Abbotsford is an absolute rarity. I have no qualms about supporting them.
I try and support LBSs as much as possible but with the price differences it can come down to buying one bike at LBS or two bikes online for the same price. Unfortunately for the LBSs is not a hard decision.
If someone in a LBS has helped me come to a decision or I’ve tried on gear, compared it etc I always buy from them. I don’t hunt around for the best price at other shops or go home and buy it off the net. That is a service that I’m happy to pay a premium for.
It’s interesting that they are generally very busy so obviously not short of customers, but they don’t really sell bikes.
I guess most customers are not like the people here. ie. most bike buyers are not looking for uncommon or unusual bikes/parts. They’re not looking to convert one sort of bike to another. They’re looking for a Giant or Trek or whatever. Most bike shops serve that market.
I never really considered that. The other thing is that I hear a lot of reports about people taking their beater in to a LBS for repairs and the shop tries to push new bike on them. Not surprising though given their business model.
I think the number of customers looking for personalised/custom bikes that suit their specific needs is growing. Whether that translates to more better shops like Abbotsford remains to be seen.
Already, you have the major brands diversifying their product line. Only a few years back, most major players had three categories: MTB, road and hybrid. These days you can add fixies, singlespeeds, tourers, commuter, utility and cross to that as well as combinations in between (Complete singlespeed cyclocross anyone? Yup, 3 off-the-shelf companies do 'em now). There is clearly a need for these machines on the market. Otherwise the manufacturers wouldn’t produce them. I think that this is a sign that cyclists these days are more clued in as to what bike they actually need. If the consumers are more clued in, then the retailers have no choice but to shape up or risk going under. Forums such as this (I believe) play a big part of the process in educating potential consumers.
I see the bike shop evolving in positive directions every which way. Sure, there are more ‘traditional’ shops than ever, (and they’re mostly busier than ever and providing shit service more than ever) but there is also the likes of Bicycle Recycle, Human Powered Cycles and The Bicycle Shed at CERES to name afew.
Also growing are BUGS in number, influence and lobby outcomes. The market is growing, and allowing for ‘neches’ to be big enough to be successful.
I also think that this forum works in promoting shops that do great work. Just do a search and see how many times Cycle Underground gets a mention on here, or how many times people recommended to go see Dan?
Hang on, why is this thread titled Banchi Shitter again??
And the beauty of the interweb is that (for the time being at least) you have a remote access to more of these types of independent traders and groups. So if what you want can’t be found locally you can go further afield. And I think that as shipping gets more expensive, people are necessarily going to go for the independent solution.
Although having said that, mail order has been been around for a very long time.
Hey, I’m all for the attitude that “it’s your money, you spend it where you like”, and as I stated before, I also agree that there are some awfull shops around, but that doesn’t mean that they’re all like that!
A handful of customers get burned by bad bike shops and suddenly their all tarred??
I don’t know of any independant bicycle store owner that makes more than a reasonable living from what he does, and there are plenty that struggle to make ends meet. (SHM being a recent case in point)
Bike stores try desperately to stick to RRP because they have immense overheads of freight, rent, electricity, rates, employee wages, employee superanuation, and on and on and on it goes.
When was the last time a bike shop charged you RRP for something PLUS freight? I bet never, because the freight into store is always absorbed in the margin. Examples like this are numerous.
I’ll give you an example of why the internet is cheaper, and you decide wether your GOOD LBS is still a ripoff…
Michelin Pro Race 2 tyres. Not so long ago they were very prevalent on Ebay, at amazing prices. $50 each was quite common, half the RRP in Australia. How did they do it?
Our hero, in one particular case, was a NZealand bloke who declared himself to be a “bicycle manufacturer” producing approx 6 crappy frames a year from his back shed. Because he was able to be classified as a “Bike Manufacturer” he was able to purchase Michelin tyres direct from Michelin at OEM prices ie. prices that are given to legitimate manufacturers for fitment to their complete bicycles. By fudging and lying he was able to order approx 3000 pairs of Pro Race tyres. Of course they ended up on Ebay, and with his low overheads of working from home combined with the ridiculously cheap price from michelin he was able to sell cheap and yet still make OVER 100% markup.
The chain of supply for a LBS to stock Michelin tyres is thus.
Michelin France (after adding profit margin to cost of manufacturing) sell to Michelin Australia (who add their freight/handling costs AND profit margin). Michelin Australia sell to the bicycle industry supplier, Apollo Bicycles (who add their freight/handling costs AND profit margin) who then sell to the LBS (who add their freight/handling costs AND profit margin AND GST).
After a tyre has been through 4 sets of hands, four lots of freight, is it any wonder it has a RRP of $100? And do you think the LBS is making 100% markup…no bloody way, he’d be lucky to get $10 out of that tyre.
Thats the system…the system sucks big ones…but it’s the system your LBS has to work with.
Still think he’s a ripoff?
I fully understand why someone would buy from the internet in cases such as the above, half price tyres? you’d be mad not to.
…But is your internet supplier going to give you riding position advice? guide you to the best nutrion product based on his experience? Change your brake cable while you wait 10 minutes before closing time?
Anyway, I think I’ve said all I could say,
Viva Le Tour, fixies rule, GoAnna, and peace to all retail consumers.
This is the problem (at least for me). Take a product … be it Michelin tyres, Shimano parts, whatever. Compare the prices of the same product from LBSs in Australia and compare to LBSs from the States, Europe, Asia. I will bet that prices in Australia will be the most expensive (and by quite a a big gap as well). I should know, I haven’t always lived here and was shocked by the prices (more than double in alot of the cases, especially for parts). The parts go through the same process as you describe but yet prices are much more inflated in OZ compared to the rest of the world. Something doesn’t add up and I’ve been trying to figure this out. No answers yet unfortunately.
Now, I’ll be happy to pay the inflated prices if the product purchase came with an acceptable level of service. Sadly, this doesn’t happen very often. For every shop that is great (like SB or Abbotsford), I can name ten that have rubbish service. SHM as mentioned was a big shop with an even bigger attitude. I have been there many times looking to buy. I’ve bought nothing because no one was willing to assist me. But who knows in the end why SHM got into touble.
This is the reality: Every serious cyclist in Australia knows that bike stuff is cheaper outside of the country. It’s an internet age. You punch a few numbers into your computer and your new bling part arrives in the mail the week after. For a shop to compete with that, they have to add value/service/advice etc. Most claim to, few deliever (in my eyes anyway).
This is my personal experience and of course may be very different to others.
This thread makes my makes my beer taste so much better.
I guess the same is said for most things, you get out what you put in. LBS’s put in the effort they are rewarded with loyal return customers and a good reputation and they make a living at the end of the day. Customers that support their local and are rewarded with someone that will remember your name, offer you a coffee or sling you a discount.
Hell, in an hour i’m shutting shop and riding 12km to a brewery that knows who I am and what I drink. Then ride 20km home. Everyone’s a winner!!
to be honest, i am sorry for starting an all out internet war on here, weird that
i truly beleive in supporting local anything, but when i can go to my local bike shop and buy this for $1300au,
or get a trip home to see family and freinds $500, buy the bike from there (torpedo) $600, and have a few extra hundred dollars to spend at the bar, total $1300au
i know what one i would choose??
and if you dissagree, then you must have an unhappy life and feel ripped off that you pay retail for anything, and it must suck.
but again i am sorry that so many of you copped feelings over the fact i bought something online, and in no way did i mean to undercut anyone, in the bike industry,
