Support your local bike shop ?

[northwind]

Yes, but they've earned the custom... Saltire are a good shop. I don't buy an awful lot from them, just parts and occasionally some bits of kit but I wouldn't go elsewhere for parts, and I've sent some good business their way over the years. They've really come through a couple of times, rush-ordering emergency parts, and having a mechanic come back off his lunch break for a last-minute tyre change before the first aviemore rideout up here a couple of years ago. Very good, and not the sort of shop you want to lose.

Originally Posted by Dave20046

Parts don't go out of fashion though...

no, but apart from oils and maybe brake pads, they would have to order them in, so its easier and cheaper to get what i want off the net

[BigFootIsBlurry]

I used my local shop to buy my first lot of kit when starting up (about a month ago) and the advice and general chat from them was worth the few extra quid I paid.

[Sid Squid]

Always, unless what I need isn't available form my local place, and usually I don't need much in a particular hurry so I'm happy to wait a day or two for it to arrive. I give as much business as possible to non franchised dealers, in particular my local one as the benefit of having a bike shop 500yds from my house hugely outweighs his slightly higher prices.

I can understand not using any business if the service is poor, but just think how expensive biking might be when the choice is reduced to two or three national chains of bike shops, there most probably won't be one near you anyway, and the near monopoly will force choice down and prices up.

[Viney]

Originally Posted by rictus01

well do you?

I'm not talking about the hein gerickes or infinity's or even dealers, but the small independents kicking about, today I was down my local for a few bits & bobs and perhaps I could have saved a few £, I always look to see if they have what I want first, just wondering if others do the same, as that's the type of trade that keeps these type of places alive.

Cheers Mark.

No i dont. I used them a long time ago for my scooter service and there were brilliant. However, i now live just round the corner, and the last couple of times i went in there, they were unhelpful and borderline rude. So i go to my dealers in west wickham where even after 4 years of not going there, they stillc all me by name and always have everything i need.

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

I used to live 300 yards from Peter Hammonds in Cirencester and when this was the case, would get everything I could from them, even if it was a bit pricier online. My nearest 'local' that I use for anything other than MOTs is Bevans in Cardiff and that's a good 8 miles away. Consequently, I tend not to go there if I just need some grease/oil/whatever.

Excellent choice - Pete Hammonds get all my servicing and tyre work, can't say as I always buy odds and ends from them but will if I'm in the area.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Always, unless what I need isn't available form my local place, and usually I don't need much in a particular hurry so I'm happy to wait a day or two for it to arrive. I give as much business as possible to non franchised dealers, in particular my local one as the benefit of having a bike shop 500yds from my house hugely outweighs his slightly higher prices.

I can understand not using any business if the service is poor, but just think how expensive biking might be when the choice is reduced to two or three national chains of bike shops, there most probably won't be one near you anyway, and the near monopoly will force choice down and prices up.

sadly that's where the internet will come in, plus i find that the bigger places have better selection that any smaller independent shop ive been to (although ive not been to many)

[fizzwheel]

Normally, but they've taken to being rude to or ignoring Liz when she goes in there to get bits or buy stuff and after the sales guy said to her

"why do you want a fenda extenda, you dont need one and they look sh*te"

the other day, I've lost my patiience with them, we've found another local independant garage, thats going to be getting our business from now on...

Just returned from my nearest independent local shop and they didn't have 4L of 10w-40 engine oil! (Only 1L bottles, and only 2 of them! Not enough for an oil change)
Although they were happy enough to tell me the next nearest local shop, that I shall be trying in a few days!

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by hovis

no, but apart from oils and maybe brake pads, they would have to order them in, so its easier and cheaper to get what i want off the net

Oh fair enough - they do sound bad! One's near me have day to day stuff in stock and it's usually cheaper than net and no postage.