Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Paul Fitz, Scrabblor on August 11, 2012 at 5:28am

Hey Howard,

Honestly, I agree with you about the littlevillage/pilsen border.   I was just giving you a hard time about 'heart of chicago'.  I'd hate for anyone to take this argument seriously.  I didn't write the ad.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on August 11, 2012 at 9:25am

Why so angry in the winter?I mean I don't like the cold or lack of sunlight is it just not busy enough to keep employees from being bored to death?

Martin Hazard said:

The add should also mention, no insurance, or benefits of any kind, a high turnover rate (meaning managers, as well as every body else), angry employees in the winter, and the pay is what? 

Sounds good as long as you know what star you are hitching your wagon too.

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Permalink Reply by Logan on August 12, 2012 at 5:50pm

I stopped by Workingbikes yesterday and talked to a volunteer/staff...who knows anymore apparently someone in the know of this. The Owner is a major PITA he has run off several staffers/managers (note plurals) and the last guy who left was overworked. I did not see above mentioned owner and am kinda glad my wagon avoided that trainwreck.

Workingbikes has a staff & they do sell bikes & they are looking for a manager with shop exp. The guy I spoke with had no idea what timeline is or if anyone had been hired. Adding to what Martin said I am seriously doubting they offer market rates and it seems not enough to retain qualified staff who get bored to death and angry in the winter.

Oh well it was worth trying but sounds worst than Performance...
and I concur it is Little Village who are they kidding is calling it South Wicker Park next?

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Permalink Reply by Ash L. on August 13, 2012 at 4:35am

Because of their parts sales, WB is one of the few bike shops that remains fairly busy in the winter months. There's still a line out front at 11:55 on Saturday mornings even in the middle of January. 

I wouldn't be surprised if there are issues with the number of hours you're made to work, Raul was there every single time I've been in, and maybe work environment as well but I doubt people are leaving for a lack of customers there. 

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on August 13, 2012 at 8:26am

WB is a 501(c) 3 not for profit. There is no owner. The founder is a bit eccentric perhaps, but most geniuses are. Comparing it to Performance or any other For Profit shop is entirely missing the point of the organization.

Logan said:

I stopped by Workingbikes yesterday and talked to a volunteer/staff...who knows anymore apparently someone in the know of this. The Owner is a major PITA he has run off several staffers/managers (note plurals) and the last guy who left was overworked. I did not see above mentioned owner and am kinda glad my wagon avoided that trainwreck.

Workingbikes has a staff & they do sell bikes & they are looking for a manager with shop exp. The guy I spoke with had no idea what timeline is or if anyone had been hired. Adding to what Martin said I am seriously doubting they offer market rates and it seems not enough to retain qualified staff who get bored to death and angry in the winter.

Oh well it was worth trying but sounds worst than Performance...
and I concur it is Little Village who are they kidding is calling it South Wicker Park next?

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Permalink Reply by Logan on August 13, 2012 at 11:46am

eccentric genius?

The same could be said of Ron Kozy I am glad they are both cut from the same cloth. Trust me, I speak from experience re: Ron, he is MUCH meaner than shared in public, quite an @ss. Add them both to this list

http://www.cracked.com/article_16559_7-eccentric-geniuses-who-were-...

h' wrong pic:

http://www.smosh.com/PC/smosh-pit/photos/20-very-bad-santas

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on August 13, 2012 at 12:05pm

Have you even ever meet Lee?  Do you even know who the person you are slamming is?

Trash talking shops you work/have worked at never makes you look good. 

I worked for Ron for some time and while not my favorite boss he never treated me with anything but respect; maybe the problem in your interactions with him were not on his side of the coin...

Logan said:

eccentric genius?

