Hora - you've got to love the whole car industry (that's another topic all on it's own).
I only know of one bike shop who has ever refused to fit parts they didn't sell on the grounds of safety (and I don't think they'd ever seen a pair of fork worth more than £50!!!!).
Labour rates alone can be a good earner. I don't understand any business that turns a customer away.
as a dealer the attraction of a buying group is a very interesting but unfortunately its only worked in few small instances...partly because we all have very different views and no-one in the trade seems to agree...
ive never been rude to a customer like the op experienced but the constant price match coversation can be a bit wearing.we do it but within parameters of making something.the bottom line is that the majority of you guys who read this are not the ones lbs should be targeting as your competent with tools/kit
The industry is a mess and the traditional LBS is getting a poor deal.
They dont have the cash flow or buying power to get bulk deals, they have to go through UK distributors for key stock. (warranty backup being one reason)
I see the rise of big companies like CRC, wiggle etc dominating the high end market and the LBS being lost apart from the shops where selling bikes isnt the main business model, or selling cheap family bikes is profitable.
Im re-evaluating our approach to our shops and looking into possibilities of dealing direct with manufacturers in the far east, and selling our onw branded kit, amongst other things.
One thing is for sure, that a lot of people are merely driven by price and the LBS will do ok if it can compete on key items.
Also CRC often only discount 8-10% and matching this is ok.
And this is often from their wildly over inflated RRPs anyway.
(Yeti ASX RRP £1899, it never cost more than a grand.)
Its a realy tough business to be in.
But Im lucky, the guys in our shops have politeness and customer service by the bucketful.
Interesting to see the discussion above about the economics/business strategy/future of LBS in the UK. I'm in Australia, and we've seen the independent LBS all but wiped out over the last decade, to be replaced by large national chains who work on a different business model. They do have the purchasing power to get good discounts from wholesalers, centralise their maintenance to a few regional workshops, have moved into 'own brand' bikes, rationalise their stock to just the stuff they know sells well and has decent margins, and utilise all the latest consumer marketing/loyalty techniques like email newsletters, sales for regular customers etc. like CRC and Wiggle do.
Do you have this yet in the UK? Seems to me its probably the only way to go to compete with the online retailers, but it does mean the end of the friendly local 'alladins cave' of bicycle bits LBS that we all know and love...
I think Evans are the main shop that is doing what you say along with Edinburgh.
It would be a shame if the UK goes how you describe in Australia.
But m interested to hear from distributors on what they are trying to do in this as they could be the biggest losers.
but it does mean the end of the friendly local 'alladins cave' of bicycle bits LBS that we all know and love
You mean those shops that sell everything at RRP and give loyal customers hot cups of tea that'll cost them 20p to make?
I welcome changes and competition. Lots of close outs and deals. Break the power of the Distributors.
Sancho, gotta say that distributors in general are an endangered species - its just evolution - the supply chain is flattening out! Manufacturers have a role to play, and so do retailers, but distributors are an anachronism from the days when you couldn't fly to Shanghai to talk to the factory personally, didn't have supply chain logistics companies to drop ship the product, and couldn't speak to an international customer base over the internet. They've all but disappeared in my industry, and IMHO its high time they did in the bicycle component industry as well, as they just make it more expensive for us consumers, and add little value.
I think the distributors have done a great job over the years, but the industry is changing and Im not sure how they will get on.
Look at Kona pulling out of Paligap and now distributing centrally in Europe.
The prices are still the same.
The prices are still the same
The markets there to suppport the prices here. Why drop them if no one else does?
Plus us British like to think of bikes as 'they're worth it' don't we?
Plus us British like to think of bikes as 'they're worth it' don't we?
Except we still want to penny pinch for a few quid's saving on a £60 stem or £700 forks.
Im not following this.
So it seems its ok for a manufacturer to flece the UK with over priced bikes.
Yet the LBS is flamed for trying to sell at RRP.
Its a tough industry alright.
Iain Gillam - You've got it spot on. You go to a LBS for the service, not the prices. Good service is what gets the customer returning, not just good service, but personal service.
Now, should a LBS be putting it's staff and money resources into getting low cost stock or supplying an awesome service? It's one or the other, an LBS generally can't afford both, chains can, LBS can't.
(You go to a LBS for the service, not the prices)o right be rude then thats good service
Sorry but you need awesome service and low prices on certain kit.
We have one, try to be competitive where we can on the other and are looking at ways to get stock at better prices.
Then I hope it will be a win win situation
I've had a similar issue to the OP when i was alot younger but now i prefix the price match question with a statement about always wanting to support my local business and ask if they can get anywhere near or price match.
It's worth trying to be sensitive as it is their livelihood that your talking about.
It's worth trying to be sensitive as it is their livelihood that your talking about.
'Look LBS I've been a loyal customer to you but I don't have any spare money at the moment and I want to ride my bike would you let me have x bike component at cost'?
No, we have a business to run. We aren't a charity?
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