I’d just like to chip in here and wave the flag for togetherweride.co.uk[/url]
This site has been set up by my longtime friend, Mike. He’s a guy with a big heart and big ideas (he’s pretty short though, you can’t win ’em all 😉 ), and he’s made a site that allows physical shops to compete against online warehouses.
In their own words:
“Together We Ride allows customers to order online and collect from one of the network of independent bike shops. Customers benefit from the convenience of online while still receiving the personal service that can only be provided by an independent specialist. This enables the independent community to answer the increasing online demand for bikes, parts, and accessories without distracting them from the core of their business. Namely: providing unmatched quality of service and expertise directly to the customer.”
At the moment it’s a London only network, but that is allowing them to roll the service out organically. If the orders come, they will expand the scheme. The bigger the scheme gets, the more you and the shops all benefit. The more you interact with your LBS the better the whole shebang gets.
I am in no way employed etc by them, I just want to put what I see as a great idea out there.
Have a look, make up your own minds.
It would certainly help to counteract this sort of thing, which is sadly becoming more common.