PSA: Compass Cycles in Seattle has an open position for a bike mechanic

[Kirk007]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

everyone needs to start somewhere, and this could be the right move for a younger person who doesnt mind 5 room mates, lives with their parents or is in a relationship with someone who they share finances, who is also gainfully employed. a household income of 80k or so should be workable in the city, not living large, but workable, i would think - especially without a car or other expenses like student loans.

good for compass. they are trying.

no argument there (good for Compass) and when I first saw the post I thought that salary wasn't bad from a generic perspective and entry level for the bike business is pretty good. But, unless its live with the parent type scenario, factor in rent of about at least $800 a month, not including utilities, for a room in a shared house, so about $1000 a month for housing. Food is expensive. The state tax scheme is extremely regressive with 9.8 percent sales tax. yada, yada.

I've paid entry level staff 45-48K, with health care covered over the past two years and they are barely making it, commuting 1.5 hours by bus or train, and won't stay around long at those salaries. $55-58K is around what I need to pay for an entry level college grade who is a solid worker. That's why I'm moving our operations.

[charliedid]

Originally Posted by Blown Reek

A qualified bike shop mechanic with a college degree is doing something wrong.

Good bike shops are loaded with educated and often overly educated people. But maybe you know that...

[Bruce K]

A qualified bike mechanic with a college degree could be someone who chose their passion over maximum income.

Unfortunately they usually means they are barely making ends meet

BK

[charliedid]

Originally Posted by Bruce K

A qualified bike mechanic with a college degree could be someone who chose their passion over maximum income.

Unfortunately they usually means they are barely making ends meet

BK

Tell me about it.

[jtakeda]

If that job was available next year I’d take it—assuming the 50% coin flip between Seattle and Santa Rosa lands on seattle

[Calnago]

I’d apply except I have cyclists arms and can’t lift 50lbs. It’s always something.
[edit]: not really, my arms are fat too. But I still can’t lift 50lbs.

[fiamme red]

https://www.renehersecycles.com/job-...-herse-cycles/

We’ve got a job opening at Rene Herse Cycles. Are you dreaming of working on beautiful bikes, assembling dazzling cranks and brakes, and chatting about amazing rides all day long? The reality is not quite as glamorous, but we’ve got a good team, good compensation and benefits, plus the potential for long-term, stable employment.

As Operations Assistant, you’d run our warehouse, keep track of inventory, assemble the aforementioned cranks and brakes and ship them to our customers, plus update our web site and Bicycle Quarterly subscriber database. It’s a great job for somebody who enjoys doing many tasks and wearing many hats, yet wants stable employment (40 hours/week) with full benefits. Click here for a detailed job description: https://www.renehersecycles.com/jobs/.

[jtakeda]

Originally Posted by fiamme red

https://www.renehersecycles.com/job-...-herse-cycles/

I really liked the job description before and thought the timing sucked. Unfortunately Swedish didn’t offer my girlfriend an interview slot and if they did I would apply for this job.

As a college graduate who’s pretty financially savvy with no debt I could totally make it work on that income and enjoy doing all the tasks in the job description.

[marciero]

Originally Posted by Blown Reek

A qualified bike shop mechanic with a college degree is doing something wrong.

I disagree.

This does not sound like a garden variety wrenching job. How many wrenching jobs advertise "good communication skills" and require writing, managing database, etc. The "assist with operations" seems broad enough that duties could expand into things that make use of particular talents and interests of the person. The fact that a college degree is required says something. We know Rene Heres does testing, product development-all kinds of things. And this is a small operation. One could gain additional resume-enhancing skills and experience in a job like this.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Bruce K

Sounds like good compensation but don’t they mostly sell components?

How much wrenching is really involved?

Interesting opportunity

BK

1. Help customers select the right components and answer their questions via e-mail.
2. Ship retail and wholesale orders.
3. Assemble the components we sell and the bikes we use for testing them.
4. Assist with the operations of the company.

Sounds more like a salesman, both in person and online plus as assembler/packer. BUT, pretty good $, benefits, etc.

Not a problem but not sure how 'college degree' would add to the 'mix'...AND, don't think the guy is there, in the trenches, doing tubeups on bikes brought in...

I think $45k would work in Seattle......IF

-he lives with his parents OR
-is a DINK, with somebody who makes as much or more $..

[unterhausen]

it would work great for me, but wrong coast

[sparky33]

Originally Posted by andeww

9-2pm holy crap

My dream job, and not just the hours.

Perfect gig for a semi-retired tech-nerd cyclist needing a life change.

[Jan Heine]

Agreed on the salary – the figure is the starting salary, not what the employee will make in the long run. As a small company, we can't afford to pay somebody a lot, train them, and then have them leave, so we pay them according to their contribution. It's more the Japanese/European model of bringing somebody into the company, training them and having them grow with us - also salary-wise. Our very first employee, Clark, is still with us after 11 years...

The job itself is everything on the fulfillment side of things, so there is a lot of variety. Not wrenching all day, but shipping, organizing, keeping track, updating web site, managing BQ subscriber database - all the stuff customers never see, but that keeps things running smoothly.

Jan Heine
Rene Herse Cycles
Reborn in the Cascade Mountains
www.renehersecycles.com

Originally Posted by Kirk007

no argument there (good for Compass) and when I first saw the post I thought that salary wasn't bad from a generic perspective and entry level for the bike business is pretty good. But,