Skate Sharpening Etiquette

[MTG35 0]

Couple of questions on proper etiquette for getting your skates sharpened. At the shop I go to there is one guy I have found that does a great job on my skates. I am always very happy after he does them. There is another guy that is the opposite. Any ideas on how to politely request the guy I like? Another part of the problem is the guy that does a bad job is higher up the totem pole at this shop. He is like the second in charge.

Also is it proper to tip the sharpener? How do you do it if the sharpener isn't the one that cashes you out?

[chk hrd 164]

if you have someone special you like, just ask for him. If the other people have a problem tell them you like the way the guy does your skates and you don't mind waiting. If they still puff up and get offended then tell them you are the one paying for it so you want them done by him, even if you have to bring them back. I wouldn't leave the skates hoping that your sharpener does them, because you never know what will happen or who will do them. If I am can't watch my skates get done or am 100% sure who is doing them I'll come back. I've had people I don't know start to sharpen my skates and stopped them right away because I didn't like the way they were doing something or watched them sharpen skates before mine; cross grinding like they were working on 1/2" steel plate, overheating the blade, sharpening without checking the stone, not checking the stone for layout on the blade, etc.

The way I look at it, I'm paying for it to be done correctly regardless what they are charging me. I'm not an ass when I ask for it done or ask for someone else I just want it right. Not doing it right can cost them more money in the end (especially if they really mess up) because they are having to do the same job twice and only getting paid once.

If you want to tip, do it right after the skates get done, hand him the money directly or wait until you see him.

[sickwilly 37]

Maybe have a look around the shop first and ask your sharpener directly.

[Law Goalie 147]

Just ask your favourite sharpener what his regular hours are, and he'll probably understand exactly why you're asking; if not, he'll probably ask why you want to know, and you can explain that you much prefer his work.

[iceholes 0]

i always call and make sure my guy is there... tell him Ill be down... ty

never be shy about asking for your "favorite" sharpener.... no one shoud be offended

[MTG35 0]

Some good ideas here. Thanks.

A little more to the situation is that although I know what day he will be there he is not always sharpening. They have a bunch of guys working and I have no idea how they decide who is going to sharpen when. He might be there but they might have 2 other guys sharpening and he might be out waiting on customers or something else.

That one other guy is the problem because he can make your life a real pain at this shop if you piss him off. And like I said he is like the number 2 in charge. If it is anyone else I would have no problem asking my guy. But if it is the number 2 guy I have to tread lightly.

Next time I'm in for something other than a sharpen I think I'll talk to the guy I like and see if I can get an understanding with him so it won't be an issue when he sees me come in.

[Jarick 5]

Find a good shop and stick with it. When I bring them in, if there's any line, I just stop back later. Have my sharpening written on a sticker on the bottom. If I pop in before close I usually insist on picking them up the next day so they don't have to run back to the machine (although usually they will insist I wait because they're good guys).

[DarkStar50 679]

Sharpeners appreciate tips because for the total number of skates we sharpen over say, a week, tips are few and far between. So, when someone leaves a few bucks in your hand, the sharpener will remember you.

[chk hrd 164]

That one other guy is the problem because he can make your life a real pain at this shop if you piss him off. And like I said he is like the number 2 in charge. If it is anyone else I would have no problem asking my guy. But if it is the number 2 guy I have to tread lightly.

If #2 guy has a problem go to #1 guy to get it handled. You are the paying customer and as long as you are civil and a decent customer no employee, including #1 should make it a pain to shop there. You may not be the only one who #2 has pissed off. Enough people complain and #2 will be ex #2.

[biff44 0]

Yep, my experience is that for every one guy that knows what the heck he is doing, there are 5 yahoos out there grinding the pooh out of you blade every time without clue 1.

If for some reason they will not let the guy you demand do the sharpening, buy a blade edge gauge and measure the skates when you pick them up. Do not accept them unless they are within 0.001" parallel to each other.

[jcp2 2]

If for some reason they will not let the guy you demand do the sharpening, buy a blade edge gauge and measure the skates when you pick them up. Do not accept them unless they are within 0.001" parallel to each other.

I sense an addition to the "Things Customers Do" thread once somebody actually does this.

[Chadd 916]

I sense an addition to the "Things Customers Do" thread once somebody actually does this.

I would expect a police report to follow that kind of action.

[Hooah4 12]

I tip the guy if I've been a douche and waited until 30 min before the game to get my skates sharpened. I hate to inconvenience them especially if I couldn't get to the rink earlier in the week, etc..

A couple of times doing that and I go the front of the line anymore. You skate sharpener can be your best friend or worst enemy.

[fultonreed 1]

we got a prosharp at our barn. all you do is tell em what hollow you want and regardless of person sharpening skates, they come out perfect. they can do radius as well.

[zebra_steve 11]

Tips for a good job.... hell yeah, but make sure that there isn't some issue with it like maybe a publicly owned faculty that would frown upon it. I would suggest giving the guy a Christmas card tip or something like that in this situation.

Pull out an edge level gauge..... Why not... they're your skates and if it's not your normal shop\sharpener then I can see no reason not to inspect the quality of the edges. Besides, most places have their own these days. I would make a show of doing this for the #2 guy mentioned above and LOUDLY state with a shop full of customers that he's given you crap sharpenings before and he won't allow the guy you trust to do the work so you are holding HIS WORK up the the standard of perfection.... and I probably would have already spoken to the #1guy and the owner if #1 was not the owner about #2's attitude before I did this. I would also make it a point that this "issue" might cause me to take business elsewhere and to spread the word about the service I received....

Ask for or call for the schedule of "your guy" .... sure, but know that this may cause problems behind the scenes and may have unintended consequences - maybe even your guy eventually getting let go because the ego that's bruised is the owner or manager.... yes, some will kill the goose that laid the golden egg out of spite.

I would almost never leave my skates over night (a single sharpener operation that I trust would be the exception), and definitely prefer to be able to stand there and watch the skates get sharpened. I still shudder when I'm in a shop and I watch the atrocities performed on skates in the name of sharpening. I've been on both sides of this one looking for someone I trust, and being the guy that everyone requests. Having seen the poor attitude (saw a fellow employee blow through two six packs of Molson one evening while grinding 30 pairs of customers skates) that too many of the guys behind the grinder have & I did the math..... 40+ sharpenings a year @ ~$5 - $10 each.... factor in the sharpenings for others.... plus the hassle of finding and trusting someone to grind my blades if I didn't have access to a wheel.... Bought my own and within 3 years had realized a full return on the investment...