Why would a shop do this?

[Wasatch]

Definitely not cool. The owner of the shop should be made aware of this.

[sitzmark]

Why?
- Shop tech/mechanic following orders : Because he/she is told to sticker all bikes that come through shop. Wants to keep job.
- Shop owner/manager : Because it is very targeted advertising for almost no cost (cost of the sticker).

Either way altering bike other than components associated with agreed repair/service is not acceptable without permission from the customer. Owner/manager should get a complaint call or visit.

[Bruce K]

That was the kind of sticker that was removed (team mechanic's business) - saying who regularly preps/services the bike.

The shop decal is removed and a new one replacing the original is going back on shortly.

It just seemed really odd and kind of ***

BK

[chiasticon]

Originally Posted by Bruce K

It just seemed really odd and kind of ***

agreed. lame p*ssing contest for no reason. I'd for sure make the shop aware that you're not happy and won't return for more service.

[Vonruden]

Very Douchey move on their part, would not be happy.

[Climb01742]

If the shop wanted some advertising, a far cooler move and one more likely to have a positive impact would have been to return the bike after service with a free shop water bottle in one of the bike's cages.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Bruce K

Cyclist takes his bike into an LBS for minor repairs while traveling.

When he picks it up they have removed the decal/logo of a team sponsor shop from the chain stay and replaced it with their own.

I can't for the life of me understand why any LBS would do something like that without the cyclist/owner's permission.

Thoughts?

BK

As a shop owner and lbs veteran, I can't either. That person ought to get canned. I didn't even change things like a crooked or uneven levers w/o talking to owner.

[bikinchris]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

As a shop owner and lbs veteran, I can't either. That person ought to get canned. I didn't even change things like a crooked or uneven levers w/o talking to owner.

Exactly. Saddle off center? NEVER touch them. Call customer or ask when they pick up the bike. No way, no how, do I EVER take anything off or put anything on any customers bike without having a specific conversation about the change.

One time, a guy in a local shop did things like that and a rider found out that the shop had sold his Nuovo Record derailleur and replaced it with a new one. Using a customer's bike as stock to sell? Ugh, that's low.

[David Kirk]

Originally Posted by Climb01742

If the shop wanted some advertising, a far cooler move and one more likely to have a positive impact would have been to return the bike after service with a free shop water bottle in one of the bike's cages.

Yep.......give stellar service and put a bottle in the cage and make the owner WANT to put their sticker on the bike. Instead they turned the bike owner off having the direct opposite of the desired effect.

dave

[pjbaz]

I would have LOST MY MIND with that kind of move, and there would have been words - polite ones to start, then escalating to loud, vulgar ones depending how the issue was handled.

I remove all dealer advertising from my cars because no one compensates me for the ad. Want your decal on my trunk lid? Drop the price by a few Gs and we can discuss.

[charliedid]

Shops that do that, suck.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by David Kirk

Yep.......give stellar service and put a bottle in the cage and make the owner WANT to put their sticker on the bike. Instead they turned the bike owner off having the direct opposite of the desired effect.

dave

I've done that, given a guy my water bottle if the bike had a 'competitors' bottle on the bike..but I gave the other bottle back...

[wpod]

One thing to add sticker( though still a wanker mover ), another thing completely to remove an existing sticker. Definately a douche move

[Dracarys]

Charge them an advertising fee. Say the previous shop was paying $500 per season to have their sticker on the bike. Either pay me $1000 ($500 for advertising your sticker and the $500 I will have to refund the other shop) or put the old sticker back.

But, yeah, I'd be pissed. When I buy cars or bikes, I tell the dealers I will not accept delivery if there is a dealer sticker on the car/bike (unless they agree to pay me to advertise their dealership, which they never do).

[Gummee]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

As a shop owner and lbs veteran, I can't either. That person ought to get canned. I didn't even change things like a crooked or uneven levers w/o talking to owner.

This

I tried that 'fix it, it ain't right!' thing a LONG time ago when I was a newer wrench. Got kvetched at by a customer for it. Stopped that immediately.

Bike comes in one way. Leaves cleaned, lubed, adjusted, but otherwise the same way.

M