Date:         Mon, 1 Nov 2010 13:25:34 -0700
Reply-To:     Matt Thyer <matt_thyer@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matt Thyer <matt_thyer@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Good collaboration with a mechanic?
In-Reply-To:  <4CCC5FB3.1050002@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Here's an untapped revenue stream in most auto shops.  Most of my mechanical
experience comes from years of working on bicycles.  Previous to Zeno I
worked on my cars for common and/or easy maintenance tasks, but if there was
anything that appeared too complex for me to take on I immediately differed
to professionals.  Working on bicycles I've always tried to do the work
myself, only seeking assistance or guidance when I ran into problems where
the 'secret' of getting it done just wasn't obvious or in a book or online.
And before you poo-poo the comparison let me ask, ever tried to dish a wheel
or set correct chain length on a LWB recumbent?  Yes, they are complex
systems that in my experience have a similar learning curve.

Inside the bicycle community there are islands of mechanical help.  Some of
it is like what we get and give here on the list, but in some locations
people are taking it a step further.  There are bicycle cooperatives that
make the majority of their revenue via rentable shop space and consultation
services.  It's a very cool idea on several counts, here's why.  The
mechanic no longer has to work so hard to hide information that is freely
available.  We're crossing into the land of reputation economics, but this
equation is pretty simple.  It's much easier to build trust with someone who
freely/readily shares the secrets of his or her trade than someone who does
not.  The market for end-to-end, black box mechanical work will still exist
because there will always be that need for specialization (not every hobby
mechanic has the time or background to become a pro), but as a 'consumer' of
said service I will choose someone who tells me the details of what's going
on with my vehicle well before I'd choose the black box approach because of
the level of trust this engenders between us.  Bicycle mechanical coops have
monetized this advantageous relationship and as a result both consumer and
professional have an opportunity not only to work on the machine, but our
relationship as well.

2 cents,

MT
http://zenoswagen.wordpress.com/