Bravo Dale for bringing this up. And a plug now for shopping at your local bike shop first regardless of price. They are the ones who will rescue you when you've got a broken spoke the day before the Big Ride, or need a special order item the mailorder boys will never have. If everyone shopped mailorder or on the web for the best price your LBS's would disappear and leave you stranded. Recognize that it is expensive and a lot of work to maintain a brick and mortar store and a repair shop and be glad they are still there. Just like the barista that always remembers your favorite coffee drink, the guys in your local bike shop will get to know you and your bikes and be very helpful when you become a regular. I have people that have been customers for as long as 28 years and have been responsible for dozens of bike sales between them, their families and friends. I treat them like gold and ride with them too. They are my best source of advertising.
Vintage content: Some LBS's have quite a stock of old parts that you certainly can't get through the mail, often at old prices too. Hang out and get to know the old guys that have been there for awhile and you can sometimes find that gold mine.
cheers
Bob Freeman Elliott Bay Bicycles - 25 years this year! 2116 Western Ave Seattle, WA 98121 206-441-8144 Home of Davidson Handbuilt Bicycles
In a message dated 9/19/2008 11:20:34 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes:
You know, it's not intentional, I know but it is just not good form, manners or something to "put it in someone's face" that something they are selling can be bought cheaper somewhere else.
I don't mean to pick on you in particular John, but this has happened a few other times on this list and I don't think it is something that we would do if we were all friends standing around talking in my garage. At least I hope not. ? If we know somewhere something is cheaper (there is ALWAYS somewhere cheaper) just smile to yourself and go buy it. But don't emabarrass your CR friends by rubbing their noses in it in public.
Or, as a private message, you might wrote that person and say "Psst, just as a heads up, I saw them for less here____." That's more helpful and something that might be done among friends.
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