Changing times not for the better.
#51
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All shops are suffering, including the big chains. Since the Covid hit the world economy and plant shutdowns, etc, parts are in short supply which translates to bikes being in short supply. Small shops, unless they have a repeat clientele repair business, may not survive. The big players like Amazon, Jensen, REI etc may be getting the lion's share of inventory, which is unfortunate for the small Mom & Pop businesses.
I always have spare tires, tubes, cables and other consumable parts so it's not adversely impacting me but I do worry for the long-term. This isn't the only industry with a serious short supply problem. Other industries have supply chain problems as well.
Of the ten or so bike shops in my area, all have very very low inventory.
I always have spare tires, tubes, cables and other consumable parts so it's not adversely impacting me but I do worry for the long-term. This isn't the only industry with a serious short supply problem. Other industries have supply chain problems as well.
Of the ten or so bike shops in my area, all have very very low inventory.
#52
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Many of us are missing the biggest cost
To those who dislike high priced bike shops, do you know of anyone who's become wealthy owning one? I suspect it's mostly the opposite. And if you're bothered by the high markup and riches to be had, maybe open one and tell us how it goes. It's not a fun business.
Secondly and most importantly, having everything, and I do mean everything, delivered to your door is killing and will devastate where you ride and breathe. Of course with COVID and food deliveries this recent trend is understandable, but the meth-like addiction of "deliver to me right god-#@*# now", and for free, began before COVID and will continue afterwards.
Think of how few UPS and FedEx trucks you saw on your streets even 15-20 years ago, except for Xmas time. Hell, I can now pick these drivers out from a lineup I know their faces so well. Most streets are a parade of package deliveries all day long. Amazon seems hourly. Gas, cardboard, packaging, plastic, bubble wrap, styrofoam. All to my door now says the king, and it better be by tomorrow, or off with their heads while I click to another site. There's a dark hidden cost to this that's gonna come due someday, just sayin....
Secondly and most importantly, having everything, and I do mean everything, delivered to your door is killing and will devastate where you ride and breathe. Of course with COVID and food deliveries this recent trend is understandable, but the meth-like addiction of "deliver to me right god-#@*# now", and for free, began before COVID and will continue afterwards.
Think of how few UPS and FedEx trucks you saw on your streets even 15-20 years ago, except for Xmas time. Hell, I can now pick these drivers out from a lineup I know their faces so well. Most streets are a parade of package deliveries all day long. Amazon seems hourly. Gas, cardboard, packaging, plastic, bubble wrap, styrofoam. All to my door now says the king, and it better be by tomorrow, or off with their heads while I click to another site. There's a dark hidden cost to this that's gonna come due someday, just sayin....
Last edited by uprightbent; 04-19-21 at 05:32 PM.
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#53
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Think of how few UPS and FedEx trucks you saw on your streets even 15-20 years ago, except for Xmas time. Hell, I can now pick these drivers out from a lineup I know their faces so well. Most streets are a parade of package deliveries all day long. Amazon seems hourly. Gas, cardboard, packaging, plastic, bubble wrap, styrofoam. All to my door now says the king, and it better be by tomorrow, or off with their heads while I click to another site. There's a dark hidden cost to this that's gonna come due someday, just sayin....
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#54
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It really is awful on the environment, and I have to admit that I use similar services far too frequently. I should really live up to my beliefs and stop the cycle (no pun intended)...
#56
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Lbs support
I try to manage my purchases and support the LBS that’s been around for decades, where I can, I buy on line, but i also over pay for some big ticket items from them because the community needs them... if none of us support the LBS then it will be gone. Yes I can figure out most things myself, but for example, for my first set of tubulars I needed their expertise, so I bought the tires from them and I am having them install them, if I do it and screw one up I’m out 75-100$... I think having a solid LBS is worth something, that being said if they couldn’t do the hard things for me I would feel differently.
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Not to where I live. I just looked at ordering a small item and they were quoting me May 11 for regular prime shipping. That's the way it's been since last spring. Used to be within a week. Good excuse for me to look elsewhere and not contribute to Amazon's business practices or it's founder when there's other reasonably convenient and inexpensive options.
Last edited by Camilo; 04-23-21 at 03:16 PM.
#58
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I bought a touring bike back in February of 2020, just a month before the C19 thing hit and bicycles went screaming out the door. That shop that I bought the bike from in another town from where I live had to close it's doors about 6 months after I got my bike from them after about 40 years of doing business. They couldn't get any bikes or parts.
The biggest store in our city the owner had the business for 35 years couldn't get bikes or parts either, Trek bought them out this month! Not sure if Trek can supply the store with bikes, but Specialized could not.
Another small mom and pop store in my city is somehow staying alive, with no bikes to sell, they're doing a lot of service work. I really like this shop too, so I've been trying to buy as much as I can from them.
The other small bike shop in town sells kayaks and other outdoor clothing for hiking etc, so that has been the bulk of their business.
I learned from a bike shop years ago in Bakersfield California that a bike shop should never rely on just making a living on bicycles alone, you should have at least two other lines of products, and that store carries anything related to all sorts of sports! The owner is very successful businessman and very intelligent, and a very capable rider, he even captain a 4 person team in the RAAM race and not only did they win the race they still hold the 4 team record after about 20 years.
