service technician

revenue cycle specialist

store manager

assistant store manager

retail sales associate

Specialized Bicycle Components

After working there for an extended period time, I have seen the company spiral into what it is today. A workforce that is doing all it can to meet expectations of management at a pace equal to or even faster than a company just 10 miles away that would pay 40% more for the work being done. The reality is you are working for your discount on bikes and bike parts, and at a certain point it's just better to work at a tech company who will support the ever increasing cost of living in the bay area, and pay full retail for bikes and parts. If they really want to retain people they would stop building new facilities or making "building improvements" (a dog park, really?) and start paying them more. It may seem like an okay place to work with all the positive glass door reviews, but hey instead of doing any actual work, the HR department likes to make false accounts and create those reviews, instead of any actual work.

Management expects growth and is putting the pressure on. It is partly due to the CEOs constant micro managing and his pressure he puts on all senior level management, which is basically the only thing that trickles down at this company.

What I've learned: Just because it sounds like a good place to work, no "benefits" outweigh the pace.

Best part of the job: It's a beautiful place to work, and you get to be around bikes all day
Hardest part of the job: It's in Morgan Hill.

A typical day at work is me doing every job because everyone else was laid off or on vacation. Management has never run a store and has no concept of how to train, how to communicate, how to inspire, how to improve, how to get the results they want. Corporate over-hires in 140 stores in the US. Then, they realize that was dumb and blame the stores not themselves. Then they lay-off 20% of their workforce and make any full time hourly employees work 32 hours only. Then, when Spring starts and bike sales normally soar, they decide to move the Warehouse that everything is stored in in Ohio putting ALL customer orders behind for 2 months. THEN, the decide to stock all the stores with the same products, despite if we needed them. They spent millions of dollars sending products like tires and parts we didn't need, while still cutting on staffing. They made up stories about stores, did not have proof of anything, and then use those stories to get rid of amazing employees. The hardest part was knowing how to run a store, make it profitable, and make it fun for all while corporate had their heads in the ground not knowing which end is up.

The people you work with are great but management can be very frustrating, a few times in the 6 years I worked there there was a survey taken by employees regarding how the staff perceived management and their overall quality of life at work. The results were awful (for management), then management stood in front of the company and swore to take action to make things better, they didn't. 3 years later we took the same survey and results were the same. 

The other major concern is the low pay considering you have t live in silicon valley.. Specialized being in the recreation industry cannot afford to pay it's employees what they need to survive in this area. As a result you have employee's that share rent by living with 5 people in a 2 bedroom town house, or living in the parking lot out of their microbus. 

Lastly, in the 6 years that I worked there overhead had ballooned out of control and sales were waning and as a result merit increases were not issued and bonuses were cut out, regardless of the fact my performance review was flawless.

As a contractor for several years now,  my perspective is from "halfway" in....The friendships and business relationships are many and so is the CHANGE.  I haven't known anyone there who feels indispensable...Ever.  It is definitely a 'WORK HARD/PLAY HARD" culture. While there is a diversity in personnel, it is also representative of the Sport of Cycling in general.  Athletes, Artists, Engineers, Designers, Mechanics and every kind of Administrative, Sales, Marketing or Technical support necessary to stay on the forefront of the industry exists in a complex of many spacious buildings.  After a long day of work,  "lunch rides",  and meetings a popular perk seems to be the Cafeteria.  In the 6 years Iv'e worked with SECIALIZED, the leadership in almost every Sales/Marketing/Retail department has changed at least a couple of times...CHANGE!

What is the best part of working at the company?
Almost universally great co-workers who are passionate about the bikes they create.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Senior management team that run the business like a hobby business, have no vision other than to sell more bikes, and fire good people on a monthly basis

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Hard-working, fast-paced at some times then change of direction in response to market conditions that lead to project cancellations, re-orgs and general chaos leading me to looking over my shoulder most of my time there wondering when HR was coming in to lay me off.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Moving the bike design forward, responding to inquiries from Asia personnel and manufacturing partners.

Fire Drills All Day.
No "typical" day to day schedule.
Management hot and cold. I had a very close and positive relationship with all C-Levels and Global Market Directors.
I found my best friends. Culture was amazing. Work meetings during bike rides, standard to take 60+ minute lunch to ride, exercise, or whatever.
Management challenging for most. You have to decide to make your career through driving yourself and working OT / taking numerous "stretch" assignments to move forward.
It's challenging to survive and not burnout. Location is terrible. Few actually live in Morgan Hill.
The people are incredible.

One of the best companies to work for in the world for an aspiring professional in the sports industry, particularly in cycling sports. SBC is the pinnacle of the bicycle industry. The very top! If your blessed enough to make it here, good luck on security.

SBC recruits the best of the best. Your colleagues are from other top brands and engineering firms too high-level to mention.   

A bit of advice, do great work, keep your head down, computer and paperwork in-hand at all times, and the most important thing no one tells you...DO THE LUNCH RIDE, or you may not be there too much longer (seen as unworthy). Your work will go to market without you.

The culture they sell you during the interview process is a lie at best. The boys club is alive and well and has not changed even if they would like you to believe so. There are a few good people that are kind and work hard but most move air and have no sense of planning. Management breeds a toxic-fear culture and they do not communicate (emails, texts, slack). Communication and support to do your job is non existent unless you are one of the "bros" and accepted into the internal "cool" group. The marketing is top notch for making consumers believe they support diversity and inclusion, but it is just smoke and mirrors to make more money.

This company has no idea what they are doing. They are trying to copy Trek and doing a poor job of it. Everything they promise you to get you in the door is a lie. There are a ton of bosses but no leaders. All the “managers” are egotistical and pompous and will not remember your name no matter how many times they meet you. They set unrealistic and unobtainable goals then start firing people when those goals are not met. You will be set up for failure at this job and left out to dry at the drop of a hat. My biggest regret is leaving Trek to accept this position. Trek was great but was offered more money and greater opportunities. All lies. Do Not work here if you value yourself, respect, honesty and decency. 

I learned a lot about the world of international trade and logistics working here. I never felt overwhelmed by this field that was all new to me. I was supported, directed, and managed rather well. I felt productive and useful, but I still felt as if I could have fun at work and have fun with my co-workers. The hardest part of the job was learning how to work with programs like Oracle, which I had never previously worked with. I was provided excellent training and became acclimated to these programs quickly and felt competent in the workplace.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Service technician 30 salaries reported	$19.83 per hour
Revenue cycle specialist 29 salaries reported	$18.49 per hour
Store manager 7 salaries reported	$67,208 per year
Assistant store manager 6 salaries reported	$21.08 per hour
Retail sales associate 2 salaries reported	$27.00 per hour

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