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 It has been going well enough for small items like winter shoes, and I’ve even sold a couple of out-of-date trainers.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 [...]
Jul
2
Difficult customer
July 2, 2008 | 2 Comments
I picked up the phone yesterday and engaged myself in the most difficult sale I have yet encountered. The gentleman on the other end wanted to buy a bike that we carry, namely the Trek Portland. It’s a bike which I frankly think is a bit odd, what with the drop bars, weirdly straight carbon [...]
