My actual LBS - sigh
Discussion
So there's a bike shop a mile from me, haven't been in it for probably 10 years. Used to have a weird attitude so eschewed it in favour of other shops a bit more customer friendly. But I'm still trying to decide what £800ish bike I want to buy to commute on. Was nearby and saw the large "SALE" signs so went and window shopped. Saw a nice looking Merida road bike discounted and thought I'd take a closer look.
Went in and had got literally just round to where the bikes were and was pounced upon.
I get it, I'm not worried. So figured I'd let the guy assist and if possible have a sit/test ride.
During the course of the conversation. We established:
1) I was looking for something to commute on, and was unsure on Hybrid, CX or normal road bike. Around £800 with a bit of budget creep allowed.
2) I'm looking for a more head down/aggressive position
3) My commute is 20 miles each way
4) Was not anti disc brakes, but had never had them previously
5) I know what I'm looking at so understand groupsets
Which translated into
1) I wanted a Hybrid
2) Probably a Giant Rapid 3 as it was cheap and I was obviously never going to clean or look after the commuter bike
3) Have I considered a electric bike as 20miles each way is further than the sales guy took the bus to work
"I don't need it" made him double take like I was racing Froome during the week
4) That I definitely wanted full hydro discs (with of course him explaining that discs didn't wear the wheels away so it would be cheaper in the long run as I'd only need to change hubs, discs and pads
)
5) This is "8 speed Claris"
6) You don't want one of these Claud Butlers (no s
t!)
7) We can chuck in some cheap lights/accessories if you want but anything I wanted must be already in stock as "I'm not ordering anything in"
I kept drifting towards the Merida I'd seen in the window, but they produced a Giant catalogue and ran me through it. Pointing out that the entry level Giant road bikes didn't have discs. Which is odd cause a) they have an option on the Contend SL disc (clue in the name) b) they had the catalogue in their hands!
Never did get to the Merida, it's like they were deliberately being obtuse and calling me back to the other end of the shop.
Sigh.
I've found it online at Tredz in the meantime. I still like it.
Went in and had got literally just round to where the bikes were and was pounced upon.
I get it, I'm not worried. So figured I'd let the guy assist and if possible have a sit/test ride.During the course of the conversation. We established:
1) I was looking for something to commute on, and was unsure on Hybrid, CX or normal road bike. Around £800 with a bit of budget creep allowed.
2) I'm looking for a more head down/aggressive position
3) My commute is 20 miles each way
4) Was not anti disc brakes, but had never had them previously
5) I know what I'm looking at so understand groupsets
Which translated into
1) I wanted a Hybrid
2) Probably a Giant Rapid 3 as it was cheap and I was obviously never going to clean or look after the commuter bike
3) Have I considered a electric bike as 20miles each way is further than the sales guy took the bus to work
"I don't need it" made him double take like I was racing Froome during the week 4) That I definitely wanted full hydro discs (with of course him explaining that discs didn't wear the wheels away so it would be cheaper in the long run as I'd only need to change hubs, discs and pads
)5) This is "8 speed Claris"
6) You don't want one of these Claud Butlers (no s
t!)7) We can chuck in some cheap lights/accessories if you want but anything I wanted must be already in stock as "I'm not ordering anything in"
I kept drifting towards the Merida I'd seen in the window, but they produced a Giant catalogue and ran me through it. Pointing out that the entry level Giant road bikes didn't have discs. Which is odd cause a) they have an option on the Contend SL disc (clue in the name) b) they had the catalogue in their hands!
Never did get to the Merida, it's like they were deliberately being obtuse and calling me back to the other end of the shop.
Sigh.
I've found it online at Tredz in the meantime. I still like it.
Edited by Rich_W on Saturday 14th October 20:35
Why didn't you just say to the chap "Show me this Merida please" whilst walking to it?
Sure, there are crap salespeople, but they are easy to work / walk around, aren't they?
How about giving them a ring and telling them you have seen it online at £x and do they want a chance at selling the one they have to you at something very close to that number?
Sure, there are crap salespeople, but they are easy to work / walk around, aren't they?
How about giving them a ring and telling them you have seen it online at £x and do they want a chance at selling the one they have to you at something very close to that number?
JPJPJP said:
Why didn't you just say to the chap "Show me this Merida please" whilst walking to it?
Sure, there are crap salespeople, but they are easy to work / walk around, aren't they?
How about giving them a ring and telling them you have seen it online at £x and do they want a chance at selling the one they have to you at something very close to that number?
I was just bemused to be honest, I wasn't going to buy a Giant Rapid 3 no matter what they said. The sales guy (20ish) was joined by the owner/manager during the proceedings (who had been out the back watching the football on TV) To help emphasise that it was what I needed. At no point did I even indicate anything more than a passing interest in the hybrid range Sure, there are crap salespeople, but they are easy to work / walk around, aren't they?
