Power13 wrote:
lightheir wrote:
Power13 wrote:
Why don't the local auto shops show people how to change their own oil? Why don't accountants teach people how to file their own taxes? Labor is a high margin business for LBS'. Doing things that take that money out of their pockets doesn't make sense.
I knew someone would make this argument. I disagree Herr. Basic bike repair is MUCH less complex and part intensive. The skills I'm talking about for bikes at considered basic maintenance for cyclists
OK....so there are really kind of two options:
1) you have unlocked a brilliant business model that no one in the bike industry has ever thought of before (in the decades / century that it has been around)
or
2) what I said is accurate.
(For reference, I worked for 10 years in the bike business, both at the retail level and for major suppliers).
Quick example - Shops can charge anywhere from $10 - $20 to change a flat. It takes them all of 3 minutes and maybe $2 in product (probably high, but I haven't seen the cost of a tube in awhile). Why would they invent their customers to NOT pay them for this service?
Well, if some shops are giving those lessons for FREE as says above, clearly some business models disagree with yours.
The bike shops around here in Norcal are plenty busy enough to NOT need to rely on these trivial repairs you suggest drive their revenue. I've been turned down by shops for changing a chain (they told me it would take a WEEK even though I bought the chain from them and said I'd wait for if if the guy could do it that day) and even on pre-race basic tuneups (not total overhaul, just a light tuneup) that they accepted, but gave me a 14 DAY time to completion. Clearly they're busy enough to not have to rely on the trivial everyday repairs you're mentioning. Looking at their repair inventory, there were over 50 bikes back there, and these were NOT just for flat tires. Same in Socal