gpsblake

I won't name the LBS.

They are hiring. I went in, asked him what they were hiring for.

"Bicycle assembler" with additional shop responsibilities like fixing flats, cleaning up.

What is the wage I asked?

"$6.25 an hour"

Also there were no benefits.

And people think Walmart treats people like slaves.

Shavit

"I won't name the LBS."

why not?

Blue Order

Sounds like an entry-level job for a kid. Low pay, no benefits, no experience necessary. Everybody's got to start somewhere (although I'm appalled at the lack of access to health care in the United States.).

Machka 

This one should be a "sticky" for all those who ask about getting a job in a LBS thinking they might be able to make a living at it!!

I would suspect that in most areas of Canada, the going wage in an LBS would be minimum wage (approx. $7/h, I believe) with no benefits or anything ... pretty much the same as Walmart or any other retail store. This is the reason why most LBSs I've encountered are full of teenagers or semi-retired guys. A decent mechanic wouldn't work for that kind of wage.

Blue Order

The difference is, in Canada that entry level employee has a health plan. In the U.S., the health plan is called "Don't Get Sick."

Machka 

Not much of a health plan ... we don't get dental coverage or optomistrist/eyeglass coverage. Plus we have to pay for our own drugs and stuff like that. If we need to go to a physiotherapist, there are only a few which are free for the first 6 or 8 visits, and if we want to go to a chiropractor, it's about $20 per visit!! In addition to that, unless we've got a benefits plan, we have to pay for massages our of our own pockets!!!

Blue Order

Want to trade?

One upside to the entry level LBS job, I've read comments from more than one former LBS shop rat to the effect that they bought their first good bike while working at the LBS.

Machka 

Ummmmmmmm ... nope! I kinda like Canada's system.

Blue Order

Me too...

KrisPistofferson

LOL, what do you think all that'd run down here? I guess the grass is always greener.

crypticlineage

That is still a lot better than what we have in the united states. US needs a healthcare reform. Hopefully dems will bring it in when they acquire power.

piper_chuck

Say it ain't so!!!

gpsblake

It was probably aimed at teenagers considering only two employees were on duty, the owner who I talked to and a kid who looked he was 15 or 16. Still paying someone that low of a wage to assemble expensive bikes makes it hypocritical for those who argue that Walmart doesn't pay s**T for their bicycle assemblers.

Rev.Chuck

I pay $185 a month(out of pocket) for similar benefits. I do get one eye exam a year($15 copay with a 30% discount for lenses, which were still $400, just for the lenses) And they say the Canada system sucks.

islandboy

I must have missed the post "Where can I pay more for my bike repairs so I can sleep at night"

KrisPistofferson

I mean, i'm not expecting the gub'ment to foot the bill for aromatherapy and feng shui, (although acupuncture would be nice, ) but it's funny to hear people with comprehensive health care complain. A lot of us Americans, when we're in our twenties and poor, rely on the "don't get sick" health care plan. Speaking from personal experience, it can put you in a seriously bad spot if and when you do get injured.

All of my medical debts were mountain biking-related, by the way. It's why I took up road cycling and touring, (although I've busted myself up good with those, too.)

Machka 

You do know I'm talking "tongue in cheek" right?

KrisPistofferson

Whew, I am much relieved.

Machka 

I know ... the horror of it all!!


But I got spoiled ... one of the places I used to work gave us health benefits free of charge ... 100% coverage ... dental, optical, and everything, plus $500 a year for massages. It was a tough decision to give that up and go back so University!!

ralph12

HAH.

The store I work at pays $5.15 an hour. Or, it did, but since the minimum wage increase I think they pay about $6. I say I think because they say they don't know what my wage is. I'm going to start at Wal-Mart soon.

Of course, being under 20, the actual minimum wage for me is just over $4 an hour for the first 3 months of employment. I'm hoping the store never finds out about that.

Rev.Chuck

My sixteen year old parttimer is a better mechanic than 95% of the people on this forum. It is more a matter of who can get a job at a bike shop(Requires at least some interest and knowledge of cycling) and who can get a job at a WalMart(requires a pulse)

Machka 

Actually I wouldn't mind paying a little bit more IF I knew with absolute certainty that the mechanic knew what he/she was doing, and would do an excellent job ... IF I had complete confidence in my mechanic. But, unfortunately, I've got faint nagging doubts about my current LBS mechanic ... enough so that I'm not willing to fork over even more money to get my gearing indexed properly.

Rev.Chuck

And that is the great paradox. Everyone wants fantastic service by uber skilled super freindly masters of the bike craft. But they want it free or cheap(Not meaning you) If bike mechanics got paid what a good mechanic is worth(55-60k) then almost all of them would be good because the market would force the crappy ones out. As long as bike owners are cheap skates riding "toys", bike mechanics will get low pay and there will be fewer good ones(I can make a lot more money fixing cars, but I like bikes so I accept half the pay and no benefits. There are not to many people willing to do that)

Rev.Chuck

True. And I can shoot and edit movies for free(or close to it*). But having somone that is really good at it is worth good money. My comparison was to mechanics in other feilds. It was also pointing out how most people want something for nothing.

*We shoot video for the THSCC with a four camera setup, edited using Adobe Premier, Photoshop and Windows Movie maker. Full function DVDs with smooth cuts, graphics, clean soundediting, B-shots, menus, and easter eggs. It is not that hard.

islandboy

If you are in Victoria try Gerry at Straight Up - ace Mechanic.