Service Review:
I don't rate a lot of One Stars, but what happened to me here 2 days ago will get a business a One Star every time and it reflects on the attitude of the business.
When you rate One Star, a detailed explanation is required.
As is our custom on Yelp, we do not mention names of employees of a business in a negative review unless we are complimenting them, but we know who they are.
I have been in this store 3 or more times since they opened looking at bikes. I've been cycling since I was a child and have purchased and serviced many a bike in my time and currently own a few different types. We attend races, and clean and monitor our drive trains regularly including chain length.
I "Park Tooled" my Giant Bike hybrid, Shimano HG chain on a 9-speed, 105 drive-train and after 1000 miles it was between .7 and 1 so I ordered up a replacement Shimano chain 3 weeks ago.
My regular Tech is in the Valley, but I live near the Giant Store. I called them a couple of weeks ago when I ordered the chain and told the gentleman at Giant that I have a Giant 9-speed Hybrid and need a new chain installed, can you do it? He said, yes, no appointment needed, you may have to wait up to an hour depending how busy we are. Next, I asked him how much? He replied without hesitation, "ten dollars." I asked, any other fees? He said, "As long as you have a new Shimano chain, it's ten dollars, no appointment, just come in."
(For those readers not familiar, $10.00 is standard reasonable in most shops in West LA to install a chain. It's 11 at REI, and between 5 and 10 in the Valley, and East of LA.)
I am extremely busy these days, so it took me two weeks to get some time at work to cut out last Weds afternoon to get over there and get the chain installed.
I ride over from my place to Giant and head back to service at 4 PM. Folks are very nice here as they always are when I stopped in to shop bikes, and back in service I show them the chain and I tell them that I called two weeks ago and was told it's 10 to install the chain on this 9-speed Hybrid. The woman says the tech will be right with me--he has a couple of customers before me. I say, no rush...I don't have an appointment, I will wait as long as needed for him to put the chain on today, help everyone else first. (That is way I am.)
Tech comes over 10 minutes later and asks if I can leave a bike for 30 minutes, he has 2 other jobs to finish before mine. No problem at all. I will walk around and come back.
Before I take off, I confirm with the tech that it's 10 to install the chain?
He says, "Yes, but... (Pointing to the rear derailleur) I have a turn a screw here after putting the chain on, and that's another 10 dollars."
David: "So it's $20.00 to install the chain?
Tech: "Well, I am also going to have to turn a screw here (Pointing to the front derailleur) and that's going to be another 10 dollars."
David: "So now it's $30.00 to install the chain?"
Tech: "Well, I will need to test it out and that's another $10.00 dollars."
David: "So it's $40.00 now--I was told it's $10.00 when I called in, $10 is standard."
Tech: "Just let's make it $30.00, okay?"
David to himself: "I am getting screwed here--exit stage left ASAP."
And I told them that I don't have time to wait, and left. If this is the way they are behaving, no further discussion with management is needed.
More than the money, life experience teaches one in all situations in life, when this happens, not only are you going to be overpaying, but the work invariably is going to be poor.
Giant wasted my limited time off by telling me it's firmly going to be $10, and then trying to charge 3x more.
I would not have written this review had they told me on the the phone it's going to cost 30 or more dollars to install a chain. A business has right to charge whatever they want for a service and I will decide based on that. But don't waste my time quoting a price (which is standard for that service), and then telling me they have to turn my screws and it will cost more. Especially on a new well maintained, first time chain replacement drivetrain.
This is how a business earns a One Star review. read more