| Re: you have to be kidding
On 3 Mar 2005 11:53:53 -0800, "Peter Cole" <peter_cole@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>RonSonic wrote:
>
>>
>> WHOA!
>>
>> We've got a bike with 27,000 miles on it and we don't know a damn
>thing about
>> its maintenance history. Do you really think that any bike with that
>kind of
>> mileage is going to get fixed in twenty freeking minutes? Especially
>since the
>> owner doesn't seem to have any perspective on replacing cogs or
>chains.
>>
>> One of the shops in my area is advertising their overhaul which they
>recommend
>> for any bike over two years old at $192.
>
>WHOA, yourself! That is a total ripoff. $192 for what? What's the point
>in repacking bearings that don't need it? What does "2 years" mean? A
>fixed price "tune-up" is a sure sign of a scam. More than likely most
>bikes are going to get much more work than they need -- or at least
>charged for it...
>
>The truth is that some components are consumables, and that LBS parts
>prices are about 3X what the equivalent is when bundled in a new bike.
>Put in labor, and the "throw away threshold" gets closer to periodic
>maintenance costs. At the same time, components are generally of a
>higher quality and longer lasting. I can't think of how I could spend
>$200 on a 2 year old bike, even a heavily ridden one.
>
>Stuff should be replaced as it wears out, bearings only need repack if
>contaminated. LBS should fix what's broken and just charge for that.
I'll agree that their recommendation for service is more frequent than what I
(and you) consider necessary.
Here's the thing, you and I KNOW what needs work when. We aren't like that other
poster who couldn't tell if the handlebars were falling loose. We work on things
like bikes and have a feel for this stuff. We know what we are looking at.
Now imagine if you had no clue whatsoever - what would someone have to do to
ensure you were safe, happy, rolling smooth and never ever stranded? What level
of care and maintenance does that take. A hell of a lot more than you or I are
going to do because we are a different customer than that.
I do music electronics. Some people want to never think about the gear and are
happy to pay me accordingly, others have different priorities. Neither of them
is getting ripped off. This is a related situation.
Now, as to how are you going to spend $200 on a bike. It's called labor and it
has to be paid for or you don't get any, or you get the ****ty indifferent kind.
What is your time worth? What is the time of someone you want working on your
bike worth? Wear and tear on tools? Overhead?
Let's follow this up a little further. You say parts should only be replaced at
need and bearings repacked if contaminated and so on. How much time, and this is
an actual question since I'm not a pro bike mechanic like some of our guys here,
does it take to inspect everything and confirm that none of that needs done.
Next question - how much do you charge for that inspection. How much work could
you have done in the time it took to inspect? How much time to see that the
bearing's grease is uncontaminated compared to repacking and replacing bearings?
What would you have to charge?
Ron
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