How about giving them a ring and telling them you have seen it online at £x and do they want a chance at selling the one they have to you at something very close to that number?
It was the exact opposite of decent sales experience. It was classic "railroading" of a potential customer into buying what the shop wants to sell. And after 10mins I just felt daft for entertaining them. That given how they were 10+ years previously, I shouldn't have been surprised
The Merida is actually just under £100 cheaper in my LBS. But Tredz "might" price match. And in any case there are other Merida dealers within a few miles so I'm not stuck yet.
JPJPJP said:
Odds are that the one they have is a peculiar size if it is cheap
And "they won't order you one in" at that price
Weird how such places are still going
I didn't get to check the actual size, but I would guesstimate it was a 54 or 56. Hence why I wanted to sit. And "they won't order you one in" at that price
Weird how such places are still going
It's a '17 bike so I guess that explains the discount.
I can only assume they do sell a lot of bikes to keep themselves afloat. Much like people buying Diesel cars to do 4 miles a day, sales don't necessarily mean "correct for use"
Why didn’t you ask about the bike you wanted?
To be fair to sales guy he probably directed you to a better commuter bike. Cheaper, more comfortable, more worry free bike. As a commuter bike it was probably a good choice even throwing in some commuter accessories suggestions. I know some LBS are not great but in your case I feel the service experienced is not particularly bad having in mind that you, as a customer, didn’t give any indication of what you wanted? You weren’t specific about kind of bike, didn’t mention the Merida and only knew you had £800 to spend. If I was selling you a bike I would get you one at that price range that needed minimum upkeep and could be left at the train station bike rack... hence Claris components.
Not having a dig but maybe give the guy a little break on this one...
To be fair to sales guy he probably directed you to a better commuter bike. Cheaper, more comfortable, more worry free bike. As a commuter bike it was probably a good choice even throwing in some commuter accessories suggestions. I know some LBS are not great but in your case I feel the service experienced is not particularly bad having in mind that you, as a customer, didn’t give any indication of what you wanted? You weren’t specific about kind of bike, didn’t mention the Merida and only knew you had £800 to spend. If I was selling you a bike I would get you one at that price range that needed minimum upkeep and could be left at the train station bike rack... hence Claris components.
Not having a dig but maybe give the guy a little break on this one...
Rich_W said:
So there's a bike shop a mile from me, haven't been in it for probably 10 years. Used to have a weird attitude so eschewed it in favour of other shops a bit more customer friendly. But I'm still trying to decide what £800ish bike I want to buy to commute on. Was nearby and saw the large "SALE" signs so went and window shopped. Saw a nice looking Merida road bike discounted and thought I'd take a closer look.
Went in and had got literally just round to where the bikes were and was pounced upon. I get it, I'm not worried. So figured I'd let the guy assist and if possible have a sit/test ride.
During the course of the conversation. We established:
1) I was looking for something to commute on, and was unsure on Hybrid, CX or normal road bike. Around £800 with a bit of budget creep allowed.
2) I'm looking for a more head down/aggressive position
3) My commute is 20 miles each way
4) Was not anti disc brakes, but had never had them previously
5) I know what I'm looking at so understand groupsets
Which translated into
1) I wanted a Hybrid
2) Probably a Giant Rapid 3 as it was cheap and I was obviously never going to clean or look after the commuter bike
3) Have I considered a electric bike as 20miles each way is further than the sales guy took the bus to work "I don't need it" made him double take like I was racing Froome during the week
4) That I definitely wanted full hydro discs (with of course him explaining that discs didn't wear the wheels away so it would be cheaper in the long run as I'd only need to change hubs, discs and pads )
5) This is "8 speed Claris"
6) You don't want one of these Claud Butlers (no st!)
7) We can chuck in some cheap lights/accessories if you want but anything I wanted must be already in stock as "I'm not ordering anything in"
I kept drifting towards the Merida I'd seen in the window, but they produced a Giant catalogue and ran me through it. Pointing out that the entry level Giant road bikes didn't have discs. Which is odd cause a) they have an option on the Contend SL disc (clue in the name) b) they had the catalogue in their hands!
Never did get to the Merida, it's like they were deliberately being obtuse and calling me back to the other end of the shop.
Sigh.
I've found it online at Tredz in the meantime. I still like it.
I once ordered a Cateye Light from Tredz. They fooked that up and I personally wouldn't trust them to deliver a bike based on my own experience.Went in and had got literally just round to where the bikes were and was pounced upon.
