LBS quote doesn't add up: what am I missing?
10-04-16, 01:51 PM
#51
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Originally Posted by kevindsingleton
I guess it's similar to the Walmart dilemma: Do we want lower prices, or do we want to save small, local businesses?
The real lesson from all this is a universal truth about humanity. Everyone wants to have A, B and C, and is perfectly willing tell you that you should support it with your money. Meanwhile, NONE of them are willing to support it with their own money.
This is just as true in politics as it in local business vs brick and mortar vs big box vs internet.
10-04-16, 01:55 PM
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Originally Posted by nycphotography
The real lesson from all this is a universal truth about humanity. Everyone wants to have A, B and C, and is perfectly willing tell you that you should support it with your money. Meanwhile, NONE of them are willing to support it with their own money.
This is just as true in politics as it in local business vs brick and mortar vs big box vs internet.
This is just as true in politics as it in local business vs brick and mortar vs big box vs internet.
It's about value. If the LBS is adding value (i.e. product education, services) then many folks will pay for that upcharge.
If the LBS is adding absolutely no value, then folks will shop for the lowest price that's available in the market.
10-04-16, 02:01 PM
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Originally Posted by linberl
Without knowing the reasoning for the pricing, you should not assume it is "racketeering". Maybe the lbs pays their employees a living wage with benefits and a retirement fund (mine does!). This cost is passed along in the purchase prices.
However, working for the man, I don't get to pass my personal costs along to customers, so I have to do it the old fashioned way, by aggressively managing expenses.
10-04-16, 02:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Pauley L
It's not quite that simplistic.
It's about value. If the LBS is adding value (i.e. product education, services) then many folks will pay for that upcharge.
If the LBS is adding absolutely no value, then folks will shop for the lowest price that's available in the market.
It's about value. If the LBS is adding value (i.e. product education, services) then many folks will pay for that upcharge.
If the LBS is adding absolutely no value, then folks will shop for the lowest price that's available in the market.
QFT. You can find me saying the same elsewhere.
Originally Posted by nycphotography
A high end shop is really selling convenience. For customers who have time constrained and money available, the high end retailer can sell time (+ "the retail experience") for money.
But the reality is that not every low end retailer can command the high end margins. High end margins generally have to be earned through a high end experience.
But the reality is that not every low end retailer can command the high end margins. High end margins generally have to be earned through a high end experience.
10-04-16, 02:13 PM
#55
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I can buy an ultegra 6800 crankset cheaper on amazon than I can through the bike shop I work at. It's only by a few dollars, but still.
10-04-16, 03:47 PM
#56
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MSRP already has a healthy mark-up included. IMHO while I can understand not being able to beat some guy selling stuff out his garage over the internet, there's no excuse for charging over MSRP.
10-04-16, 04:19 PM
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Well, the problem is your employer, not that my lbs owner is a good guy. His business is thriving btw because the community appreciates him and the employees he has retained for many years. There are guys there that are building and fixing bikes for the 2 or 3d generation of families =).
Originally Posted by nycphotography
I'd like enjoy a living wage with benefits and a retirement fund too.
However, working for the man, I don't get to pass my personal costs along to customers, so I have to do it the old fashioned way, by aggressively managing expenses.
However, working for the man, I don't get to pass my personal costs along to customers, so I have to do it the old fashioned way, by aggressively managing expenses.
10-04-16, 05:16 PM
#58
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Sounds like you've found then"worst bike shop in town". There's one like that near me; only neophytes and those with money burning a hole through their pockets go there....
10-04-16, 06:37 PM
#59
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My LBS charges $16, though there are some in the neighborhood that charge $40.
that's LBS as in Local Barber Shop
that's LBS as in Local Barber Shop
10-05-16, 01:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Pauley L
It's about value. If the LBS is adding value (i.e. product education, services) then many folks will pay for that upcharge.
If the LBS is adding absolutely no value, then folks will shop for the lowest price that's available in the market.
If the LBS is adding absolutely no value, then folks will shop for the lowest price that's available in the market.
I spent $400 on a set of hand built wheels from my LBS, could've gotten the hubs, spokes and rims cheaper on the internet and had the LBS build them with zero warranty, but chose to have them done with lifetime truing. Then decided to buy tires too, but the LBS wanted twice as much as I could find them for on the internet, so I chose to buy them through the web and saved a bit over $50.
10-05-16, 02:11 PM
#61
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I haven't read the whole thread, but on the issue of installation....
It's really simple folks: Just ask the shop what they charge to install part X that you already have. No need to go beyond that. The shops I deal with all have a schedule of hourly rate for shop work and some actually have a menu for parts installation. They don't care where the parts come from, they want to make money any way they can and potentially win you as a future customer.
Any shop that doesn't try to make a business in whatever way they can in the day of online shopping is stupid and deserves to go out of business.
It's really simple folks: Just ask the shop what they charge to install part X that you already have. No need to go beyond that. The shops I deal with all have a schedule of hourly rate for shop work and some actually have a menu for parts installation. They don't care where the parts come from, they want to make money any way they can and potentially win you as a future customer.
Any shop that doesn't try to make a business in whatever way they can in the day of online shopping is stupid and deserves to go out of business.
10-10-16, 07:32 AM
#62
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Originally Posted by nycphotography
First off... the best way to make this work smoothly is to simply have a reasonable reason why you already have the parts, one that conveniently excludes the purchase and inserts some other context instead.
"So I have a crank and cassette that I was going to use on my (insert alternate bike here) but ended up never following through. How much would you charge to just put them on my (bike at hand) for me instead?"
"My buddy owed me some money he never seems to have, but he always sees to have bike parts go figure haha... so anyhow, I got this crank and cassette.... bla bla bla"
See? All the panty-twisting, shaming, guilting, and awkwardness just went away... so a simple business transaction can be discussed simply... without all the unwanted BEE ESS.
Really where you got the parts isn't their business, so why even put that into play?
"So I have a crank and cassette that I was going to use on my (insert alternate bike here) but ended up never following through. How much would you charge to just put them on my (bike at hand) for me instead?"
"My buddy owed me some money he never seems to have, but he always sees to have bike parts go figure haha... so anyhow, I got this crank and cassette.... bla bla bla"
See? All the panty-twisting, shaming, guilting, and awkwardness just went away... so a simple business transaction can be discussed simply... without all the unwanted BEE ESS.
Really where you got the parts isn't their business, so why even put that into play?
(why should we have to ?)
I call B.S.
