Why the LBS are dying out ...
#276
Senior Member
Bikes are no longer Campy's core business. Materials engineering is. Bike parts are a legacy they will continue for some time as long as that line does not hemorrhage too much cash.
Agree about Shimano. It has always been that way w/Shimano and is getting worse. This has zero effect on Shimano sales. I have been boycotting them since 1973. It's lonely over here.
Agree about Shimano. It has always been that way w/Shimano and is getting worse. This has zero effect on Shimano sales. I have been boycotting them since 1973. It's lonely over here.
#277
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[QUOTE=rossiny;20887517]
I cannot imagine a shop in this day and age not having the ability to bleed brakes. I cannot imagine someone excusing them for that. What other tools would we excuse them for not having? Chain tool? Cassette removal tool? Star nut seater? Bearing press?
@RossinNY----The customer is Not always right .... in fact, some customers will make unreasonable demands. Anyone who has worked in customer service knows this. Some customers cost more than they ar worth.
Also , as in this case .... the "customer" was requesting a service which obviously was not the shop's specialty ... else they would have had the tool. So ... the shop does nto need his business. it has enough cuystomers which buy What That Shop Is Selling, that it can tell a customer "That will take a week" and the customer can choose.
Seriously, think it through ...
I come into a bike shop, and I want a Shimano 8000 group set. The shop doesn't sell group sets because people can order them online for Much cheaper, retail, than the shop can get them whole sale./ Are you saying the shop should go out, Buy the group set at he higher price, then sell it at the online retail price and eat the $100+ loss, to retain the customer? But the customer is Always right, and the customer wants a price match ..... which you cannot match ...
or a brake bleed, and you cannot do it in under a few days ....
If I go to the Chevy dealer and demand a Mustang,
Also , as in this case .... the "customer" was requesting a service which obviously was not the shop's specialty ... else they would have had the tool. So ... the shop does nto need his business. it has enough cuystomers which buy What That Shop Is Selling, that it can tell a customer "That will take a week" and the customer can choose.
Seriously, think it through ...
I come into a bike shop, and I want a Shimano 8000 group set. The shop doesn't sell group sets because people can order them online for Much cheaper, retail, than the shop can get them whole sale./ Are you saying the shop should go out, Buy the group set at he higher price, then sell it at the online retail price and eat the $100+ loss, to retain the customer? But the customer is Always right, and the customer wants a price match ..... which you cannot match ...
or a brake bleed, and you cannot do it in under a few days ....
If I go to the Chevy dealer and demand a Mustang,
#278
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Called my popular LBS and as I wanted 26 x 4:00 tire liners. In a unfriendly voice he said he didn’t have any. I asked if he could get them and how much they were. He said nobody makes them and hung up. Well great, I just ordered them from Amazon.
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Not that I buy tire liners, but that's exactly the kind of stuff I would never buy at a LBS. If they do happen to have it in stock, it's going to cost way more than buying it online. I never buy tires at LBS unless it's an urgent need, like a blowout many miles from home.
#281
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In the area I moved from in SW VA (Blacksburg / Roanoke) there are MORE local bike shops today than 20 years ago.
#282
Senior Member
Ordered Specialized gloves from an LBS chain on Sunday, 4/14. Ship to store because otherwise it cost like $9 or something to ship them to my house, and no faster.
7-10 days.
Today is day 9, which I'm sure by their count is day 8 since I ordered on a Sunday morning and they probably count the first day until the calendar went from Monday --> Tuesday. Guess I won't be getting them until tomorrow, or worse, Thursday.
I live in the middle of the country. I never understand this. I live halfway between California and New York, so how come every single time I order something with an X to X+2 delivery window, the delivery date is X+2? Makes no sense how living in the middle of the country results in the absolute longest possibility of the delivery window. Assuming the gloves come from California, logic would dictate someone in California would get them in 7 days, someone in Minnesota would get them in 8 or 9 days, and someone in Maine would get them in 10 days. But no, everyone probably gets them in 10 days.
But yes, 10/11 days to get a simple pair of gloves shipped to the store for free. Should've just bought direct, paid the $9 or whatever it was, and got them shipped to my house in half the time or less. 1.5 weeks or more for something in stock isn't really customer friendly, especially because the gloves cost full retail.
7-10 days.
Today is day 9, which I'm sure by their count is day 8 since I ordered on a Sunday morning and they probably count the first day until the calendar went from Monday --> Tuesday. Guess I won't be getting them until tomorrow, or worse, Thursday.
