lotek 

I buy lots of vintage parts over the internet. My LBS just doesn't carry
30 year old campy components (but they do have repair parts).
Anything else I will buy at LBS. i.e. my wife and I needed new helmets,
we went up to the LBS and decided on Giro Pneumo's, they didn't have
mediums and ordered one for me, wouldn't let me pay until it was
in. When I did start to checkout the manager said "Helmets were on sale
last month, since you had to order one I'll still give you the discount" (this
was middle of month 1 week after it was ordered).
will I continue to purchase stuff there? you bet.
BTW the prices for helmets, computers, and other accessories is the
same as the big online outfits (Colorado, excel etc.) even without
the discount.
Support your LBS, they'll support you!
Marty

giantcfr1

The simple solution would be for these Local Bike Shops who claim to be suffering to start advertising and dealing on-line. Then as their business starts growing again the moaning might stop.

As mentioned before it isn't resticted to only bike shops. When I used to live in Aust., customers were always told "if you find a better price we will beat it", when looking for a new DVD player, Car, Hardware etc.

If they didn't have the internet to blame, those bike shops complaining would still have the same complaints about their brick and mortar competitors, and same complaints about lost customers. "oh they come in and test ride a bike and go straight down to shop x who always undercuts us"

For the record I have only ever purchased on-line once, and that was because I could not find a shop in my city that sold one particular item. I have yet to find an on-line shop here that is cheaper than my two local bike shops I frequent. One advertises on-line, the other produces a 100 odd page catalog of bikes and parts (with prices) for all competitors to see.

Come on people, it's time to be proactive.

harlemgirl

I knew there was a point in there somewhere

If you want to choose to spend your money toward companies that are turning the country, if not the world, into a bland cookie cutter suburban cul-de-sac, that's your choice.

I'll put the effort in to buy locally whenever I can. Have I found a great LBS in NYC yet? No, but I'll continue to give them feedback so they can improve and I'll try every one of 'em before I give my money to any catalog co.

My point is that for every dollar I spend in my local LBS, coffee shop, farmers market, etc. that money stays in my unique community.

Also, I love bikes. I know that even if I don't see eye to eye w/an LBS, I still know that they are in the biz b/c they love bikes too. And they do way more to spread the love than any big box or catalog store.

Happy pedaling

blanqui

Well, the difference between that righteous feta cheese from the local farmer's market and your LBS is this: the LBS sells Chinese goods (I'd wager that 60-80% of the LBS inventory is manufactored abroad) without the made-in-china price you've come to know and love from nashbar and performance.

djgonzo007

I enjoy supporting local independent shops when I feel their service and expertise outweighs the cost benefit of online or supermarket shoping.

For example, I drive across town once a month to fill up my 5 gallon water jugs at an independent water purification store and pay 35 cents a gallon instead of 30 cents at Albertson's. I do so because I enjoy talking to the nice Korean store owner and contributing to his business and way of life.

I go to my LBS because like the water store I go to I enjoy chewing the fat with the shop owner and feel that their expertise and service is worthy of my business. If my LBS was rude I'd have no problem finding another shop, or shopping online.

That being said I think the bicycle industry is a type of "niche" market. Your LBS definately offers better products and knowledge versus your local Walmart. I would encourage everyone to try to find a LBS because I think both parties can benefit but would never "rip" on a cyclist for not doing so especially if the service was undeserving.

TexasGuy

I support good service, great warranties and great products at a reasonable price. If i have enough bad experiences at a local shop or a big shop i won't shop there

djgonzo007

Agreed. Being new to cycling I'm starting to build a relationship with my LBS. I feel that if I go to them for my biking needs (however small) they'll recognize me as a repeat and valuable customer and treat me as such. If I have to pay a little more for that then it's okay with me.

Example, when I purchased my road bike last month my LBS honored the sale price from the prior weekend and threw in a free shop jersey. He didn't have to do either of those things but doing so secured my business.

harlemgirl

I'd say the percentage is higher and increasing every year.

If you have the knowledge to get the right parts that you need and price is the only issue for you, so be it. I'm assuming you aren't one of the people I see who go to try on shoes or ask a million questions at the LBS & then go home to order online.

Mostly, I'm just glad you ride bikes.

hiracer

I agree with the original poster. I'm in favor of individualism. And we got to do something about all these people who keep making economic decisions that I don't agree with.

