Hackster Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 I think that motor dealerships (the good ones), can provide useful lessons about servicing. Book the bikes in quickly and efficiently, give booked jobs strict priority over walk-ins and then work on getting them out as fast as possible on a first in, first out basis. Too often I've given the shop two days to do my service only to discover them working on my bike for the first time, an hour or two before I'm due to collect.
DIPSLICK Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 I think that motor dealerships (the good ones), can provide useful lessons about servicing. Book the bikes in quickly and efficiently, give booked jobs strict priority over walk-ins and then work on getting them out as fast as possible on a first in, first out basis. Too often I've given the shop two days to do my service only to discover them working on my bike for the first time, an hour or two before I'm due to collect.we do a small passenger vehicles clutch in about 3 hours, now for anyone who knows that is a shiit load more work than servicing a bike, that is the issue i have with shops, if my guys can remove a gearbox, skim a flywheel and replace the gearbox in 3 hours how does a service take days, and most shops you need to book a service,,,,,and yes we do more than one a day, and we do a good couple of trucks inbetween to
DoubleJ Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 I would start with asking permission from my wife first....
jcza Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 we do a small passenger vehicles clutch in about 3 hours, now for anyone who knows that is a shiit load more work than servicing a bike, that is the issue i have with shops, if my guys can remove a gearbox, skim a flywheel and replace the gearbox in 3 hours how does a service take days, and most shops you need to book a service,,,,,and yes we do more than one a day, and we do a good couple of trucks inbetween to Fully agree with you here. The patronising condescending bikeshop owners carry on as if its a secret dark art to service a bicycle. Ok granted, most of the time they don't have a clue.
Skinnyone Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 I think that motor dealerships (the good ones), can provide useful lessons about servicing. Book the bikes in quickly and efficiently, give booked jobs strict priority over walk-ins and then work on getting them out as fast as possible on a first in, first out basis. Too often I've given the shop two days to do my service only to discover them working on my bike for the first time, an hour or two before I'm due to collect.Nice idea on paper...BUT it comes back down to the chop who walks in and has the opinion that because his job will "only take 5 minutes" and how dare you tell him to come back tomorrow to collect for said "5 minute job" (that in reality turns out to consume 45 min, HIS bike/job justifies being pushed to the front of the line... Car dealerships can and always will have that power over you, if you want to have your car looked at then sit down shut up and wait. I have tried doing this in the bicycle servicing - the people go and moan to the owner and the owner makes you look like a tool by over riding you. Not saying this is always the case but 98% of the time it happens. do yourself a favor and actually take the time to spend 2 hours in your LBS in the vicinity of the workshop and take note of the above...
Skinnyone Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 we do a small passenger vehicles clutch in about 3 hours, now for anyone who knows that is a shiit load more work than servicing a bike, that is the issue i have with shops, if my guys can remove a gearbox, skim a flywheel and replace the gearbox in 3 hours how does a service take days, and most shops you need to book a service,,,,,and yes we do more than one a day, and we do a good couple of trucks inbetween toI come from a motor mechanic background, I did my 4 year apprenticeship...see my above post as to why it takes a day to service a bike. More often than not the mechanic/workshop manager gets pulled out of his job that he is busy with to help a sales person on the floor with a "technical" question, which more often than not results in another question- half an hour later you are welcome to go back to the job you were busy with. In a car dealership the mechanic gets told to do a clutch, he then doesn't get disturbed for the 3 hours that it takes to do the job also typically you have 2 mechs doing the work, I did the clutch on my mother in laws car a few weeks back and it took me about 10 hours on my own, if I had an appy to help it would have taken half as long
DIPSLICK Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 I come from a motor mechanic background, I did my 4 year apprenticeship...see my above post as to why it takes a day to service a bike. More often than not the mechanic/workshop manager gets pulled out of his job that he is busy with to help a sales person on the floor with a "technical" question, which more often than not results in another question- half an hour later you are welcome to go back to the job you were busy with. In a car dealership the mechanic gets told to do a clutch, he then doesn't get disturbed for the 3 hours that it takes to do the job also typically you have 2 mechs doing the work, I did the clutch on my mother in laws car a few weeks back and it took me about 10 hours on my own, if I had an appy to help it would have taken half as long true but the same argument could be used,,,my counter sales people have no technical knowledge so they pull my mechanic from the workshop????SKILLED STAFF dont need to call for assistance I have a lady on my counter she knows more technically than most mechanics
