We went to M-park in Carouge this morning to have a regular bicycle serviced, since we saw someone recommending them on EF.
The problem was a flat tire - so we figured, how much this can be - 50 CHF at most.
The lady at the counter first said she didn't know how much it would be, then after checking something in the computer - she said 150 CHF, we asked her to repeat a few times - I was really shocked. I felt like and . I said "sorry, let me take the bike back - the bike isn't worth 150". She looked really surprised and upset.
My wife said - "screw it - let's just buy tire and tools and do it ourselves". Or buy a new bike for 200CHF in Big Jumbo or whatever it's called.
I guess this is why nothing is open on Sundays, so that people who catch up on their DIYs
Are you sure that Migros offered to repair bicycles ? service them ? change tires of bicycles ? I would never have jumped to such an idea .
I suppose they hand such bicycles out to a bike-repair-shop for a total comprehensive overall-check and repair. They presumably pay CHF 120.-- and a bit of profit.
I'd venture the guess that most Swiss and residents do this by themselves, since it is a 5-10 minute job... Probably not enough demand to keep this service available at good rates.. Plus, there's always one or two that will fall for it..
We saw an innertube vending machine outside a bike shop in Basel - thought it was great that you could get a spare 24/7 in case of emergencies but thought they would be seriously overpriced - but only 10CHF per innertube - and tied up next to the vending machine was a free bike pump!!!! Now that's service.
It's not hard to do this yourself. Inner tubes are cheap (well, they are in Germany and the UK - I don't know about here) and a set of plastic tyre levers is also cheap (or you can use teaspoons!).
I got a puncture a year or so ago in central Paris, with no tools or spare kit. Pushed the bike to a Decathlon and they replaced the inner tube for 8€, which included around 3€ for the inner tube.
They are having a laugh. I just had two adult bikes checked over - included new brake pads, tension in the gears adjusted, rear wheel replaced on one bike which was slightly bent after an accident, new rear brake cable on another - less than CHF 50 per bike which was probably a minimum charge.
Oops, I guess they must have misunderstood your request... Got me new tyres for CHF26 each (CHF52 in total). Bike repair kit from Lidl (less than CHF15) which included the glue, patches, plastic tyre's removal tool (4xlevers)and set of hex Allen keys. The best option is to DIY. Finished and clear.
Sounds to me like she looked up the wrong thing, you should have asked to speak to someone else. I had a similar WTF moment at a travel agent when I was quoted €3,600 for an economy rtn to Cairo. These were the days before online travel, so I had schlepp to another agent for a better deal, and I found it. Same flight, dates etc.. for €300. Sometimes silly people and computers just don't mix.
I see. So, in that case, we have to assume that the lady on her computer made a mistake, or based her calculation on the idea that the bike needed a total renovation. In short, she was wrong.