Don’s Hobby & Bike Shop

My husband stopped in here to research snow blowers last year (January 2014). The service he received went above and beyond what you would get at a chain hardware store. Not only did they recommend the perfect snow blower for our needs, but the salesperson also took the time to go through all the details on maintenance and how to get it started, etc. When winter was over, they offered to drain the gas/​oil from it for us. All I had to do was stick it in my trunk and stop in for a few minutes.
If you are looking for lawnmowers, snowblowers, and other lawn equipment, I highly recommend this place. I can’t speak to the hobby/​bike work they do.

I am not happy with the service I got from this shop. So 4 weeks ago, I dropped off my bike to them. The pedal was bent and I was having a issue with the chain would pop sometimes when I changed gears. The kid who checked it in said it would be no problem and could have it fixed the next day, they would call me when it was done. I asked for a rough estimate, he was like 25 dollars. I thought that was super cheap but what the heck it is right down the street from me and I can ride it back home. Well 2 weeks go by and no call. So I called them, the lady on the phone said I think it is done but I will need to check with the tech. I said ok. Never got a call back. So I called again a week later. I think it was the same lady and I asked if they were done now because all it was the pedal and possible alignment issue (what the tech said). She said yes the pedals were done but unsure about the chain issue. So now I am concerned but I figured I would just give them a little more time and come in. Well I waited for another week and went into pick it up. So I am standing there, the girl behind there is playing on her phone and talking to another guy working there. I finally interrupted them, asking for help to pick up my bike. Well she acts like I am ruining her day by asking her to work. So we get my bike from the pile of other bikes. The tires were low. So the older lady came over and had who I am assuming is the owner of the store to take it back and pump some air in the tires. Well I ask the guy if they did anything to fix the chain issue. He is looking at it and asked my how many miles I planned on riding. I asked him why, He says well the back end still needs to fixed and then says that the gear assembly by the pedals is breaking which is the main reason for the chain popping. He looks at me and tells me flat out the bike is not worth fixing, after I already paid for the pedals to be replaced. All he could say is sorry that his tech who checked in the bike or the tech who put on the pedals didn’t call me to let me know there were bigger issues and would not advise fixing it. For the 27 dollars I spent I could have put it to another used bike considering I only paid 50 for bike in the first place. I feel I got cheated because I have a bike I can ride if I only keep it in 1^st gear. Normally I am all about the mom and pop locations. I am not happy with the service/​treatment I received and would not advise anyone else use them either. I am really disappointed because the shop looked real cool and a place I would normally love to shop.

I was looking to buy an electric string trimmer, and my search of local dealers on the Stihl website turned up the Dewar Equipment Company. I drove out there and was surprised and delighted to find that the Dewar Equip. Co. is also Don’s Hobby & Bike Shop. It’s a very old-​school, uncorporate-​style place, and Don Jr., who sold me the trimmer, is the exact sort of pleasant, knowledgeable-​bordering-​on-​obsessive type of person I trust most to advise me in matters beyond my competence.