The same could be said of Ron Kozy I am glad they are both cut from the same cloth. Trust me, I speak from experience re: Ron, he is MUCH meaner than shared in public, quite an @ss. Add them both to this list

http://www.cracked.com/article_16559_7-eccentric-geniuses-who-were-...

h' wrong pic:

http://www.smosh.com/PC/smosh-pit/photos/20-very-bad-santas

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Permalink Reply by Ace Mann on August 13, 2012 at 1:03pm

I don't know where all of this misinformation is coming from. All that happen,was the shop manger ,who had worked there for 7 years decided to step back from the bike & nonprofit business(he has an engineering degree from IIT). He waited until the end of the season so that the new manger would have time to settle in to the job over the winter. As for the claims of high turnover rate or the inability to retain qualified staff is total BS. Several of the mechanics have been there for 8 years. Two others have been there for 3 & 2 years each & all IMHO are very qualified. Of the last 4 employees who have left over the years.One left to go work for an NGO in Washington DC.One left to run a bike nonprofit in New York. One left to work for the city in a bike related job. The last one to leave started his own bike shop in Chicago.
As for the claim of angry employees in the winter. I don't even know what you are talking about. Having volunteered at Working Bikes for many years. The winters are the best part of the job.All we have to do is work on bikes & not deal with tons of customers
As for the job not paying market rate. I would not know what they are paying, but money isn't everything. Many people at nonprofits take less pay, but do so just to work at a nonprofit. I believe they (WB) are going to offer the most amount of money they can afford.
I believe Working bikes is a great organization, not perfect. Over past several years they have shipped about 5,000-6,000 bikes annually to several third world countries. Give anywhere from 100- 300 local donation bikes to different charities every year. At Christmas time they give or sell at a deep discount kids bikes to low income families in Chicago. They also sell about 2500 used bike a year to Chicagoans. They have also trained many bike people in the city thru the volunteer program.

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Permalink Reply by Logan on August 13, 2012 at 1:11pm

Have you ever worked for Lee? I assume that is a no since you fail to mention so we both speak from acquired knowledge yours not as recent unless you were there today which as per their website they closed.

http://workingbikes.org/node/4925

Ohh and btw, Paul Kozy and Ron Kozy are not the same person. Paul Kozy is a stand up guy who does treat his employees with nothing but respect. I DID work for Ron Kozy and can speak from this side of the coin he is a bully to his employees and has NO respect for his employees.

And if you must know we donated parts & frames from the Kozy's store I was at to Workingbikes. I heard the same happened at the other stores. Lord knows I never knew how that was acceptable knowing Ron and his temper tantrums for the "competition" I wonder if they still do...

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Permalink Reply by S.Presley☠ on August 13, 2012 at 1:20pm

www.Thetruthaboutworkingbikes.org/node/2112

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on August 13, 2012 at 1:31pm

No, I have not worked for Lee but I do know people who do, and have, worked for him.  I know people who have served on hid board as well.  What do you know beyond going there and asking some questions?

I know there is a difference between Ron and Paul; the whole different name thing is a big tip off.  Like I said maybe the issue with Ron was not on his side of the coin but yours.

They donated stuff when I worked there and still do as far as I know.

Like I said before; bashing of shops never really makes you look good.

Logan said:

Have you ever worked for Lee? I assume that is a no since you fail to mention so we both speak from acquired knowledge yours not as recent unless you were there today which as per their website they closed.

http://workingbikes.org/node/4925

Ohh and btw, Paul Kozy and Ron Kozy are not the same person. Paul Kozy is a stand up guy who does treat his employees with nothing but respect. I DID work for Ron Kozy and can speak from this side of the coin he is a bully to his employees and has NO respect for his employees.

And if you must know we donated parts & frames from the Kozy's store I was at to Workingbikes. I heard the same happened at the other stores. Lord knows I never knew how that was acceptable knowing Ron and his temper tantrums for the "competition" I wonder if they still do...

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Permalink Reply by Paul Fitz, Scrabblor on August 14, 2012 at 12:13pm

Hey everyone,

I can think of a great number of things that I would rather do that respond to a bunch of grown men talking trash and gossip on the internet, but I sure am compelled to clear up something.

I don't know Logan.  I've never met you and I don't appreciate you spreading gossip on the internet while saying 'I spoke to someone who was staff/volunteer there on saturday'.  I would appreciate it if, in the future, you would consider *other people* when typing about things you could only know 3rd/4th hand.   For what it is worth, I have no interest in pursuing any conversation with you about my job, what I do and who else I do it with, because to me you're just some anonymous guy on the internet.    

Yup, working bikes has an ad up people.  Hit it or quit it.  

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