Originally Posted by
PlatyPius
Why does everyone assume that a bike mechanic is a "minimum wage summer jobby kid"?
When assembling a BikesDirect bike, we stripped it. Completely. Then we built it up properly. We earned the $40-$60 we charged to build them.
If I ran the mechanic's area of a bike-shop, that would be expected. And I would certainly do the same as well. Hiring a 16 year old Dad's Garage-Rat with a pair of vice-grips would require my training him/her how to do these things and do them correctly. I could just tell Jr. to slap 'em together and move it out - but that wouldn't exactly charm the customer into returning to us. And I would hope all the shops in the area just did the slap & push. It would create a steady trickle of return business.
I may well be that head-mechanic relatively soon. Until then, I'll continue doing custom work here and there - and do it right.