You Get More Than You Pay For

I have a co-worker, and he and I often joke about customers that grouse about paying retail, paying for good labor, or just paying anything period. We say that, "Yeah, we're here to rip you off and send you out there with substandard repairs. We are EVIL!"

And we do that because, of course, that is so patently false that it is humorous to us shop mechanics. We don't try to "screw" anyone over. We really don't.

In fact, as today's Tweet from a fellow mechanic in a Kansas City shop illustrates, we actually do things to your bicycles you don't ask for or even know about because, well.......we are mechanics. It actually pains me to hear a squeaky chain. Really, it does, so if you have a flat repair and your chain is squeaky, guess what? I probably lubed it for you. I cannot count how many times I've made free head set adjustments when the customer never asked for that. Truing wheels? All the time when it comes to brake adjustments, because,well.......I am a mechanic. 

Look, if we actually charged for everything we did, you would be livid. Really. You have zero idea how many freebies we throw out there as mechanics, and the upshot is, we really shouldn't be doing these things we do for free. 

But we cannot help it,because we are mechanics. 

Tales From The Bike Shop Series

Like a snowy commute in mid-April, this blog has been cold too long!

First off, I apologize for the lack of posts on this blog. However; in the interim silence, I have discovered a new purpose for this blog and it will be updated more regularly now.

The idea is to give some space to issues regarding navigating the current retail marketplace as it pertains to the "Local Bike Shop", or "LBS".

I'll be giving my takes on how current retail practices and those of the disruptive, "internet" based commerce are affecting the consumer's experience from a "real world" perspective. Not some talking head's opinion of what is going to happen to retail, but what actually is happening in current retail in bike shops. 

So, hang on as I delve into big issues and small. I'll have some views from the shop floor and tales of  the industry at large. I hope that it proves to be an interesting change in direction here.

Stay tuned............................