Metal flake in brake pad... - Page 6 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-13-2005, 04:49 PM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 10:47:13 -0500, jj <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 14:49:41 GMT, RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>
>wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:06:01 GMT, maxo <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>>
>>>On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 22:23:34 -0500, jj wrote:
>>>
>>>> I've asked for them several times. Once I specified 'salmon' kool pads and
>>>> they put normal black Kool pads on. They won't even order them for me -
>>>> they tell me they're 'hard to get'.
>>>
>>>Just get some off of the net and learn to put 'em on yourself.
>>
>>He can't. The rotten guy at the lousy bike store wouldn't show him EXACTLY
>>where the adjusters are.
>>
>>Besides, a guy who can't tell if there's any brake pad left has NO business
>>removing and installing the things. Think about this for a moment.
>>
>>Ron.
>
>Ron, thanks for your comments. All of them seem fair. I'll look at my
>attitude, also.
>
>Just one thing...I can't see very well, close up things. Have astigmatism,
>myopia and my right eye is slightly double vision. This is why I can't
>'see' certain things that I 'know' a little about.
>
>Please forgive any ignorance, I'm trying to learn. Also I did get a little
>too hot under the collar. The wrench -has- been nice to me, has been pissy
>and has apologized. I do like the guy. Mostly I get frustrated.
>
>Insight taken.
>
>Best,

Thanks.

I was over harsh here. I work in retail electronics repair and get to carefully
shut my mouth at customer quirks. I do tend to vent on threads like this.

Obviously, your Trek shop has a problem. You may be a PITA customer, but you ARE
a regular customer. That the crew is not enthusiastic about helping you (I did
read you tip the tech) shows that management is really screwing themselves over
and does not deserve your support.

And I do think it is a management issue, if it were just the mechanics they'd be
more consistent (you tip). What you and I don't know is how much time pressure
that wrench is under. Does his boss know about the tips and see that as a sign
that the wrench is sweethearting you? Does he catch hell for "hanging out and
talking" when he "should be working." Maybe he shouldn't show you how to do
things so you'll come back for repairs. Either that or maybe the guy just has
the sort of people skills you find among bench techs - I don't know bike
wrenches, but suspect a geekish streak would not be a disqualification.

Same with the request for Kool Stops. Some businesses just don't handle special
orders well and employees will try hard to avoid them.

Anyway, apparently you've been with that shop a long time and feel it would be
right to tell them how they've lost your business, or give them a chance to get
their priorities back in order. Sounds right to me. Hell, just email them a link
to this thread in google if you'd rather not talk to 'em.

Anyway, thanks for being understanding of my early day crankiness.

Ron

01-13-2005, 04:49 PM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 10:47:13 -0500, jj <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 14:49:41 GMT, RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>
>wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:06:01 GMT, maxo <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>>
>>>On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 22:23:34 -0500, jj wrote:
>>>
>>>> I've asked for them several times. Once I specified 'salmon' kool pads and
>>>> they put normal black Kool pads on. They won't even order them for me -
>>>> they tell me they're 'hard to get'.
>>>
>>>Just get some off of the net and learn to put 'em on yourself.
>>
>>He can't. The rotten guy at the lousy bike store wouldn't show him EXACTLY
>>where the adjusters are.
>>
>>Besides, a guy who can't tell if there's any brake pad left has NO business
>>removing and installing the things. Think about this for a moment.
>>
>>Ron.
>
>Ron, thanks for your comments. All of them seem fair. I'll look at my
>attitude, also.
>
>Just one thing...I can't see very well, close up things. Have astigmatism,
>myopia and my right eye is slightly double vision. This is why I can't
>'see' certain things that I 'know' a little about.
>
>Please forgive any ignorance, I'm trying to learn. Also I did get a little
>too hot under the collar. The wrench -has- been nice to me, has been pissy
>and has apologized. I do like the guy. Mostly I get frustrated.
>
>Insight taken.
>
>Best,

Thanks.

I was over harsh here. I work in retail electronics repair and get to carefully
shut my mouth at customer quirks. I do tend to vent on threads like this.

Obviously, your Trek shop has a problem. You may be a PITA customer, but you ARE
a regular customer. That the crew is not enthusiastic about helping you (I did
read you tip the tech) shows that management is really screwing themselves over
and does not deserve your support.

And I do think it is a management issue, if it were just the mechanics they'd be
more consistent (you tip). What you and I don't know is how much time pressure
that wrench is under. Does his boss know about the tips and see that as a sign
that the wrench is sweethearting you? Does he catch hell for "hanging out and
talking" when he "should be working." Maybe he shouldn't show you how to do
things so you'll come back for repairs. Either that or maybe the guy just has
the sort of people skills you find among bench techs - I don't know bike
wrenches, but suspect a geekish streak would not be a disqualification.

Same with the request for Kool Stops. Some businesses just don't handle special
orders well and employees will try hard to avoid them.

Anyway, apparently you've been with that shop a long time and feel it would be
right to tell them how they've lost your business, or give them a chance to get
their priorities back in order. Sounds right to me. Hell, just email them a link
to this thread in google if you'd rather not talk to 'em.

Anyway, thanks for being understanding of my early day crankiness.

Ron

01-13-2005, 06:50 PM

RonSonic wrote:
> On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:06:01 GMT, maxo
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
> Besides, a guy who can't tell if there's any brake pad
left has NO
> business removing and installing the things. Think about
this for a
> moment.
>
I've thought about it, and don't agree.
Installing brake pads is pretty simple, especially since the
package contains detailed instructions.

OTOH, there are lots of people who think they can get, oh,
another 100 miles or so out of a set of brake pads. And then
another 100 miles or so. And then ...

