Is a mechanic certificate worth it?
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 743
Bikes: Cannondale tandems: '92 Road, '97 Mtn. Mongoose 10.9 Ti, Kelly Deluxe, Tommaso Chorus, Cdale MT2000, Schwinn Deluxe Cruiser, Torker Unicycle, among others.
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 279 Post(s)
Liked 207 Times
in
129 Posts
Stay healthy; don't explode. Avoid gasoline!
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,483
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 968 Post(s)
Liked 1,631 Times
in
1,047 Posts
A certificate will be good when your employer is adjusting their liability insurance coverage. Certainly it will be important when applying for your personal liability coverage.
In a world of litigation a certificate might come in handy... Or... NOT!
In a world of litigation a certificate might come in handy... Or... NOT!
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,483
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 968 Post(s)
Liked 1,631 Times
in
1,047 Posts
Yep... I wonder how that will change in the future.
No ChiCom lithium batteries or batteries in series with out UL inspection.
No CFCs
No Carcinogenic compounds
No Cash, credit cards only
No Gender specific clasifications
No, No, No...
Apart form the OP: I will say running a Bike Shop or any business is a Bugger!
No ChiCom lithium batteries or batteries in series with out UL inspection.
No CFCs
No Carcinogenic compounds
No Cash, credit cards only
No Gender specific clasifications
No, No, No...
Apart form the OP: I will say running a Bike Shop or any business is a Bugger!
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
#29
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,985
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26425 Post(s)
Liked 10,381 Times
in
7,209 Posts
...+1. I got ASE certs in auto electrical and emissions controls. I was lucky enough to get a job where I could actually make house payments doing something else, but I did do that for a while. Bike repair is just not valued in the current work environment.
__________________
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,068
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4409 Post(s)
Liked 1,566 Times
in
1,028 Posts
Throwing good money after bad.
Don't be serious about bike shop employment. It is something to do for fun, not real income. If you are concerned about income go into the construction trades or become and automotive or aviation mechanic. The bike industry is paid like the toys everyone treats them as.
Don't be serious about bike shop employment. It is something to do for fun, not real income. If you are concerned about income go into the construction trades or become and automotive or aviation mechanic. The bike industry is paid like the toys everyone treats them as.
#31
Full Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 451
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 236 Post(s)
Liked 171 Times
in
104 Posts
I've been a bike (and ski) mechanic for a little over one and a half years and I'm wondering if getting a certificate is worth it. I know it's not like getting a degree and wont get me a job on it's own, I just kinda want to elevate myself. This is definitely the career path I intend to go down and maybe eventually my own shop. Currently the certificate I'm most considering is the first part of the Professional Bicycle Mechanics Association certification "program". Do any techs have any experience with this certification or others? If so what was your experience with testing and after you completed it and received your certificate? And lastly, would you recommend it to others?
Likes For tendency:
#32
Full Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 451
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 236 Post(s)
Liked 171 Times
in
104 Posts
Throwing good money after bad.
Don't be serious about bike shop employment. It is something to do for fun, not real income. If you are concerned about income go into the construction trades or become and automotive or aviation mechanic. The bike industry is paid like the toys everyone treats them as.
Don't be serious about bike shop employment. It is something to do for fun, not real income. If you are concerned about income go into the construction trades or become and automotive or aviation mechanic. The bike industry is paid like the toys everyone treats them as.
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,068
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4409 Post(s)
Liked 1,566 Times
in
1,028 Posts
I was the head mechanic at the most high end/boutique shop in Seattle and made less than $50k per year. It is certainly possible, but $70k in Manhattan is like $50k in any other big city. So I am doubtful that this information applies to many mechanics.
#34
Senior Member
As a hiring manager in a local bike shop chain, certs had no affect on pay or hiring a prospect. Personality, experience related to the position, and appearance played large roles in the hiring process.
Two notable examples of why certs really do not speak to ability. I hired a kid named Josh (also hired his brother who was just as skilled). He worked on his own car, understood electronics, and was the most well-balanced personality I had encountered at that time. He was also home-schooled which is usually a no-go for me. Josh was an exceptionally talented and naturally curious person, and was the best mechanic I had ever hired.
