Cost to change an innertube
Discussion
Looking at getting some work done on my bike, it's been a while, and I popped into the local bike shop to book it in. The fella in front got quoted £13.75 for a innertube + fitting. Got me thinking if that was a rip off.
Assume £5 for the tube, what do you think? What does your charge?
Assume £5 for the tube, what do you think? What does your charge?
The tube will cost about £1 at wholesale prices, probably less than that. Me personally, would at least give the rim tape a check, check the tyre for damage, spoke tension etc and hand them back a good working wheel, all in about ten minutes effort. I have no idea if shops do this though or if they just throw a new tube in and pump it up. In all fairness, if someone is too lazy to do a tuube change themselves but willing to cart the bike to the shop to get them to do it, I have no issue with the shop charging what they want, I begrudge shops charging a little old lady £15 for fitting a tube, but not any one with the mental and physical capability to do hte job themselves. that all said, I'd rather spend my lunch hour fixing colelagues bikes than have a shop fleece them though.
The guy in front wanted his changing, the bike shop said they'd not do it as the brakes don't work well, 'shop policy'. The guy then said the wheel is buckled. So a simple tube change turned into: Tube, trueing the wheel, 1 spoke replacement, new brake cable & pads. The guy bought a tube and walked out. "shop policy" must mean rip off customer!
I'm happy to change tubes, although I've lost my pump. But I need brakes bleeding, new pads, and gears adjusting. I don't want to do that, when someone will do it for a small fee and get it bang on right.
I'm happy to change tubes, although I've lost my pump. But I need brakes bleeding, new pads, and gears adjusting. I don't want to do that, when someone will do it for a small fee and get it bang on right.
Hasn't this come up before?
Fair price I'd say, lots of shops do it for free, I can see why shops charge idiots , overheads of business are never-ending now
Its not like you HAVE to pay it! if you don't like it jog on
Plus the kind of person that csnt fit a inner tube will probably be of the nature, that they come back 6 months later and go: "You know that tube you fitted last year, well I have a flat in it, as you fitted it , it must be YOUR fault"
Fair price I'd say, lots of shops do it for free, I can see why shops charge idiots , overheads of business are never-ending now
Its not like you HAVE to pay it! if you don't like it jog on
Plus the kind of person that csnt fit a inner tube will probably be of the nature, that they come back 6 months later and go: "You know that tube you fitted last year, well I have a flat in it, as you fitted it , it must be YOUR fault"
Yep, it's come up before.
See it from the shops point of view. Sure it's a 5 minute job, but below a certain price it's not worth the hassle. Single tube off the shelf will cost you a fiver or so. As a business I'd not take on a job for less than a tenner.
As for the guy in front - brakes don't work, crashes, comes straight after the shop 'cos they were the last person who meddled with it. Perfectly reasonable policy to refuse to have anything to do with a machine that isn't roadworthy, unless returning it to a roadworthy state.
It's only a rip off if you're being charged an unreasonable price, and / or for work that does not need doing..
See it from the shops point of view. Sure it's a 5 minute job, but below a certain price it's not worth the hassle. Single tube off the shelf will cost you a fiver or so. As a business I'd not take on a job for less than a tenner.
As for the guy in front - brakes don't work, crashes, comes straight after the shop 'cos they were the last person who meddled with it. Perfectly reasonable policy to refuse to have anything to do with a machine that isn't roadworthy, unless returning it to a roadworthy state.
It's only a rip off if you're being charged an unreasonable price, and / or for work that does not need doing..
Edited by upsidedownmark on Tuesday 14th April 13:26
As said above, it's seems excessive for the job on its own, but that's just the point. It's a 5-10 minute job during which time they're not earning any other cash. SO they have to charge something.
TBH, it's such a straight-forward job that I've been doing it since I was about 7. Only now I use proper tyre lever and not my Mum's spoons.
I wouldn't go in specifically to have it done unless it was an emergency (and I had to tubes/tools) and the only time I'd be annoyed to be charged it, would be if they were truing my wheels and noticed there was a puncture. And then charged for the refit despite them having to remove and refit a tube anyway.
TBH, it's such a straight-forward job that I've been doing it since I was about 7. Only now I use proper tyre lever and not my Mum's spoons.
I wouldn't go in specifically to have it done unless it was an emergency (and I had to tubes/tools) and the only time I'd be annoyed to be charged it, would be if they were truing my wheels and noticed there was a puncture. And then charged for the refit despite them having to remove and refit a tube anyway.
I think my LBS charges £12 to change a tube. I've had them change one tube for me, but if memory serves, I don't think I was charged the labour, I just paid for the tube. I'd had a full service on the bike and they had only noticed the flat at the last minute.
I don't see any reason for a bike shop to change a tube for free. They are a business after all. Tubes in shops are also quite pricey at a fiver a pop. I've just 10 on ebay for much less
I don't see any reason for a bike shop to change a tube for free. They are a business after all. Tubes in shops are also quite pricey at a fiver a pop. I've just 10 on ebay for much less
whatleytom said:
I can honestly say I have never paid somebody to fix a puncture for me, and can't see that I ever will. As others have said, its extremely easy to do yourself.
