Originally Posted by
repechage
I had worked for one shop for 5 years, by wages were just always a smidge more than minimum wage, from junior high on.
I was offered more $ at an ice cream store of all places, when I was 8 years old I wanted to work at a bike shop and ice cream store.
Done, started off at 10% more than the bike shop. Got a raise before 6 weeks in, the bike shop called me and asked to come back.
OK, but not giving up the other job, fun to work and the co-workers are attractive. (mostly sorority members)
They were gobsmacked at what I was earning per hour, but met it.
Few bicycle shops get beyond the low wage paradigm.
Similar here. I know a talented bike mechanic. Went from working at one of the best shops in town to working as a barista. Doubled his pay.
The bike shop business is one of the few where some have to compete against non-profit, donated inventory, volunteer workers businesses. Some coexist smoothly, some do not. But it makes a tough business even tougher. And then you have consumables on line: ebay, Amazon, wherever. And you have Walmart and similar competing on the bottom end. All in all, very difficult to make it work! My hat's off to those that can do it.