Conversely, after I quit the biz for good, a guy was hired as head mechanic in the flagship store. He had a cert from Barnetts, and was, I am told, a numbskull. Had no curiosity on how stuff worked, was unwilling to learn from others, and was terrible facing the customer. Certification did not mean he was a qualified candidate.
As for Josh and his brother, I learned they are both very smart and were pulled from public schools due to boredom. I will not pre-judge a homeschooled kid again.
Two notable examples of why certs really do not speak to ability. I hired a kid named Josh (also hired his brother who was just as skilled). He worked on his own car, understood electronics, and was the most well-balanced personality I had encountered at that time. He was also home-schooled which is usually a no-go for me. Josh was an exceptionally talented and naturally curious person, and was the best mechanic I had ever hired.
Conversely, after I quit the biz for good, a guy was hired as head mechanic in the flagship store. He had a cert from Barnetts, and was, I am told, a numbskull. Had no curiosity on how stuff worked, was unwilling to learn from others, and was terrible facing the customer. Certification did not mean he was a qualified candidate.
As for Josh and his brother, I learned they are both very smart and were pulled from public schools due to boredom. I will not pre-judge a homeschooled kid again.
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Bloomington, IN
Posts: 2,951
Bikes: Paramount, Faggin, Ochsner, Ciocc, Basso
Mentioned: 117 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1303 Post(s)
Liked 1,912 Times
in
1,142 Posts
As zandoval points out the best thing you can get is an insurance policy for personal liability and it likely will cost far less than the certification does. I have one and it covers up to $1m and I have never needed to use it, but I would bet that when I do something will come up. Smiles, MH
#37
Happy With My Bikes
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,187
Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 884 Post(s)
Liked 2,308 Times
in
1,118 Posts
Off topic, but I was a skeptic of homeschooling for a long time. But then for many years I was involved with a local youth group that trained for and ran half marathons with at risk and delinquent youth. A mother approached the developer of the program to see if her homeschooled son could participate as the public schools would not allow homeschool kids to take part in their athletic programs. This turned out to be a marriage made in heaven as the mother agreed to also be a running mentor and eventually became the coordinator of the program and served the program so well. Her son that she wanted to participate was a model youth to the at risk and delinquent youth and eventually became a Boston qualifier with his first full marathon attempt. Other homeschooled youth were allowed to enter this program (which was 100% free to the youth) and they were always the most polite and respectful kids you would ever want to meet. Of course there are a couple of kids where homeschooling failed them, but I think that was due to their parents. In that case there is a good chance public education would have been a bigger failure for them.
__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,096
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4210 Post(s)
Liked 3,876 Times
in
2,315 Posts
here in the USA, in the 1970s, the ski industry saw the reasoning to create a certificate program to reduce the insurance liability that shops would find themselves in when assembling the various differing brands of boots, bindings and skis. During my brief time working the mounting benches I attended the "classes" offered by the various brands each early Fall. Our shop's insurance policy required the binding techs to have passed these classes. I don't recall mention of being able to work faster (and we were paid on a base hourly with an additional % of the labor one did). Those brand operated classes were more about the current features and how to work the components and less about what were the wrong combos of boots and bindings. For that we did inhouse clinics. It helped a lot that our binding release check guy was also on the industry dimensional standards committees, like having Fred DeLong or Howard Sutherland as your shop's final service inspector. Andy
__________________
AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
#39
Newbie
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Ohio
Posts: 9
Bikes: 1974 Concord DeLuxe 10 speed road bike (Kuwahara), Specialized Crossroad Hybrid
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
1 Post
Yes, get the certificate. Many years ago I started turning wrenches on cars in a 2 year automotive coop program. Then started taking my ASE certification tests. After several years got enough certs to be considered a Master Automotive Mechanic. Went to any class my employers would send me to and kept track of all the classes I took. It will pay off in the end. Certs are not needed but it shows that you are committed to your Profession. Over the years I got to fix or restore lots of cool cars. Take pictures of all the special, different, exotic things you fix.
#40
Senior Member
Certification in certain industries is required by law or by the standard set for employment, ie IT industry. The bicycle industry has no requirements for certification at this time, and is up to the individual employer if they see value in it. It is a rare situation when a bicycle mechanic can make a living that is other than pay-check to pay-check. The wrench will need another source of revenue to create savings, afford a house or support raising a family.
