Here's a tip

[Dexter Rutecki]

Don't use linkedin when drunk. The people you will find yourself connected to...oh, boy.

On a related note, did you know that there are (apparent) escorts who list themselves on linkedin? PM for contact info...

[gravitylover]

hahahaha

So after getting let go at the end of the work day today (after almost 11 years) I came home and dusted half a bottle of Tequila in a few shots. Guess it's not the right time to register...

[Skidog]

hahahaha

So after getting let go at the end of the work day today (after almost 11 years) I came home and dusted half a bottle of Tequila in a few shots. Guess it's not the right time to register...

Sorry man that sucks.

[Dexter Rutecki]

hahahaha

So after getting let go at the end of the work day today (after almost 11 years) I came home and dusted half a bottle of Tequila in a few shots. Guess it's not the right time to register...

What happened? Thought you were always cranking big numbers for that place.

[gravitylover]

The place is hurtin' and I'm too expensive.

[iceman]

sorry to hear mang.

[Mazderati]

Yeah, that sucks. Opportunity to open a shop closer to home.

[gravitylover]

Ya know how sometimes you think the right something or other should just fall in your lap? This is (hopefully) one of those times. 30+ years in and out of the bike and ski industries has gotta be worth something right? 9 of those in my own shop and now these last 10 1/2 years helping to run one of the biggest urban shops in the biz.

Oops I'm too old

Anyone wanna go for a mt bike ride in the rain tomorrow? It'll match my mood.


didn't mean to hijack your thread Dex C'mon up and have a beer, My schedule is clear...

[Benny Profane]

Sorry to hear, Gravity. Don't think the burb bike shop biz is much better. Bethel Cycles over by me just closed after a long time. Tough biz. That's what happens when people order their shit on Amazon.

[jgb@etree]

hahahaha

So after getting let go at the end of the work day today (after almost 11 years) I came home and dusted half a bottle of Tequila in a few shots. Guess it's not the right time to register...

Bummer, dude. Don't sweat it though - things have a way of working themselves out.

[Aldo]

ouch, and I know how much you enjoyed the commute. You'll find yourself in a better situation before long.


I think dex gave you the perfect pitch for this.

[gravitylover]

Thanks guys.

I'm not too worried really but it's been nearly 20 years since I've had to look for a job so it's gonna be weird. At least I'm getting paid for another month and then I feel like I should stay away from "on the books" work for a while so I get to collect unemployment on his dime. I'm afraid if I do that it will be harder to get a job if I stay out of the market for too long.

Benny - When did that happen? I guess Ridgefield stole their thunder. Younger owners, more connected in many ways and their service dept has a decent rep. Suburban shops that are not ready for the new primetime will be gone in 3-5 years unless they have a captive market or a real specialty. Unfortunately for the general consumer around here there are only a few that can claim that they do and only a couple of them are good enough businessmen to pull it off.

Aldo - Yeah this was a near perfect pitch wasn't it. Now lets see if I can hit a line drive up the middle and at least make it to second. I probably won't be coming down to pay for the work on my car though especially seeing that I have some free time to do it myself now


Anybody know anything about day trading? I like the idea of working from home for a while.

[Dexter Rutecki]

Everyone I know who knows a lot about day trading fucking hates it. I know a few guys who have done it but never heard a whole lot from them about it, and I don't think any of them still do it which should tell you most of what you need to know about it.

GL, probably not what you would like to hear right now, but I could have an idea for you that would work in about 6-12 months (unless you're willing to move in which case it could be sooner)...

[Dhelihiker]

One day i was bored and totally sober and I sent connection requests to every hot girl I saw. its prety neat

[retirwntm]

Anybody know anything about day trading? I like the idea of working from home for a while.

Having done it for a half a year, I'd say don't even consider it.

You are battling against machines and smart people that are creating tons of code to take advantage. As an individual, unless you have some well thought out niche, don't do it.

[gravitylover]

Yeah that's pretty much what I expected to hear. I'm just thinking out loud so you guys can keep me grounded.

[Tippster]

Vibes, GL. I've been basically unemployed for nearly a year. Still freelancing but most of the gigs dried up - now working an average of 7 days a month. Good thing the Frau has a great business going.

[Benny Profane]

Benny - When did that happen? I guess Ridgefield stole their thunder. Younger owners, more connected in many ways and their service dept has a decent rep. Suburban shops that are not ready for the new primetime will be gone in 3-5 years unless they have a captive market or a real specialty. Unfortunately for the general consumer around here there are only a few that can claim that they do and only a couple of them are good enough businessmen to pull it off.

Yeah, pretty much it. He's out there blaming "The Internet", but the Ridgefield shop owners have killed him in service, and they are where the money is. Who knows, though, maybe they'll be crying poverty soon.
He wasn't the warmest and fuzzyest guy, either.

[iceman]

Vibes, GL. I've been basically unemployed for nearly a year. Still freelancing but most of the gigs dried up - now working an average of 7 days a month. Good thing the Frau has a great business going.

She's in Finance, you're in Operations. It can work.

[gravitylover]

Yeah, pretty much it. He's out there blaming "The Internet", but the Ridgefield shop owners have killed him in service, and they are where the money is. Who knows, though, maybe they'll be crying poverty soon.
He wasn't the warmest and fuzzyest guy, either.

It is the internet but if he was able to make it through the mail order wave in the late 90's he could've pulled this off if he hadn't gone stale. That money will stop going to him soon enough though as an awful lot of those folks are in or approaching your age bracket and will be winding down their spending on this kind of stuff soon enough. Warm and fuzzy? No. Pompous? Well, maybe a little but it goes with the neighborhood...

Tipp I wish I could pull that off, my wife pretty much stopped working when the kids were in middle school. I was finally stable and making time to get two kids through school and working is tough so she decided to focus the time on them.

I'm working on some ideas now. Maybe help some friends out wrenching and building bikes through the holidays, maybe try spending a day with a couple of the reps I like if they want the help, who knows there are plenty of holiday pt gigs to pad the income while I'm still getting paid out from the other job.

[strawjack]

Do independent bike shops have a buying/marketing group to join in order to compete with the 'big' guys. Are there big guys? The price difference is pretty significant between shops and online. Also, are any of the manufacturers implementing IMAP pricing? Mail order only places are sucking the life out of everything.

[Aldo]

GL, let me know before you do anything on jackstands in the mud. I can help. I have bikes, you have cars, we'll be doing it right!!

[gravitylover]

@strawjack - There are too many variables to enforce pricing on a global scale unfortunately. It's too bad. Yes there is The Bike Cooperative but it can only do so much with ~300 members, 1,000 and things could start to change but until the membership reaches that point the manufacturers will sell their wares the way the consumer wants rather than what their current customers, bike dealers, need.

Aldo- I like where you're headed. I'll call you in a few days.

[strawjack]

^ I just checked out their web site. They seem to be doing the right things, but yeah without the numbers it won't be as effective. Locally out of my 6 or 7 shops only 1 belongs to the co-op. Not sure about costs to join, but at the end of the day something of this nature will benefit all the shops.

Maybe you can get a job with the co-op? Obviously somebody needs to promote their product.