Taking over the bike shop...

[classic33]

A few of us tried but we couldn't figure how to make it go or steer it, which are two rather important factors.

I'm sure the school has more experience so they'll sort it out and someone will be very happy riding it.

Think the steering may actually be electric.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I've not posted here for a bit, but I wanted to share this:

The Elder Son being typically awesome and working as a volunteer in my bike workshop, fixing bikes...

It doesn't get much better than this.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Partly thanks to Elder Son, the showroom is beginning to look a bit more full:

 

[Andy in Germany]

Had a bit of a drama yesterday while ordering some much needed parts for bikes.

There's always a few bikes that need parts I don't have in stock, either new or used. If this happens the bike gets put in a "nearly finished" bay and I make one big order near the end of the month to keep shipping costs down.

Yesterday I was making a pre-Christmas order but the website wouldn't let me. A call to the customer services desk resulted in being forwarded to the accounts department who informed me that there were two invoices outstanding from summer, including one over 3 months overdue so our account was locked.

Thankfully we also have an accounts department, so I called them and together we traced this to two delivery notices that had apparently been lost in the ether. I called the company and they promised to send copies of the invoices by Email. Which they didn't. We called again. They sent the emails to the wrong address.

It turned out that our accountant had never seen these invoices, or the final demand, and she assured me that they would be paid ASAP. Of course this meant a delay which meant the parts wouldn't make it before Christmas, but at least we'd get the account unlocked.

20 minutes later she called back: "I just called the [Bike Part Supply Company Name] and tore their accounts department off a strip for messing us about: they'll unlock the account within 24h."

One great thing about working here: we have professionals backing us up where it counts. Account now unlocked; order placed.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

the showroom is beginning to look a bit more full:

I'm disappointed, Andy.
None of those Christmas decorations are from old bike parts!

They sent the emails to the wrong address.

I'm sure your book-keeping department are on it but emails going missing can be a sign that someone, somewhere has been hacked.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I'm sure your book-keeping department are on it but emails going missing can be a sign that someone, somewhere has been hacked.

There was an address change recently which is probably the problem, although the supplier was informed. Fortunately we also have a professional IT manager too; he'll be on top of it.

 

[classic33]

Partly thanks to Elder Son, the showroom is beginning to look a bit more full:

View attachment 671812

How much is the unicycle?

 

[Andy in Germany]

How much is the unicycle?

10€ bought "as seen".

 

[DCLane]

10€ bought "as seen".

Next @classic33 will be asking about delivery. In person. On the unicycle

 

[classic33]

Next @classic33 will be asking about delivery. In person. On the unicycle

I was thinking about delivery costs when I asked how much. Never thought about the shop manager delivering it though.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

10€ bought "as seen".

Its a shame you're so far away, I always wanted to see if I could teach myself to ride one.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I'm sure your book-keeping department are on it but emails going missing can be a sign that someone, somewhere has been hacked.

I don't think that is likely to be the case. I can't think of any likely attack that would result in a correctly addressed email failing to be delivered. Of course it's not impossible if the bad guys have control of a mail server so it could be possible, but I don't think it's a cause for major alarm.

I'm not downplaying the need for constant vigilance, and any unexpected change of should be cause for concern, but it sounds to me like this is more likely to be down to a mistyped address.

 

[annedonnelly]

I don't think that is likely to be the case. I can't think of any likely attack that would result in a correctly addressed email failing to be delivered. Of course it's not impossible if the bad guys have control of a mail server so it could be possible, but I don't think it's a cause for major alarm.

I'm not downplaying the need for constant vigilance, and any unexpected change of should be cause for concern, but it sounds to me like this is more likely to be down to a mistyped address.

Since Andy says that the supplier has recently been informed of a new address to use I think it's probably just that someone hasn't got round to updating the details at that end and the accounts department has used the old address.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

I don't think that is likely to be the case.

Probably not but.....

Delivery notices in the ether, missing invoices, an account blocked without any communication.

Phantom invoices from unknown suppliers are quite common but there has been a rising number of fraudulent invoices from "known" suppliers that have been hacked or imitated in some way.

If I was in Andy's accounts department I'd be paying more attention to that supplier for a while.

 

[Beebo]

Its a shame you're so far away, I always wanted to see if I could teach myself to ride one.

I tried a friends one, I knew within 10 minutes that it was an impossible task for me.
I think it’s a young person’s thing, where you have no fear of failure or injury.