i have become the comic book guy of bikes

well, sort of. basically. well, not really. those who know bikes will understand.

i've been reprimanded for lack of sensitivity in my workplace. this it the 3rd time in recent history that a customer called the non-profit that owns my shop to complain (i think both others are documented in my prior blogs). while the non-profit is great and very supportive of us, they aren't bike people. so everything has to be explained to them by my poor boss. sometimes they understand, but some things just don't make sense to them. it can be hard for us, since its almost like a language barrier.

here's an abbreviated version of what happened. sensitive guy comes in with a folding bike:

s.g.: "can you fix?"

ken: "no."

s.g.: "no?!"

ken: "yes, NO."

s.g.: "what do you mean NO?!"

ken: "bike shop = no work on dept. store bike. your fold bike = d.s.b. low quality part, no adjustment, no replacement parts, etc etc" (this is an age old argument)

s.g.: "OK OK i get it! BUT YOU WERE RUDE TO ME! YOU MADE ME FEEL LIKE CRAP! YOU COULD HAVE BEEN NICER! I DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR SHOP! YOU ARE LAME! WHAT YOU DID WAS LAAAMMMMEEEEE! YOU ARE JUST SO. . . . . . L A M E ! ! "

this rant went on for like 1 min nonstop. i tried to interject a sincere apology for my tone coming off as rude or whatever, but he didn't even take a breath to let me get 1 single word in.

i stopped talking. i realized that it was pointless to apologize because:
a) he wasn't listening;
b) he didn't care what i had to say; and
c) it was obvious he had very serious issues related to rejection rooted much much deeper than getting turned down by a fucking bike shop.

instead, i waved goodbye, told him to have a nice day, and pointed at my ears with a nod to show that i was listening.


if i get any more reprimands, i may be suspended without pay.