Originally Posted by
JasonSuperb
Like I said, we appraise countless bikes per year. I don't know who your friend is so I don't recall his situation but all I can imagine is there must have been some reason that we didn't appraise his bike. The only time I can think of when we don't appraise bikes after an accident is in the case where the bike is totaled beyond repair. When we appraise a bike, it is to fix the bike back to the condition before the wreck, if the frame is bent, or cracked or it would cost more money to fix the bike than a new one would cost, we can't really appraise that. In those situations I usually advise them to find the most similar bike that is for sale and show that to the insurance company and work it out with them. I don't know what else I can do for a totaled bike, I don't really know what dollar value to put on old used bikes, and in most cases insurance companies will give you enough money to replace the bike with a new one that is the most similar to what you had.
As far as the messenger and the flat fix, when running a business you need to have policies and stick to them, it wouldn't be fair to other customers for me to let him work on his bike on the sales floor but then not let the next guy that walks in the door.
Assuming that we stole your friends wheels just because it happened in front of our shop is a pretty big stretch, and I wouldn't recommend calling people thieves without some actual proof. Wheels get stolen everyday, a couple times a week in the summer someone comes in with a bike missing a wheel, and it is typically some crappy bike where the wheel wasn't even worth anything. It is the first time I have heard of something being stolen out front of the shop during the day, however, I'm surprised they wouldn't have come into the shop to ask if we saw anything? There is a known thief in the boston bike scene, on the fixed forums, and recently banned from our shop after being caught red handed. I'm not gonna name names, but it wouldn't surprise me.
I have no problem with people bringing any issues to me regarding the shop, but most of the time they are simply miscommunications or mistakes and can be easily remedied without a public forum.
Well now that you mention the microkorg I do remember you, and I feel like we only had friendly interactions so it bums me out that you don't like me to the point to say that stuff, but I'll try not to take it too personally.
alright, getting tired of this...but i have one more response in me. hope that's alright. i'd be willing to talk personally, if you wish (but am not living in boston anymore).
i know you appraise bikes. i know you sell selected used bikes at your shop. however, i still don't understand why you don't appraise totaled bikes. my friend's situation was just that. he got hit by a car on his new bike. he wasn't at fault. he was looking for help, from your shop and others, to get an estimate for its value. this is normal practice.
here's my own personal experience (again, this situation with your shop was with my friend, but i think this story is informative). i got hit by a car, bike totaled, minor but significant injuries last december. i was not at fault. there were witnesses. after a short recovery, i brought the bike to cambridge bicycle (your sister shop). they were extremely helpful and caring, giving me an estimate on my bike's value. it was not a stock bike, so i did not feel comfortable doing so myself. also, insurance companies often require a written/signed/vouched for estimate for the bicycle.
thus, i really don't understand why you refused (refused nicely? probably. i wasn't there). if you feel that finding a similar bike is the way to go, then that's fine. you are the manager of that shop. but realize that other shops, even your sister shop, goes about this in the more accepted fashion. as a side, this is really your decision. you are a private business. you are allowed to conduct business how you please.
the flat situation: also completely understandable of why that happened. but at the heart of it, why could it not have been positive? it makes total sense not to have someone eff up your bike shop. it is extremely nice inside, with expensive parts. i wouldn't want some messenger (who you don't seem to have a relationship with) screw up the store.
but on the flip side, why? why not just let him? i would say that bike shops and messengers have an inextricably tight link. they are often reliant on bike shops. they need help. i don't think that's too much to ask, but if you do, it's your shop. it's not my shop.
i'll give you this: my friend most likely did not get a wheelset stolen by any of your employees. i was just angry about the situation and exaggerated (the probability percentage). i don't know who stole his wheelset. and i was not with him at the time. so, i'm not sure why he didn't walk into the shop. he was probably too upset about having his 2 day old wheelset stolen.
thank you for letting me know about the bostonfixed bike thief. i don't know who he is. that sounds crappy.
i'm sorry you don't feel that these issues should be on a public forum. you guys do a great job with social media and having an online presence. i really don't think that this will effect it. i am surprised 2 employees of cambridge/superb joined this forum to respond. i hope it was a positive experience for all.
and yes, i know you remember me. we have had pleasant interactions in person. if i walked into your shop tomorrow, i would be just as nice. i hope you would be the same. however, i can't forget these stories about your shop. but that's okay. i don't frequent your shop. i don't even live in boston...currently.
really, at the heart of this, i have one more thing to say (sorry for the long rant). if you are saying that you are a fixture of the boston cycling community, supporting alleycats with donations/locations/time, doing other events (wish you guys would put on more events...but i understand the previous police issues), do you not feel indebted to the community that allows you to exist? you are profiting from fellow bikers. your employees and yourself are fellow bikers. why not treat them with the utmost respect? why not continue to make a living for yourself, but also help those in need?
that's all. i wish you the best. sorry if you were offended by this whole ordeal, jason. i saw the post about superb and felt like i should express myself. i should express why i'm not sure supporting your shop is a good idea. but i am just one voice. your shop still exists. it will still exist. it's just not how i would run it.