I live in the middle of the country. I never understand this. I live halfway between California and New York, so how come every single time I order something with an X to X+2 delivery window, the delivery date is X+2? Makes no sense how living in the middle of the country results in the absolute longest possibility of the delivery window. Assuming the gloves come from California, logic would dictate someone in California would get them in 7 days, someone in Minnesota would get them in 8 or 9 days, and someone in Maine would get them in 10 days. But no, everyone probably gets them in 10 days.
But yes, 10/11 days to get a simple pair of gloves shipped to the store for free. Should've just bought direct, paid the $9 or whatever it was, and got them shipped to my house in half the time or less. 1.5 weeks or more for something in stock isn't really customer friendly, especially because the gloves cost full retail.
Last edited by puma1552; 04-23-19 at 05:06 PM.
#283
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That's because there is currently a financial wave going on in the bike shop business due to expensive bikes, parts and accessories, but that wave I "think" will end in about 10 maybe 15 years because what's making that wave is the Baby Boomer generation buying expensive stuff like crazy, once these baby boomers either retire from cycling due to age or die that wave will go away then all those bike shops, especially small ones, will go out of business.
#284
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Ordered Specialized gloves from an LBS chain on Sunday, 4/14. Ship to store because otherwise it cost like $9 or something to ship them to my house, and no faster.
7-10 days.
Today is day 9, which I'm sure by their count is day 8 since I ordered on a Sunday morning and they probably count the first day until the calendar went from Monday --> Tuesday. Guess I won't be getting them until tomorrow, or worse, Thursday.
I live in the middle of the country. I never understand this. I live halfway between California and New York, so how come every single time I order something with an X to X+2 delivery window, the delivery date is X+2? Makes no sense how living in the middle of the country results in the absolute longest possibility of the delivery window. Assuming the gloves come from California, logic would dictate someone in California would get them in 7 days, someone in Minnesota would get them in 8 or 9 days, and someone in Maine would get them in 10 days. But no, everyone probably gets them in 10 days.
But yes, 10/11 days to get a simple pair of gloves shipped to the store for free. Should've just bought direct, paid the $9 or whatever it was, and got them shipped to my house in half the time or less. 1.5 weeks or more for something in stock isn't really customer friendly, especially because the gloves cost full retail.
7-10 days.
Today is day 9, which I'm sure by their count is day 8 since I ordered on a Sunday morning and they probably count the first day until the calendar went from Monday --> Tuesday. Guess I won't be getting them until tomorrow, or worse, Thursday.
I live in the middle of the country. I never understand this. I live halfway between California and New York, so how come every single time I order something with an X to X+2 delivery window, the delivery date is X+2? Makes no sense how living in the middle of the country results in the absolute longest possibility of the delivery window. Assuming the gloves come from California, logic would dictate someone in California would get them in 7 days, someone in Minnesota would get them in 8 or 9 days, and someone in Maine would get them in 10 days. But no, everyone probably gets them in 10 days.
But yes, 10/11 days to get a simple pair of gloves shipped to the store for free. Should've just bought direct, paid the $9 or whatever it was, and got them shipped to my house in half the time or less. 1.5 weeks or more for something in stock isn't really customer friendly, especially because the gloves cost full retail.
#285
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That's because there is currently a financial wave going on in the bike shop business due to expensive bikes, parts and accessories, but that wave I "think" will end in about 10 maybe 15 years because what's making that wave is the Baby Boomer generation buying expensive stuff like crazy, once these baby boomers either retire from cycling due to age or die that wave will go away then all those bike shops, especially small ones, will go out of business.
Also, it is my inderstanding that high end bikes are actually not very profitable for most shops. They are not what keeps the doors open in most casss.
I believe the biggest driver of sales in the area I mentioned (Roanoke in particular) was the cities, towns and counties investing a lot in and promoting urban greenways and the extensive MTB opportunities (all sorts of outdoor rec, actually) The revitalization of the downtown and desire among younger people to live in town also leads to more people on bikes.
#286
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I'd imagine profit margins are a bit fatter on high-end bikes than on entry-level, but the volume would be a lot less.
As for who would be riding bikes more .... not only do we not know in general, it could well vary from region to region.
The real premise of this thread wasn't even that bike shops in general were dying out ... just that the OP couldn't figure out where to buy what her wanted. His complaint is against a four-store chin which is apparently very popular in his area---hardly "dying out."
