Oh, you aren't joking. Blimey.
Discussion
I have a couple of little jobs that need doing and so was looking at picking up some Park tools to do them myself.
Having priced up what I needed, I thought I'd compare my local Evans to see what they'd charge to do the same jobs.
Now, I know everyone has to make a living and all that, but on their fixed price menu was the price of £10 to fit clip on mudguards. Crud catchers. Clip ons. The clue is in the name. They clip on.
Has anyone, ever, availed themselves of this service?
Having priced up what I needed, I thought I'd compare my local Evans to see what they'd charge to do the same jobs.
Now, I know everyone has to make a living and all that, but on their fixed price menu was the price of £10 to fit clip on mudguards. Crud catchers. Clip ons. The clue is in the name. They clip on.
Has anyone, ever, availed themselves of this service?
I was standing in an Evans branch in the City a few months ago (trying to buy a bike, but actually being ignored by the staff after I'd made it clear I wasn't interested in a singlespeed).
A woman came in - dressed properly for cycling, Lycra shorts and a proper top, plus helmet - with a puncture. They calmly booked her in to fix it the next day, leaving her presumably to get the train home.
I didn't know where to start: she should have known how to do it herself, they could have just done it for her on the spot, I was speechless.
A woman came in - dressed properly for cycling, Lycra shorts and a proper top, plus helmet - with a puncture. They calmly booked her in to fix it the next day, leaving her presumably to get the train home.
I didn't know where to start: she should have known how to do it herself, they could have just done it for her on the spot, I was speechless.
Justayellowbadge said:
I have a couple of little jobs that need doing and so was looking at picking up some Park tools to do them myself.
Having priced up what I needed, I thought I'd compare my local Evans to see what they'd charge to do the same jobs.
Now, I know everyone has to make a living and all that, but on their fixed price menu was the price of £10 to fit clip on mudguards. Crud catchers. Clip ons. The clue is in the name. They clip on.
Has anyone, ever, availed themselves of this service?
TBH JAYB I'd avoid the majority of Park's kit for home spannering. It is usually way way more expensive than stuff that is 90% the same quality. It's really aimed at bike shops where it will be hammered day in day out rather than the once a month home beard will use it. I have most of the specialist tools now as I've built up about 4 or 5 bikes over the last couple of years so have moved from a mallet and a lump of wood to using the proper kit.Having priced up what I needed, I thought I'd compare my local Evans to see what they'd charge to do the same jobs.
Now, I know everyone has to make a living and all that, but on their fixed price menu was the price of £10 to fit clip on mudguards. Crud catchers. Clip ons. The clue is in the name. They clip on.
Has anyone, ever, availed themselves of this service?
For example, I needed a BB tap set as I'd stripped the thread removing the BB. I bought the cyclus one for 90 quid http://www.cyclesportsuk.co.uk/product_info.php?pr... whereas the park version is a whisper under 500 quid, albeit with a facing cutter as well. http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Park-Tool-BTS1-Bottom-Brac...
Have a look at x-tools and other makes instead would be my advice. Nearly as good at a fraction of the price. It's worth checking the park stuff as well though as occasionally there isn't much difference.
Not just Evans, most cycle shops are kept going by keeping their workshops busy. Beyond paying the workshop staff, it costs money to run an equipped workshop in a busy retail space. Easy to see how a base cost of £25+ per hour for a single-man workshop adds up, especially in London.
Yes, some jobs are easy and really should be within the capabilities of all cyclists - but some people just can't be bothered and are happy to pay someone to do it for them.
Yes, some jobs are easy and really should be within the capabilities of all cyclists - but some people just can't be bothered and are happy to pay someone to do it for them.
sjg said:
Not just Evans, most cycle shops are kept going by keeping their workshops busy. Beyond paying the workshop staff, it costs money to run an equipped workshop in a busy retail space. Easy to see how a base cost of £25+ per hour for a single-man workshop adds up, especially in London.
Yes, some jobs are easy and really should be within the capabilities of all cyclists - but some people just can't be bothered and are happy to pay someone to do it for them.
Precisely this ^Yes, some jobs are easy and really should be within the capabilities of all cyclists - but some people just can't be bothered and are happy to pay someone to do it for them.
itsnotarace said:
sjg said:
Not just Evans, most cycle shops are kept going by keeping their workshops busy. Beyond paying the workshop staff, it costs money to run an equipped workshop in a busy retail space. Easy to see how a base cost of £25+ per hour for a single-man workshop adds up, especially in London.
Yes, some jobs are easy and really should be within the capabilities of all cyclists - but some people just can't be bothered and are happy to pay someone to do it for them.
Precisely this ^Yes, some jobs are easy and really should be within the capabilities of all cyclists - but some people just can't be bothered and are happy to pay someone to do it for them.
Prices include:
Fitting a bottle cage: £10
Fitting grips; £10
And my new favourite, a surcharge of £13.55 over the usual £14 to mend a puncture, if you have hub gears.
itsnotarace said:
Yep, £18 for someone to do that for me including the bearing which is around a tenner, in my book is good value.after using my LBS to install a headset recently, i bought myself a proper headset installer so i never have to use the useless robbing t
ts ever again. Gone are the days when the LBS was a great place to hang out and talk bikes, now if you are not buying their overpriced horrendous marked up stuff, they are hacking bits off your bike by paying shaved apes in calamari rings to "professionaly service your bike"
Said damage to headset... oh and headtube
ts ever again. Gone are the days when the LBS was a great place to hang out and talk bikes, now if you are not buying their overpriced horrendous marked up stuff, they are hacking bits off your bike by paying shaved apes in calamari rings to "professionaly service your bike"Said damage to headset... oh and headtube
daz3210 said:
To be fair I take mine in for the likes of gearshift adjustments, but do stuff I feel more capable of myself. Last time I had the gears adjusted of cost me a fortune, or should I say the bloke did it for nothing as I had just spent over £700 on another bike.
That reminds me, I must tweak the cable tension on mine, it's a bit lazy on downshifts.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff