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Think yeah you've defo had a bad bunch of shops.
I'm in Glasgow and run my own place, heavy workshop focus, do retail some bikes but only higher tier electrics and cargos. Even in our space its not worth our time retailing £4-600 ridgeback's etc. Its pretty rare someone comes in asking for a 'bike part' like crank bolts, chainring bolts, that little bit that does that thing etc and we don't have it. Its a nightmare come stocktake season, but gets us a lot of repeat custom as folk just kind of default to coming to us for x number of items as they know we'll highly likely have it, and the price will be reasonable.Yeah a shop is pretty much always going to be at retail, thats what margin is for, can't compete with folks who sell on ebay from their bedroom on the dodge from the VAT man, income tax man, council rates man, business insurance etc.
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BrickMan
Well, I did say above that I understand businesses need to make profit, also stated I was willing to pay more in a bike shop rather than online. Not sure how this constitute having my cake and eating it! I've happily paid £6 or even more for brake cables in London, because it was convenient, knowing it's nearly 3 times what I would pay on eBay if buying in bulk... I also recently bought a basic lock in a bike shop nearly £20 more than online because I needed it as an emergency, and accepted the fact without moaning. But when wanting to buy cables (at whatever price), puncture repair kits, or near universal crank bolts becomes seen as being an esoteric costumer, isn't that a bit much? I'm not especially keen on the tendency of how most bike shops are becoming, but, having ranted about it in the past (and being mildly told of and explained how things were by @edscoble ), I now accept it and just modestly say "(most) bike shops don't suit my needs"; if that's not gentle enough a statement, then I don't know how to put it... Of course I deplore that rental costs make things tough for bike shops (and sadly for lot of people in general) but I'm not buying a Pinnacle... I'll happily visit @fly 's shop when I'm in the area though...