Your Loyalty May Be Killing Us!
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At some point in a shop owners/builders life we’re faced with a hard question we have to answer: “Do we close the working/building part of the shop to the public or keep it open”. It’s a double edge sword. The reason? It’s”bro’s” that stop by to “chat” that are the same ones telling people about our shop BUT it’s these same “bro’s” that take us away from what we make our living from, which is building and repairing. Don’t get me wrong, we love the “bro” who stops by and wants a quick answer on getting something worked out. Answers are given out with a sense of pride in helping a fellow biker and is given freely. Note: Freely.
When a “brother/sister” decides to stop by a shop and spend a few hours “jawboning” with the “crew” they are taking money out of that shops pocket. Period. Cause “time equals money“. Add on top of that not purchasing something and the “brothers” are adding insult onto injury for that shop. Shops know it’s NOT malicious but it happens regularly and it’s killing them. Supporters are killing the shops they love. People don’t hang out at the local garage “talking shop” all day. So, why do it to your local bike shop, which you love?
So, what’s a guy/gal to do if they really want to support their local shop in a positive manner? Here’s some advice.
1) If you stop by your local shop frequently, buy something! Anything! It doesn’t have to be hugh. A $5 part, can of oil, clutch cable or t-shirt to help offset the time your shop owner/mechanic spent with you.
2) If you’re having a shop fix a bike, build a bike, order a part etc for you and they call and tell you it’s fixed, completed or arrived, get over there in a timely manner and pay for it! These small shops live and die on cash flow. For the most part, shops aren’t cash flow deep or bankrolled heavily (you don’t see them driving Lambo’s, Hummers etc., do ya?). So, pay your bill and take your part or bike home.
3) Quit nickel and dime’n them! If you can’t afford to pay for something when you have it made, then don’t do it. Having a part(s) made and not being timely in paying your bill promptly hurts a shop more than you know. Many shops are now being forced to have customers pay up front before they build a part simply because of this problem. It’s only fair that you pay them the agreed amount and the agreed time.
Bike builders put their life into their shop. They work 12-16 hour days trying to live their dream of having a successful shop which takes them away from their family and loved ones. The least bikers can do if they really want to support their local shop is to respect their time. Shops deserve at least that much!
