TheLizard

What a bigot.

You think I'm an outlier because I'm not 6 feet tall?
WTH?

phrantic09

So “not making a bike that fits me” is now, my size isn’t in stock...

Also, forgive me for thinking that in a road bike forum we’d be discussing Canyon road bikes. And, you’d be a small with the Pathlite based on the “What’s my size” tool.

TheLizard

Right - and the small is not available.

ZHVelo

Bit long, have to read it some other time, but quickly scanning it - "The average margin on bike sales across allprice points was 36%"

That just pisses me off more, the product cost is 56% higher because some middle man takes a cut? Explains a lot.

Other than that, the other quick observation is just that this business model seems vastly inefficient and in dire need of an overhaul. So instead of whining about it, they should embrace the change and improve the industry.

ZHVelo

No, I think you are an outlier because that is how you described it, that you are 5ft 7 and 31 inch inseam or whatever you said, and then you said they don't do bikes for that size. Since they don't want to lose customers, that means you must be an outlier and they don't cater to you. The same way when you go to South America and have large feet, you will struggle finding shoes because there is so little demand for it, many don't bother making large shoes. Should I cry about it or appreciate that compared to the local population I am indeed an outlier and accept it. Or maybe I should call them idiots because they did not cater to me personally and after all I am oh so important. Talk about irony of you calling someone else a bigot...

Also, why don't you try the women's bikes? They have a different geometry that might suit your needs better.

BillyD

You guys need to calm down, first of all.

Secondly, let's not put labels on people. Specifically, the term "outlier". It's offensive, derogatory and insulting, all things we should not be about on these forums.

phrantic09

Last I checked not available <> does not make a bike in my size.

ZHVelo

It is a statistical term. In what way is it "offensive, derogatory and insulting"?

By definition, every human being who has ever achieved anything is an outlier (you think Usain Bolt is not an outlier...)

BillyD

Don't lecture me pal, and don't make excuses, your usage was intentionally offensive. Let's end it right here.

BillyD

Continue this in PM, if you must.

seypat

These situations happen about once a week in the business I am in. Person walks in the door, "Can you repair this tool?"
'No, I cannot. I can tell you what's wrong with it and loan you the tools to do it yourself, but I cannot physically get parts for it. You will have to take it back to where you purchased it from. They will send it to a service center."
"But it only has this piece broken on it. It's an easy fix."
"I know that, but you can only get the part through one of their dealers."
"Why aren't you a dealer?"
"I've tried to become one. They will only set up a limited amount of dealers in one area. Here is the number for the closest one."
"I've already been there. They would not order the part. They will have to send it to a repair center or it voids the warranty. 3 week turn around time on the repair."
"I'm sorry, I wish I could help you. Good luck."

ZHVelo

Sounds like an absolutely inefficient way to do business.

And as I said, wholly irrelevant to the situation at hand.

Instead of making random anecdotes, can you outline an argument as to why Canyon would suffer if a number of bike shops stopped servicing Canyon bikes. Specifically, as to why those shops still offering it, could not fulfil the demand for servicing of Canyon bikes.

seypat

This is usually followed up with.
"Do you have a comparable product that does the same thing?'
"I do, let me show you."
"How much does it cost? Does it use the same fasteners?"
"No it does not. It crosses over to 5 or 6 different brands, but the one you use is proprietary. No crossovers. How many boxes of screws do you use a week? How many tools do you have?"
"6 tools, 3 boxes a week."
Well, with that amount of usage, it will take 2 years before the investment of switching brands/tools/fasteners will pass the breakeven point. Good luck on getting that tool repaired. I'm sorry I couldn't help you."

seypat

I'm not the fastest typist. Give me some time.

ZHVelo

Fair enough, I expect to be converted when I get back

TheLizard

So no apology for calling me an outlier, and now you're going to call me a woman?

Get out of here.

I'm right in the mainstream, there, buddy:

TheLizard

Some models (the ones I actually had an interest in, because I don't like drop bars) are not made in my size at all.

