Spokes & giving retailers money.

[neilr]

I need some 268mm spokes for a front wheel I'm building. After 3 different LBS shrugging their shoulders and saying "er we can order them, but probably 10 days 2 weeks can't guarantee anything" and looking very uninterested at taking my money. I've (finally) found an online retailer with what I need.

I called their mail order line only to be told by the guy (who sounded remarkably like Jarvis Cocker ) that id need to use the online order system. Erm, Im on the phone to you now numb nuts, do you want my money or not? (obviously thats not what i said)

Surely it can't be this awkward to get hold of spokes?

The point of my post is that I'm not inclined to give them my money. Can anyone recommend somewhere in Surrey Bucks or Berks that could help? I don't mind them having to order things in, its the shrugging of shoulders and uninterested approach that gets my back up. I thought I was the customer. Yes, yes, I know, ridiculous.

[upsidedownmark]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=268mm+spokes

Select your retailer of choice, order from their website, sit back and wait for the things to arrive. Less hassle than repeated trips to some bricks'n'mortar shop, more secure than giving credit card details over the phone.

They're just spokes, it matters little who you buy them off. The minor sale with the likely hassle factor when/if you have issues/break some isn't worth the hassle, hence nobody really caring.

[mostlyharmless]

You get to call "house" if you find a retailer wants to take your money but who tries to insist that you must buy the whole box rather than a wheels worth on account of them being "an unusual length" as if no one will ever try to lace a shimano hub to an open pro ever again. Bunch of tossers the lot of them. Cue 80 spokes of three different lengths being sourced online and delivered to my recycling bin.

Edited by mostlyharmless on Thursday 14th January 14:14

[gazza285]

I get mine from Rose Bikes, much cheaper than most UK suppliers, and delivery times aren't that bad.

[neilr]

Thanks for the replies! I've had the sucking of breath through teeth and "well its an unusual size you see..." a couple of times already!

Oh well, onward and downward.

[gazza285]

gazza285 said:

I get mine from Rose Bikes, much cheaper than most UK suppliers, and delivery times aren't that bad.

Although now I check their website, the selection of spokes on offer seems to be very poor, never used to be like that.