Originally Posted by
canklecat
And it's not really a co-op. There isn't actually a workshop for "members" to learn to do their own bike maintenance. There's no procedure for checking in, using the shop tools, etc. When I was learning basic car maintenance as a teenager we had access to a real co-op, supervised by an experienced mechanic, with a complete Chilton's library, tools, the works. REI is not a co-op.
you just need to learn more about cooperatives. There are probably a dozen different types.
REI is a retail consumer cooperative.
My local bike collective is a volunteer cooperative.
I can work on my bike at one, but not the other.
We belong to a grocery cooperative- even though I'm a member, i cant bring a chicken into the store, walk behind the butcher display, and prep the chicken. Thst doesn't mean the grocery store isn't a cooperative, it simply means there are different types.
Some coops allow you to use/rent space and tools.
Some coops exist for a bunch of other reasons.
Google around.