Last summer I got really in to riding a bike.
I mean really, really.
Partially because it was fun. Partially because it was quicker than riding public transport. Partially because I have issues being at the behest of systems or anybody else so the freedom afforded by a bike really appealed to me.
(It was mostly that last one.)
Unless a friend was in town and was opposed to riding around on my handlebars I wouldn't go near public transportation. And I sure as hell didn't have a car.
This activity has carried over to LA. Despite having a car I just feel more comfortable on a bike. Even if it's tried to kill me multiple times when something went wrong. I hadn't filled my car up with gasoline for over a month until a week ago.
But enough background.
I learned early on that one of the most important things about owning a bike is finding a good bike shop. Because things go wrong frequently. Especially if you ordered your bike off the internet.
As luck would have it, I found a great shop two blocks from my apartment called Rapid Transit Cycleshop. In fact, I never went to anywhere else the whole time I lived in Chicago. And not just because it was stupid convenient.
Early on after I was in the shop a lot. Just figuring out things and getting parts replaced. (Again, internet bike. Lots of problems.)
During one of these visits someone came in with a bike and a new fork. He said he wanted the new fork on the bike but the stem on it was too tall. And he asked the bike shop to correct that. You know, saw it off. Or something.
The manager was there asked him to repeat what he wanted. He listened intently then responded in a way that made me so happy. He rubbed his hands together and said, "No."
He said that what this customer was asking for wasn't a proper procedure. Not only that, it was dangerous. It just isn't done. And it shouldn't be done because you're fucking with the integrity of the fork So he wasn't going to do it. He could order him a new stem. Or point to a few on craigslist that would work. But he wasn't willing to put this guy at risk just because it's what the guy wanted.
That blew me away. Because he was taking a stand despite the effects it might have on his business. He was doing it for an ethical reason.
He wasn't willing to do something because it was good of him as a businessman, or as a business, or because the customer asked for it. By refusing to do something that put the customer in harm's way he did what was right for all parties. (Unless the party is the one that's supposed to make gobs of money off of customer's ignorance.)
It would be great to see agencies willing to say no to its clients. To push back when they know that the work is being undercut. When they request something that seems like common sense (i.e. make this fit/can't we just add one more promotional message?) but we know will be detrimental to their business.
In effect, "No" is a way to help agencies reclaim a place of expertise.A way to show that we know what will work or what won't work. That clients come to us for a reason other than 'it's the way it's always been done.'
Because without a reason to use agencies, I think there are too many options out there for clients to choose from. By saying yes to everything we are undercutting our primary competitive advantage and for what? To hod an account for another 4 months? Advertising is business but it's a business that has to offer something better than what's out there.