As for who would be riding bikes more .... not only do we not know in general, it could well vary from region to region.
The real premise of this thread wasn't even that bike shops in general were dying out ... just that the OP couldn't figure out where to buy what her wanted. His complaint is against a four-store chin which is apparently very popular in his area---hardly "dying out."
#287
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That's because there is currently a financial wave going on in the bike shop business due to expensive bikes, parts and accessories, but that wave I "think" will end in about 10 maybe 15 years because what's making that wave is the Baby Boomer generation buying expensive stuff like crazy, once these baby boomers either retire from cycling due to age or die that wave will go away then all those bike shops, especially small ones, will go out of business.
#289
Senior Member
Yeah, I'd really like to know what it is about the bike equipment manufacturers/distributors that these circumstances exist. Any run o'the mill other type of company (dept stores or whatnot) that has direct sales has typically lower thresholds for free shipping, and their free shipping shows up at your doorstep usually in under a week. A pair of gloves weighs what.. a few ounces. $2.50 in an envelope first class USPS or thereabouts.
#290
Senior Member
The LBS are dying out? Thank god and good riddance. ******** useless they are, at least the ones I dealt with. Most LBS I've come across are just overpriced bike malls with little to none bike repair services. The ones that do, either take forever (like in your case) or just don't know how to do sh*t and tell you you need a new bike. Seems to me like they never really adjusted their business model to this new day and age where parts, tools, instructibles and forums like these are available online, all included in the price of your wifi!
If they can't stay afloat, let them sink. I hear people say sometimes: take your bike to your "LBS" like it's some cool meetup spot for all the local cyclists to sit about and drink pop while wait for the LBS boys to finish tuning up their bikes. I personally have no such sentiment although, if you do have a good LBS nearby with good prices, knowledgable and friendly staff, I'd encourage you to support them.
Personally tho, I much prefer to do my bike repairs myself, there's more satisfaction in that I think.
Kret
If they can't stay afloat, let them sink. I hear people say sometimes: take your bike to your "LBS" like it's some cool meetup spot for all the local cyclists to sit about and drink pop while wait for the LBS boys to finish tuning up their bikes. I personally have no such sentiment although, if you do have a good LBS nearby with good prices, knowledgable and friendly staff, I'd encourage you to support them.
Personally tho, I much prefer to do my bike repairs myself, there's more satisfaction in that I think.
Kret
1) The chain that sells Treks/Specialized's/Giants/Other real, non big-box store bikes, anywhere from $500-$10000, but that is staffed with part time people/kids like any other retail place, and really doesn't know much about bikes or how to service them. These chains are usually really squeaky clean inside, large, etc. They might sell winter sports gear other times of the year. Not the kind of shop that's going to ever see a set of Boras come through the door.
2) The one off, non chain store that's been there forever, carries boutique brands, is messy inside and thus fun to look around in, and has people that work full time and really, really know their stuff. The kind of shop that sees Boras come through the door weekly.
I buy my hybrids at store 1, my roadbikes at store 2, and I service everything at store 2, including going over the bike I may have just bought at store 1.
#292
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I think there are two grades of bike shops:
1) The chain that sells Treks/Specialized's/Giants/Other real, non big-box store bikes, anywhere from $500-$10000, but that is staffed with part time people/kids like any other retail place, and really doesn't know much about bikes or how to service them. These chains are usually really squeaky clean inside, large, etc. They might sell winter sports gear other times of the year. Not the kind of shop that's going to ever see a set of Boras come through the door.
2) The one off, non chain store that's been there forever, carries boutique brands, is messy inside and thus fun to look around in, and has people that work full time and really, really know their stuff. The kind of shop that sees Boras come through the door weekly.
I buy my hybrids at store 1, my roadbikes at store 2, and I service everything at store 2, including going over the bike I may have just bought at store 1.
1) The chain that sells Treks/Specialized's/Giants/Other real, non big-box store bikes, anywhere from $500-$10000, but that is staffed with part time people/kids like any other retail place, and really doesn't know much about bikes or how to service them. These chains are usually really squeaky clean inside, large, etc. They might sell winter sports gear other times of the year. Not the kind of shop that's going to ever see a set of Boras come through the door.
