Thanks Enzo.  I think your point is well made, well thought and has something we can all take whether we've agreed with the prior statements in this thread or not.

I don't think that this is the place to belittle a statement that has been made by others. This is a forum to bounce ideas off one another and seek guidance, input, etc from others. As Enzo points out, each shop/collective/group has different procedures or policies based on what makes more sense for them, what they need, their community and its needs.

We cannot put ourselves in some other shop or community's shoes and pass judgement on why and how things are done there. We can offer reason, advice and guidance and even our personal opinion or reasoning behind why we may offer that out to the whole group, but in the spirit of the positive work we all do and helping each other out (as this resource is meant for), we should try and keep or comments positive.

It's not that we can't disagree and speak up about it (there's nothing wrong with being passionate and opinionated), but it's not very productive to call things out in a negative way or in a way that may indirectly point to another's comment as negative, stupid, wrong, whatever word fills that blank.

I cut out the prior comments in this reply (other than Enzo's because I was directly referencing what was written) because I didn't want those attached to think I'm calling them out. I'm not.

Also, I hope this doesn't result in everyone who posted to this thread needing to justify/defend what they did or didn't say...that wasn't my point.

Wanda


Wanda Pelegrina Caldas, Board Member
Community Cycles, Boulder's only nonprofit bike shop, serves all your bike commuting needs. 
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Thanks!!

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From: wormsign@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:25:51 -0700
To: vernonhuffman@yahoo.com; thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org

Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Questionable customers

I understand that sentiment. The folks are learning a trade and more bikes are getting recirculated. I guess it can be a problem because the folks they are selling the bikes to could come to you and learn as well. I've seen people come in with a regular, pick out a bike, then the regular would proceed to build up the bike while the person they came with learns nothing. It's a list opportunity. There are shops with limited access to parts and donated bikes that want their teaching to reach more new people. Then there are shops that need to be financially self supported and lose out because the people buying the bikes could be supporting the shop instead. You really have to step back. If individuals are causing problems in you shop they really need to be dealt with individually. If they aren't really causing a problem except that they are using your space and taking advantage of your generosity look at the wholistic effect. Are they really growing and developing a useful skill? Are more bikes reaching the community? Will new general policies harm the feel of the space and turn others away who you are trying to reach? Are these problem patrons perhaps introducing new people to the shop? It's a difficult situation and in many ways you have to suspend your urge to have things feel fair. 

Enzo Loconte

Board Secretary

Bikerowave

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