Just overheard a customer say 'bike shops are all ripoffs' and I had to bite my tongue

Lady was at the next table at lunch, telling someone her tune-up cost $120 at a shop downtown. She said all they did was 'squirt some oil on the chain and pump up the tires.' I wanted to walk over and ask if she saw them adjust her derailleur cables or check spoke tension on that 10 year old hybrid she probably rides through puddles. My shop charges $95 for a basic service and I spend a good 30 minutes just chasing down shift issues alone. Has anyone else dealt with customers who think a tune-up is just a quick spray and wipe?

2 comments

2 Comments

emery_taylor8d ago

$120 for a squirt of oil is rough, but I bet that shop did way more than she realized. The last time I had this complaint at my place, I pulled up the service sheet and showed the customer a list of 12 things we actually check and adjust, including brake pad alignment and bolt torque checks. Most people don't see the subtle stuff like chain wear measurement or wheel truing that saves them from a flat or crash later. If she rode that hybrid through puddles regularly, there's no way a simple oil spray would fix the shifting or brake feel she probably just got used to.

tyler4928d ago

Wait @emery_taylor, you'd really show them a 12-item checklist and expect a thank you?