Hehehe I start a job at a bike shop

[amyp]

Oh boy oh boy.
I made a few bikes go tiiiiiiimber on the displays because I am short! That was embarrassing especially in front of a few customers. I'm still trying to figure it out haha.
I'm still learning. I've volunteered at a few bike shops before but this is totally different because people need you to walk them through everything.
Job isn't commission based so I don't have to sell anything. When I volunteered at the bike shop most of the kids already knew what they wanted and we had pretty simple stuff...it was a community bike shop with mostly refurbished parts.
The shop I work at now sells mostly Trek, Del Sols, Dahons, Masi and bmx bikes (which i know nothing about).

Does anyone have any tips? I'm definitely not a fast learner.

[Irulan]

Tip about what? How to sell stuff? How to not knock over displays? How to learn everything you need to know about bikes in a hurry?

I'd say the most important thing is that if you don't' know an answer, don't bs someone, just tell them you don't but you'll find out.

[Owlie]

If someone asks a question you don't know the answer to, tell them that you don't know, but you'll be happy to send them to someone who does know. Once you've found the someone, stick around and listen so you know for next time. (I am constantly doing this on the mechanical stuff, and the BMX bikes.)

Read up on the product, especially areas you feel you're weak in. If you ride a road bike, you can probably talk at length about road bikes. Stay abreast of any changes (like New Sora), but definitely familiarize yourself with mountain/hybrid components and the basics of suspension forks.

Smile!

[Melalvai]

Be aware that there are many reasons and ways to ride bikes, and whatever draws you to biking isn't universal. Roadies, recreational riders, people who don't hardly know why they want to ride and are intimidated by all the options, utility, etc. Listen to the customers and try to find out what they want although they have trouble articulating it.

I'm a little bit jealous.

[ridebikeme]

You definitely have some great advice here, the only thing that I would add is this: gather all of the info that you can, read it, study it,and remember how it feels to walk into a business and the person assisting you doesn't know what you are talking about... RESOLVE yourself to be better suited for the job.

Good luck!

[amyp]

Thanks guys! I've had people ask me a few questions and I didn't know how to answer. I just asked for the mechanics and stood next to them and listened. I definitely can't BS anyone. I've had a few shops that bs'd things like "this bike fits you just fine. just buy it!!!" and i felt like I'm doing a superman on the bike. I don't want to give the wrong advice becuase that would make me and the shop look bad.

[shootingstar]

As you know, many of us here in the forum would be demanding customers with specific questions.

Of all the years I've been to bike stores which is several times annually, i rarely have been served by women for mechanical problems. It was just the way how things worked out....and who was available at the time I was at the LBS. I know certain stores seldom hire women for mechanical bike problems.