Checking a bike into the workshop: the checklist that prevents complaints
Most workshop problems start at intake. A short checklist, photos and a signed work order make it clear how each item arrived.
"That scratch was not there when I brought it in." If you run a workshop you have heard it. Without a record of how the bike arrived, it is your word against the customer's. With one, it is a photo.
One checklist per item type
A road bike is not checked like an e-bike. Build a checklist per type and add the details you always need: frame number, size, battery level.
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Frame and paint condition | Avoids arguments about earlier knocks |
| Accessories left with it (lights, bag, lock) | What comes in has to go out |
| Battery level (e-bikes) | Useful for diagnosis and for handover |
| Mileage | Sets the next service |
Photos and a signature on the spot
Three photos (left side, right side, close-up of any damage) and the customer's signature on the work order. Two minutes that settle any future argument.
A quote before the work
If the repair may go over an amount, say so before you start. An approved quote is the difference between a customer who comes back and one who pays angry.