I should know better really

[lnr]

Took mudguard along with bike to Drakes yesterday, said "this bit" is broken, and they said "bridge clip", and asked them to replace it and refit the mudguard. Should have just asked them for the bit. They couldn't fit the job in until late yesterday afternoon, and when they did they charged be L6.75 for labour and 85p for the part.

Is it unreasonable to expect to be told the minimum labour charge before they do the job, if it's such a small job? Is it unreasonable to expect better service when I've already spent lots of money with them having more expensive fiddly bits replaced (bottom bracket, rear cogs, new back wheel etc)? Is it unreasonable when they originally sold and fitted the mudguard in the first place, under a year ago?

Unreasonable or not I was kind of half expecting it by the time I came to pick it up, so I really should have known better. It wouldn't have taken that long to do myself, it was just I couldn't face carrying the bloody mudguard home again first.

Comments

[fanf]

The cycle shop on Botolph Lane is good for small jobs.

[beckyc.livejournal.com]

That must be so annoying - I know I'd feel annoyed by an 8(ish) fold markup.

(I was similarly very annoyed at a 60 quid + VAT labour bill for a 5 minute fix for my car. I'm not going back there...)

[crazyscot.livejournal.com]

Haynes++. Must get round to getting myself a socket set, &c., so I can actually do some of the nontrivial car maintenance myself.

[catyak]

Winter is approaching. That's the best time to let someone else do the non-trivial maintenance unless you've got a warm garage in which to do it yourself.

I've replaced brake cylinder seals in winter, it's not fun.

D

[damerell.livejournal.com]

It's not really an 8-fold markup. By the time they've talked about it, taken it in, stripped it, fitted the new part, put it back together - well, the reason it's 6.75 not 60 quid is that bike shop monkey pays about as well as drummer.

For an acquaintance, not a friend, I'd ask a tenner for that job - or else they can find Sheldon's site and do it themselves.

I think the real lesson here is to do trivial maintenance oneself - but then I would think that. :-)

[lnr]

Obviously I have got too used to cycle shops like University Cycles: run by enthusiasts, and happy to do little jobs for regular customers for the price of the bits, or for a couple of quid for the bits and labour, or even just for free. And oddly enough while they're now a long way out of my way I think they've just won my custom back again.

[damerell.livejournal.com]

I have no idea how University Cycles stay in business - they attract a lot of people but they appear to operate such that they lose money on each one.

However, yeah, if you've got a place like that you may as well use it - but I don't think Drakes are at fault for charging a normal rate, even if another bike shop is extraordinarily cheap.