Please elaborate. I'm trying to imagine how one finds "wild and elaborate ways" in which to buy something at a shop. Particularly if it inconveniences the shop owner. Sounds like your "hobby" is more like harassment perhaps.

hows this for elaboration: I'm asking them to swap parts on my bikes because I don't have tools, skills, a supplier and shop.
your comment sounds like harassment.

Do you pay in rolls of nickels?

What on earth is this hobby???

Ah, the ever entitled customer. Please, do take your business elsewhere. You sound like an ass.

the motto "the customer is always right"?
hell yeah, i'd take my business elsewhere if they're treating you like that.

Bike shops in Vancouver are terrible.

ok, ok. so I buy bikes off of craigslist. I have a bit of a campsite rule with them and make them better than I found them by getting actual pros to fix them before I sell them after I try them out for a while (i usually lose money but at least I have a conscience).

sometimes I consign them at their shops. they are lucky that they are even making money at all, considering the amount of cheap bikes on CL.

\sheesh

Not sure what planet you're from, but here on earth shop keepers expect people to pay actual dollars for merchandise. Your wild and elaborate scheme of "swapping" doesn't fit well with the normal money-for-goods situation in stores. Perhaps trying a swap meet would make more sense? Your actions remind me of a special guy who used to come into a store I worked at who kept plastic straws stuck in his hair, and wanted us to accept them in lieu of cash. Shockingly , the store owner didn't find his wild and elaborate ways to be of his liking either, and the gentleman was ever-so-gently encouraged to take a hike. I assume you do understand that stores are in business to make money, right?

Is it harder to stalk people while you're riding your bike? U need to put the smart phone down, right?