Originally Posted by
grolby
Flash, your post is good for the most part, but item 1 is problematic - it's just not possible for many small shops to stock that many bikes. In boxes, maybe. Built? There is both a capital and geometry problem that bike shops must solve before undertaking this, and most of them just can't do it.
That's why I said, "well chosen" selection. It only makes sense to stock and set up the most mainstream bikes (probably not BF lustworthy) in the most mainstream sizes. Anyone wanting a special size or product is, clearly, going to have to wait. You can't stock everything. But for those bikes you KNOW you're going to move four of this week, they ought to be set up and ready to go (if possible). A big part of the product you're selling at the LBS level is immediate gratification.