The ones that they do make in my size are not available (they say they may be available soon, and some variable date range in the future).

guadzilla

What a crock of BS that post is. I get that Canyon poses a challenge to the tradtional dealer network - but to vilify them is absurd. It reeks either of hubris on a grand scale or a deliberate attempt to confuse the customer.

I am with ZHVelo here - that article actually annoys me to the point that i wouldnt mourn if these jackasses, with their excessive sense of entitlement, go out of business. You service bikes and charge for it, dbags - you dont do customers a favor by doing so. It is YOUR business model is based around something that is becoming exceedingly harder to sustain in this changing retail environment - you can either adapt or you can stick your head in the sand and pretend it doesnt happen and suffer the consequences, as you seem to be doing.

As a customer, i am happy to pay money to bike shops that provide me good service (they need to start by earning by business, and not expecting it as a given) - not a shop that throws an attitude because i didnt choose to follow their idea of how customers should behave. Fitwerx is exactly the sort of shop i will never support (and i do prefer to support my LBS: I have a couple of LBS where I developed a good enough relationship that i can walk out with several hundred dollars of parts and pay them later).

ZHVelo

Who is the bigot now? What's wrong with women? The only way you can take that as an offence, is if you think women are inferior to men.

guadzilla

I have no dog in this fight, but he is suggesting women's bikes because they are suitable for people with short torso/long legs and not calling you a woman (and for the record, I didnt see "outlier" as an insult either - but maybe that is my engineering background). It isnt a bad suggestion, if you stop trying to see everything as an insult.

As for mainstream - no idea whether or not you are or are not. Reading your earlier post, I got the impression that you were a *statistical outlier* in terms of height/inseam. Reading this post, you arent. I am confused now, especially in light of the fact that apparently there IS a bike in the Canyon catalog that fits you. However, in the event 5'7" and 31" is on the extreme end of the bell curve here, accept that not all bike geometries will fit you and consider looking for an endurance bike fit: the shorter TT and taller headset will be a better fit for you (I have the same physique type).

seypat

I had to think about that for a while and come up with something that was constructive. So, here's my attempt.

If a bike is not working to the satisfaction of the owner then it needs to be serviced/repaired, no matter the brand. When a new bike is purchased, the owner's satisfaction must also be met. Realistically, the companies/brands are only responsible for the parts on that bike that have their names on it. However, they are selling a whole complete bike as a finished product. The consumer now is wanting same day service. For that to happen you have to have quick access to all kinds of inventory/products to service that bike. Someone has the shoulder the cost of that inventory and labor. Someone also has to take responsibility for repairing/servicing that bike. That's very important. Traditionally this has been done at the LBS with a system between the LBS and the bike companies.

Canyon comes with a different model that takes the fitting/sales part of that process away from the LBS. That's ok, if it works, it works. But what happens when you, or I, or Joe Blow is riding his/her bike and something happens. Something happens and the RD goes into the rear wheel and gets ripped off. The frame/wheel/RD is toast. Or, the owner can't get the bike to shift properly and thinks there is a problem with the drivetrain.
First of all, who is responsible for diagnosing the problem? Who pays for the time up front for the problem diagnosis? Someone has to get paid whether that is the LBS, Velofix, or the bike company themselves. Time is money. If some components need to be replaced who is responsible for the replacement costs? Is it Canyon or the component company? It's not the LBS, or Velofix, but they will be the face of that situation to the bike owner.
There has got to be a connection/partnership between the bike companies and the LBS/service centers no matter what they morph into. At least I think so, I could be wrong.

TheLizard

Try calling the next woman you see a "dude" and see how that works out for you. Is it because she thinks dudes are "inferior"?

Probably not.

seypat

After thinking about it, maybe I should start a thread titled "Bike Industry Tycoon" or "Bike Industry Sims." Then we could discuss all aspects at length, ad nauseam.

seypat

This is my situation also.

seypat

Talk about a hypocrite. I think the body control module is going out on my car. I could replace it, but the web said the new one needs to be reprogrammed by a mechanic. I'm thinking about how to get around that.