Minnetonka Repair Business: Always Switching Gears

Everyone loves opening gifts around the holidays, but depending on the surprise, assembling it can be quite the hassle.

The , a Minnetonka outdoors equipment repair shop, could be your solution to that problem.

“If you have a gift that is difficult to assemble or it is just not convenient for you to do so, we can take care of it,” said Michael Metzler, owner of Gear Doctors. “We do a lot of bike tuning and repair, so a lot of people bring in their bikes, but this year we decided to open it up to really anything.”

Assembling your dad’s new workbench or your daughter’s new playhouse is just one of the many services on the laundry list of what Metzler’s shop has to offer. From repairing and tuning bicycles and snowboards, to fixing tents, canoes and even outdoor inflatables, Metzler said their expertise lies in their ability to fix almost anything.

“I’m starting to get to the point where I’m running out of stuff that I haven’t seen come through the store,” Metzler said. “I’m still a student in that I’m always researching and learning new things. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. We can figure it out.”

The most bizarre equipment Metzler has worked on includes a custom recumbent bike, a floating trampoline and a tent for a dog.

The Gear Doctors opened in Minnetonka in May at the West End Plaza but recently moved to a new location on County Road 101. In addition to providing repair and tuning services, they do fabric waterproofing, canvas work and buy and sell used camping gear.

Metzler and crew work with a variety of local businesses and organizations including the Boy Scouts, and A Better Society. Manager Rob Gaskill turns to the Gear Doctors to help him get his used sporting goods ready to sell.

“I work with them quite a bit and they always do a quality job,” Gaskill said. “They have a great turnaround time and work on things that most people wouldn’t even think would be able to be fixed.”

Gear Doctors offers a 25 percent off discount for people who bring their snowboards, skis and other Way to Go Sports equipment to them for tuning and repair. They also provide a seasonal discount of 20 percent off all equipment and repairs through December. Customers can get lifetime deals through their loyalty program.

“We want to keep our prices affordable so it is a viable option for people to repair things,” Metzler said. “We feel good about recycling and helping people save money on buying new products.”

Gear Doctors is located at 3644 County Road 101 South and is open weekly 12-8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10-6 p.m. on Saturday. Check out their web site for more information on pricing and service packages.