I'm retired now, however I work part-time in a car dealership and can tell you ASE certs don't make a mechanic. In our shop the wrench has to prove his worth before he can make a living at it. Performance is monitored and pay, through different avenues, is tied to it. Much the same was done in the bike shop I worked for many, many years, however the ability to earn a living fell short as is the norm with the bike biz.
I'm retired now, however I work part-time in a car dealership and can tell you ASE certs don't make a mechanic. In our shop the wrench has to prove his worth before he can make a living at it. Performance is monitored and pay, through different avenues, is tied to it. Much the same was done in the bike shop I worked for many, many years, however the ability to earn a living fell short as is the norm with the bike biz.
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,068
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4409 Post(s)
Liked 1,566 Times
in
1,028 Posts
Yes, get the certificate. Many years ago I started turning wrenches on cars in a 2 year automotive coop program. Then started taking my ASE certification tests. After several years got enough certs to be considered a Master Automotive Mechanic. Went to any class my employers would send me to and kept track of all the classes I took. It will pay off in the end. Certs are not needed but it shows that you are committed to your Profession. Over the years I got to fix or restore lots of cool cars. Take pictures of all the special, different, exotic things you fix.
#42
Newbie
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Ohio
Posts: 9
Bikes: 1974 Concord DeLuxe 10 speed road bike (Kuwahara), Specialized Crossroad Hybrid
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
1 Post
I was told the same thing about auto mechanics. But I enjoyed fixing things. I did everything I could to advance my profession. I did what I loved and enough money came in. Going to a job you enjoy is much better than one you hate. With the certs if you change careers it is still good on a resume.
#43
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,816
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 634 Times
in
374 Posts
Every certified mechanic we've ever hired, hasn't worked out. They mostly had a good understanding of what needed to be done and how, but little ability to efficiently and correctly perform the tasks. Mostly we grow our own. We do send our guys (gender neutral) to the mfgs training though, mostly cause I hate eating sandwiches and pizza with brake and fork fluid on my hands...
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,816
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 634 Times
in
374 Posts
Off topic, but I was a skeptic of homeschooling for a long time. But then for many years I was involved with a local youth group that trained for and ran half marathons with at risk and delinquent youth. A mother approached the developer of the program to see if her homeschooled son could participate as the public schools would not allow homeschool kids to take part in their athletic programs. This turned out to be a marriage made in heaven as the mother agreed to also be a running mentor and eventually became the coordinator of the program and served the program so well. Her son that she wanted to participate was a model youth to the at risk and delinquent youth and eventually became a Boston qualifier with his first full marathon attempt. Other homeschooled youth were allowed to enter this program (which was 100% free to the youth) and they were always the most polite and respectful kids you would ever want to meet. Of course there are a couple of kids where homeschooling failed them, but I think that was due to their parents. In that case there is a good chance public education would have been a bigger failure for them.
#45
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,068
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4409 Post(s)
Liked 1,566 Times
in
1,028 Posts
I was told the same thing about auto mechanics. But I enjoyed fixing things. I did everything I could to advance my profession. I did what I loved and enough money came in. Going to a job you enjoy is much better than one you hate. With the certs if you change careers it is still good on a resume.
#46
Happy With My Bikes
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,187
Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 884 Post(s)
Liked 2,308 Times
in
1,118 Posts
I would have thought that was the case with home schooling several years ago. For some reason I had visions in my head of kids with mom all day learning "readin', writin', and 'rithmetic" at the kitchen table. But that was a misconception. They have study groups, they participate in community service projects, and they are more able to experience exposures to culture outside of a classroom. The majority of them were active in their churches and they were in strong families with active and involved parents.
__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
#47
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 641
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 346 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 398 Times
in
260 Posts
Kontact and TiHabanero have given you the BEST and only practical advice. You'd be wise to follow it.
Saying it isn't so will not change the most likely outcome.
Spend your time, energy, and money in a pursuit that will be beneficial and fruitful to you in the long run.
