My stolen bike now Choice delivery bike

I live in Clinton Hill. I know how popular the coffee shop Choice is - I live across the street and go there all the time. Last summer, my bike got stolen from a bike rack near the coffee shop - it just disappeared. This morning, I spotted my bike reincarnated as one of their delivery bikes, and the basket i had on my bike was on another of their delivery bikes. I know it was my bike because of the hole in the seat and specific marks. When I spoke to the manager, he called me crazy and screamed and hung up on me. This is NOT the way to treat members of your community and i am appalled that a cafe that gets so much loyalty from the neighborhood would treat it's neighbors this way.

I doubt that either of the owners would be thrilled to hear that one of their managers treated a customer (with a valid issue) like this.

Subject: Re: My stolen bike now Choice delivery bike

GrandAveGirl wrote: I live in Clinton Hill. I know how popular the coffee shop Choice is - I live across the street and go there all the time. Last summer, my bike got stolen from a bike rack near the coffee shop - it just disappeared. This morning, I spotted my bike reincarnated as one of their delivery bikes, and the basket i had on my bike was on another of their delivery bikes. I know it was my bike because of the hole in the seat and specific marks. When I spoke to the manager, he called me crazy and screamed and hung up on me. This is NOT the way to treat members of your community and i am appalled that a cafe that gets so much loyalty from the neighborhood would treat it's neighbors this way.

Did you happen to get an identification number etched onto the bike anywhere? The mountain that I use to have has my driver's license # etched into the frame on the drop bar in case it was ever stolen. (Thankfully it wasn't and I gave it away instead.)

Do you have any pictures of the bike that you could take to the manager at Choice? It doesn't sound like they would believe you but it's worth a shot.

Not sure what more she should have done in this situation - would an id number worked with the screaming manager?

Subject: Re: My stolen bike now Choice delivery bike

[quote="LimestoneKid"
Did you happen to get an identification number etched onto the bike anywhere? The mountain that I use to have has my driver's license # etched into the frame on the drop bar in case it was ever stolen. (Thankfully it wasn't and I gave it away instead.)

Do you have any pictures of the bike that you could take to the manager at Choice? It doesn't sound like they would believe you but it's worth a shot.

You should consider having it registered at your local precinct. They put a number on your bike and a sticker that is impossible to remove.

All that is very interresting. But isn't the point of this posting that Choice is delivering its food on "hot wheels"?

That's really disappointing. Try contacting the owners. And do it in person. It's easier for them to be a jerk on the phone.

Do you have the owners e-mail? I'd be willing to e-mail him to return your bike

Knowing the owners of Choice I would be VERY surprised if they were OK with a manager yelling and hanging up on you. You should absolutely contact them directly. BTW, when you call Choice and ask for a "manager" you might actually be speaking to a member of the B Team, which is what we affectionately call the dipshits that work there. I love Choice, but their hires are not always the brightest stars in the sky, or the nicest. The owners would probably welcome the opportunity to hear from you.

Hi all - thanks everyone for the replies and the support. It is my fault that I did not register the bike, and therefore do not expect to get it back. I did expect to be treated with a little more respect and concern when I very nicely brought up the issue (I actually went into the cafe right when I noticed and a worker there told me who to speak with. The worker was very nice and seemed upset himself about the situation. When I called back later to speak with the manager, he lost it and was screaming).

next time record the call and throw it on youtube.

the internets are very powerful and righteous

Is there any way you can prove it's your bike, regardless if you registered it? Photo of it? You on it? anything?

another option: approach the owner, say you're certain it's your bike because of the markings, etc, and if there's anything you can do, like buy the bike back at a nominal fee or something.

Buy it back...? Steal it back... !

Get a friend involved who lives close... have a delivery made, follow, and when delivery guy goes into building (assuming he doesn't lock it up for such a quick stop), make your move! Then of course you need to go home and paint the bike...

Let me know how it all works out!

Is there a reason you haven't notified the police about this theft?