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Can’t blame wiggle/crc. They’re a fairly new business, so the setup and running costs will be disproportionately high compared to established shops.
Not really. Local bikes shops have to be close to the foot fall of customers, which invariably means rents are sky high. You've got to carry stock at all times, the mechanic can be sitting on his proverbial all day not 'earning', heating, lights etc. You've got to buy a lot of workshop tools and do a lot fo work just to cover their costs.Can't imagine you get much discount ordering two XT rear mechs a year.
Wiggle/CRC et al can be on an industrial estate in the middle of Mordor, they don't need to be near any customer base. Potentially even a one man band with a load of boxes in the garage if you bother to have a fancy website, who is to know. Might even get a nice grant from the council. Don't need skilled staff, just box packers.
I'd gues a lot of us buy from supermarkets these day (I'm sure there are some that buy from local markets ona Sunday) but bet 90/95% of the general public use the top four supermarkets - they just took over the local corner shops market through scale.
Don't know what the answer is. Maybe some can survive on the top end market. MAybe there will be a bit of an Amazon/Wiggle backlash in the future (though I think Amazon will only get it for the tax, not the fact they are selling stuff cheaper than locally).
Will be a shame, most of the ike shops round my neck of the woods have bitten the dust.
I really think that most lbs are missing a trick by not taking part ex.
I'm not sure if there is a massive market for second hand stuff. Servicing a car is almost a requirement (especially as you'll need to MOT it once a year). Stick a fivers worth of oil in a car and charge 100 quid for it (and a health check!) won't work for bikes I'd say. Any friends who aren't massively into bikes but own one basically run them into the ground (or I replace the rusted up chain...).
Selling cars is, in the case of the smaller econoboxes, actually charity. They lose money on them but they bring customers into the brand fold and feed the service side. Service is what keeps many dealerships alive.
If bike brands ran their own dealerships you can be sure they would use proprietary fasteners and parts so that only they could service your bike. Why do you think car manufacturers fight so hard to keep the knowledge and parts and tools out of the hands of independent garages and end users?
As mentioned above, part exchange doesn't work so well for push bikes, they are seen as toys or luxuries not a necessary commodity (like a car), so the desire for second hand is there but not in the demand, nor the price, people are willing to support.
if my LBS invested in customer service then i'd use them more.
unfortunately they never tell you how long the bike will take, they slot in a time, and it forever changes, then a week later you go in and the bike (a) isn't ready or (B) its been ready 5 days.
its also more roady focussed, although have a good range of mtb and commuter (from £200-£10k), so being road bike its always rammed in summer, using them all year round i'd expect a little favouritism than looking after the fair weather mamils..
i like the idea of fitness / physio services.
I really think that most lbs are missing a trick by not taking part ex.
This and then also stripping bikes to sell second hand parts, I look after my family bikes and would quite happily put second hand parts on their bikes cranks, wheels etc they'll never notice the difference and a second hand part will prob last longer than the cheapest new part.
The opening times are laughable for a retail business – especially one in the London commuter belt. All those people you want to enjoy your ‘premium’ shop are 35 miles away when it’s open.
Yes, nuts to be just down the road from a big commuter station but not open when thousands of people are walking past to or from work each day. I'd do a short or closed day midweek and then try to have at least one early morning and late close. Must be plenty of people mooching around the shops on a Sunday too that will find it closed - my two local bike shops are open 11-4 on a Sunday because all the shops around them are too and they pick up plenty of passing trade.
Make it convenient for people to drop in a bike or wheel for service, or to pick up some bits for the weekend ride when they're passing anyway and they won't care so much about the price. Make it a ballache and it's easier just to order off the internet and work out how to fit it yourself.
My LBS has 5 guys working in it and always has punters in when I go in. Not easy to park as on a busy street but worth the effort. Parts may cost a bit more but I’ll happily pay that to keep shop open and people in work locally to me. Good advice for free, they ride road, mtb, bikepacking, cycle cross. Picton Cycles in Wavertree Liverpool if any scousers need a bikeshop