letdownloser

Hey yall,

I'll try and make this short and sweet...I've been biking for about 12 years. I've owned road bikes for about half that time, and for the last 6 years have owned a fixed gear bike. In that time I've learned some basic mechanics of bike building and the like. I've changed out cranksets, bottom brackets, wheels, handlebars, etc. Basic maintenance...

I LOVE riding bikes. Whenever possible I will hop on my bike instead of drive. It is a passion of mine. But I have never really spent the time looking up brands, getting crazy into racing (done an alley cat twice), and that sort of thing. I know a lot of the lingo. Or at least as much as I've needed to know to be involved in biking as I have been in the last 12 years.

So I got a job recently at a bike shop. SUPER jazzed about that...Thing is, the bike shop I work for sells HIGH end bikes (well high end to me). Anywhere from $300 - $10,000 bikes. Road, mountain, cyclocross, cruisers, hybrids...everything. And lots of them.

Guess the point of this post is I was hoping some of you guys would help point me to some websites that would have some good reading material and homework for me to do to learn more about some of these things I've mentioned that I'm not so familiar with. I have TONS of sales experience. Talking to people is no problem. I learn fast. I know I will learn this stuff. I just want to be able to intelligently, and confidently be able to point somebody to their perfect bike. I'm really excited about this job, so I want to kick ass at it.

Maybe this post it silly. Just thought I'd throw something out there and see what comes back.

Thanks yallz.

p.s - https://sheldonbrown.com/ has been and still is the best site I know of thus far. Great stuff. Was just hoping for a few other sites or ideas. Thanks again.

wahoonc

Read the catalogs of the brands the store stocks and know the difference between brands and components. I would consider a $300 bike entry level, though the $10k is getting towards the upper end off the spectrum. Congrats on the job, just avoid leaving your pay check there....been there, done that!

Aaron

MightyLegnano

Well done man! Just grab a copy of 'Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance' and 'Zinn & the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance' . You'll be thanking me every day

tim24k

Congrats on the new job. I would like to do the same but I'm pushing 60 so a life change at this point is out for me. Have fun.

pdlamb

1. You probably don't want to talk to me. Read and memorize all the sales catalogs. If you talk to me, I'll tell you what's BS.

2. Talking sales droids are a dime a dozen. If you want to be outstanding (for instance, have people bring their friends in to buy a bike from you), shut up and listen. Practice asking two or three leading questions, and listen to what potential customers tell you. Especially women. Most women aren't used to that experience in a bike shop.

3. Go to the Surly blog and read their "answers to every forum question" post. Pay attention.

Retro Grouch 

Repeat after me: "Why wouldn't you want the better one?"

Mobile 155

I have found the Park tool site to be a fountain of information.

Phil_gretz

pdlamb's advice is good. Listen twice as much as you speak. I would add that most buyers are apprehensive because of the amount of money involved, or because they fear buying the "wrong" bike and later regretting it.

My suggestion would be to ask and answer from the heart and not the head. Ask them what their concerns are up front. Get to know the type of rider they are and the type they'd like to be. Guide them as you would a friend. Caring will take you a long way to satisfying your customers. They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

PG

Artkansas 

Congratulations on the job.

I'd make a list of the brands of bikes that you sell, and the brands of accessories that you sell. Then do internet searches on them see what you find. Talk with your store owner and other employees, find out what goes with what. Join the leading bicycle club in your area. Ride with them to see what people are into. Spend time at the most popular riding spots in the area for non-clubbers, and see how they use their bikes. Join your local bicycle advocacy efforts. Be known in the community as one who helps others. You will be trusted on the sales floor.

ahsposo 

Congratulations on the new job!

I hope your username proves false...

spectastic

maybe shadow the mechanics, get to know them and everything. For sales, understand the hierarchy of group sets, different types of wheels, cycling gear such as plastic/fiberglass/carbon shoes, saddles (the rails, width, padding etc), bike fit (cleat positioning, seat positioning, handlebar positioning). That's all I can think of.

ka0use

from my perspective as a consumer of limited means i humbly offer this:

pfc

p= price. determine the consumers price range. even rich folk have mental if not
financial limits.

f= fit.

c= comfort. if it hurts to ride it, the consumer is not going to be happy with the bike or
you. this has a negative ripple effect. adjustments or component changes should be
considered (easiest example is a seat change).


and you should have free doughnuts on saturdays. just a thought.
sort of what cajuns call lagniappe.

all the best to you!

letdownloser

Thanks all.

Great responses.

Did that. Thoroughly enjoyed the lack of pretentiousness in the post. Actually I think that's sort of my MO with biking in general. I love biking, and like getting people into/talking about biking. I realize that, as with a lot of passions, there is a super-wide spectrum of people involved in the activity. I'll be dealing with that whole spectrum, and it's important to me that I get people into the perfect bike for them, not the most expensive. In the end, that will make John Q. Cyclist happiest. People riding bikes is awesome. The more the merrier...Guess I'm a little nervous when it comes to the big price tag stuff. It's all so new to me, and I feel a bit intimidated. I'm a quick learner though, so that info and confidence will come.

Word.

Artkansas 

Get names and contact info of all the people who buy from you. When they are ready for N+1. you want them to come to you. Stay in touch. Take notes about their desires, relatives and interests. Stay in touch with them.