Even doing the swap at no cost still erodes confidence in the brand in question. You're saying they can't even spec and then QC a simple cable housing. Why would I then think they can do every other part of the bike well?
Doing it opaquely (not even mentioning it) brings up a whole different can of worms. Now they're unknowingly not getting what they paid for, doesn't matter if you think it's better. What happens if they take it to another dealer shop and they won't warranty a cable or related issue because it's not the original cable? Sure they can bring it back to you, but that's a big surprise and waste of time if they need the repair while somewhere else.
Good on you for trying to make things easier to the customer, but that's a rare shop that willingly takes a hit on the profit margins of a full bike sale. Especially for big brand dealer shops, where you're going to see more questionable housing specs.
Dislike it or not, you're extending the “everyone else does it wrong" attitude by opaquely doing unasked for work, even doing transparently but unbidden. Insisting on swapping on the housing on every bike (of a certain price point spec, I'm assuming) is kinda making a big deal out of it. Spreading the word and doing it upon request for free or cheap is showing attention to detail.
But right now you're telling everyone that you know better than the brands. Literally taking the wrench out of the customer's hands, going "let me do that for you, you want it my way, I know better", so that they never even get the chance to learn about compromises in price-point bikes. If they ever buy from a different shop (or you forget, or decide it's too expensive, to swap blindly), they're going to be pissed when the cables on a similar price-point bike wear out so fast (assuming your fatalism about the whole housing thing is warranted).
Oct. 3, 2023, 1:45 p.m. - Justin White
Even doing the swap at no cost still erodes confidence in the brand in question. You're saying they can't even spec and then QC a simple cable housing. Why would I then think they can do every other part of the bike well? Doing it opaquely (not even mentioning it) brings up a whole different can of worms. Now they're unknowingly not getting what they paid for, doesn't matter if you think it's better. What happens if they take it to another dealer shop and they won't warranty a cable or related issue because it's not the original cable? Sure they can bring it back to you, but that's a big surprise and waste of time if they need the repair while somewhere else. Good on you for trying to make things easier to the customer, but that's a rare shop that willingly takes a hit on the profit margins of a full bike sale. Especially for big brand dealer shops, where you're going to see more questionable housing specs. Dislike it or not, you're extending the “everyone else does it wrong" attitude by opaquely doing unasked for work, even doing transparently but unbidden. Insisting on swapping on the housing on every bike (of a certain price point spec, I'm assuming) is kinda making a big deal out of it. Spreading the word and doing it upon request for free or cheap is showing attention to detail. But right now you're telling everyone that you know better than the brands. Literally taking the wrench out of the customer's hands, going "let me do that for you, you want it my way, I know better", so that they never even get the chance to learn about compromises in price-point bikes. If they ever buy from a different shop (or you forget, or decide it's too expensive, to swap blindly), they're going to be pissed when the cables on a similar price-point bike wear out so fast (assuming your fatalism about the whole housing thing is warranted).