Babylon Bicycle Shop Ltd — Local services in Town of Babylon

If I could give this bike shop ZERO stars I would. i went in on Sunday 08/04/2024 for a tire replacement. I was borrowing an electric bike from a friend and it needed a new tire. I had the tire and the rim because it all needed to be replaced. I went in and was told to bring the bike in. The bike is heavy and I struggled to bring the bike in no-one offered any help. Once I had the bike in the shop I was told I had to remove the battery. I AM BORROWING THIS BIKE AND NOT SURE WHERE OR HOW TO REMOVE THE BATTERY. I asked the guy who told me to remove it for help as I am only borrowing the bike he told me NO!! Their business is in customer service, what kind of customer service are you providing by telling customers no! As i was trying to figure it out he then proceeded to berate me for where I was in the shop trying to locate the battery. After about 10 minutes of struggling I still couldn't figure it out I said I am just going to go to another shop, I was told OKAY! Once again what kind of customer service is this shop providing?!?! At this point I went out side to trying and get help from my disabled passenger because I knew they weren't going to help me get the bike back outside. As I am outside getting my disabled help the guy in the shop decided to bring my bike out for me and put it in the bike rack without saying one word to me and walking back inside. Once again what kind of customer service is this shop providing?!?! Every person in that shop was male, workers and customers. it has me questioning the guys motive. Are his customer service skills seriously lacking or was it a mix of terrible customer service skills and male chauvinist outlook. I brought my bike to BIKE DEPOT IN EAST ISLIP and they helped me out, no need for me to take the battery out and I was done within the hour. I will never ever go back to bbs. I know one person out of the hoards that "love" them doesn't mean much but if my experience can help deter at least one more person from going there this review will serve its purpose.

edit: Ryan was the one with the horrible customer service skill set and male chauvinist outlook.

Reply: if it was explained properly to me then I could understand but it was not, nor was help offered through out the entire process, brining the bike in to bringing it back out. Once again it is all a reflection of poor customer service skills of BBS. To boot isn't Ryan a partial owner? If there is poor customer service at the top of the chain I can only imagine how much worse the customer service level is at the employee level is. Some more training is needed...

I went twice in the past week. Both times, I had my rim and a new inner tube in hand, and all I needed was for them to replace the inner tube. The same young guy did an excellent job both times (he even recognized me the second time), and I was in and out in under 15 minutes.

So, why 1 star? Well, the first time, an older man set the price - since I brought my own inner tube, he said $10. No problem. The second time, the older man was not there, and some middle-aged man set the price - $20. Since I was there just days prior for the same exact job, I said, "Just out of curiosity, why is it $20? I was here just days ago for the same job and was charged $10."

This seemed to set him off, and he immediately went into defensive mode. "We just spent 15 minutes sanding down the rim!"

False. "No, your guy took 15 seconds to scuff it - I was there, watching the entire time." He continues, "Well, we still had to diagnose it!"

False. "No, I pointed out the imperfections in the rim and asked your guys if that might be the problem." Which it wasn't, BTW, because the hole in the inner tube was not on the inner side. The young guys doing the work pointed this out, but the middle-aged man clearly did not take notice.

He then turned to the woman actually charging me and told her, "Just charge him $10, and he won't be back."

Yep. I just got banned from the local bike shop because management could not explain why I got charged two different amounts for the same work.

FWIW, this isn't about the $10; this is about the inconsistency. Had they charged me $20 the first time (which I would have paid, and I would have still went back today), then we wouldn't have had this conversation. Hell, if he had simply said, "Sorry, $10 was too low for that job, we do have to charge $20." - or even, "Sorry, your rim is heavier than usual, so we do have to charge $20." - or any other believable reason, then I would have gladly paid the $20.

So, shoutout to the middle-aged man with the attitude. You're right, I won't be back - not because you banned me, but because I don't want to deal with your attitude. You've earned your store a 1 star review.

I feel bad for the younger guys doing the actual work. If you guys read this, listen, if I could have just given YOU the $20, I wouldn't have even questioned the price difference, because I'd know you're not just pulling a number out of...

I have been a BB customer for well over 20 years. I had purchased 4 bikes before this year : a Fuji road bike for my wife, later a carbon fiber Specialized Amira, once it was clear she was hooked, another Specialized for my friend (now in his garage on airless tires, no doubt) and my Specialized Festina M4 with a full Campagnolo groupset. Every time, Mike checked every detail and made sure that every component met my needs, size and riding style.

I rode the heck out of that Specialized until my wife, God bless her, showed me a beautiful Cervelo on Craigslist and suggested I buy it. She said it was time, and after 18 years, it surely was. I called Cervelo to verify that the bike was legit and not stolen nor counterfeit. It checked out, but the rep advised against buying used a carbon bike.

I decided to call Mike, knowing that he would shoot straight and not try to just sell be a new bike for his his own good. He gave me the pros and cons and let me decide. I was willing to spend a good amount of money, but any married guy knows they need to be (somewhat) reasonable.

We went back and forth, with Mike checking options, preferences, prices and he came up with a beautiful Cannondale System Six carbon, with an Ultegra groupset at a price that I (and my wife) were very happy with.

I should mention that I moved from Long Island 6 years ago, and still use only Babylon Bike because I TRUST them, even if it means renting a car and driving out from our apartment in the city whenever I needed more than some tubes or basic items.

Mike is a gentleman, knowledgeable and takes the time to get to know what you need and what will be best for you...not him. Not that he shouldn't make a good living either, but he has done right by me time and again.

I am sure I tested his patience hanging around the shop and BS-ing when I was just getting a tube or some gels back in the day, but he never let on. Thanks, Mike for all you've done.

Thanks as well to his mechanics, who ensure that our bikes shift flawlessly, and ride like a dream. Top notch. And to his business partner, Doug, who didn't forget my name, even when I walked in and he had not seen me in years. Things like this makes a...