McBikeshops Suck

[BroDeal]

Last week I found myself in a bike shop that carries Trek and it reminded me of why I buy almost everything online. I did not look too closely, but at a glance every bike was either a Trek or a Gary Fisher. The clothing and accessories were mostly Bontrager. I did get a laught when I spotted a few Team Radio Shack kits hanging on a wall. They were not in a rack with the other clothing; they were hanging on the freaking wall like the Mona Lisa.

I passed a set of Bontrager arm warmers and the thought that came to my mind was how much it must suck to buy from this place when instead of the shop choosing the best gear available, or even just good quality for a good price, nearly everything was Bontrager, no matter whether it was good or not.

The antiseptic and souless feel of the place creeped me out.

 

[Beech Mtn]

^What were you doing shopping at Mellow Johnny's?

 

[TERMINATOR]

Last week I found myself in a bike shop that carries Trek and it reminded me of why I buy almost everything online. I did not look too closely, but at a glance every bike was either a Trek or a Gary Fisher. The clothing and accessories were mostly Bontrager. I did get a laught when I spotted a few Team Radio Shack kits hanging on a wall. They were not in a rack with the other clothing; they were hanging on the freaking wall like the Mona Lisa.

I passed a set of Bontrager arm warmers and the thought that came to my mind was how much it must suck to buy from this place when instead of the shop choosing the best gear available, or even just good quality for a good price, nearly everything was Bontrager, no matter whether it was good or not.

The antiseptic and souless feel of the place creeped me out.

This is only going to get worse. The bike shop by me that was open for over 20 years just closed. It use to be the origina site of a lot of group rides. But it's gone now.

Bike shops are way overpriced and their attitude about competing with online sales is akin to Sears corporate attitude in the early 1990's when Home Depot and Lowes came on the scene.

 

[craig1985]

I buy from ab ike shop so it will keep my house mate employed and so he can pay the rent. Jokes aside, because I raced for the shop team and did well, I get things at cost price.

 

[TexPat]

Last week I found myself in a bike shop that carries Trek and it reminded me of why I buy almost everything online. I did not look too closely, but at a glance every bike was either a Trek or a Gary Fisher. The clothing and accessories were mostly Bontrager. I did get a laught when I spotted a few Team Radio Shack kits hanging on a wall. They were not in a rack with the other clothing; they were hanging on the freaking wall like the Mona Lisa.

I passed a set of Bontrager arm warmers and the thought that came to my mind was how much it must suck to buy from this place when instead of the shop choosing the best gear available, or even just good quality for a good price, nearly everything was Bontrager, no matter whether it was good or not.

The antiseptic and souless feel of the place creeped me out.

The bold part was one of the driving motivations behind my shop. I've spent twentysomething years in a very backward industry, and have seen a shift toward the dreaded Company Store a la the Gap et al. In some markets, these things seem to work, and certainly have great turnover. But, soul-less they are. Admittedly, I carry Trek because they offer a great product, particularly at the low end, but the mid and upper end stuff is covered by three other brands.
NZ is very different from the US, mainly because of supply issues that crop up every year. If you owned a shop with only one brand there would be a period every year where you could get no stock. So, from a practical point of view, the concept stores really don't work here.
As I see it, these stores are simply branding strategies by the bike companies.
Having worked as a bike mechanic for so long, I just won't stock garbage. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
BroDeal---I'd love to have more of your input. As well as from the rest of you. The reality in this business is that everything is rapidly changing, and the old way is simply unsustainable.
More food for thought:http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/comment-is-chain-growth-good-for-the-trade

 

[brianf7]

Treck seem to have a contract with their bike shops so they cant sell anything else look what happened to Klein bikes.

Prices in the bike shop are over double to what you buy on line and you have to travel and park by at a bike shop.

Unless buying a compleet bike people in general are buying on line its delivered to the door and quick service I can buy parts from China Hong Kong and get them 1/3rd price is a few days.

But the down side is if the local bike shop dosnt make money they close so we have no bike shop when we need it.
So we should support the Local bike shop and tell them that you can buy on line at a better price if they dont want to match it or somewhere near it then go on line.
But give them a go you may need them one day you get more than just bikes and bike parts from a bike shop.

 

[TexPat]

Treck seem to have a contract with their bike shops so they cant sell anything else look what happened to Klein bikes.

Prices in the bike shop are over double to what you buy on line and you have to travel and park by at a bike shop.