I get it, I'm not worried. So figured I'd let the guy assist and if possible have a sit/test ride.During the course of the conversation. We established:
1) I was looking for something to commute on, and was unsure on Hybrid, CX or normal road bike. Around £800 with a bit of budget creep allowed.
2) I'm looking for a more head down/aggressive position
3) My commute is 20 miles each way
4) Was not anti disc brakes, but had never had them previously
5) I know what I'm looking at so understand groupsets
Which translated into
1) I wanted a Hybrid
2) Probably a Giant Rapid 3 as it was cheap and I was obviously never going to clean or look after the commuter bike
3) Have I considered a electric bike as 20miles each way is further than the sales guy took the bus to work
"I don't need it" made him double take like I was racing Froome during the week 4) That I definitely wanted full hydro discs (with of course him explaining that discs didn't wear the wheels away so it would be cheaper in the long run as I'd only need to change hubs, discs and pads
)5) This is "8 speed Claris"
6) You don't want one of these Claud Butlers (no s
t!)7) We can chuck in some cheap lights/accessories if you want but anything I wanted must be already in stock as "I'm not ordering anything in"
I kept drifting towards the Merida I'd seen in the window, but they produced a Giant catalogue and ran me through it. Pointing out that the entry level Giant road bikes didn't have discs. Which is odd cause a) they have an option on the Contend SL disc (clue in the name) b) they had the catalogue in their hands!
Never did get to the Merida, it's like they were deliberately being obtuse and calling me back to the other end of the shop.
Sigh.
I've found it online at Tredz in the meantime. I still like it.
Edited by Rich_W on Saturday 14th October 20:35
The minute you realise you know more than the salesperson just tell them what you want and don't dither about, otherwise its just wishy washy bullst
TBF some of what they said has merit, 20 miles each way is a big commute
Also you say you want a heads down aggressive position, but are after a hybrid? Ive commuted on hybrids they are fine, but they aren't aggressive!
tTBF some of what they said has merit, 20 miles each way is a big commute
Also you say you want a heads down aggressive position, but are after a hybrid? Ive commuted on hybrids they are fine, but they aren't aggressive!
okgo said:
All shops are st. Pay £7 per hour and get idiots. I hate shops of all kinds. I hope the high street dies a miserable death.
Lols, I share your pain...t. Pay £7 per hour and get idiots. I hate shops of all kinds. I hope the high street dies a miserable death. Sadly, capitalism doesn't care about quality... so long as the cash flows up the chain knowledge, experience and even general courtesy can go get f
ked!timnoyce said:
I'm still a little bemused as to why you didn't say to the guy "I like the Merida in the window, can I take a closer look at it please?" You wasted 10+ minutes of yours and their lives and you still didn't sit on the bike that you wanted to sit on?!
True enough. But they had "decided" I wanted a Hybrid. They were discounting any road bike as not suitable. Not even a Giant mainly bcasue apparently I REALLY needed discs TwistingMyMelon said:
The minute you realise you know more than the salesperson just tell them what you want and don't dither about, otherwise its just wishy washy bullst
I know, but I'm not sure it should ever be that the customer (even one clued up) should be more qualified than the stafftTwistingMyMelon said:
Also you say you want a heads down aggressive position, but are after a hybrid? Ive commuted on hybrids they are fine, but they aren't aggressive!
I didn't to be fair, but they were telling me the Giant Rapid was an "aggressive position" for a Hybrid. As I say, I'm not concerned, but there's a reason why lots of LBS are dying these days. It's that they can't engage with customers and listen and also read between the lines a bit. Worth saying that at no point did they even suggest getting any bike out from the display to see how I felt on it. So maybe they had me down as a timewaster anyway?
Reading the OP, I'd probably have a similar reaction to the shop staff.
Person says they are up for a 20 mile each way commute but doesn't know what kind of bike they want = unlikely.
Everything after that was probably just geared around selling a bike most people would get some use out of.
FYI having done 20 mile each way commuting, unless it is 90% fast roads I'd get a cx bike for the more relaxed geometry when you don't want to zoom, and ideally get hydraulic disks for all weather stopping without the faff of frequent adjustment you get with cable discs.
Person says they are up for a 20 mile each way commute but doesn't know what kind of bike they want = unlikely.
Everything after that was probably just geared around selling a bike most people would get some use out of.
FYI having done 20 mile each way commuting, unless it is 90% fast roads I'd get a cx bike for the more relaxed geometry when you don't want to zoom, and ideally get hydraulic disks for all weather stopping without the faff of frequent adjustment you get with cable discs.
shouldbworking said:
Reading the OP, I'd probably have a similar reaction to the shop staff.
Person says they are up for a 20 mile each way commute but doesn't know what kind of bike they want = unlikely.
