How to lose a customer

How to lose a customer*: 

1. Don't call me when my bike is done.  When I call you, tell me there was no answering machine even though I gave you my cell number and I know that's not true.

2. Don't do the whole job.  Even if I tell you that I have a race coming up and need my seriously wobbly wheel fixed, do a half-ass job that leaves it in pretty much the same condition as I brought it and then call it a day.

3.  Don't mention that you couldn't fix the wheel.  When I (foolishly) assume it's done and leave without looking closely at it, watch me go.


How to get free beer:

1. Work on my bike for me.

Luckily, I have a couple of awesome friends who've done this for me, some more than once. Thanks, Wade! And Chuck, I owe you one...or six. :)

Comments

  1. That is so freaking irritating - I hope you compained and didn't end up paying for a job they didn't do. And I hope you let all your area cyclist friends know where NOT to go...

    I'd always rather pay in beer :)

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  2. There was no cost, but I bought a pair of gloves there that I'll be returning this weekend. And I'll let them know why I'm not spending $$ in their store.

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  3. No beer needed, trail running workouts are way more fun :)

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  4. I think they deserve to have a pic of their store at the start of this post..free publicity....

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  5. Hum... on one hand we have the bike mechanic, who is hopefully sober but can't turn a wrench more than a quarter turn, and then we have your friends, who you've given free beer to, trying to turn that wrench. I'm not sure I want to be you right now!

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  6. No, no, Jill...the beer comes AFTER! lol

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  7. I hope you have lots of other bike shops to choose from.

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  8. free beer? Yes, I'll work on your bike. :) Well, nevermind, wouldn't have a clue but I'd have a beer with you and we could talk about your bike. And your upcoming race.

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  9. That was crappy service.

    I need to make friends with Wade and Chuck. I'll pay them in beer to teach me how to fix my bike myself.

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  10. No excuse for that nonsense! Good on your pals for hooking you up.

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  11. Rrrrr. You also forgot: be sure to sweat the small stuff and decide that $25 is more important that keeping a customer. There are three bike places here in town that lost our business due to bad service, and one of them gave everyone bad service and then went out of business. One of them claimed to have tuned up my bike, and a bike pro at a race I went to said that the head was "Dangerously Loose" afterward. Another built a wheel for my husband and then refused to fix it when it fell apart within a couple weeks, insisting that he pay for that. I know have my bike cared for by a serious bike nerd who works out of his garage.

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  12. Friend fixers are so much better anyway!

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  13. Just remember: give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in the boat and drink beer all day.

    I was thinking I should put on a series of repair and maintenance clinics for the tri club. Interested?

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  14. Glad you have good friends.
    No more money and shopping in that shop!

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