RobbieTunes 

Sometimes, things just get out of hand, and rather than get out the AR-15, I just say no.
So, I want to say no a few times:

No, just because I gave you a new box of wrap, you are not entitled to my parts box.

No, just because I sold you a Selle Italia SLR for $20, I'm not giving you your money back after 2 months and 400 miles because you use cheap shorts and no Body Glide over 2 days of 100 miles per day and your ass is chapped.

No, just because I have 3 sets of wheels for sale, you don't get a huge discount because "I'm not using them."

No, just because I have 2 cassette tools, it's not OK to keep one of them. I have two because you didn't bring it back, Beavis.

No, 9:45 on a Saturday night is not when I want to fix your bike, with my tools, my time, and my parts.

No, just because you paid $900 for a $1200 bike, I'm not throwing in red tires because you think they're cool. Same with pedals.

No, my supply of cables does not fall off of trees into my garage. I pay for them just like you.

No, your flat tire is not the fault of the tube I gave you. Next time, buy one.

I'm glad you're out there riding. Now leave me the hell alone.

afilado

No question, you need manager. ;-)

J

gomango 

Robbie, you are perilously close to owning a bike shop.

shoota 

Whew, I'm glad I didn't do any of that when I bought stuff from you lol

Shp4man

We auto mechanics have a saying: "No good deed goes unpunished".

jimmuller 

Robbie, have a beer. Relax in a nice air-conditioned room. Go for a ride. All of the above, but not in that order. Have the beer last.

RaleighSport

But Robbie I need an emergency dose of awesome where else am I supposed to get it?

eippo1

Seriously, I think I hear the guys who run my shop say stuff like this about 10x a day. A woman today tried to return a Garmin bundle for a full refund and brought back the head unit and hr strap. Uh, lady you're missing some things including some marbles.

Wildwood

expecting the general public to act responsibly or even civil-ly is hopelessly optimistic.

mapleleafs-13 

Hey Robbie,

Can I get some more free stuff And when you get a chance, can you fly out to Toronto? I think I'm having issues with taking the pedal off my non drive side. It just doesn't want to move.

Drillium Dude 

Yup, and a failing one at that if he starts replying yes

Hang in there, Robbie!

DD

balindamood

You forgot:

No, just because you have some fancy 6-month-old suspension fork (or insert any other new-fangled suspension/hydraulic brake stuff) that does not work and you are not happy with the service/price the local dealer provides, that does not mean that I have to track down the brand-specific proprietary parts, have them overnighted here, and fix rebuild the miserable thing if I don't want to.

top506

At least I get paid (albeit pitifully little) to deal with such.

Top

Poguemahone

Wrong order. Beer first, or Jamey's.

I've pretty much moved to only working on the occasional flip or stuff that interests me. Bikes ain't a job, I have one of those already. And so do you, IIRC. This means I occasionally tell people "no." Fortunately my actual work taught me to do that long ago.

wahoonc

Ahhh college students have returned from their summer hiatus.

Aaron

T-Mar

I loaned a freewheel tool to a now former friend. He returned it broken and refused to pay for it, blaming me for the breakage. because I didn't show him how to use it. Of course my reply was that if he didn't know how to use it, he should have asked. That was the last tool I ever loaned out.

shoota 

Wow now that is just amazing. What a tool (the guy)

ka0use

from the sound of it, i thought he already did!

noglider 

How do you find such people? I guess I live a charmed life, because I don't remember people being that obnoxious with me. Maybe some are and I've just forgotten! Bad memory has its uses.

WNG

No, just because I have the tools and experience to do it in my sleep, doesn't mean you have a free source of service for your abused and neglected ride.

I feel for you. Trying to balance being the patron saint of cycling and not being exploited, is a fine line.

I don't get involved with anyone's ride until I've known them for a while and determine whether they are a leech.

Cougrrcj 

I once sold a set of seatbelts for $25 from one of my 'parts car' classic Mustangs to a Mustang guy at work. Six months later he brought them back in to work and wanted his money back - he sold the car that he bought them for and had never installed them. Not my problem. Then he claimed that I was a 'poor businessman' for not refunding his money.

I do try to repay-in-kind any favors from friends so as not to be a leech for constantly asking favors. I can't paint cars worth a damn, but I'll help my buds do mechanical work and bodywork on theirs in return for his spraying mine.

Poguemahone

Weirdly, the meanest/weirdest/awfulest people I've met when dealing with bikes was when I was giving stuff away. Years back, at the beginning of the fixie craze (late 90s here), I gave away a basement full of old road bikes I had found over the years, first come, first served... I had people screaming at me because "their" bike frame was gone when they got there. I gave away a working Huffy road bike I found in the trash and a Ross MTB once, and the fury was remarkable... next time I give stuff away, the "buyer" is going to be made to make a donation to a local dog rescue orgainization.

jimmuller 

Funny your should mention that. I've sent stuff gratis to BF members once or twice and never heard a word of thanks. It takes all kinds, even in BF.

hairnet

This!

noglider 

I've heard similar stories from other BFers. This is a terrible shame. It makes me more sad than angry.