What to do when dealing with bike shop employees:
Hopefully when you come into a shop, you are treated respectfully and your bike repaired properly. But, this is not always the case. It’s unfortunate that this happens, and even though I am a mechanic, I feel intimidated when I go into certain shops.
If an employee is hitting you and you don’t like it/want them too/it makes you feel uncomfortable: (i.e. taking in your bike in for repair, and calling you honey/baby/sweetheart/etc) You say: “Yes Sir. Thank you Sir...” or if it happens: “Yes Ma’am...” (though, that’s not so common, and I hope I’m not guilty of being that person...) Either way, using these pronouns will let them know that you aren’t okay with their conduct- that you’d like to stick to a professional interaction.
If someone is talking down to you****: go ahead and tell them off. Or just take your bike, tell them you aren’t an idiot, and that they should treat their customers with respect. Find another shop. I typically like to shoot off some of my knowledge when people are being assy because they assume I don’t know anything about bikes. I’ll talk about my Colnago, or how I’ve been searching for Shimano Dura Ace 7401. That I’m in the process of collecting parts to build a set of tubular wheels, and that I went to bike school. If I could, I’d like to change the mind of every sexist asshole that I can- but- I really don’t have enough time, nor energy. I’ve dealt with this from the other side of the counter (being the shop employee, and being treated like I didn’t know anything) and it’s infuriating. I’ve been told “Well, it’s a technical question...” I’ll go on to answer their question, and then they proceed to ask the guys in the shop the SAME shit. The guys at my shop, of course, say the same things I said. All I can do is hope that these people feel like hell about themselves. It’s worse with women though... anyways, this is about you, not me. (My point being this: you can’t change everyone)
****There is a sidenote to the above: there are a lot of people out there that don’t know how to use their bikes. There are a lot of issues that can be solved by learning how to properly shift. Do not take offense if someone is trying to teach you something- because they aren’t trying to offend you. But- if they are talking to you like a 1st grader, tell them that you’re (however)-old and you can understand what they are saying, that they can talk to you like an “adult.”
If you are happy with the service you recieved: and you want to know how to say thank you? Beer. Money tips are kind of awkward- some shops (like the shop I work at) “don’t allow” their employees to accept tips. There’s a tip jar- sure- but that money... I’m not sure where it goes. We started snagging it and using it to buy coffee- but- my boss started checking the jar everynight. Beer is the best tip, I don’t know any shop that would be upset/sad if you showed up with a six/twelve/twenty-four pack. Hell, I got a bottle of tequila for my 21st birthday from a customer- I was stoked!
If you aren’t happy with the service you recieved: make sure you look at the receipt you got. Did you sign anything that said you’d pay up to a certain % more than the estimate? Did you sign anything? If you did, make sure you READ whatever you signed. Also- think twice before you sign ANYTHING. You read your lease, right? BUT, remember you are the customer. If you feel taken advantage of or that there was a mistake made- calm down. Talk to the mechanic that worked on your bike, and ask them questions. If you start accusing them of messing up, they will get defensive and you won’t get anywhere. If you’re nice about it, they will be more apt to admit mistakes (if they were made...) I realise I am usually on the side of the mechanic- a lot of people like to think they can complain to whomever is ringing them up and they will lessen the labor charges... but that’s not how it works. There’s a reason we give you estimates. I always try and over-estimate how much something is going to cost if I’m not sure how long it’ll take. (A lot of shops have hourly rates, so certain repairs are judged on that rate, rather than a fixed dollar amount. Some bikes are in worse shape than others, and it might take 30 minutes to overhaul a bottom bracket or an hour if it’s stuck...) Anyways, the best way to confront someone about their repair work, is to be calm, not accuse, and be cool. They will (hopefully) fix any mistakes, and it’ll be pleasant all around.
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