Unless buying a compleet bike people in general are buying on line its delivered to the door and quick service I can buy parts from China Hong Kong and get them 1/3rd price is a few days.

But the down side is if the local bike shop dosnt make money they close so we have no bike shop when we need it.
So we should support the Local bike shop and tell them that you can buy on line at a better price if they dont want to match it or somewhere near it then go on line.
But give them a go you may need them one day you get more than just bikes and bike parts from a bike shop.

This is untrue, both in NZ and in the US.
The rest of your post reflects an oft heard sentiment from consumers, and one that rings true.

 

[BroDeal]

BroDeal---I'd love to have more of your input. As well as from the rest of you. The reality in this business is that everything is rapidly changing, and the old way is simply unsustainable.
More food for thought:http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/comment-is-chain-growth-good-for-the-trade

Aside form the Interbike stuff, which I skimmed because it did not interest me that much, I read that entire Bike 2.0 blog back to the beginning that you posted a link to in the carbon bikes thread. It was really interesting. It confirmed a bunch of stuff that I suspected.

I need to think about it more, but the business looks really tough. I would think that most shops are undercapitalized and thus rely heavily on financing provided by suppliers. With year to year sales variations and the large time gap between ordering the new year's bikes and the prime selling season, it must be a precarious situation.

 

[antares1]

just had a friend sign 70 percent of his floorspace to a major brand ...all good in the honeymoon period but customers seem to be growing tired of the Mcbikeshops and their matching headers, slatwalls etc .....been there done that 5 star Raleigh dealers back in the 70's probably thought it was a good idea at the time.

 

[Michael Brown]

Though I do buy some things online, I mostly shop at 2 local shops that stock an extensive selection of merchandise. Both also contribute mightily to the state racing and recreational cycling scene.

And those aren't the only two shops in my area. They are just my faves.

Both of them stock Treks, but that is not the limit of their selection by any means.

 

[DarkWarrior]

Treck seem to have a contract with their bike shops so they cant sell anything else look what happened to Klein bikes.

Prices in the bike shop are over double to what you buy on line and you have to travel and park by at a bike shop.

Unless buying a compleet bike people in general are buying on line its delivered to the door and quick service I can buy parts from China Hong Kong and get them 1/3rd price is a few days.

But the down side is if the local bike shop dosnt make money they close so we have no bike shop when we need it.
So we should support the Local bike shop and tell them that you can buy on line at a better price if they dont want to match it or somewhere near it then go on line.
But give them a go you may need them one day you get more than just bikes and bike parts from a bike shop.

I question the value of the major bike brand names long term. The quality and quantity of the products available from Asia has to be disconcerting to the brand names since those same factories are manufacturing the brand names' frames/components/accessories. There is some value to be found, but I agree with the post above that is on the vanilla, easily duplicated lower end (complete) bikes from the major companies. This is relevant to the OP because the brands the shops carry still influence consumer traffic as evidenced by shops exclusively distributing one company's brands or dedicating a large percentage of the salesfloor to one particular brand.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

The bold part was one of the driving motivations behind my shop. I've spent twentysomething years in a very backward industry, and have seen a shift toward the dreaded Company Store a la the Gap et al. In some markets, these things seem to work, and certainly have great turnover. But, soul-less they are. Admittedly, I carry Trek because they offer a great product, particularly at the low end, but the mid and upper end stuff is covered by three other brands.
NZ is very different from the US, mainly because of supply issues that crop up every year. If you owned a shop with only one brand there would be a period every year where you could get no stock. So, from a practical point of view, the concept stores really don't work here.
As I see it, these stores are simply branding strategies by the bike companies.
Having worked as a bike mechanic for so long, I just won't stock garbage. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
BroDeal---I'd love to have more of your input. As well as from the rest of you. The reality in this business is that everything is rapidly changing, and the old way is simply unsustainable.
More food for thought:http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/comment-is-chain-growth-good-for-the-trade

What's sustainable is specializing in responsible, knowledgeable service and carrying brands that aren't on every corner nor necessarily made of carbon.

It's what I do and it works well. PLUS being small-ish, targeting a market segment and aggresively pursuing that segment.

Service, custom wheels, custom steel and Ti. No bikesouttaboxes nor wheelsouttaboxes for me.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Treck seem to have a contract with their bike shops so they cant sell anything else look what happened to Klein bikes.

