Wrench Etiquette

[Rugly]

I can't afford a new bike, so as I can, I've been upgrading components on my current bike. Since my mechanical skills are limited, I have much of the work done at the shop where I bought the bike. My question is this. Is it considered bad form to purchase a new part from someplace like Performance Bike or Bike Nashbar and then ask my local mechanic to install it? And if it is bad form, just how bad is it? Thanks for the opinions.

[mrdunk]

it depends on the mechanic i suppose. the way things are at the moment though i would think most of them are happy for the money you pay weather your buying the part or not.

[JonB]

I agree, most of the money's made on labour rather than sales so I reckon they'd rather install something you've bought rather than sell you something to install yourself (though of course they'd rather you bought the component and had it installed with them)

[Painkiller]

common sense, positive attitude, will to do at any cost will make those needed skills ooze throughout your body. Sit back and stare at the great job YOU DID and be proud! Then you will look for something else to fix and cherish the moment again and again.
Did I just define Passion?

[JohnV]

I agree with JonB. As with any sales and service business, it's the service part of the business where the money is made. Depending on the part, they may lose a few dollars in profit, but they will make it up on the labor. I also think that most bike shops are understanding about how today's economy is affecting everybody and that if you find a part a little cheaper elsewhere that it's OK. That may not be true for every bike shop, but I think that for the most part it is.

[nfmisso]

(05-20-2011, 06:40 PM)painkiller Wrote:  common sense, positive attitude, will to do at any cost will make those needed skills ooze throughout your body. Sit back and stare at the great job YOU DID and be proud! Then you will look for something else to fix and cherish the moment again and again.
Did I just define Passion?

+1 the whole idea of this site is to learn to do it yourself.

[Bill]

Have to agree that with everyone's opinion above. If it were me I would not mind at all and pretty much just install it and charge you my labor fee, which really isn't all that much.