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
27
Reviews: Fenders and tires
August 27, 2008 | 1 Comment
I bought some fancy German fenders - or “mudguards”, as they call them - for my commuter bike during the recent tax-free holiday, and finally got around to installing them last night. Aren’t we led to believe that German engineering is superior? Hence my selection.
Let me assure you, I am not particularly mechanically astute - […]
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 […]
May
3
Tiring.
May 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Monday, Thursday, Friday, no sales. Worried I had already run through my mojo.
Saturday, a rainy day, that meant it would be a quieter one, right? I sold one Specialized Globe ($339.99), one Lemond Tourmalet ($1,149.99), one Trek Soho S ($499.99), and one Trek 7.2FX ($439.99).
Didn’t go to lunch until 4:45. Shop closed at 6pm. Quiet […]
