Aug
22
“Please note: Israeli solder not included in auction.”
August 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Check it out. Having a little fun with my shop’s eBay sales. This is one silly, silly frame, and modeling it is one salesperson who is very good at selling silly, outdated things. He wants to take this frame home for free. I want to sell it for $$.
Mar
30
Five bikes
March 30, 2009 | 1 Comment
I’m back on regular staff at the bike shop, and last weekend I weathered the first big spring sale. As a not particularly successful salesperson, I nevertheless did a bit better than average. I sure was tired out afterwards. I have noticed that I eat nothing but crap when I am at the shop – [...]
Mar
19
eBay bike sales etiquette?
March 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Lately, I’ve been trying to sell items on eBay for the bike shop where I work. It has been going well enough for small items like winter shoes, and I’ve even sold a couple of out-of-date trainers. I really made myself worthwhile by selling a pair of four-figure-priced carbon wheels, but I have been unable [...]
Oct
10
Okay, more generous
October 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Going back to the yoga class may have good benefits, in that it will help me be less annoyed at customers. After a guy came into the shop on Wednesday, said he knew nothing about road bikes, tried a few, asked to try something more expensive, and then instantly bought the $3,999 bike, I thought [...]
Oct
2
Things I don’t understand about customers
October 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment
1) The other day, I fielded some questions from a normal, non-cyclist-looking guy asking for Trek Madone 6.9 with Sram Red. That’s a $6,999 ticket at my shop, perhaps more with the components. If you’re going to spend that much on a bike, why not get something really interesting, or go custom, instead of getting [...]
Sep
27
“There isn’t a sign”
September 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment
I was at the shop today when I spotted a customer riding a bike through the alleys of display bikes and between clothing racks. This is a big no-no. The clothing people yell at me if I even walk a bike through that area, wanting to avoid getting any grease on sale items. And as [...]
Sep
15
Tired of the bike shop
September 15, 2008 | 1 Comment
Is it the bike shop, or the people who come to shop there? Lately, there seems to be a line of stupid people collecting outside the door, waiting to come in and ask dumb questions.
I think it’s very possible that I was more generous and willing to help when I first started working at the [...]
Aug
25
This freaky guy
August 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment
He was a customer at my bike shop. Did he buy anything? I don’t know. I know he was known to be difficult.
Read all about him in this fascinating New York Times article.
Aug
18
S-class: I have been negligent
August 18, 2008 | 1 Comment
I love artisanal bicycle caps. They don’t always suit me, but I always give them a try. Imagine my delight when my own hosting site gave birth to an interesting hat-making project in the hands of s-class, who has been making caps and giving them away anonymously around Boston.
Thinking that I would never, ever stumble [...]
Aug
17
No sales-tax weekend
August 17, 2008 | 2 Comments
It nearly killed me.
The shop was flooded with people who wanted to save $15 on a bike. Though I guess the woman who bought the $2399 Colnago (plus the $1600 Ultegra build kit) probably got a little better deal. On the pleasanter side, I did get to help two couples that I know, and [...]
