- Mar 18, 2009
- 14,644
- 72
- 22,580
Since this is making the rounds through all the social media, we should have a thread here.
-------
Gray Market Bicycle Parts
by Travis Evans on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 6:35pm
First off, I have tagged many people on this note in order to gain attention. Please "untag" yourself as you see fit. I don't mean to offend anyone. I'm not singling anyone out here, I just thought you might find the subject interesting. Also, please share this note with whomever you please. Thanks.
Yesterday I posted that JRABS will have a new "corking policy": "There will be a 20% surcharge for the initial or re-installation of items purchased through eBay stores or overseas discounters. This fee will not apply to items purchased through any U.S. dealer with a legitimate store front." This posting has stirred up much controversy, which I think is good. This policy will be in effect from this point forward. I will also be adding this line: "we will offer a 10% discount on installation for products that are purchased through us".
Businessdictionary.com defines Gray Market as: Genuine branded goods (called 'gray goods') sold outside of an authorized sales-territory (or by non-authorized dealers in an authorized territory) at prices lower than being charged in authorized sales territories (or by authorized dealers).
Anytime a U.S. consumer purchase products from dealers such as Chain Reaction Cycles & Total Cycling in Ireland, or ProBikeKit.com in the U.K. is buying gray market merchandise. Unfortunately the laws in Europe are quite different, as are the channels of distribution. It has nothing to do with the value of the Dollar vs. the Euro. European bicycle shops buy directly from the manufacturer. U.S. shops buy from a distributor. The distributor buys from either the manufacturer or an importer. Not only is there a mark-up for this "middle man", there are also shipping costs and import tariffs. Instead of charging MSRP, or slightly below it, the aforementioned dealers (and others) have decided that instead of making a good margin on a few products, they would rather make less margin on many products, in order to get there name out. These dealers are able to sell products for far less than U.S. retailers; and in many cases, less than what we can buy the products for from our distributors.
The majority of the time, the consumer has no idea what's going on. They just see that the price is less from these gray-market suppliers and think that it's a great deal. I don't really blame them, as it does look like a good deal.
The most common manufacturer to fall victim to this practice is my favorite bicycle components manufacturer, Campagnolo. As you may know, being a Campy Pro Shop is something that I'm proud of and passionate about. To learn more about Campagnolo, and there current situation in today's global climate, you can go here: http://www.bicycling.com/news/featur...es/italian-job
Everyone knows that the global economy is in great trouble, and jobs are scarce. As some of you may know, I have had to lay off John and Chad, and it's just me here now, trying to keep JRABS in business through the winter. Almost every day I have some sort of gray market product come through here, usually from consumers who have trusted me to work on their bikes for years. I have been doing this since 1986, and even as a little kid before that I was doing mechanical work on bikes for my friends. Basically, it's safe to say that I know what I'm doing. However it's very difficult and frustrating to have these products brought in to me every day when I am just trying to stay in business. To this day, I have not brought home one dime from work since I opened the store in on my 38th birthday (9/13/09) - seriously. One might say "You should be lucky that anybody is bringing you any business at all", and maybe that is correct. However, it goes deeper than just dollars - it's about what's right.
When one buys from these companies they are: a) putting money in the pockets of somebody unknown, b) hurting the local economy, c) getting products with no warranty whatsoever, d) dealing with poor customer service after the sale - try to return something to them e) Could be in violation of U.S. Custom's import tariffs (everything over $2,000 must be reported - I STRONGLY recommend reading this: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/bas..._purchases.xml
The buyer becomes the importer, and is responsible for all duties paid. The seller could care less. JRABS has reported violators, and will continue to do so. I have to do what I can to protect my business and the local economy. Whenever gray market purchasers complain about the unemployment rate, the value of the dollar, etc. they should look at themselves as being part of the problem. Could you imagine going to your favorite Italian restaurant and when the waiter says "Would you like some freshly grated parmesan cheese?" you pull out your own that you bought online and say "Yes, but I brought my own, so if you don't mind grating it over my plate for me that would be great. I bought this Italian D.O.P. Parmesan Reggiano on the internet." It sounds silly, but it's the EXACT same thing as taking your Italian bicycle parts to the local bike shop and asking them to install them on your frame, when you could have purchased these items from your LBS.
Restaurants charge a "corking" fee for pouring the wine that the customer brought in for the exact same reason that I will charge this extra 20% on top of regular labor rates for gray market purchases. I have absolutely no problem with products that were purchased at another store that plays by the rules, even mail order. I will gladly install these items, or even used items off of eBay, for my regular labor rate. I will reward my loyal customers who purchase their products from JRABS with a 10% discount on labor.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I welcome your opinions. I'm just trying to do what's right, enjoy what I do, and keep my business afloat.
In closing, I ask that the next time you consider purchasing from one of these companies, to please consider either my store or another U.S.-based shop with a storefront. All you have to do is ask for the best price.
