollars this practice is costing them (and you and your town) maybe this will change. The $59 was probably a fair price. I think we are competitive with mail order on most products and can get things just as fast. We do things a little different than most shops. The bottom line is there are alot of changes happening in retail. Give your LBS a chance to earn a living and hey if you can get exactly what you want form NASHBAR for half price, go for it.

Skot, I am sorry that your LBS has made you so very bitter. All shops are NOT the same

[WallEyed]

I live in the Novi/Walled Lake area and I have become a bit jaded at our local shops. Last summer I broke my chain and needed a new one. My friendly local shop sold me a SRAM PC-59 for $38.00 that I saw online for $16.00. That made my stomach turn... but I needed the chain that day.

A lot of the shops in my immediate area kind of suck... but I'd be willing to drive some distance for a shop that I can trust!

Dave C

[scat silvurz]

thats when they really gottya by the balls!!!

[Roy]

Keith it was a XT rear Derailleur- 9 speed.

[calfzilla, aka KeithRiege]

Roy;
$59 bucks for an XT rear der is a very fair price. NASHBAR selling it at $44 (+ about $7 shipping which everyone forgets to add in to the price which makes the XT der $50 - 51 and $59 is not that far off). Shimano and the big bike companies dump product on the market all the time to mail order companies. When Trek buys XT parts from Shimano they are buying at manufacturer prices which are considerably lower than the price available to retailers. Then when Trek figures out that they over bought /under sold, they dump the product. All of this is not exactly legal or illegal but the practice continues and as much as it pains me, mail order can be a good value for Shimano parts. I think that when you take a mail ordered part to your LBS and they charge you extra labor to install it, and not do any extra adjustments for free (a common practice by retailers for good customers) the value diminishes some. The ski industry does this all the time. Buy from us and the binding install is 20, buy it some where else and the binding install is 50.
Happy Trails
Keith

[KLydesdale]

My next bike will most likely come from an out of state/internet store. Why? No one in Michigan sells Yeti and Titus. I foresee myself driving to Speedgoat in Pennsylvania to "kick the tires" and to take a short spin on these bikes.

When I ran into Justin from Mountains of Bikes(Lake Orion) at the 2001 MMBA swap, he had a few Yetis with him and indicated that he was going to be carrying them. I haven't seen him or been to the shop since them but you might want to give him a call at 248-693-3333.

The guys at Mountains of Bikes were very helpful in dealing with warranty issues on my Schwinn FS.

[flying finn]

Well thanks for all the input everyone. I made my decision today and picked up a left over '02 Rockhopper FSR from a LBS. I visited many LBS and many websites and found several things I liked/disliked about both.

The only advice I'd offer back to anyone else considering a new set of wheels, is to buy from people who participate in the sport already. They know what works and what doesn't. I certainly found out not all LBS know a lot about what they're selling. You can get taken real quick by some fast talking *beep*'s if you don't know what to look for.

See you all out on the trails soon! I can't wait.