Debate: Do you count your 'real' bike repairs or just the paid ones?

I hit 1,000 bike repairs logged in my shop software last month. But that number got me thinking, because I probably do another 50 to 100 free fixes a year for friends, family, and random folks I meet at the trailhead. On one hand, those freebies build goodwill and often lead to paying customers. On the other hand, they eat up my time and parts without any return. I've got a buddy who refuses to touch a bike without a work order, even for his mom. But I've also had a quick roadside derailleur adjustment turn into a full tune-up booking the next week. So which number matters more, the 1,000 paid jobs or the 50 unofficial saves? How do you all handle the line between helping out and running a business?

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1 Comment

taylor.mary1mo ago

But those free fixes are just undercutting your own business.