2) The one off, non chain store that's been there forever, carries boutique brands, is messy inside and thus fun to look around in, and has people that work full time and really, really know their stuff. The kind of shop that sees Boras come through the door weekly.
I buy my hybrids at store 1, my roadbikes at store 2, and I service everything at store 2, including going over the bike I may have just bought at store 1.
#295
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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bora_Bora
I am sure that clears up nothing, but it is the best I could think of.
I am sure that clears up nothing, but it is the best I could think of.
Last edited by Kapusta; 04-25-19 at 08:21 AM.
#297
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#298
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Welp today is now day 13 since I ordered a pair of gloves that were supposed to be delivered to the LBS for in store pickup within 7-10 days. Is today the day? Because if today is not, then neither is tomorrow, and then I'm looking at 15 days once Monday rolls around, and even then, who knows.
Called the LBS two days in a row and the guy who answered the second day (same guy) was obviously sort of annoyed I called again, but it's like...what's the deal here? I ordered them on the 14th, and it said 7-10 days from that day, but upon the second time calling I found out they didn't execute the order until the 16th, and they didn't ship til the 19th. So what is it, 7-10 days from the time they finally ship, 5 whole days after the order is placed? Well, the site certainly didn't say it like that. Either way, we are talking about 2 weeks now for a simple pair of 2-3 oz gloves that, as mentioned, could've been thrown in a first class envelope for $2-$3 within a day or two of ordering and been at my house by the end of the first week. Instead we are going on two weeks for free shipping to the bike shop where I still have to go to to pick them up once they are in. How can I continue to support this?
Called the LBS two days in a row and the guy who answered the second day (same guy) was obviously sort of annoyed I called again, but it's like...what's the deal here? I ordered them on the 14th, and it said 7-10 days from that day, but upon the second time calling I found out they didn't execute the order until the 16th, and they didn't ship til the 19th. So what is it, 7-10 days from the time they finally ship, 5 whole days after the order is placed? Well, the site certainly didn't say it like that. Either way, we are talking about 2 weeks now for a simple pair of 2-3 oz gloves that, as mentioned, could've been thrown in a first class envelope for $2-$3 within a day or two of ordering and been at my house by the end of the first week. Instead we are going on two weeks for free shipping to the bike shop where I still have to go to to pick them up once they are in. How can I continue to support this?
Last edited by puma1552; 04-27-19 at 09:12 AM.
#299
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Welp today is now day 13 since I ordered a pair of gloves that were supposed to be delivered to the LBS for in store pickup within 7-10 days. Is today the day? Because if today is not, then neither is tomorrow, and then I'm looking at 15 days once Monday rolls around, and even then, who knows.
Called the LBS two days in a row and the guy who answered the second day (same guy) was obviously sort of annoyed I called again, but it's like...what's the deal here? I ordered them on the 14th, and it said 7-10 days from that day, but upon the second time calling I found out they didn't execute the order until the 16th, and they didn't ship til the 19th. So what is it, 7-10 days from the time they finally ship, 5 whole days after the order is placed? Well, the site certainly didn't say it like that. Either way, we are talking about 2 weeks now for a simple pair of 2-3 oz gloves that, as mentioned, could've been thrown in a first class envelope for $2-$3 within a day or two of ordering and been at my house by the end of the first week. Instead we are going on two weeks for free shipping to the bike shop where I still have to go to to pick them up once they are in. How can I continue to support this?
Called the LBS two days in a row and the guy who answered the second day (same guy) was obviously sort of annoyed I called again, but it's like...what's the deal here? I ordered them on the 14th, and it said 7-10 days from that day, but upon the second time calling I found out they didn't execute the order until the 16th, and they didn't ship til the 19th. So what is it, 7-10 days from the time they finally ship, 5 whole days after the order is placed? Well, the site certainly didn't say it like that. Either way, we are talking about 2 weeks now for a simple pair of 2-3 oz gloves that, as mentioned, could've been thrown in a first class envelope for $2-$3 within a day or two of ordering and been at my house by the end of the first week. Instead we are going on two weeks for free shipping to the bike shop where I still have to go to to pick them up once they are in. How can I continue to support this?
#300
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Mostly, the biggest revelation I've had from this thread is that a few people haven't figured out the obvious: LBS are generally not good places to order things they don't have in stock. I use them a lot, but I literally never order stuff through them.
Obviously, they really don't make any money doing it, and really don't want to do it.
Obviously, they really don't make any money doing it, and really don't want to do it.
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