Good question. I have no answer for you. This is why: At the FIST clinic one of the topics on the agenda was what to charge people for a fit. I posted on this forum from Xantusia while we were in that discussion as a "market survey" to see what the general slowtwitcher consensus was. It sounded like $100-150 was acceptable to most people. However, when it came time to define exactly what you GET for the $100-150 then it became more complex. In a previous post (Fit Information: Dangerous in the wrong hands)it surfaced that I am a bad man, troll, unmitigated asshole, social deviant, etc. for not giving people the hard fought fruits of 23 years of labor in the bike business: My fit processes. People wanted the measurements when they left for $150, and frankly, I am afraid to give them to them because I don't want them to use them to buy a bike elsewhere, misuse the data to "size themsleves" or try to steal our process (one place is already attempting a somewhat laughable attempt at it). Bottom line: Fitting is free if I do a bunch of work on your bike and you spend money in here. Here's a couple illustrations of how it is working:
Example 1: Person comes in and says "I want to buy a bike." We measure and fit them, sell them the bike, they pay for it, we build it, position them on it, set-up their pedals, cleats, give them a little "coaching" and help them load it up. Full service, included with bike purchase, no additional charge.
Example 2: Person comes in and says "I want to buy a bike."
We measure and fit them, they say "I'm just gathering information and shopping right now- may I buy the data from you for $150?" No, you can't. It is a part of our "intellectual inventory". You want it, buy a bike here. You go somewhere else- use thier "fit process". Straight deal.
Example 3: Person comes in with existing bike, "I need help with my fit." Their bike fit and position is pretty close to correct, but needs work- mostly a trained hand and second set of eyes. We adjust saddle position, bar position, switch a couple saddles maybe, adjust their cleats. Done. Big improvement. How much do we charge? Hmmm, tough question... We'll say $20-60 depending on time spent and degree of difficulty. If it were an excellent customer or solid referral we may charge nothing at all. On a busy day in May when we have 17 fit appointments in one day- $60 minimum (where were you in January?).
Example 4: Person comes in with existing bike: "My bike doesn't seem to fit..." The bike is all jacked out of shape: Wrong cranks, stem, bars, pedals and saddle. Bingo! :) $$$$$ We just sold $600 worth of stuff at high profit margins and another $100 worth of labor to install it all. $150 on top of that for the fit? Maybe in New York City, Chicago or L.A.
Not here in Ford Country. A $700 fit session in parts and labor is a good sale.
So that is how we are doing it right now. OK, let me have it.....
Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com