Prices in the bike shop are over double to what you buy on line and you have to travel and park by at a bike shop.

Unless buying a compleet bike people in general are buying on line its delivered to the door and quick service I can buy parts from China Hong Kong and get them 1/3rd price is a few days.

But the down side is if the local bike shop dosnt make money they close so we have no bike shop when we need it.
So we should support the Local bike shop and tell them that you can buy on line at a better price if they dont want to match it or somewhere near it then go on line.
But give them a go you may need them one day you get more than just bikes and bike parts from a bike shop.

Most bike shops operate on a margin that barely keeps the lights on. Discounting means they lose money. Unless they can make it up in volume, they are dead. Bike shops are subject to wholesale pricing. The manufacturers that discount deeply to resellers, sell at a different price than to wholesalers is one of the problems.

 

[oldborn]

Let me have my thoughts on that. Here bike industrie are in huge problems. I was entering in new Specialized Concept Store (what ever it means) here and have a feeling like in some f..... plastic surgeon clinic, it was so clean, no oil, spokes, cables around, strange.

When i ask 20 or so kid for some parts for road bike he gave me a very same look like Lance did, he does not have a clue about Road bikes, WTF is a Concept Store for kids. They only sell MTB, and guess what, fancy carbon cranks, and seatposts are locked under glass.

So there is no perfect bike shop, and yes those small romantic ones are dying for sure. I combine 2 or 3 for every kind of needs.
I was in some toughts about selling high end road bikes here and having a contact with some of biggest producers, but i realize that i will die soon. I am not interesting in cheap MTB, and kind of romantic about road bikes but i could sell few of them per year.

Some producers are pain in the a.. (cos MOQ, MSRP) but in other way they are giving you a very same prices and terms as in Botsvana or U.S.
So MSRP are the same but economy are not same, wright?

So guy in Slovenia who is selling Cervelo could not put a discount on web (Cervelo strategy), but if you ask him of course he gonna give you 10% on cash.

Other big gun producers does not care much if you are selling bikes in your wife lovers country house or in store, and they are prety fair. You can order one bike per time and not a pile of them like Cervelo.
Some of them on the other hand avoiding on line sale and prices to be put on web.

If you have a big money and you are idiot about bikes and parts you gonna have big discount from producers and doing very well. If you are small bike shop owner who can not afford a 10 000 per order you will die soon.

So Huge Concept Stores are by mine thoughts for people who do not likes mess, for kids who is buying bike with parents money, and romantic small bike shops with owner who is yelling at his wife are history despite he might built you bike for couple of days.

It should be that way i guess.

Tell me what kind of discount Evans Cycles have: Bianchi Pico Crono Ultegra 2011 Triathlon Bike, £2914.89

Some site i use to compare prices, Michele gives me:Triathlon point on line shop in Italy: Bianchi Pico Crono Ultegra 2011 Triathlon Frameset only, € 3 325,00

 

[Polyarmour]

The online business must be killing the bike shops. I still get my bike serviced at the LBS occasionally but if anything needs replacing I'm online placing an order.

I know of two shops that have specialised in cycle coaching and they seem to be doing very well.

 

[BroDeal]

Maybe new riders, yuppies exchanging cycling for golf, or women like stores that look and feel like The Gap. Maybe the "Ye Old Bike Shop" experience intimidates potential customers.

 

[antares1]

remember going to a painfully boring seminar by a Dutch part supplier that Powerponted us through what a new bike shop should look like ...all the headers were packed with information for the purchaser so all they needed to do was take it to the till and scan no need for qualified staff just some kid on 7 bucks an hour .

 

[TexPat]

Maybe new riders, yuppies exchanging cycling for golf, or women like stores that look and feel like The Gap. Maybe the "Ye Old Bike Shop" experience intimidates potential customers.

I think there may be a way to appeal to both types. Remember that the health of the bike shop industry depends on converts. Mamils and women do alot of shopping.

remember going to a painfully boring seminar by a Dutch part supplier that Powerponted us through what a new bike shop should look like ...all the headers were packed with information for the purchaser so all they needed to do was take it to the till and scan no need for qualified staff just some kid on 7 bucks an hour .