You aren't likely to exceed any level beyond poverty wages until and unless you own your legitimate very successful shop as a sole proprietor entrepreneuer or at least a 33 1/3 percent share ownership of a super successful legitimate bike shop in a metropolitan area of at least 150,000 residents. It sure as hell isn't as easy as it might sound like it is, because if it was easy, everybody and his brother would be doing it. There is a huge risk of losing all of your money with any new business venture. Most new businesses are severely undercapitalized, basically they don't have the operating funds to get beyond the hurdles and over the big hill to the point where they get profitable. Owner(s) of such an undercapitalized new start up will run out of money because they cannot pay the rent-lease, cannot make payroll, have no money to replentish the inventory, can't afford to make payroll tax deposits, 941 deposits, or pay state sales tax, unemployment taxes, workers compensation premiums, liability insurance, electric bill, and have nothing planned or budgeted or any funds available for advertising and promoting the business, etc..............
..................certainly you have seen this story over and over with businesses that open at 001 Main Street in your town, or whatever popular shopping area, and six months later the store is out of business, and 7 months later, some other different type of business opens up in that same spot and the song remains the same, uh it too is gone in six months.
I often tell young people when asked and when the young person says that I hate going to school, and says I don't want to study, I just want to drop out.....
WELL, MY ANSWER ALWAYS IS : " Poverty OR Education, which would you prefer because being a lazy dumbass who doesn't get a decent degree is likely gonna live in poverty!" "Someone who does not finish high school is guaranteed to live in severe poverty."
Yeah, there are always exceptions where someone gets lucky, or makes it in pro sports, wins the lottery, or hits the big time with their rock n roll band, or whatever....
Chances are as close to zero as you can get.
I do understand that someone can really be passionate about wanting to work, earning a living, doing something specific, like working on bicycles as a shop mechanic at a local bike shop but as difficult as this may sound, I do not think that you will ever get beyond earning poverty wages while working at most all local bike shops in the USA, as a non-owner, employee. Yes, perhaps you can get connected with a stellar boutique elite shop in a huge city like New York City, or the Silicon Valley Area in California, or perhaps Marin County or San Francisco, but hell, you'll starve on even $65,000 annually in those areas, as apartment rent is very high. Perhaps with three other room mates living on the floor of a tiny studio apartment, you will be able to afford rent, utilities, and groceries with not much left for any other spending.
Hey, does that sound like fun?
There is nothing wrong with having a passion and a spirit of adventure that wants to do that.
Ask most anyone today that is north of sixty years of age, and unless they aren't being completely truthful with you, they will tell you that when they were young that they thought most of the sage advice that old folks gave them was well outdated and antiquated and we mostly thought these old folks offering such wise advice were nice, well meaning folks who were mostly F.O.S. . ( F.O.S. = full of ....... and the S does not stand for smarts)
Yes, time has proven that most of those nice well meaning old folks did know what they were talking about.
Saying it isn't so will not change the most likely outcome.
Spend your time, energy, and money in a pursuit that will be beneficial and fruitful to you in the long run.
You aren't likely to exceed any level beyond poverty wages until and unless you own your legitimate very successful shop as a sole proprietor entrepreneuer or at least a 33 1/3 percent share ownership of a super successful legitimate bike shop in a metropolitan area of at least 150,000 residents. It sure as hell isn't as easy as it might sound like it is, because if it was easy, everybody and his brother would be doing it. There is a huge risk of losing all of your money with any new business venture. Most new businesses are severely undercapitalized, basically they don't have the operating funds to get beyond the hurdles and over the big hill to the point where they get profitable. Owner(s) of such an undercapitalized new start up will run out of money because they cannot pay the rent-lease, cannot make payroll, have no money to replentish the inventory, can't afford to make payroll tax deposits, 941 deposits, or pay state sales tax, unemployment taxes, workers compensation premiums, liability insurance, electric bill, and have nothing planned or budgeted or any funds available for advertising and promoting the business, etc..............
..................certainly you have seen this story over and over with businesses that open at 001 Main Street in your town, or whatever popular shopping area, and six months later the store is out of business, and 7 months later, some other different type of business opens up in that same spot and the song remains the same, uh it too is gone in six months.
