-
The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to
In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.
Thanks!
Is this idea any good? Would you use it if your LBS implemented the idea?
- Thread starter somethingawe
- Start date
- Feb 25, 2010
- 3,854
- 1
- 0
Thoughtforfood said:
It's not a promotion. I wanted feedback on the idea.
And either way, what is wrong with showing your work to others? Especially if it adds value to the community.
It's not like I'm spamming links.
- Jun 16, 2009
- 19,654
- 2
- 0
somethingawe said:
Sorry, but it seems like a promotion of a service and no I don't necessarily like the idea.
- Jun 16, 2009
- 19,654
- 2
- 0
You kind of are as you promote an app and promote online use of sales. You are saying that you don't like how "very few (businesses) interact with their consumer base" yet you promote the use of apps and online retail. I will probably cop flack for this but I don't really like online retail. It takes the 'human aspect' out of things, promotes an anti-social lifestyle and kills retail by just making it over the net. If it is less convenient to go into a shop and buy a bike product then so be it.
auscyclefan94 said:
Well you would have to develop a new app I think to make this all work. It's not like I'm making money from promoting those apps or anything. I was just using them as an example to explain the idea.
As far as the online retail goes, that's really a personal preference at this point. Who knows how others feel about it.
krebs303 said:
It's more business/marketing related. And I'm not sure why you feel it was important to tell me you didn't read it.
Susan Westemeyer
Retired Moderator
- Mar 5, 2009
- 8,464
- 18
- 17,510
Actually, krebs is right. This is the non-cycling section of the forum. Let me bump this somewhere more appropriate.
Susan
Susan
- Mar 16, 2009
- 19,482
- 2
- 0
Sometimes if things get posted in the wrong forum people don't think the poster talks right and knows something. Maybe Susan could move it to the place where cycling stuff goes and people will like it better. Don't worry you won't be in bad trouble as long as you don't use any bad words. Susan doesn't like bad words. I didn't know where to post but I learned it's not too hard most of the time. Your post is about bike shops that's what LBS means I learned that here. I like bike shops. I have 2 blue bikes 1 for the street (sometimes I ride on the sidewalk if the cars scare me. I know I'm not supposed to.) and 1 to ride in dirt. I have a friend at the bike shop too his name is Steve and he fixes my bikes if their wrong. He has a lot of stuff. I hope I don't get in trouble for post about bikes in the Cafe cause it's for other stuff.
krabkakes33
krabkakes33
krebs303 said:
Seriously? I'm sorry I came to this forum. Didn't realize this is the type of response I'd get.
- Jul 23, 2009
- 5,412
- 19
- 17,510
somethingawe said:
"It is community and superior customer service that will drive up sales especially in the bicycle industry. Not lower costs."
That plus cash flow(meaning designing a year round, cost effective shop)
= success.
I scanned through the blog and didn't really see many useful 'ideas' - there were a few 'thoughts' and way too many words.
I don't expect my LBS to be a 'support group' or to run the local 'bike club'.
For an LBS, doing activities or services that don't directly generate money has to be viewed as 'advertising' or 'goodwill'.
With the hope that future money will follow, but in many cases people just take the 'free stuff' and don't do any additional 'money business' with the shop.
Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA
I don't expect my LBS to be a 'support group' or to run the local 'bike club'.
For an LBS, doing activities or services that don't directly generate money has to be viewed as 'advertising' or 'goodwill'.
With the hope that future money will follow, but in many cases people just take the 'free stuff' and don't do any additional 'money business' with the shop.
Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA
- Mar 16, 2009
- 19,482
- 2
- 0
somethingawe said:
I just wrote eloquent reply that disappeared
Many first time posters who pretty much just post a link turn out to be spammers or promoting their blog. you seem sincere by your responses.
A online plan I would think would be a must have for a shop these days. A social integration is a good idea but I know my shop is one man and he is always busy. It would have to be fast and easy to interact with. My LBS is on Facebook but publishes very little.
And there are different types of shops. the closest to me carries mostly low end bikes and parts. The shop I go to is mid to high end bikes. I would think that marketing would be different for each and one app might not serve both.
How would one promote a more social interaction? Advertising?
I'm sure that integrating the web into a shop's business plan is becoming a necessity. An app that would smoothly and easily do that would be a valuable asset.
krabkakes33 says hi
- Feb 10, 2010
- 10,645
- 20
- 22,510
An interesting variation on a loyalty program for sure.
But the shop needs to turn lots of inventory/generate service to pay for the discount. The idea is further limited by the narrow mindset of most shops. Unfortunately there were personal injury cases where the shop's insurance ends up paying because they promoted a weekly ride at the shop. So, this is a double-bind.
All the can'ts and won'ts out of the way, something like it could work for some good-sized shops. Not just cycling either...
It would have been better to post the idea, not a link to your blog. Pay no mind to the complainers.
But the shop needs to turn lots of inventory/generate service to pay for the discount. The idea is further limited by the narrow mindset of most shops. Unfortunately there were personal injury cases where the shop's insurance ends up paying because they promoted a weekly ride at the shop. So, this is a double-bind.
All the can'ts and won'ts out of the way, something like it could work for some good-sized shops. Not just cycling either...
It would have been better to post the idea, not a link to your blog. Pay no mind to the complainers.
- Jun 16, 2009
- 19,654
- 2
- 0
somethingawe said:
Sorry, but if you can't take criticism on a forum then you've come to the wrong place.
auscyclefan94 said:
It wasn't criticism that I railed against; I can handle criticism. The problem is that many people felt obligated to tell me that I shouldn't link to a personal blog and then on top of that didn't even bother to read it. I can understand being against spamming it, but I posted one god damn link and you go into an uproar.
Thank you to the people who actually read the article and had a comment about that, I appreciate it.
I'm sorry that I put a link up. I don't think its that difficult to click links (especially with the advent of the browser tab 5 years ago), but I could be wrong.
It quite surprising that a cycling community could be so full of ****heads, but I guess I learned otherwise.
Happy riding, I won't be visiting again.
- Mar 10, 2009
- 6,158
- 1
- 0
somethingawe said:
We're all here to read this forum, we don't come here to then go somewhere else. The same reason you don't post the CN forum on your blog.
From your reply you obvious wanted us to go read your precious blog, sorry we didn't bite at your lame atempt.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Milano - Sanremo 2025, one day monument, March 22- Started by Lequack
- Replies: 1K
-
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025, March 24-30- Started by Lequack
- Replies: 530
-
-
Classics Brugge-De Panne (26/3 and 27/3)- Started by RedheadDane
- Replies: 94
-
Teams & Riders The Remco Evenepoel is the next Eddy Merckx thread- Started by DNP-Old
- Replies: 29K
-
Strade Bianche 2025, March 8, one-day classic (men's)- Started by Lequack
- Replies: 922
-
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram