sdime

I found this store on the internet: https://www.citybikes.coop/

How is a "bicycle coop" different from a regular bicycle store?

pirate

the bike coop around my neck of the woods provides tools, space and vounteer mechanics. they teach you how to fix whatever problem you have with your bike and you do the work yourself, so you learn how to work on your bike. I'm almost positive that they are a non-profit. pretty sweet. They also have the biggest selection of cheap, used bike parts in town. I think the one you linked to is just an employee owned bike shop though, which is still pretty cool.

Blue Order

It's owned collectively by the workers.

sdime

Like Communism? I hope the quality of service doesn't suck like Communism. I want to order a saddle bag from them.

tulip

The bike coop in my former town was really cool. It was not owned by anyone; it is a division of the City and they partnered with a non-profit. You could go there to work on your bike, learn things, and help out kids who earned their bikes by learning to fix them by working on them. It's neat idea, stemming from and serving the community. They also had cleanup days on the trails and bike rides for people of various abilities. You could also buy used bikes from them.

kbrown

Yes, because when ever the working class have control over their jobs and lives it's automatically Communism. Seriously though I wouldn't worry to much about not getting my order if I placed one with them. But it is the internet and anything can happen. If you have an actual bike co-op around I hear they're great, I don't have any around me.

Anyways it's always good to see another Texan on a bicycle.

M_S

That's where I bought my bike.

And in cas eyou were wondering it's "co-op," proounced with two syllables. As opposed to one, like as in the place to keep chickens

Yeah, there is one. but a lot of people work there, so for the most part it's great. They don't try to hustle you into a sale, but everyone but that one guy is very friendly.

Blue Order

Well if you order mail order, maybe the quality of service will be better? I've heard numerous reports about one condescending eye-rolling worker there, which would place the quality of service about at the "communist" level. (In contrast, the capitalist bike shops in town have great reputations for customer service. BUT....Surely capitalist bike shops aren't immune from the eye-rolling syndrome?).

I wouldn't let the eye-roller scare you off, though, if you want to buy something mail order.

sdime

I gonna have to hand over my credit card number, so you can't blame me for being skeptical.

M_S

It's a local shop here in Portland. I didn't even know they did online orders.

Blue Order

Don't let the "worker-owned" scare you off. They're legit.

WilliamK1974

I wish we had one in my area. It would be nice to have access to proper tools and people who are willing to share what they know. Not that there's anything wrong with making a buck off of bikes, but you can't always afford professional help.

With all that's going on with bikes in Chattanooga, something like this could happen. But it could be a good while before it does.

For-profit enterprises are not immune from eye-rolling syndrome, but if people like that alienate enough customers, the owner will take action to change that. If the owner is acting like that, they won't be in business long unless they're really good.

donnamb 

Co-op is short for cooperative. Most cooperatives adhere to the Rochdale Principles of Cooperation, established long before communism. One example of a co-op you might be familiar with is a credit union. If you've ever heard of Oregon's Tillamook cheese, it is produced by a farmers' cooperative. I was very involved in student housing cooperatives in college and I currently am a member of a food cooperative.

As for Citybikes, as M_S and Blue Order said - they're totally legit. Factoid: They are the only physical store west of the Rockies that sells Carradice bags and raingear. They may not win the superstar award for exemplary customer service, but they are very, very knowledgable and they're passionate about bikes and getting people on one no matter what their budget is.