When we started opening on Saturdays it was mainly to sell bikes and
hopefully reduce the demand for this on our evening shifts. And at the
same time get a few bikes ready to roll as time permitted.
But since we were only going to have one staffer it was decided that
anyone wanting to work on their bike had to be able to do so
unassisted. This is mentioned on our website and a sign is put at the
door, and it has worked out fairly well. Staff still have to explain
to folks that we're not a regular bike shop ("we don't fix bikes for
people") so also having to tell them to come back in the evenings for
assistance is no big deal. But we have had to be hard and fast with
our rules, which of course not everyone appreciates, and I've also had
to remind volunteers who are in working on our bikes not to get sucked
into helping folks with theirs.
Mark Rehder - Coordinator re-Cycles Community Bike Shop http://re-cycles.ca
On 9-Aug-11, at 6:45 PM, Angel York wrote:
We don't have sale-only hours, but we are sometimes at the shop when
we're open, and if people can be self-contained and we feel like it,
we often let them in to fix "just this one thing." but we make it
clear that the shop isn't usually available right then and that
we're making a special exception for them. and they are usually
appreciative, and sometimes we have good conversation, too, because
it's more one-on-one and they're more self-sufficient. in my
experience. but we have that luxury. i'm sure it's different if
you're actively trying to do other open-to-public things with the
shop space.If you need a hard-and-fast rule, people will get used to it, and
most of them will eventually understand. Another potential solution
would be to have one "emergency stand" available for "exceptional
circumstances," like if they wouldn't be able to get home without
walking for miles otherwise.On Sat, Aug 6, 2011 at 10:53 AM, Clifford McCarten <director@communitybikeshop.org
wrote:
Hey Folks, Quick couple of questions to those who break up their workshop hours
and have sales-only hours/days. How does that work for you? How do your users / volunteers feel
about it? What are you selling? Any "wow, we're surprised at how well Widget X
sells!" items you'd recommend? Do you get a lot of people coming in hoping to fix "just this one
thing?" during the sales-only time? This is a main concern of mine. Thanks, Clifford -- B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop 336 Rubidge St, Peterborough ON communitybikeshop.org (705) 775-7227