Are all bike shops and mechanics rip offs kind of like how politicans lie and...

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darkling

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...tradespeople are always late? When I was just starting to maintain my bike they sold me cotter pins at five dollars a pop and they were too big for my bike. The car shop will sell me the right size ones for 8 dollars for a box of 60. Also when i rang to get a quote they tell me they can't give quotes only estimates. And when i rang about a part I wanted the lady that you have to talk to tells me that will be 20 dollars and i correct her "no its eight dollars as per the last bill i got for the same thing" and she says oh right eight dollars then.
I am trying a new shop tomorrow. I wonder if they will attempt to rip me off too.
Whats your shop like?
 
I get my cotter pins for 30 cents each, why buy 60. But I dont buy them at bike shops. Yes they are expensive because they are more off of parts then selling bikes. I happen to live in an area with about 15 local bike shops, 15% are great, Honest and decent price, 70% are high priced and so so at best and 15% are thieves. You gotta shop around !
 
Look for dealers in small towns, especially ones that serve farmers (chainsaws, 4 wheelers, etc) as well as bikers. These guys depend upon repeat business because without it, they go broke. In a small town or rural area, bad news travels fast and if they screw one person over, they might as well close their doors because everyone will know about it.

The fellow I deal with operates in a rural town of a couple thousand people. He admits that OEM parts are overpriced and he will try to find aftermarket parts whenever he can. This past spring I wanted him to cut the valve seats on my cylinderhead. It was the busy part of the year, so rather than put me off, he loaned me his cutters. I gave him $20 even though he didn't want anything. Had he done it, it would have probably cost me $300.
 
Not all shops, but maybe most dealers.
I haven't darkened my dealer's door since 1996. They tried to rip me off by charging over 40 bucks for an air filter they didn't install, one that JC Whitney sells for 14.
What work I can't do goes to a trusted independent shop.
 
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