Egads! I've had to sit through the same drivel. To many, retail is formulaic. I'm a fence-sitter. Surely, there is some science in merchandising that makes it effective to the seller and appealing to the customer...without being sterile. I think of the banks of packaged food vending machines found in Amsterdam and other Dutch cities and shutter to think that this could be the future of bicycle retail.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Those vertical Treck and any other branded stores are coming hot and hard.
They have been working on this kind of business model for 20 years. The big-brands fully intend to accomplish two things:

1. Drive the LBS out of business.
2. Raise prices on generally mediocre product.

You are warned.

Rant_on:

For every whiner complaining about their LBS's prices just remember they have enormous overhead a web site does not. I get that at some point, most people get to a point where they are working on their own bike, but it's vitally important to keep spending money at the LBS of your choice.

You will end up paying far more for cycling goods (online too) if the companies pursuing the branded store business model succeed.

Rant_off

 

[TexPat]

Those vertical Treck and any other branded stores are coming hot and hard.
They have been working on this kind of business model for 20 years. The big-brands fully intend to accomplish two things:

1. Drive the LBS out of business.
2. Raise prices on generally mediocre product.

You are warned.

Rant_on:

For every whiner complaining about their LBS's prices just remember they have enormous overhead a web site does not. I get that at some point, most people get to a point where they are working on their own bike, but it's vitally important to keep spending money at the LBS of your choice.

You will end up paying far more for cycling goods (online too) if the companies pursuing the branded store business model succeed.

Rant_off

Point number one is ridiculous, as stats show that the big boys like Trek and Giant have lost ground considerably to the other players in the marketplace whose position is improving. This is a predictable development in a business where innovation and change keeps the whole thing propped up. Consumers will always demand choice; there will always be a place for alternative products. While streamlining their operations by eliminating independent resellers might be one way of increasing profits, it's not the only way, and I say, it's a very risky way.

Point number two is spot-on. Having a well-established position can lead to complacency. And greed. However, there is a karma type mechanism in market economics that deals with this.

The part of your post I have put in bold, I whole-heartedly agree with, except that there MUST be some change in how IBD's do business. One of the statements that has stuck with me for twenty years came from a manager of mine straight out of the UT School of Business who ran a very successful bike biz in the early 90's. He said, "The bike business is the most backward industry in the world". There are not alot of keyed-in people running bike shops; many--if not most--do it for the love of the bicycle. The reality is that these folks need some business brains injected into their thick skulls. Sink or swim. Online sales will force the change in the practices that were formerly part of the formula. The change in hardware stores in both the US and Europe is a perfect example.

Lastly, I hardly believe there exists a cabal among the big bike companies whose sole motive is to drive prices up after having laid to waste all of the mom and pop bike shops out there. Trust me, they're not that smart (or stupid!).

 

[Boeing]

There aren't many trek superstores above 5,000 feet. That should blow the whistle

Regardless they suck

 

[TexPat]

There aren't many trek superstores above 5,000 feet. That should blow the whistle

Regardless they suck

There aren't many bike shops above 5000ft either!

 

[Boeing]

There aren't many bike shops above 5000ft either!

nice

i suck it most of the time

 

[Boeing]

all I know is one should never take a campy product to be worked on at a Trek store

 

[Boeing]

Maybe the "Ye Old Bike Shop" experience intimidates potential customers.

I think there is more to this than we might think. The arrogance and attitude in many small boutique bike shops here is so cal is appalling. Whether it is the mechanic telling you how f'ed up you stuff is or intentionally reminding a novice that they are a novice or the cling-on groupie customer who hangs out telling everyone how great he is....scares off new potential customers just sucke to me

but they make it on vibe. they sell vibe and after all the bike industry is a about the vibe whatever it is and it is either a mtb shop or a roadie shop. they do not co-exist successfully

I am perfectly willing to pay reasonable retail price if I am treated like a client. is it that hard to create a data base on a customer and offer personalized recommendations based on past experience or inquiry? over time and keep them involved?

Bike fit and fitness levels and seasonal conditions dictate my buying patterns.



I am not defending the superstore around the corner from my home who ignore me because they know I am not going to buy a new bike every time i walk in for a tube and a gel


With all that said. I have become quite a proficient mechanic by default. 1 because I cant deal with some jackass and 2 because parts and labor are not cheap and I go through cassettes and chains like socks bad wheel trues are more common. It just sucks when you buy a top line bike from a shop and turn you first 1200 miles ni under 4 weeks and they forget who you are when you need a chain and a rear tire and charge full pop and put your bike in a line for 4 days. I just ask that they remember my fit and quirks and keep me on the road