|   Working at a LBS | eayste
Jan 23, 2003 2:49 PM | | The owner of the LBS that I frequent asked me if I would be interested in working Parttime one or 2 days a week at this shop.
Mainly doing light repairs and helping customers.
I have good knowledge of products that are out there and
excellent mechanical abilities.
First off . I'm not doing this for the money.
Which I'm sure is a good thing since I know this job won't pay much.
I'm mainly doing because I enjoy working on bikes and bikes themselves.
I have a tech and customer service background so helping people is no big deal.
But what I really want to know , from those if you who may have worked or are working in a shop is ...
How's it really gonna be ?
In the slow times of the year I will hang out there and BS with the wrenches and watch them work and help people and it doesn't look that bad at all .
My expectations are low so I'm really not expecting much.
Hopefully maybe meet a few more people to go riding with. |
| it's fun | laffeaux
Jan 23, 2003 2:57 PM | | I work a couple of days a week (9 hours per week total) in a LBS. Most of the time it's fun. I thought I knew a lot about bikes until I started working there, and then realized I actually knew little. I was prepared fot the bike questions, but questions about sunglasses, women's clothes, kid's bikes, and "will these toe covers work with my Speedplay pedals?" through me for a loop.
However all in all it's fun. It's a lot of fun to talk with knowledgable customers. It's tougher to explain to someone the knows nothing about bikes why Deore is better than Alivio. |
| p.s. | laffeaux
Jan 23, 2003 2:58 PM | | I forgot to mention that the discount that you get on everything in the store is quite nice too. |
| damn, it gets boring when it is slow, but....man when its rollin | Sproket the Rocket
Jan 23, 2003 2:59 PM | | its rollin!!! yea, most of us used to hang out and clean the shop floor, the tools, check on the inventory and chat with the customers longer than ususl. Sometimes we just closed up and went riding....great shop to work at though....that about my experiences!!
Chris |
| When it's slow, what about the floor races? | TNC
Jan 23, 2003 5:01 PM | | Just this evening, I was racing one of the other guys through the shop--me on a Trek cruiser and him on a Specialized Allez Comp. An odd matchup, but very entertaining. Those fat cruise tires were the ticket on that slick linoleum. |
| When the evil boss was gone... | xl_cheese
Jan 23, 2003 6:15 PM | | I couldn't begin to tell you the stories.
BMX tag for one. kind of like tag on bmx bikes with a fly swatter.
you just gotta clean up all the skid marks and pick up the shoe boxes and put the clothes back on the racks.
Our boss was soooo cheap that he would turn the heat down... way down when he left in the evening. we closed at 9pm. It would be freezing! So we would put on the nice north face jackets to help custies and do bike repairs.
I could go on, but I gotta go. |
| So, what's your boss's phone #?--LOL--nm | TNC
Jan 23, 2003 8:03 PM | | |
| How big of shop ? | eayste
Jan 23, 2003 3:10 PM | | How big of shop did you guys work in ?
During the slow season there is the owner and 2 full time guys.
During summer he mainly has himself , the 2 full time guys and 2 to 3 part timers.
So it's a smaller operation.
Looks like I'll have to brush up on my knowledge of clothing and glasses . (EEK) :P
But I am definatley looking forwards to talking shop . |
| How big of shop ? | laffeaux
Jan 23, 2003 3:46 PM | | The one I work in is bigger than most. Most everyoe one is part time. On a weekend there are probably 4-6 sales people, and 2-3 mechanics on duty. |
| hang out and see | bn
Jan 23, 2003 9:13 PM | | some shops are fun, some suck. or just do it and bail if it blows- you've already seen that it's not too bad |
| hang out and see | eayste
Jan 23, 2003 9:32 PM | | yeah , I get along really well with the wrenches and the owner , who is also a wrench , and in the summer we try to go a weekly group ride.
But I'm not sure what this will translate into in a business enviroment. But I've been going to this shop for nearly 6 years.
and am there once a week in the winter. I know alot of there return customers from rides and seeing them there.
So it will be interesting. |
| best gig in town... | Grimey
Jan 23, 2003 10:45 PM | | Through out Junior High, HS, and now College, I have been working off and on at bike shops. Out of all the jobs I have, quite a few, its the best fit for me. Scheduling rocks...
Yeah, If your on the floor, bike knowledge means little. You have to know all the accesories, sell all the accesories, and the toughest part, explain to people what it does, why they need and the cost. Its all in all not that tough. There is the boring stuff, bringing in and out bikes, cleaning, but that is any retail job.
For wrenching, its a little different then goofing with your bike. Remember most people bring there bikes in after they break. Most new mechanics either don't fully fix something, or fix it too much. People expect there stuff to be perfect and not just good enough. Also, people will freak when you do work that was not autorized(well not work that didn't require parts, but you shouldn't give labor away). Plus, my personal favorite part, is dealing with people's "accidental" breakage. This is soo funny, you won't believe how many times you hear 'I was just riding along and then...'
After hours and slow hours, well.. that depends on the shop. Good shops, as in ones that make money, have you doing stuff in the slow periods. But, if everything is perfect(not likely, but eh), there is tons of crazy madness. If you luck out, and your shop sells recumbents, those area blast to d$ck around on. Also making weird custom hybrid hunks of junk out of bikes people give you and spare parts(Once we chopper a small lady's road bike, cut the seat staysoff, ran cruiser wheels, mountain bike fork, ultra high rise stem, 60's shcwinn crate bars... funny stuff)
remember, altho its a 'play job for you', its a livelyhood for someone else and good shops, in tip top shape(sales, accounting, repairs, labor, rent, etc..), only 5% of sales is net profit.
~Grimey |
| at a LBS it is never about money, but the fun! | damion
Jan 24, 2003 12:34 PM | | I have been working at a LBS in Alaska for 2 years, after deciding that I was not going to work behind a desk any longer.You will have the time of your life! |
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