The biggest store in our city the owner had the business for 35 years couldn't get bikes or parts either, Trek bought them out this month! Not sure if Trek can supply the store with bikes, but Specialized could not.
Another small mom and pop store in my city is somehow staying alive, with no bikes to sell, they're doing a lot of service work. I really like this shop too, so I've been trying to buy as much as I can from them.
The other small bike shop in town sells kayaks and other outdoor clothing for hiking etc, so that has been the bulk of their business.
I learned from a bike shop years ago in Bakersfield California that a bike shop should never rely on just making a living on bicycles alone, you should have at least two other lines of products, and that store carries anything related to all sorts of sports! The owner is very successful businessman and very intelligent, and a very capable rider, he even captain a 4 person team in the RAAM race and not only did they win the race they still hold the 4 team record after about 20 years.
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I think that's what's known as a "sporting goods store."
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#60
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Yes, but he started out as a bike store, see this:
https://www.teamactionsports.com/
https://www.teamactionsports.com/
#61
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One thing I've noticed in Southern California: pick a bike shop website, and chances are you will see e-bikes front and center on the home page. In fact, looking at some of these websites, you want to ask the shop, "So, are e-bikes all you sell now, you gave up on other kinds of bikes?"
Or maybe ... the other kinds of bikes all sold out a year ago and this is what's left.
Or maybe ... the other kinds of bikes all sold out a year ago and this is what's left.
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#63
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#67
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I think that the whole bicycle retail business environment is pretty harsh right now. Here is the way that I approach my LBS: if I go into the shop and someone at the shop provides some sort of value added service to me, then I will always purchase the respective item or service at the shop even if the cost is significantly greater. In that situation I believe the shop has earned my business and it would then be a real cheap shot to them for me to walk out to my car and fire up the Amazon app and buy online. Also, if I need something right away or don't want to wait, the LBS is the way to go. What has become a more frequent experience for me is to go to the LBS for a commodity item that I think they should have in stock only to find out that they don't have it and they don't know when they will get it or they can order it. The most recent example of this is that last week I ran out of Finish Line Citrus Degreaser and none of the 3 shops closest to me had it in stock. After the 3rd shop I ordered online for less money and got it shipped to my house in a shorter period of time than if I ordered through one of the shops. I love the LBSs but if they aren't going to keep a product like chain cleaner in stock, it is difficult for me to have a lot of sympathy for them.
#69
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The last bike shop that closed here had a great mechanic with decades of experience and on more than one occasion he figured out issues that I could not and I have been working on my own bikes since 1983. That cannot be replaced. I will adapt because what I do every day would kill most people if they tried it once. I have been riding since February in NH starting on a fat tire bike. I am already up to 60-mile rides on my Cannondale Super Six even though I have to dress warm with jackets and over-boots at times. I am 74 and my doctor says he would guess I am fifty. Because of the health crisis I do a lot of loops instead of crossing state lines now.
I have noticed that a lot of people are going electric and riding off road and think that is fine. Anything that gets people on bikes is a good thing. I prefer the road and actually the road may be safer. I only see one other guy riding the road now here and he is nearly as old as I am. I know when the weather gets warmer I will see more bikes but I miss the days when I raced on a team and we had a bike club where fifty bikes would show up on Wednesday nights and we would split into three groups.
I am glad I chose cycling after I stopped running in the 80's. I took the road less traveled and it has made all the difference. I wish more people would do it but I am not optimistic.
I have noticed that a lot of people are going electric and riding off road and think that is fine. Anything that gets people on bikes is a good thing. I prefer the road and actually the road may be safer. I only see one other guy riding the road now here and he is nearly as old as I am. I know when the weather gets warmer I will see more bikes but I miss the days when I raced on a team and we had a bike club where fifty bikes would show up on Wednesday nights and we would split into three groups.
I am glad I chose cycling after I stopped running in the 80's. I took the road less traveled and it has made all the difference. I wish more people would do it but I am not optimistic.
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Amazon seems hourly. Gas, cardboard, packaging, plastic, bubble wrap, styrofoam. All to my door now says the king, and it better be by tomorrow, or off with their heads while I click to another site. There's a dark hidden cost to this that's gonna come due someday, just sayin....
What really bothers me about the loss of more and more B&M businesses is that it forces me towards Amazon or chain stores that require travel to reach. For example, center city's last Army/Navy store closed not that long ago. Used to be that I could walk there from my office during lunch and buy something like CampSuds and/or MSR White Gas for my bike tours. Now I have to try to find the former at a big-box store or order it on line. The latter now requires a car trip to REI. (I could ride there, but the last mile or so is a virtual death trap, even on weekend days.)
#73
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Changing times FOR the better: Was doing a ride last week whenI slowly overtook a fellow about the same age on a nice bike. We rode together for about 6 miles after that and chatted. We were talking about winter training and how he didn’t like riding a trainer indoors and that his Wahoo broke and he got a new replacement still sitting in the box. He asked, Do you want it since I am not going to use it? I asked How much? He said it was $1200 new and would take $600 for the replacement! We exchanged contact info and now it is mine. We also agreed to do some rides together since we are both vaccinated and we like doing the same distances. Lucky day.
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#74
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I to welcome our new franchise overlords and praise be to you and Ronald for making that happen.