A letter to Hope – Page 2 – Bike Forum – Singletrack World Magazine Forum

gearfreak · 2013-10-23T13:36:30Z

Dear Hope I hope business is good for you. We, like hundreds of other smaller cycle shops really like your products, and really like recommending them to our customers. We probably don’t sell as much as even a small online retailer, but we do convert new customers to your products everyday. It could be argued that a small part of the success of Hope has been due to 100's of smaller bike shops liking and recommending your products over the years. It’s therefore very troubling that it’s possible to buy a set of you really good hope hoops at Halfords, at a price which is LESS than we pay you for the same product. When I’ve spoken to your representatives at trade events, we have often asked about your discounting policy, and have been told that you offer the same price to all your customers, either your standard trade price, or a 5% discount for larger customers (of which we are one). It is hard for me to believe this when I see a number of large online retailers discounting your product, and now a national chain selling at what would appear to be less than cost price. It’s been often argued on this forum, that smaller bike shops need to ‘up their game’, or do something different to compete, however I ask how much can we up our game, and do something different when the playing field is quite so steeply sloped? I also ask you as a manufacturer whether supplying to businesses whose model is to be cheaper (not better, not with great service, just cheaper) is really sustainable for you. Once the local bike shop has ceased to exist (like the local electrical store, or many local butchers etc etc) who will recommend your products to your end users? Who will service the products of those who can’t or won’t service their own? Yes you can pay for advertising, but will that be as effective? Once the bicycle market in the UK is controlled by an oligopoly of Halfords, Evans, CRC and Wiggle what will you do when they decide that your products don’t offer the same margin as imported products from the far east and no longer stock your products? I ask you these questions now, as if you continue to support businesses who’s competitive edge is to be cheaper you may find that you have done a deal with the devil in a few short years time. I am aware that I am singling out a relatively small company from the myriad of companies who supply the UK bicycle trade, my arguments apply equally to most other suppliers. I am not expecting a reply from you to this letter, but have chosen to share it on a public forum as I feel it may have more impact on both you and other suppliers than another small bike shop owner complaining to you at a trade show. Keep making those great products!

honourablegeorge

Posts: 13850

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BearBack - Member
Google raceface and MEC.
Same Lbs/ supplier concerns as OP.. It wasn't long after that raceface shut their doors!

Bit more to it with RaceFace, wasn't there? Some shady goings on with senior staff were rumoured.

Posted : 25/10/2013 2:44 pm

toons

Posts: 0

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better stock up then 😉

Posted : 25/10/2013 2:48 pm

chakaping

Posts: 40432

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As I pointed out before, it's often not the big boys who have the best prices on Hope Hoops - which suggests Hope's side of the story here is accurate.

Wonder if the OP will be back to thank them for supporting small bike shops?

Posted : 25/10/2013 2:58 pm

kelvin

Posts: 30979

Full Member

Well, that's all that cleared up.

Posted : 25/10/2013 3:01 pm

johnnygooner

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This thread has turned into a 'support your LBS' thread, which I'm generally happy to do. To a point! Went to get some new shorts at a LBS the other day RRP £79.99. Same shorts at a large online retailer £55.99. i really dont mind paying a little extra at LBS. I can after all touch feel try on but when LBS is 40% dearer... There are margins in there somewhere! And to anyone wishing to educate me in retail theories/practicalities, I say 40%!!!

Posted : 25/10/2013 3:16 pm

gearfreak

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Topic starter

Wasn't going to reinvigorate the thread, but as it's reappeared anyway I will indeed thank Hope, both for making great products, and for supporting the independent dealer network. The personal phone call I had this morning was much appreciated, and must have taken a little bit of detective work to get my number.

Well done Hope, we will continue to sell as much of your product as we can, but that's because we love it!

Now I wonder if a similar open letter to SRAM/Rock Shox would have the same affect??

Posted : 25/10/2013 3:27 pm

joeelston

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Free Member

I have phoned Hope a few times these past two months and their customer service has been fantastic. Eliminating my need to go to the LBS..........

Posted : 25/10/2013 3:34 pm

[Closed] A letter to Hope