# Asking to borrow tools at a bike shop **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 14, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-to-borrow-tools-at-a-bike-shop/725171 "2015-07-14T21:07:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-to-borrow-tools-at-a-bike-shop/725171/61 "2015-07-15T21:36:51Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > They have tools for that - the trixie is pretty cool. And also comes with a can opener:cool: That looks good - the holes for mounting it on the frame are a nice feature, better than carrying (or forgetting to carry…) a spanner in my backpack which is what I currently do. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-to-borrow-tools-at-a-bike-shop/725171/62 "2015-07-16T00:56:11Z")
I worked at a bike shop. Instead of a “do not ask to borrow tools” sign there was a price list. The labor to change a tube was more than the tube. If someone came in with a flat tire I’d just change it for them and adjust brakes and deraileurs and maybe tighten a few spokes and shine their bike up with wax and make friendly chit chat. “Boy, that guy was sure nice, he pulled that paying job off the stand and gave me $85 worth of service for free on the spot.” They’d come back, they’d buy accessories, I’d charge them a (still very expensive) “discount rate” for future service (earning 20% on parts and 50% on service). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-to-borrow-tools-at-a-bike-shop/725171/63 "2015-07-16T01:11:04Z")
> [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](#): > > I worked at a bike shop. Instead of a “do not ask to borrow tools” sign there was a price list. The labor to change a tube was more than the tube. If someone came in with a flat tire I’d just change it for them and adjust brakes and deraileurs and maybe tighten a few spokes and shine their bike up with wax and make friendly chit chat. “Boy, that guy was sure nice, he pulled that paying job off the stand and gave me $85 worth of service for free on the spot.” They’d come back, they’d buy accessories, I’d charge them a (still very expensive) “discount rate” for future service (earning 20% on parts and 50% on service). I’ve only worked or been familiar with urban or high volume suburban shops, out of the many shops and owners I have known, I knew one bike shop owner who used to that sort of thing. He worked - 50 - 60 hours a week and net $12,000 a year. More power to him; I’m not sure if that is still how he runs his shop though. In less populated areas I think adding freebies might be more the norm; but cost of living, rent etc. makes it a difficult practice to carry out in a more populous high rent area. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-to-borrow-tools-at-a-bike-shop/725171/64 "2015-07-16T05:27:34Z")
All the stuff I needed for on the road and minor repairs fit in a bag velcroed under my seat. The pump clipped onto the frame. Since there was a sign there saying they don’t lend tools, I don’t understand the issue. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-to-borrow-tools-at-a-bike-shop/725171.md?page=3)