Do you tip your LBS (local bike store) mechanic?

[w0nderer]

Does he/she deserve tips?

[olddots]

1. I would tip them them if they charged me

they charge me for parts but they never charge for labor for some unknown reason .I make sure I buy all the stuff like gear etc... there instead of online or at the big chain bike store .

[happyslug]

2. In the early 1980s I use to sell glass....

On jobs we sent out workers to do we bill the glass at full list price, but when selling glass there was a 90% discount off list price (and at that discount we still made money). The reason for this is customers would not object to the price given for the glass, but would object to the labor costs, thus it was easier to charge a high price for items then to increase the labor rate. This was true even through labor was NOT subject to the sales tax, but we had to use the list price when collecting that sales tax. I.e. If the actual cost of labor was used and the actual cost of the items were used, the customer would pay the same except the sales tax paid would be less. The problem was customers looked at the labor cost and complained about the rate, they accepted the cost of the glass and other items used.

Just pointing out the the profit on the parts may be more then enough to pay for the labor in addition to the part.

By the way this reminds me I have drop off my bicycle at my bike shop. I purchased a SKS chain guard on the net and just like I found on my other bike when I did that I do not have the tools to remove the bottom bracket. The SKS chain guard attachs to the bottom bracket. I was charged $20 to do the job last time. It is a five minute job if you have the tools. Without the tools pay the $20. The tool is expensive if you use it only once and, at best, I will use only twice, paying the $20 is cheaper then the tool.

[w0nderer]

3. lotta truth here

some bike stores charge parts, not labor

and the sks chainguard (good choice by the way..excellent quality on sks products)

$20 sounds fair to put it on (if it's a front and rear derailleur bike) $10-15 for non front derailleur

since it's 3 tools actually

pedal wrench, crankarm puller (unless it's a single piece crank arm) and bottombracket spline

time is estimated for that (since things can seize and shop prices are based on 'average' time for an 'average mechanic' on an 'average bike' (so a good mechanic will do it faster...5 min sound about right for a good mech on a well maintained/non seized bike)) at 10-20 minutes on a $1/minute scale (of which the mechanic gets usually $10-12 if he's experienced (5-6 years in business))


the pedalwrench you can fake with a skinned(ground) down long handled 15mm wrench
the crankpuller..not so much, but it's cheaper (and is only needed for 3 piece cranks)
and the bb spline/key is also a one time purchase and it does actually make sense to pull the bb once a year to regrease and let moisture out of the frame (especially on steel) but even on alloy

[happyslug]

4. As to the SKS Chainguard, it is the second one I have purchased.

I have had a SKS Chain Guard on my Cannondale for about five years, it has worked out while I do notice LESS grease on my trouser legs (Actually NO Grease, but I am trying to be conservative in my assessment). I had the same problem with that one, I ended up taking to my bike shop to install and thus what I know what he will charge (he may charge more, but anything less then $50 is cheaper then me buying the equipment to do so).

I am sorry about using the term "Conservative" in the above paragraph, but I am using it on a very narrow meaning, that meaning being one of saying on the careful side of change.

I have had people asked me where I obtain the Chainguard and I tell them mail order BUT I had to get a bike shop to install it. I recommend to them to ask about them at their bike store and how much it will cost them to have one installed. I should have followed my own advice.

Side Note: Conservative traditionally has been the Edmund Burke type conservative, someone who accepts Change when it is needed, but oppose change just to have a change (if you can prove a change is needed, Conservatives will supported it, but if you can not show that a change is needed, Conservatives will oppose the change).

Today's GOP is NOT Conservative, I question even if Reagan was "Conservative' but compared to today's GOP he was a Conservative Reagan actually funded AIDS research when such research was opposed by the Far Right). The best way to describe today's GOP is Reactionary, a term first used in references to Bourbon Kings of France AFTER Napoleon (i.e. 1815 till 1848).

A Reactionary is someone who supports a system where people wanted to return to an era that never was. The Reactionaries of 1815-1848 wanted France to return to the 1780s, but without returning to the Church its power to protect the peasants, without returning to the peasants the rights the peasants had in the 1780 (including a stronger say in local politics), maintaining the Districts of France, instead of returning to the Provinces of France (this difference relates to how in the 1700s parts of France had lower Taxes then other parts, do to the provinces being viewed as Independent of the Central Government of France, which the Districts, Created during the Revolution, being creation of the Central Government, tools of the Central Government).

Notice how things that harmed the lower classes since 1789, were NOT to be changed after 1815, but things that benefited that class had to be reversed. This is typical Reactionary, they want to return to a period that never was, the changes that benefited them are to be kept, but the changes that harmed them are to be reversed WITHOUT considering how those things worked together in the past (One example of this was the weakening of the Church, the Church in France had long acted as a brake to the extremes of the King and the Nobles, this check was abolished for all practical purposes during the Revolution, but was replaced by giving the lower classes a greater say in both local and national government. The Reactionaries of the 1815-1848 period did NOT want to return any power to the Church, but wanted to take away the power given to the lower classes during the revolution, thus "Returning' to a time period that never was).

[w0nderer]

5. woah

and and

no need to go all defensive on 'conservative' (unless you are ducking ban bots)


normally someone brings something in (sks fenders or chainguard) (both excellent quality)
the price on install goes up

frequently (depending on store) ordering from the store makes the labor less

depends tho so check

[Ron Obvious]

6. It never even occurred to me...

I tip generously as a rule but I can't wait for the whole odious practice to die out and have everyone get paid a living wage instead.

[w0nderer]

7. i'd love it if bicycle mechanicing paid a living wage :-)