This trend is really depressing me. Most of the time it's cheaper to buy new stuff than to actually repair it.
This weekend I was trying to repair some bike's wheel, some spokes (4) were broken and needed to be changed, I called the bike shop and the guy told me he doesn't keep a stock of spare parts anymore. That he would have to order them by a box of 100 for me. If I let him repair the wheel (having only minor damages) it would cost me more than to buy a new one.
If you were living in China where these things are built by hand, it would probably be a little cheaper to repair than to replace. In countries with high wages, repair shops can't compete with cheap foreign goods. It is sad, but at least you don't have to pay ten times more for a new one.
That's just not normal, a lot of shops would actually prefer to repair the wheel if they have a larger profit margin on labor than parts. Check some more bike shops, I'm sure you'll find one that'll do it for a reasonable price.
Alternatively, you could learn to do it yourself, though you do need a truing stand. If you live in a large metro area, there are places like LA's Bike Kitchen, where expensive tools like truing stands are available free for use (donations highly encouraged), and volunteers will tell you how to fix it yourself.
> Alternatively, you could learn to do it yourself, though you do need a truing stand.
It is a useful skill to learn, and instructions are available online. You don't even need a truing stand, just leave the wheel in the frame and use the brake blocks as a guide. It's not ideal, but it's workable, and the price is right.
That makes no sense to me. A decent wheel costs $70 and of course good ones way more. A spoke costs a couple bucks (tops), so with a decent labor rate, the guy could charge you $35 for the repair. I bet you could find someone to fix it for you.
I wonder if the shop owner stopped carrying repairs because customers are so used to the "disposable everything", that they just assume repair is alwas impossible, and anyone who offers to do it is some sort of scam artist.
Ack, the guy either lied to you or you were at the wrong bike shop. Try and find one with some higher-end mountain bikes and they'll definitely have spokes.
This weekend I was trying to repair some bike's wheel, some spokes (4) were broken and needed to be changed, I called the bike shop and the guy told me he doesn't keep a stock of spare parts anymore. That he would have to order them by a box of 100 for me. If I let him repair the wheel (having only minor damages) it would cost me more than to buy a new one.