01-13-2005, 06:50 PM

RonSonic wrote:
> On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:06:01 GMT, maxo
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
> Besides, a guy who can't tell if there's any brake pad
left has NO
> business removing and installing the things. Think about
this for a
> moment.
>
I've thought about it, and don't agree.
Installing brake pads is pretty simple, especially since the
package contains detailed instructions.

OTOH, there are lots of people who think they can get, oh,
another 100 miles or so out of a set of brake pads. And then
another 100 miles or so. And then ...

01-13-2005, 06:50 PM

RonSonic wrote:
> On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:06:01 GMT, maxo
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
> Besides, a guy who can't tell if there's any brake pad
left has NO
> business removing and installing the things. Think about
this for a
> moment.
>
I've thought about it, and don't agree.
Installing brake pads is pretty simple, especially since the
package contains detailed instructions.

OTOH, there are lots of people who think they can get, oh,
another 100 miles or so out of a set of brake pads. And then
another 100 miles or so. And then ...

01-13-2005, 07:08 PM

jj wrote:

> ...They act agog when I mention I rode
> in the rain. After that they often smirk and say 'oh yeah
you're the
> guy that rides in the rain'.

I can relate to this. At a local shop where I bought my
"winter" bike in 2000, I was known as "the guy who rides in
the winter", with that same tone of amazement and
condescension you probably heard.

It's never a good idea to laugh at your customers, but if
you must do it, do it when they aren't there.

I took it back to them when I was hit by an SUV, figuring
they could do a better cosmetic job replacing the fork since
they were the only Raleigh dealer around that I knew of. I
told the owner I wasn't in a big hurry, as I wouldn't be
riding for four weeks. I went back in six weeks, and he
hadn't started on the bike -- even though it was November
and the shop was empty.

They went out of business in 2003. Doesn't matter to me, as
I found a better shop in the interim.

01-13-2005, 07:08 PM

jj wrote:

> ...They act agog when I mention I rode
> in the rain. After that they often smirk and say 'oh yeah
you're the
> guy that rides in the rain'.

I can relate to this. At a local shop where I bought my
"winter" bike in 2000, I was known as "the guy who rides in
the winter", with that same tone of amazement and
condescension you probably heard.

It's never a good idea to laugh at your customers, but if
you must do it, do it when they aren't there.

I took it back to them when I was hit by an SUV, figuring
they could do a better cosmetic job replacing the fork since
they were the only Raleigh dealer around that I knew of. I
told the owner I wasn't in a big hurry, as I wouldn't be
riding for four weeks. I went back in six weeks, and he
hadn't started on the bike -- even though it was November
and the shop was empty.

They went out of business in 2003. Doesn't matter to me, as
I found a better shop in the interim.

01-13-2005, 07:08 PM

jj wrote:

> ...They act agog when I mention I rode
> in the rain. After that they often smirk and say 'oh yeah
you're the
> guy that rides in the rain'.

I can relate to this. At a local shop where I bought my
"winter" bike in 2000, I was known as "the guy who rides in
the winter", with that same tone of amazement and
condescension you probably heard.

It's never a good idea to laugh at your customers, but if
you must do it, do it when they aren't there.

I took it back to them when I was hit by an SUV, figuring
they could do a better cosmetic job replacing the fork since
they were the only Raleigh dealer around that I knew of. I
told the owner I wasn't in a big hurry, as I wouldn't be
riding for four weeks. I went back in six weeks, and he
hadn't started on the bike -- even though it was November
and the shop was empty.

They went out of business in 2003. Doesn't matter to me, as
I found a better shop in the interim.

01-13-2005, 08:08 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> writes:

> I work in retail electronics repair and get to carefully
> shut my mouth at customer quirks.

I know what you mean. I used to work in a TV/electronics
repair shop, myself. Don'cha just luv it when customers
come back to pick up their newly repaired TV and ask:
"What was wrong with it?" When I was a tyro front-end guy
I'd end up boring them to death with descriptions of what
a flyback transformer is/does, and what happens when it
goes wonky. My all-time fave was when I got to tell them
we had to replace an IC. Then they'd say: "Oh. I see."

As per Andrew Muzi's policy, we taped replaced defective
parts to the customers' copies of the work orders and gave
them back to them. The customers appreciated that.

One time when I was skeleton-staffing the front end on a
Saturday, a couple came in to pick up their TV -- a wood
cabinet consolette that was heavier than it looked.
After I gruntingly, singlehandedly heaved the weighty SOB
up onto a cart to roll it out to their car, they asked:
"What was wrong with it?" Between heaving breaths I replied:
"Too <gasp, gasp> heavy." Gave 'em a chuckle.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

01-13-2005, 08:08 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> writes:

> I work in retail electronics repair and get to carefully
> shut my mouth at customer quirks.

I know what you mean. I used to work in a TV/electronics
repair shop, myself. Don'cha just luv it when customers
come back to pick up their newly repaired TV and ask:
"What was wrong with it?" When I was a tyro front-end guy
I'd end up boring them to death with descriptions of what
a flyback transformer is/does, and what happens when it
goes wonky. My all-time fave was when I got to tell them
we had to replace an IC. Then they'd say: "Oh. I see."

As per Andrew Muzi's policy, we taped replaced defective
parts to the customers' copies of the work orders and gave
them back to them. The customers appreciated that.

One time when I was skeleton-staffing the front end on a
Saturday, a couple came in to pick up their TV -- a wood
cabinet consolette that was heavier than it looked.
After I gruntingly, singlehandedly heaved the weighty SOB
up onto a cart to roll it out to their car, they asked:
"What was wrong with it?" Between heaving breaths I replied:
"Too <gasp, gasp> heavy." Gave 'em a chuckle.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca