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Am I really picky?
Yes and no. :)
I think good service is about meeting a customer's reasonable expectations and it's absolutely reasonable for you to expect the job to be done on time and competently.
I'm sure you'd have mentioned it otherwise, but I assume the actual work was done to your satisfaction? Don't lose sight of that.
Not keeping you informed of the further delay was a basic error. The easiest way to keep your customer sweet is to let them know what's happening (and a text is not usually the best way to do this).
It doesn't seem that it would have been too much of a problem if they'd let you know it wouldn't be ready until Friday, as you couldn't pick it up in the week. Three days later than agreed is poor and it was silly of them to gripe about storage in the circumstances, but it is an issue for small shops.
The cable-tie and greasy frame & seatpost are sloppy, but that's all. I've seen far worse from cack-handed spanner-wranglers. They're cosmetic issues and easily remedied, ideally by them when you checked the bike over on collection.
Did you ask them to check the tyre pressures and tell them what pressure you would like them to be? Shops don't do work you don't ask them to: a) if it goes wrong they're not insured, b) they don't have the time and c) they're not paid to.
Unless you've got a good relationship with them: not many people do favours for customers they'll never see again.
Everything that's gone wrong could be explained by the shop being busy. Myself, I never eat in an empty restaurant.
I'd grab a couple of packets of biccies, or a sixer if you're feeling ballsy, and go see them. Explain that you're happy with the work, but the bike came back grubby and although it worked in both your favours this time, you'd like to know about any delays in future.
If you get along, then try some pressure-chat!
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Scilly.Suffolk
Hi to all,
Yesterday I got my bike back from my local shop.( At this point I wouldn't like to name them as I may have different expectations and be considered too needy/picky.)
I left my bike (fixed gear) on Saturday 14 July and I was told that they are going to fix it on the day. I needed a new chain and a rear sprocket -which they claimed they had readily available. An hour before the shop closed, they called me apologising that they do not have the sprocket and they have to order one. (That is completely understandable). They said they are going to order it on Monday and the next day my bike would be ready. So far so good.
I received a text on Friday morning that the bike is finally ready. So it took them about a week to change a chain and a sprocket on a fixed gear. Btw, they complained about limited storage space when I told them that I may not be able to pick the bike during the coming week.
I collected my bike on Monday 23 July as I couldn't go earlier and it was visibly dirtier that I handed over to them. My frame and seat post had plenty of chain grease and they did not even remove the cable tie where they place the work order. As well, they did not even bothered to check the tire pressure prior giving the bike back to me.
So my question is: Am I really picky? Is this something that I should anticipate from every bike repair shop?
I always want to help the small independent shops whenever I can but I am wondering whether this is going to be the level of service that I would receive from Evans or any other big bike retailer.
Any comments/thoughts?