I often tell young people when asked and when the young person says that I hate going to school, and says I don't want to study, I just want to drop out.....
WELL, MY ANSWER ALWAYS IS : " Poverty OR Education, which would you prefer because being a lazy dumbass who doesn't get a decent degree is likely gonna live in poverty!" "Someone who does not finish high school is guaranteed to live in severe poverty."
Yeah, there are always exceptions where someone gets lucky, or makes it in pro sports, wins the lottery, or hits the big time with their rock n roll band, or whatever....
Chances are as close to zero as you can get.
I do understand that someone can really be passionate about wanting to work, earning a living, doing something specific, like working on bicycles as a shop mechanic at a local bike shop but as difficult as this may sound, I do not think that you will ever get beyond earning poverty wages while working at most all local bike shops in the USA, as a non-owner, employee. Yes, perhaps you can get connected with a stellar boutique elite shop in a huge city like New York City, or the Silicon Valley Area in California, or perhaps Marin County or San Francisco, but hell, you'll starve on even $65,000 annually in those areas, as apartment rent is very high. Perhaps with three other room mates living on the floor of a tiny studio apartment, you will be able to afford rent, utilities, and groceries with not much left for any other spending.
Hey, does that sound like fun?
There is nothing wrong with having a passion and a spirit of adventure that wants to do that.
Ask most anyone today that is north of sixty years of age, and unless they aren't being completely truthful with you, they will tell you that when they were young that they thought most of the sage advice that old folks gave them was well outdated and antiquated and we mostly thought these old folks offering such wise advice were nice, well meaning folks who were mostly F.O.S. . ( F.O.S. = full of ....... and the S does not stand for smarts)
Yes, time has proven that most of those nice well meaning old folks did know what they were talking about.
#48
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,547
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3674 Post(s)
Liked 5,441 Times
in
2,764 Posts
Kontact and TiHabanero have given you the BEST and only practical advice. You'd be wise to follow it.
Saying it isn't so will not change the most likely outcome.
Spend your time, energy, and money in a pursuit that will be beneficial and fruitful to you in the long run.
You aren't likely to exceed any level beyond poverty wages until and unless you own your legitimate very successful shop as a sole proprietor entrepreneuer or at least a 33 1/3 percent share ownership of a super successful legitimate bike shop in a metropolitan area of at least 150,000 residents. It sure as hell isn't as easy as it might sound like it is, because if it was easy, everybody and his brother would be doing it. There is a huge risk of losing all of your money with any new business venture. Most new businesses are severely undercapitalized, basically they don't have the operating funds to get beyond the hurdles and over the big hill to the point where they get profitable. Owner(s) of such an undercapitalized new start up will run out of money because they cannot pay the rent-lease, cannot make payroll, have no money to replentish the inventory, can't afford to make payroll tax deposits, 941 deposits, or pay state sales tax, unemployment taxes, workers compensation premiums, liability insurance, electric bill, and have nothing planned or budgeted or any funds available for advertising and promoting the business, etc..............
..................certainly you have seen this story over and over with businesses that open at 001 Main Street in your town, or whatever popular shopping area, and six months later the store is out of business, and 7 months later, some other different type of business opens up in that same spot and the song remains the same, uh it too is gone in six months.
I often tell young people when asked and when the young person says that I hate going to school, and says I don't want to study, I just want to drop out.....
WELL, MY ANSWER ALWAYS IS : " Poverty OR Education, which would you prefer because being a lazy dumbass who doesn't get a decent degree is likely gonna live in poverty!" "Someone who does not finish high school is guaranteed to live in severe poverty."
Yeah, there are always exceptions where someone gets lucky, or makes it in pro sports, wins the lottery, or hits the big time with their rock n roll band, or whatever....
Chances are as close to zero as you can get.
I do understand that someone can really be passionate about wanting to work, earning a living, doing something specific, like working on bicycles as a shop mechanic at a local bike shop but as difficult as this may sound, I do not think that you will ever get beyond earning poverty wages while working at most all local bike shops in the USA, as a non-owner, employee. Yes, perhaps you can get connected with a stellar boutique elite shop in a huge city like New York City, or the Silicon Valley Area in California, or perhaps Marin County or San Francisco, but hell, you'll starve on even $65,000 annually in those areas, as apartment rent is very high. Perhaps with three other room mates living on the floor of a tiny studio apartment, you will be able to afford rent, utilities, and groceries with not much left for any other spending.
