Cape Town bike shop in racist controversy - News24 article

[rock]

Its an old steel bike called "Royal"

 

so not a R120k Pina?

 

I'm sure when they were inquiring about where he got it was more out of curiosity, they like all sorts of old and odd bikes there.

[JCA12]

that was yesterday before it got on news24 etc.

 

really, these journalists need to find proper stories.

my bad. didn't really check the dates.

[rpedro]

I hope some good can come of this.

[popcorn_skollie]

None of us know what really happened. I don't know either of them, but it would seem that people are surely vouching for them both. I'm sure they're both decent okes. But even good people make mistakes. Shake hands. Smile. Ride bikes....NEXT

[LeTurbo]

This says everything about the stupid crap that gets on social media. Actually, it gets me really angry, because Nils is one of the most upstanding guys I know. He's twenty years my junior, but his character is one I seek to emulate. I can see I'm going to have to do deep breathing, calm-in-and-anger-out, Buddhist exercises today.

[Chro Mo]

Nils isn't so great at returning phone calls, but a racist he is NOT.

 

A true cycling aficionado and a good guy.

[NotSoBigBen]

I hope some good can come of this.

 

Mmmmm I somehow doubt, I mean the damage is done to the bike shop/persons reputation and the social media chap got the reaction he wanted.

 

It may well be that despite the fact that the bike shop may not have been 100% in the wrong he/they have put out an apology possibly to limit the damage anyway.

 

*As I read that the English is so damn bad but you know what I'm trying to say, sorry  *  

 

Either way the damage is done.

[VeloRacer]

Moral of the story is... Don't be rude to your customers

[Pure Savage]

There is no such thing as bad press, his regulars will still shop there and if anything I and many others now know about a bike shop really close to work which I may visit on the way home now.

 

If I was the shop I would have just not reacted on twitter or Facebook. There were a total of 9 cross people before he responded.

[HappyMartin]

This is an ugly story. Leaves a very unpleasant taste. I bet it's a case of misunderstanding, interpreting things and coming up with a bad conclusion. A pity it couldn't have just been discussed before going public with it.

 

There is so much racism in SA from all sides it's easy to jump to a conclusion.

 

Last year I was doing a shoot at the African Developement Bank. I was accompanied by two young women who greeted one of the senior management. He gave hugs to the two ladies and when they introduced me to him I put out my hand. He looked me in the eye and turned away. The rest of the shoot he never looked at me, never spoke to me or acknowledged my presence in any way, even when I spoke to him. It was quite disconcerting. I assumed racist. But I don't know. Perhaps he is a pig to everyone. Perhaps I am the racist for assuming he was being racist.

 

I think people quick to assume racism. I think it was irresponsible and overly sensitive to immediately take it to Twitter.

[nox1111]

molehill mountain more likely, shame i hope the "victim" can get over the trauma, I once walked into a high end watch shop and i was looking for a FROM ME TO ME i had my normal attire shorts, worn out T SHIRT and dirty tekkies, i got the hairy eye ball ,,the "what the hell you doing here " look, a dismissive "salesman" did i run out crying no i took my time asked for every watch(even though i know exactly what i walked in for) at the end asked for my intened watch put it on gave my card and walked out,,,,most would say they wouldnt pay the shop out of principal on a normal day i wouldnt either, for some or other reason i just decided bugger you pal, 

AM I LEFT EMOTIONALLY BROKEN, NO I MOVED ON really these "poor victims" need to get over their issues

 

this is AFRICA HTFU cupcakes

Agreed, any guy going into Jewelery store trying to buy a diamond engagement ring gets that look!  Or walking into an expensive suit store rocking sneakers, jeans and a flat peak cap...

[Shebeen]

just in from the WCW FB page, takes a big man to admit error - hopefully some good can come from this.

 

https://www.facebook.com/Woodstockcycleworks/posts/806911892719189
 

The past 24 hours have been difficult ones as I try to understand the events and actions that have brought us to this point. As of earlier today, I have spoken to Philip in an attempt to apologise directly for the bad customer service that he and Akil received yesterday and for any hurt this experience has caused. My intentions were not malicious and a brief, rude interaction has been mistaken for deliberate, racially motivated behaviour. The discussion that has followed on social media platforms has been understandably intense and emotional, as any discussion surrounding racial issues in our country can be.

I am currently working directly with Patricia de Lille’s office to clear up the events from yesterday and to provide clarity on how these allegations came about. Based on the outcome of this investigation, actions will be taken to clear up any misunderstanding around the events of yesterday and to present it in the most accurate light possible. I hope that it will become clear that this started with a simple misunderstanding which, through social media, has spiralled and grown, leading to a lot of hurt on both sides.

I would like to really thank my friends, family and loyal customers for all their very valued support and love.

 

 

[Bloukrans]

I was not there but why, oh why are we so sensitive?

 

I'm so over this politically correctness nonsense - there are bigger issues to worry over.

 

Move on and ride your bike!!

[nonky]

Clickbait, no more and no less.

[DJR]

The "race card" is a very powerful but very blunt instrument.

 

It cannot be used to do a delicate operation with. When it is wielded, especially on social media, the damage it causes cannot be controlled. Often there is collateral damage, sometimes unintended, that cannot be repaired. (A bit like using the military, guns blazing, where diplomacy is needed.)

 

We need less use of blunt instruments and more use of scalpels to sort out the race issues in our beloved country.

 

(My 2c worth of philosophy for today)

[mazambaan]

I would say Nils does not need customers like these.  The tricky part is how to get rid of them without them scuttling to Twitter, FB etc.

 

From the first world and pubs etc the drill is just parrot out the right of admission reserved dogma only. Never, ever give a reason. Just keep repeating. That is your right. Not sure how SA law rolls.