Originally Posted by
Mr. Fly
Is that conjecture on your part?
AFAIK, the reason why Rivendell discontinued the Bleriot was because some shops were so discounting it, that it was impossible for other shops to make a decent living selling it. QBP really had no control over to whom the Bleriots were sold, so in the end, everyone suffered even if selling Bleriots didn't make anyone rich as the margins weren't that high to begin with. Of course consideration for upholding a certain image may also had been taken into account, but it wasn't as simple as what you implied.
I'm just going by the statement that Grant himself issued. Certainly other factors could have lead to the decision, but what he said was exactly what I quoted him saying.
You apparently missed it the first time, so here it is again:
Originally Posted by Grant
I got tired of too many dealers de-dignifying it as a loss leader, and so
I'm just pulling the plug on the whole Bleriot program.
His entire explanation is this:
I got tired of too many dealers de-dignifying it as a loss leader, and so
I'm just pulling the plug on the whole Bleriot program. That means that
after about late June, no dealer who doesn't have them will be able to get
them. We'll then be obligated to buy up QBP's stock, which will give us
enough 'riots for a few months, maybe even through winter.
They will not go on sale; still $750.
The QBP partnership was pleasant, I have only the best things to say about
QBP, but it was about a dozen and a half dealers that sealed the Bleriot's
fate.
He then drifts off into ideas for new bikes...