Thanks again,
Travis
-------
Gray Market Bicycle Parts
by Travis Evans on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 6:35pm
First off, I have tagged many people on this note in order to gain attention. Please "untag" yourself as you see fit. I don't mean to offend anyone. I'm not singling anyone out here, I just thought you might find the subject interesting. Also, please share this note with whomever you please. Thanks.
Yesterday I posted that JRABS will have a new "corking policy": "There will be a 20% surcharge for the initial or re-installation of items purchased through eBay stores or overseas discounters. This fee will not apply to items purchased through any U.S. dealer with a legitimate store front." This posting has stirred up much controversy, which I think is good. This policy will be in effect from this point forward. I will also be adding this line: "we will offer a 10% discount on installation for products that are purchased through us".
Businessdictionary.com defines Gray Market as: Genuine branded goods (called 'gray goods') sold outside of an authorized sales-territory (or by non-authorized dealers in an authorized territory) at prices lower than being charged in authorized sales territories (or by authorized dealers).
Anytime a U.S. consumer purchase products from dealers such as Chain Reaction Cycles & Total Cycling in Ireland, or ProBikeKit.com in the U.K. is buying gray market merchandise. Unfortunately the laws in Europe are quite different, as are the channels of distribution. It has nothing to do with the value of the Dollar vs. the Euro. European bicycle shops buy directly from the manufacturer. U.S. shops buy from a distributor. The distributor buys from either the manufacturer or an importer. Not only is there a mark-up for this "middle man", there are also shipping costs and import tariffs. Instead of charging MSRP, or slightly below it, the aforementioned dealers (and others) have decided that instead of making a good margin on a few products, they would rather make less margin on many products, in order to get there name out. These dealers are able to sell products for far less than U.S. retailers; and in many cases, less than what we can buy the products for from our distributors.
The majority of the time, the consumer has no idea what's going on. They just see that the price is less from these gray-market suppliers and think that it's a great deal. I don't really blame them, as it does look like a good deal.
The most common manufacturer to fall victim to this practice is my favorite bicycle components manufacturer, Campagnolo. As you may know, being a Campy Pro Shop is something that I'm proud of and passionate about. To learn more about Campagnolo, and there current situation in today's global climate, you can go here: http://www.bicycling.com/news/featur...es/italian-job
Everyone knows that the global economy is in great trouble, and jobs are scarce. As some of you may know, I have had to lay off John and Chad, and it's just me here now, trying to keep JRABS in business through the winter. Almost every day I have some sort of gray market product come through here, usually from consumers who have trusted me to work on their bikes for years. I have been doing this since 1986, and even as a little kid before that I was doing mechanical work on bikes for my friends. Basically, it's safe to say that I know what I'm doing. However it's very difficult and frustrating to have these products brought in to me every day when I am just trying to stay in business. To this day, I have not brought home one dime from work since I opened the store in on my 38th birthday (9/13/09) - seriously. One might say "You should be lucky that anybody is bringing you any business at all", and maybe that is correct. However, it goes deeper than just dollars - it's about what's right.
When one buys from these companies they are: a) putting money in the pockets of somebody unknown, b) hurting the local economy, c) getting products with no warranty whatsoever, d) dealing with poor customer service after the sale - try to return something to them e) Could be in violation of U.S. Custom's import tariffs (everything over $2,000 must be reported - I STRONGLY recommend reading this: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/bas..._purchases.xml
The buyer becomes the importer, and is responsible for all duties paid. The seller could care less. JRABS has reported violators, and will continue to do so. I have to do what I can to protect my business and the local economy. Whenever gray market purchasers complain about the unemployment rate, the value of the dollar, etc. they should look at themselves as being part of the problem. Could you imagine going to your favorite Italian restaurant and when the waiter says "Would you like some freshly grated parmesan cheese?" you pull out your own that you bought online and say "Yes, but I brought my own, so if you don't mind grating it over my plate for me that would be great. I bought this Italian D.O.P. Parmesan Reggiano on the internet." It sounds silly, but it's the EXACT same thing as taking your Italian bicycle parts to the local bike shop and asking them to install them on your frame, when you could have purchased these items from your LBS.
Restaurants charge a "corking" fee for pouring the wine that the customer brought in for the exact same reason that I will charge this extra 20% on top of regular labor rates for gray market purchases. I have absolutely no problem with products that were purchased at another store that plays by the rules, even mail order. I will gladly install these items, or even used items off of eBay, for my regular labor rate. I will reward my loyal customers who purchase their products from JRABS with a 10% discount on labor.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I welcome your opinions. I'm just trying to do what's right, enjoy what I do, and keep my business afloat.
In closing, I ask that the next time you consider purchasing from one of these companies, to please consider either my store or another U.S.-based shop with a storefront. All you have to do is ask for the best price.
Thanks again,
Travis
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram