Dear LBS

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Miles,
I hear ya!
I run a shop also and have stock sitting there that was ordered in by someone and never picked up. This stuff builds up over time until we have a Saturday morning sale and generally sell it for less than what it cost us.
How many times we have sat there waiting for the customer to come pick up the tube, or pump, or whatever I can't remember, but what I do know is I appreciate the guy who does that for me so we do it for our customers. 
The online pricing seems absurd to me. We deliberately try to keep parity with on line product and generally can,albiet with reduced margin, but it means our customers can come down for a ride, a coffee and a talk about this weekends ride and still get what they want (if we have it in stock).
No matter, however, how much stock you carry someone always wants the item you don't have and then gets upset because you don't have it.
It's a real balancing act to try to have what most people need whilst not filling your store with parts that won't sell.
In short, support your LBS and try to work with them, as Miles says,the owner is usually a passionate cyclist and understands what you want and will most times try their best to make your day a good one.

Rod Skeggs

Sent from my iPhone