Samurai Pizza Cat Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 Get the right people around you first. Agreed! You can be open 24/7, have a great and unique product selection and great "I've done 8 Epics" type mechanics, but at the end of the day you will get a lot more business if your mechanics look like this:
Samurai Pizza Cat Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 Nice idea on paper...BUT it comes back down to the chop who walks in and has the opinion that because his job will "only take 5 minutes" and how dare you tell him to come back tomorrow to collect for said "5 minute job" (that in reality turns out to consume 45 min, HIS bike/job justifies being pushed to the front of the line... Car dealerships can and always will have that power over you, if you want to have your car looked at then sit down shut up and wait. I have tried doing this in the bicycle servicing - the people go and moan to the owner and the owner makes you look like a tool by over riding you. Not saying this is always the case but 98% of the time it happens. do yourself a favor and actually take the time to spend 2 hours in your LBS in the vicinity of the workshop and take note of the above... Problem solved:
Riario Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 Start with a plan.You must be able to answer questions like:Do you have the skills to start and run a business?Where/When?What /Who is your target market?What do you want to sell to them?What unique thing will draw people to your LBS vs. another one?Who are your competitors, what do they do that works or does not work?What start-up capital will you need?How much working capital will you need?What is your marketing plan?What kind of staff will you need? (headcount, skills, pay etc.) and the like... Don't just dream, put plans and actions down on paper. Hold yourself accountable and do it! ...or don't... There is a price for success, a price for failure and a very high price for inactivity! .... and don't bullsh1t yourself in answering the questions, because you have a passion for the business. Passion is NOT enough!!!!! It actually makes you blind and you don't focus on the business & financial aspects. Learnt that lesson in a very long and painful process.
shawnvan Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 Nothing grates me more than the LBS that closes at 12:30pm on a Saturday. You are targeting cyclists, who generally work during the week and ride on Saturday mornings.... so please just be open in the afternoon when we have some time to come brouse and buy stuff, instead of racing to get there 15 mins before you close!
DIPSLICK Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 Nothing grates me more than the LBS that closes at 12:30pm on a Saturday. You are targeting cyclists, who generally work during the week and ride on Saturday mornings.... so please just be open in the afternoon when we have some time to come brouse and buy stuff, instead of racing to get there 15 mins before you close! EDITED
Eddy Gordo Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 Nothing grates me more than the LBS that closes at 12:30pm on a Saturday. You are targeting cyclists, who generally work during the week and ride on Saturday mornings.... so please just be open in the afternoon when we have some time to come brouse and buy stuff, instead of racing to get there 15 mins before you close!SO maybe go to the shop first and ride later!!It is a retail business after all and all the people that work in retail(not just bike shops) have families and a life too. When should they spend time with their families when already you see places like canal walk open till late!I think it is unfair to expect a business to be open after business hours.
Skinnyone Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 SO maybe go to the shop first and ride later!!It is a retail business after all and all the people that work in retail(not just bike shops) have families and a life too. When should they spend time with their families when already you see places like canal walk open till late!I think it is unfair to expect a business to be open after business hours. Agreed! its easy to say well just stay open late, but take into account myself for example, as the workshop manager, I had to work 830-530 weekdays, leave home at no later than 7 (my kids left for school at 630) so get to spend 30min with them at the breakfast table. Leave the shop at (best case) 545 sit in traffic for at least 1h30 get to kiss my kids good night cuz they're in bed by 7. now the weekend I had to work 8 - 1 (shop closed at 4) did not see my kids cuz they're still asleep and if I was lucky I left the shop at 130-2 because of some last minute "5 minute job bru" who would walk in as I was about to leave...get home at 3... Working retail is LEKKER if you hate your family...
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