Hey, does that sound like fun?
There is nothing wrong with having a passion and a spirit of adventure that wants to do that.
Ask most anyone today that is north of sixty years of age, and unless they aren't being completely truthful with you, they will tell you that when they were young that they thought most of the sage advice that old folks gave them was well outdated and antiquated and we mostly thought these old folks offering such wise advice were nice, well meaning folks who were mostly F.O.S. . ( F.O.S. = full of ....... and the S does not stand for smarts)
Yes, time has proven that most of those nice well meaning old folks did know what they were talking about.
Saying it isn't so will not change the most likely outcome.
Spend your time, energy, and money in a pursuit that will be beneficial and fruitful to you in the long run.
You aren't likely to exceed any level beyond poverty wages until and unless you own your legitimate very successful shop as a sole proprietor entrepreneuer or at least a 33 1/3 percent share ownership of a super successful legitimate bike shop in a metropolitan area of at least 150,000 residents. It sure as hell isn't as easy as it might sound like it is, because if it was easy, everybody and his brother would be doing it. There is a huge risk of losing all of your money with any new business venture. Most new businesses are severely undercapitalized, basically they don't have the operating funds to get beyond the hurdles and over the big hill to the point where they get profitable. Owner(s) of such an undercapitalized new start up will run out of money because they cannot pay the rent-lease, cannot make payroll, have no money to replentish the inventory, can't afford to make payroll tax deposits, 941 deposits, or pay state sales tax, unemployment taxes, workers compensation premiums, liability insurance, electric bill, and have nothing planned or budgeted or any funds available for advertising and promoting the business, etc..............
..................certainly you have seen this story over and over with businesses that open at 001 Main Street in your town, or whatever popular shopping area, and six months later the store is out of business, and 7 months later, some other different type of business opens up in that same spot and the song remains the same, uh it too is gone in six months.
I often tell young people when asked and when the young person says that I hate going to school, and says I don't want to study, I just want to drop out.....
WELL, MY ANSWER ALWAYS IS : " Poverty OR Education, which would you prefer because being a lazy dumbass who doesn't get a decent degree is likely gonna live in poverty!" "Someone who does not finish high school is guaranteed to live in severe poverty."
Yeah, there are always exceptions where someone gets lucky, or makes it in pro sports, wins the lottery, or hits the big time with their rock n roll band, or whatever....
Chances are as close to zero as you can get.
I do understand that someone can really be passionate about wanting to work, earning a living, doing something specific, like working on bicycles as a shop mechanic at a local bike shop but as difficult as this may sound, I do not think that you will ever get beyond earning poverty wages while working at most all local bike shops in the USA, as a non-owner, employee. Yes, perhaps you can get connected with a stellar boutique elite shop in a huge city like New York City, or the Silicon Valley Area in California, or perhaps Marin County or San Francisco, but hell, you'll starve on even $65,000 annually in those areas, as apartment rent is very high. Perhaps with three other room mates living on the floor of a tiny studio apartment, you will be able to afford rent, utilities, and groceries with not much left for any other spending.
Hey, does that sound like fun?
There is nothing wrong with having a passion and a spirit of adventure that wants to do that.
Ask most anyone today that is north of sixty years of age, and unless they aren't being completely truthful with you, they will tell you that when they were young that they thought most of the sage advice that old folks gave them was well outdated and antiquated and we mostly thought these old folks offering such wise advice were nice, well meaning folks who were mostly F.O.S. . ( F.O.S. = full of ....... and the S does not stand for smarts)
Yes, time has proven that most of those nice well meaning old folks did know what they were talking about.
Likes For Dan Burkhart:
#50
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 1,709
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 825 Post(s)
Liked 1,659 Times
in
784 Posts
I'm retired now, however I work part-time in a car dealership and can tell you ASE certs don't make a mechanic. In our shop the wrench has to prove his worth before he can make a living at it. Performance is monitored and pay, through different avenues, is tied to it.