Dumb shit I did you should learn from

[steve garro]

Don't let clients design bikes.
Send them back their deposit 1st.
When it does what you said it would do they will say it's your fault.
Hold your line no matter what.
- Garro.

[e-RICHIE]

[X] atso -

Don't let clients design bikes.
Send them back their deposit 1st.
When it does what you said it would do they will say it's your fault.
Hold your line no matter what.
- Garro.

+1

[ron l edmiston]

i came, i saw, i listened, "i believed.." --- & "believing" elevates perception/desire to reality...

ronnie

[MarkC]

I know Richard has preached this ever since the Rudy incident (as it is known). I'm curious though, what is it about custom bike clients that makes them think they could possibly design the bike better than the guy they commissioned to design and build the bike? I don't get it. Would be like one of you guys walking into my shop (lab) and trying to teach me genetics.

Since you guys deal with these goof balls on a regular basis, whats the mind set of said customers?

Mark

[progetto]

Since you guys deal with these goof balls on a regular basis, whats the mind set of said customers?

Mark

Because they think they know everything

[Andrew R Stewart]

I'd say, from working retail for too long, that the mind set comes from spending money. There seems to be a thought that if the customer pays you money that you owe the customer anything they demand. The "customer is always right" thing. Well we all know that the customer is not always right. That we might say so, as diplomaticlly as we can, is not thought of as doing the right thing. Andy.

[prolix21]

I'm curious though, what is it about custom bike clients that makes them think they could possibly design the bike better than the guy they commissioned to design and build the bike?

The internet

[Honus]

A camel is a horse designed by a committee -Sir Alec Issigonis

I fail to understand why people often hire an individual that is an expert in their field and then promptly ignore everything they have to say.

[WadePatton]

...whats the mind set of said customers?

the exuberance of youth and inexperience which can be compounded by the information overload of the collective and probably some clown at mtbr told 'em so.

just because you have a source of information doesn't mean it is good information.

[Dallas Tex]

I don't even give clients direct control over paint. They have input, and I have to agree. Its my name on the downtube.

AND if they end up unhappy, its still your fault in the eyes of the customer and in the eyes of anyone who sees the bike.

Gt

[Filly-fuzz]

I learned this the hard way as well.


I told him repeatedly the head stock would look ugly as sin, and what have I been doing last week?




Gluing offcuts back on to try and salvage it (facepalm)


And to top it off, It's my fault!!

[goor]

*"fifty cents? I'll skate to the beach - and I'll look better getting there!"*

Oh hell yeah, Chuck Mosely! So good! Thanks for that Garro

[suhacycles]

Hey, let's here some more specific examples, like a customer wanting a certain TT length or angle and how the "In my experience..." explanation didn't work and how they responded. Anyone ask for their money back? Did it affect referrals?

[edoz]

If you get an email, text or phone call that begins with "I have a stuck bolt/seatpost..." Just hang up, hit delete and walk away.

[steve garro]

Anyone ask for their money back? Did it affect referrals?

Of course on both being a builder.
This is a stressful job in many ways.

Here's another thing not to do: Name names or get into internet arguements.

A decade in, I'm just trying to ease the way for others, should they choose this road.

- Garro.

[Eric Estlund]

To try to get this back a bit:

If you have down stream processes designed to fix upstream processes ditch the rework and fix your system.

Use qc checks, and know when starting over is better then backing up.

[Eric Estlund]

Another- always be skeptical of crap other dudes post on framebuilding forums.

[shiggy]

Another- always be skeptical of crap other dudes post on framebuilding forums.

Are you sure about that?

[Eric Estlund]

Are you sure about that?

I see what you did there you goober.

If I am sure of anything in this world it is my skepticism.

[Cooper Cycles]

I think a lot can be said for being a wrench before becoming a builder. Working on broken, ill fitting, and annoying designs for the past twelve or so years has brought me a wealth of information on fit and design that would be hard to obtain through other channels. That being said, say someone that worked in the aircraft industry might have an amazing set of joining skills, so they wouldn't have to do the repetition that Richie is talking about, but there is the whole idea of bicycle design that would need to be ingrained some how. I guess my rambling point is... Know your strengths, recognize your weaknesses, and don't sell shit your not 100% behind.

Have Fun!
Travis