Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Anyone here work at a bike shop? and if so what's needed to get into on? I'm out of school now looking for a job yet I don't want to hole myself down to one thing I can apply my skills other places.

I know here in Calgary that you need a ticket to work on the bikes, but dont need to know a thing about bikes to work the counter. In fact the less you know the better in some places. Never understood the industry.

Chels wrote:I know here in Calgary that you need a ticket to work on the bikes, but dont need to know a thing about bikes to work the counter. In fact the less you know the better in some places. Never understood the industry.

gawd thats funny!!! because it's sooooo true... the irony of the bike industry is killing me right now. A few weeks ago a local bike shop hired someone AFTER the hiree TOLD THEM that they "knew nothing about bikes" although they ride one (that was the hirees quote to me).

It's so frustrating! They hired this person anyway, and then became frustrated that they cant do the work! argggh (big sigh) ... their lack of knowledge is so basic that they dont know which model designations are from which bike manufacturer! (i.e. RM, YZ, CR, etc..) and most basic things like "fork seals" elude them -- as in "what's that, and where do i find it?"... aw gawd. the industry has grown so much that it seems insane to hire someone without the knowledge, unless you are paying them very very little... but ya gotta let people learn slowly and prime bike season is not the time to learn the just basics.

it takes a while to learn this stuff, and people with a few years experience can do well enough... people with 5 and 10 years experience can do it very well.. but the bike shops get so busy it is just crazy to hire someone like this without having the resources to train them up to speed, when there MUST be someone else they could find... or they could realize what that person does know and use them somewhere else in the store in the mean time... whooooo knows! the silliness continues...

remember to ask your local dealer for people with knowledge, who are helpful in answering your questions, giving you details and oredering up the right goodies for you... they won't change unless you demand it. there are lots of staff selling things to people that they dont need... but when you look out for someone and get them what they need and want, everyone benefits. People can spend there money wisely and continue to ride more/safer/etc..

(i thnk that was a rant ) --oops

anyway. Call around to your local dealers and ask them... maybe in the States people require certificates to do Parts (which we know is far from idiot proof though), --- with Accessory and Clothing stuff it's another ball game.

Hands-on experience is always best. Ask the people how much riding experience they have, etc...

//monkey

Are you sure you want to work in a bike shop? You get busy when the weather gets nice. I've never understood why anyone would want to do that.....

High_Side wrote:Are you sure you want to work in a bike shop? You get busy when the weather gets nice. I've never understood why anyone would want to do that.....

Two words:
Staff
Discount

I work in the parts department at the local BMW shop. All I can say is its the best job Ive ever had. You learn an incredible amount about the parts just by stocking and listening to the employees that know there stuff. The employee discount is a lifesaver, and you get to be around the things you love every day. You do have to remember that while you are working in a fun place, you still have an enormous amount of work to do. From hecking in the part, sorting them between the parts that you are shipping to people, local special orders, and just stock, parts to the service department, and than parts for sales deals. than they need to be tagged, and put away, than theres the shipping out side of things. Than theres the customers up front that have some of the most bogus questions youve ever heard, but you wouldnt be there right away, you would get all of the support tasks, that need to be done, but let the guys that have been there for a while do what they need to do.

All in all its an awesome job, but you have to remember its still a job, and there is a ton of work that needs to get done to make a parts department work.

Sevulturus wrote:

High_Side wrote:Are you sure you want to work in a bike shop? You get busy when the weather gets nice. I've never understood why anyone would want to do that.....

Two words:
Staff
Discount

These two words might over-ride that:
Low Pay

High_Side wrote:

Sevulturus wrote:

High_Side wrote:Are you sure you want to work in a bike shop? You get busy when the weather gets nice. I've never understood why anyone would want to do that.....

Two words:
Staff
Discount

These two words might over-ride that:
Low Pay

That is why they hire people that dont know anything about bikes. dont want to pay the staff discount and anyone who knows things about bikes wants to be paid what they are worth.

Chels wrote: That is why they hire people that dont know anything about bikes. dont want to pay the staff discount and anyone who knows things about bikes wants to be paid what they are worth.

Yup.

i was thinking about applying at my local dealers, just to get in the door at the parts counter or something, my dealers usually have teenagers that know no thing about bikes at all. my knowledge is limited but id at least learn as much as i could all day while at work. not sure if i want that kind of job though cause they pay next to no thing if you have no exp. its equal to cart pushing at a retail store.