buckstoy

Tomorrow I am starting work at a Bike shop about 1mi. from my house. I've got a full time job that pays my bills but work on swing shift (4pm to 12pm) so I'm thinking I could work during the days maybe 3 days a week, just to help because the owner says he hasnt gotten to bike ride all year because he's always at the shop. So the guy asks me how much I expect to be paid, he has one kid working there who has little skill that gets $6 and hour. I can do most things on a bike what would be fair compensation? He suggested $7 /hr. Im okay with that but want parts at cost, he said 25% if I was full time. I guess my ? is what's reasonable?

Jaye

$7hr seems pretty standard for a bike shop, working part time. I do think there should be an employee discount but I doubt you are gonna get stuff at cost. I would say ask for "10 up", it is what we gave good loyal customers in the musical instrument business. So for example a part that cost $50 would cost you $55 insted of maybe the $89 it retailed at....10% above cost.

buckstoy

Thanks Jaye for the answer, I think the 10 up idea is something that I could probably live with. The biggest fear I have is that I'm fixing to become his best customer This bike shop carries what all the other bike shops in town don't, recumbents, trikes, folders, Electra bikes even Hobie pedal powered kayakes! So there is alot of temptation for myself to be around on a regular basis

sbeatonNJ

You will most likely become a great customer. The first time the boss says "Hey we are ordering from (Action, QBP, Seattle Bike Supply, whoever) you will look through the book and find something to order. Have fun and enjoy working, it won't always be the dream job you hoped but its good. And since you're one mile from home I assume you will be riding there which is always a bonus.

Rancid

I make minimum wage, but after my first month I got stuff in the store for 30% off and after 6 months I got a pro deal on bikes and frames (cost or below depending on the model and company). It's a good deal in my opiniom. Plus I get a bonus each month for breaking the previous months sales in my name in the computer- last month I did so well I got extra 150. Oh and free crap galore once customers get to know you.

sbeatonNJ

Oh and enjoy the free tires you will get, no matter how hard you try, short of refusing to sell a new one, to avoid this. I have gained a number of tires in like new to good condition because people feel once they get a flat they need a new tire. Even though I tell them they don't, explain its ok to keep using said tire, show them my bike with used tires that I still ride, and so on and so forth.

ken cummings

And what is the shops policy on dumpster diving? I almost always find something interesting when I look in the NorCal Bike Sport dumpster.

Squint

I worked in a shop many years ago.

What I like better is not working in a shop but having friends that work in the industry and getting "bro deals" and outright free stuff from other manufacturers.

seely

I need to work there... I don't think I'd spend a dime!

Katrogen

Do you have to know alot in working in a bike shop? I'm not too keen on bikes but I have a huge amount of my time dedicated to bicycles in one form or another. I know most parts and how they contribute to the movement of the bicycle but not how to fix/assemble stuff. I have friends in the bike/fitness areas but never have worked in that sort of stuff myself. (save volunteer work in a nursing home which had minimal fitness/people skills)

Rev.Chuck

We do cost plus ten% for employees. We also let employees EP, but if I were the boss you would only be able to EP after six months or more. We have had to many guys in the past that pull a few hours, have no skills and want all the perks. Our boss is to easy on them.

seely

Why would you work in a shop where you don't care about the product? I'd think you'd have a hard time selling anything if you tell customers that you're "not too keen on bikes"... most people I have worked with work at shops because they love bikes, and the people that really love what they do sell the most and have the best customer service in my experience.

Flak

As employees, do customers often give you stuff? Beer, donuts, etc? The guys in my old shop back home used to always seem to have donuts on the counter from some thankful customer.

Waldo

Not only that, but working in a shop tends to go hand in hand with long hours and low wages. If you don't like bikes, you're not going to last long.

We do cost plus 10% for employees, with EP deals as well. The last shop I was at was one where the owner liked to screw the employees on EP deals-charging them sales tax when they'd purchased direct from whatever company.

We do get the occasional beer or food gifts. Fortunately, two of our good customers are brewmasters...

buckstoy

I've worked two days so far and have enjoyed it, putting together bikes and testing them out, pretty fun. I'm sure I'll have a constant tab going for one thing or another! And yes as a bonus I ride there and back, and can run home real quick for lunch! The free tire thing interests me I could always use a few.

buckstoy

Some of the stuff is pretty cool (Catrikes) some of it is just kinda weird but the owner is really into it so I've tried the stuff out. I did pick up my Burley Runabout from him, but the next thing I want is one of the Hobie pedal boats, they'd give you a full body workout and you can buy a sail kit for it! Plus I have a lake about a mile away to play on which helpful. Also the Electra Straight 8 is a sweet bike, but really only good for short trips. I think I need to talk him into ordering some Surly and build up a few.

EricDJ

When I worked in the electronics industry, we gave part time people the same cost price as full time people. We did plus 10 for family members of work employees or cops/fire dept etc.

buckstoy

Sorry for my ignorance but I'm not real sure what EP is.

cooker

I don't know what you mean by "not keen on bikes" - was it a typo? Maybe you meant "not keen on working on bikes"? Most stores will have sales staff who are not mechanics, so you ought to be knowledgeable about bikes but you don't necessarily have to do the repair work.

Nachoman

I've got to assume that any person reading or writing, or contributing in any way to any of these threads, is in fact keen on bikes. Probably just a typo.