Everything after that was probably just geared around selling a bike most people would get some use out of.
FYI having done 20 mile each way commuting, unless it is 90% fast roads I'd get a cx bike for the more relaxed geometry when you don't want to zoom, and ideally get hydraulic disks for all weather stopping without the faff of frequent adjustment you get with cable discs.
Well you see, my current commuting bike is a 2003 GT mountain bike with hybrid tyres. A cracked (and bodged repaired) frame, the original chain and the rock shocks are requiring a service. I think the newest parts on the bike are the XT SPDs I bought 5 years ago with some brake pads Person says they are up for a 20 mile each way commute but doesn't know what kind of bike they want = unlikely.
Everything after that was probably just geared around selling a bike most people would get some use out of.
FYI having done 20 mile each way commuting, unless it is 90% fast roads I'd get a cx bike for the more relaxed geometry when you don't want to zoom, and ideally get hydraulic disks for all weather stopping without the faff of frequent adjustment you get with cable discs.
My commute is 20 miles but the last mile is half dirt path and half hardpack gravel. I can go all road, but it would add 2 miles (not the end of the world clearly) I've been doing this commute 2 or 3 times a week (weather dependent) for the last 8-10 weeks I would suggest. And I like to consider myself half decent on my other bike So not just "up for it"
Previous jobs have meant commutes of 3 miles or 11 or last year 15. So 20 isn't exactly stretching the envelope.I genuinely wanted some ideas. I've gone cross eyed looking at a thousand differnet bikes. So wondered what opinion they'd give. The Merida was not a bike I'd considered, I'd never seen it before. Think of a kinda wild card option
I did consider a single speed a while ago, but decided against it. Since there's some bigger hills on route that I felt would make it harder work than I want. I was sort of open to a CX bike (I did ask) A friend has recently started racing his, but they didn't seem keen to entertain it. They had a Giant Revolt, but a) I didn't really like the look of it, and b) they told me neither did they.
I was "open" to a good looking Hybrid, but tbh there aren't many I like, eBike was obviously not a go-er. Mountain Bikes don't really have suitable gears for distance work anymore (38T big rings are great for off road of course) Shame since I really like the look of some BMC hard tails.I just assumed they'd point towards a road bike, They had some discounted '17 Giant Propels which interest me a bit (yes a bit of budget creep
) but they didn't even talk about road bikes apart from to discount them for not having discs.Anyhow it matters not now.
shouldbworking said:
Reading the OP, I'd probably have a similar reaction to the shop staff.
Person says they are up for a 20 mile each way commute but doesn't know what kind of bike they want = unlikely.
Everything after that was probably just geared around selling a bike most people would get some use out of.
FYI having done 20 mile each way commuting, unless it is 90% fast roads I'd get a cx bike for the more relaxed geometry when you don't want to zoom, and ideally get hydraulic disks for all weather stopping without the faff of frequent adjustment you get with cable discs.
This is the answer. No idea if you can do it for your budget but that is what I would want.Person says they are up for a 20 mile each way commute but doesn't know what kind of bike they want = unlikely.
Everything after that was probably just geared around selling a bike most people would get some use out of.
FYI having done 20 mile each way commuting, unless it is 90% fast roads I'd get a cx bike for the more relaxed geometry when you don't want to zoom, and ideally get hydraulic disks for all weather stopping without the faff of frequent adjustment you get with cable discs.
PS My local bike shop is crap too so I travel to another one when I need work doing - they are great.
I've given up on any LBS. All I've ever had the patience to use are st. Considering the number I've tried you'd think one might be half decent.
Clueless monkeys for the most part. What gets me is the total lack of respect for their customers. If I go into the shop and ask for specific items don't assume I don't want those items because I don't know what I'm talking about and try and sell me something else. The "what do you want that for ? " response is a piss boiler in any shop. I don't except to be treated like the reincarnation of Marco Pantani but at least give me a little respect as a customer.
How some of these shops stay in business is beyond me. Although anther local to me has gone under It lasted 6-9 months longer than I predicted but still, goodbye to bad rubbish.
Music shops are just as bad. Staffed by totals most of the time.
t. Considering the number I've tried you'd think one might be half decent.Clueless monkeys for the most part. What gets me is the total lack of respect for their customers. If I go into the shop and ask for specific items don't assume I don't want those items because I don't know what I'm talking about and try and sell me something else. The "what do you want that for ? " response is a piss boiler in any shop. I don't except to be treated like the reincarnation of Marco Pantani but at least give me a little respect as a customer.
How some of these shops stay in business is beyond me. Although anther local to me has gone under It lasted 6-9 months longer than I predicted but still, goodbye to bad rubbish.
Music shops are just as bad. Staffed by total
s most of the time.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff