Road bike and LBS woes

[Jimbeam3678]

[/QUOTE]I took my Allez road bike into the LBS for a new chain as it was slipping. On arrival the guy I needed a new front ring and back cassette, I said while you are at put some brake pads and pedals on it. The pedals are long irrelevant story.

Now thorough out today I received 2 phone calls

LBSyour gears aren't indexing and the chain is jumping around you need a new hanger on it will cost a fiver

Me Ok fine go for it

10 minutes later

LBS Still same problem needs a derailleur

Me Expressed my annoyance at this but if it needs then go for it

Arrived at the bike shop he still hadn't fixed it tried another new hanger , deailleur , new cables and then put a measuring tool on to see if the wheel was aligned correctly it was out slightly so he forced the wheel when this tool was on which I can't imagine this is good

I left him at 6 as the shop closed and he was starting lose his patience with it ,which doesn't help anyone. He said tomorrow he will try another cassette on it.

Now these gears were indexing fine when I took it in no problem at all. I'm covering all bases here and assuming they aren't going to be able to fix it.

Now the original bill was for £180 now at £230 ~ I'm clearly not going to pay that what would you guys consider fair payment ? The original labour charge?
Not sure what is a fair compromise as they haven't fixed the chain jumping problem as the gear indexing isn't correct which was fine when I brought it in

So to clarify I guess I'm asking two questions any ideas what it could be as ultimately I want the bike fixing but they can't wants a fair payment ?

Mods I made this a thread on its own as I didn't want it to get lost in the main thread hope this is OK.

Thanks for reading any thoughts/advice would be great

 

[Jimbeam3678]

He fitted this onto the rear mech bolt , I've used this shop a lot bought a 2K bike from them they seem to be a very professional outfit.

While I appreciate parts do need to be paid , if those parts haven't fixed the problem and they can't fix the problem then why should I pay for parts which are useless for myself since they can't get the bike to work correctly.

I'd happily pay for the agreed labour , but as the for the parts they haven't left the shop ,while morally its wrong but you can't tell me the bike shop wouldn't reuse them on another bike repair as they are brand new and they could then simply put the existing parts back on my bike.

I'm hoping they can fix it as I don't want to fallout with them as they are generally really good and they are close to where I live. The only other angle I could play with is if you can't fix it , bin the bike and I'll buy a winter bike through you for £600~

Really not sure how to play it as I don't to paying £100+ and be left with a problem that came about in their workshop on the otherhand I don't want to **** them off as they tend to be pretty helpful.

Any other thoughts as I'm struggling

 

[Jimbeam3678]

Oh the parts are 4k-5k miles old so I'm pretty sure they need replacing.

I know , my friend was an old bike mechanic when he was younger but I opted for the easy option of wheeling the bike 300m to the LBS now it seems it wasn't the easy option

Hopefully they will fix it as the owner is in tomorrow so I guess he'll check it over hopefully come to a conclusion if not then I guess I'll have to compromise on a payment but if history is anything to go by with these sort of things then I'll get what I want money wise but I'll lose a convenient bike shop

 

[Jimbeam3678]

Well to be fair to them, they tried the jockey wheels and didn't help so went with the rear mech to test, they seemed to have done everything. What got me a bit though was the guy was almost asking me for ideas

We'll see what happens tomorrow hopefully he comes in with a fresh mind and fixes if not then the discussions will commence. Back to sort of my original point what do you think is a fair compromise if they can't fix it. I'm not someone who's after a free lunch so to speak but in the same breath I don't to be taken for a ride

 

[Jimbeam3678]

Learn how to change a chain in the future
(

I could change it myself (well my friend) but I paid for the the convenience.

I'm not particularly blaming the shop really but I guess you pay for their skills to diagnose and fix something when they fail to fix it I don't to see why I should foot the full bill.

maybe I'm being unfair which I really started this thread to see what some outsiders think

 

[Jimbeam3678]

Not sure but the gears where indexing fine when I took it in , which correct me if I'm wrong would suggest it is or was when I left it in their hands ?

 

[Jimbeam3678]

I have an update bike shop has rung and the main guy there has looked at it, it was a front shifter problem.

£303 bill slightly eye watering bill! But I guess at least its fixed....

 

[Jimbeam3678]

Sorry front shifter as in the front Brake/shifter which controls the back gears

 

[Jimbeam3678]

Does the £303 include a new front shifter?

Sounds like you have been shifted!

If they have been replacing parts from trial/error then realised it was a different component causing the issue then only pay for replacement parts that are worn. I would have a chat with the main dude and get him to break it down.

As above poster said, don't pay till your happy, give it a couple of rides first - You say you have spent loads there it's the least they could do!

It does include the shifter , the only thing that they may of replaced which maybe didn't need replacing was the rear mech as the chain, cassette and front ring needed it. Brake pads needed and I asked for the pedals to be swapped as well.

Although I will check they haven't kept the charge on for the jockey wheels they replaced as they have chucked a new mech on. If anyone is interested I'll post back after I've picked it up.