Saturday, January 28, 2012

Bike Shop Rules

Since it is January in the bike store we would like to take minute to clarify some bike shop rules so our employees and customers have some guide lines to follow.. mainly the definition of Beer o' Clock for Bike Stores.
Beer drinking can commence when:


In season (full time busy): When the open sign is turned off and all customers have left.


A) unless a customer brings in beer with in 15 minutes of closing and there is someone else working the floor then the managers may have one with the customer.

B)Sag support for rides; When the participants start eating lunch and you are done driving. This can be anytime between 11am and 1 PM. If not driving and just wrenching, 1 Beer before the start for Breakfast is acceptable, especially if you were up all night repairing bikes.

C)It is your day off, of course you come in to the shop. Yes you can have one but you must hide it from customers. Please try not to parade around with it in front of the other employees. They are already jealous because you have the day off and just rode 50 miles, now they have to watch you drink beer at 2 PM..Not cool.


Cyclocross Season; anytime during, before, or after the event. Regardless of your responsibilities for the day. Remember to at least have a cookie during registration and do not stand to close to the fire in your costume.


Winter: Here is were it gets tricky. We'll break it down into two types of working environments.

A) Standard day at the bike store. Yes it is slow, no you can not start drinking beer yet. Standard procedure is: your working till 8PM and there has been no customer or phone calls since 5PM 30-45 minutes before close is acceptable.

1) Have hiding space behind counter and gum handy. This will ensure no one will come in. Forget those things and your top vegan, recovering alcoholic Triathlete (no offence to you, its us really) will come in for you to adjust his DI2 and pair his Garmin with his power meter...or you will have to fit a kids helmet with mom watching.

B) Construction Projects. Constructions beers can start noticeably earlier. 4PM is Standard. This would be for such things as doing a build out on a new location, Repainting a current one, figuring out how to add 30 more bike to an existing warehouse/basement ect. There are some additional rules to bike shop construction beers. Keep in mind you have probably told your local municipality you are a fully licenced and bonded electrician, plumber, general contractor ect so watch out for surprise inspections


1) Standard Demo work, anything with a reciprocating saw or sledge hammer; Anytime

2) Flooring, Painting, rearranging, building shelving; 3-4 depending on how the day goes.

3) Electrical work: get AT LEAST 3/4 through the job or 4:30


Special Circumstances(all times of year):

You go out to lunch with a customer, company rep, or you have just finished a group ride: Anytime

You are out of town/going out of town to a trade show, product launch, seminar or 24/60/100 mile race

Anytime

I hope this has been helpfull. Our next installment will be on Shop Flow Charts; When to use them?, How many is acceptable to hang in the shop?


@#%$&$^@&* it's only 2'oclock on a Saturday...