That video of the guy doing it with his toes/feet might be appropriate here.
I'm genuinely amazed that some people would even consider paying a shop to change an inner tube.That video of the guy doing it with his toes/feet might be appropriate here.
Buy tyre levers and so it yourself.
I don't think anyone on here would for one second contemplate taking their bike in for an inner tube change, but I suspect plenty of non-enthusiast owners of Bicycle Shaped Objects might. Is £13 fair? Well my BMW dealer charges £130 an hour (+VAT) so why shouldn't a cycle shop charge just a tenth of that even if it is a quick job?
Edited by SixPotBelly on Tuesday 14th April 15:45
russ said:
well Halfords charge a tenner , and yes I have used them as the tyres on my bike are a real bloody pain to get on , tight as hell, and yes I have changed plenty / repaired plenty of punctures in the past
What do they use? Magic?!Even tight tyres can usually be removed/fitted if the opposite side of the bead is pushed into the well in the middle of the rim.
The worst is the Mechanical Engineering Graduate, who was borrowing a bike to get to work, as her bike was at the repairers having a puncture repaired.
I seriously wonder how these people get well paid jobs in places like erm well know internationally recognised companies in the East Midlands and picked to be fast tracked for management.
FFS. If you can't do it, go on You Tube and watch someone show you how to. What is the worst that can happen ?
I seriously wonder how these people get well paid jobs in places like erm well know internationally recognised companies in the East Midlands and picked to be fast tracked for management.
FFS. If you can't do it, go on You Tube and watch someone show you how to. What is the worst that can happen ?
Pit Pony said:
The worst is the Mechanical Engineering Graduate, who was borrowing a bike to get to work, as her bike was at the repairers having a puncture repaired.
I seriously wonder how these people get well paid jobs in places like erm well know internationally recognised companies in the East Midlands and picked to be fast tracked for management.
There's no requirement to be able to change a tyre...I seriously wonder how these people get well paid jobs in places like erm well know internationally recognised companies in the East Midlands and picked to be fast tracked for management.
Many engineering graduates don't have much practical knowledge, but it is not often required in the modern workplace with duties mostly consisting of following many, many regulations and procedures.
The ones who do have practical knowledge and the ability to do "back of an envelope calculations" are more "rounded individuals", though, and at an advantage when it comes to problem solving and actually engineering things.
Pit Pony said:
FFS. If you can't do it, go on You Tube and watch someone show you how to. What is the worst that can happen ?
On having to deal with my first puncture I went on You Tube for help and was actually able to repair the inner tube. This repair has lasted about 2000 km and is still holding out. I so proud!pablo said:
The tube will cost about £1 at wholesale prices, probably less than that.
Probably not if its a decent tube. Presta valves are relatively expensive to manufacture and so make up 90% of the cost of manufacturing a tube.Schwalbe and Michelin tubes will cost a shop between £2.50 and £3.00 each, depending on bulk discount.
Not a rip off IMHO. When you take into account the overheads of running the shop it's the right price. I'm sure (having had a friend who had a bike shop) that the prices the wholesaler sells parts to the shop exceed to the price the customer can buy them from online outlets! It's easy for the customer to think XYZ sell it for £3, so the shop must be only paying £1 - absolutely not the case!(in other industries also)
Dear me!
These threads are depressing
Cost to change an inner tube? Who are these wealthy individuals who will fit a new tube every time some air escapes from the wrong place?
Cost to repair an innertube? 49.83 pence, FFS!
The cost of tyre levers, pumps, CO2, etc is the same regardless of the repair/replace option. I buy 'Park Tools Instant Patches' at £2.99 for six, and patch the punctured tube whenever possible. Yes, I do carry two spare tubes per bike, but I'll always at least try to patch a tube and refit it at the roadside, and if I can't, it goes home to be patched there. My MTB was running with at least two dozen patches over three tubes last time I looked, but it could easily be an even higher number. Hell's teeth! I've got better things to spend my cycling budget on than a constant stream of new inner tubes. Think about all the tubes you're getting through, and work out what shiny bits'n'bobs you could have bought with that same money instead! It's madness, I tell thee...
These threads are depressing
Cost to change an inner tube? Who are these wealthy individuals who will fit a new tube every time some air escapes from the wrong place?
Cost to repair an innertube? 49.83 pence, FFS!
The cost of tyre levers, pumps, CO2, etc is the same regardless of the repair/replace option. I buy 'Park Tools Instant Patches' at £2.99 for six, and patch the punctured tube whenever possible. Yes, I do carry two spare tubes per bike, but I'll always at least try to patch a tube and refit it at the roadside, and if I can't, it goes home to be patched there. My MTB was running with at least two dozen patches over three tubes last time I looked, but it could easily be an even higher number. Hell's teeth! I've got better things to spend my cycling budget on than a constant stream of new inner tubes. Think about all the tubes you're getting through, and work out what shiny bits'n'bobs you could have bought with that same money instead! It's madness, I tell thee...
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