Hill Climber

I would never make a major purchase, such as my bike for example, online because I want to ask questions and look someone in the eye when I'm talking to them. When I bought my bike, I did all the research on the net, then went and to the area shops.
But, for items like jerseys, shorts, socks, etc., I buy from the online big boys just because of selection and price. None of the area - I have no "local" shops, which is another reason unto itself with the closest being 30+ miles away - carry that much in terms of gear. They're great for service, but don't really stock a lot of merchandise. If they did, and the mark up wasn't outlandish, then I'd pay a little more for the relationship.
As for Wal-Mart, I heard a great anology one time: "The only people who really complain about the Wal-Martization of America are the people who can afford not to shop there."
I don't go there any more than I have to because I hate crowds, but for everyday consumables such as dog food, tooth paste, toilet paper, etc., you've got to from an economic standpoint. I'm happy to support local businesses, but before I put money in their pocket, I've got to keep it in mine.

MasterSezFaster

What I get from all the replies is that good service, customer support and a bit of a higher price is what keeps people buying at their LBS. I agree with that. There are 4 shops with in 5 min drive of my place but the shop I use now is 15min away. i will even go there for a tube or some small part I may need.

I started to go to this shop because the owner knew what he was talking about and is very laid back and helpful. When I was looking for my new Bianchi I called around and checked on line for the exact bike I wanted. When I called this shop the owner said he could get the bike for me AND with in one day. I had him order it. When I showed to pick it up I asked if he would price match but told him I would still buy it even if he does not. He said he would and even beat the price buy 150$. He then went over the bike with me and we made sure it fit properly. He might have lost 150$ on the bike but since then I have purchased a helmet, tubes, misc. accessories (some of which he did not even charge for) and my little girls first bike.

Nothing can replace a good shop if you can find one but they are becomming scarce.

Doid23

Well, I'd support YOUR LBS too, I think everyone would. I personally support my LBS because they've earned and deserve my support. I think the opposition here is to supporting an LBS just because the're an LBS.

woodcycl

I have noticed that several LBSs will NOT discount their products ... even when asked. However, I have found 2 that WILL DISCOUNT. And, many times ... their discounted prices to me match or beat online prices believe it or not.

For example, I wanted a Fizik Arione saddle. Online prices are $120 to $130 (retail $150) for the chromo. eBay had a few now and then, new in box, for $105 to $115. I was just about to grab one when i stopped in at my LBS and just happened to inquire. He had 4 or 5 in stock ... and when I asked what his best price was, he said $90 plus tax. WOAH! Really?? No problem ... you have my business. Now, let me preface this with my being a customer for 16yrs and having spent several thousands of dollars (i.e 5 bikes so far myself, tons of equipment, treadmills, exercise bikes, bringing in many new customers, etc.) ... which may help.

I also was able to buy a Cannondale Road Tandem BRAND NEW for $2000 plus tax ... I was asked to NOT mention this, so I am unable to mention the specific bike shop because of this. But, he takes care of me 90% of the time. This bike retails for $2499 ... and can be sold for as low as $2199 at some places.

Other examples: PI Microsensor shorts retail for $69 or $79 (don't remember which) ... I buy them from him for $35.00 plus tax. Pretty good.

Now, ... service .. .hhhmmm. Usually, service is very good. And, they basically do not charge me for adjustments to my bikes ... ever. The only exception is if I need a lot of adjustments ... that I specifically ask for. But, sometimes ... I have to bring my bike back 2 and 3 times before they get it right. So, the "service" is good ... but the quality can lack at times. But, that may also be the kids working in the back more than anything.

I buy ONLINE all the time ... every week and sometimes many days in a row both for personal and business. I ALWAYS know the best online price for an item BEFORE I ask for the shops lowest price. If they are within 10 to 20% of the best online price, I buy from the shop to help support him.

And, obviously as stated ... I always buy my bikes from them.

Just my .002

To the OP ... I wholeheartedly agree with your initial posting and agree with most replies since the OP.

leesub

I never thought I would see that sign off on this forum. OUTSTANDING. Someone else actually reads!!!

No Exit

shhhhhh ... most usually think I cant find the door

roadwarrior

some points...

As in any type of business or industry, there are good ones and bad ones. The problem with the bike business is that everybody thinks bikes are pretty simple and many think they are experts. Most are not. Working in a shop you see all types of problems. Many of these problems are internet related, caused by bad or no advice on the other end (how they can be less expensive as they provide little to no service) that the shop ends up fixing.

Bike shops tend to be run by bike enthusiasts, not business people (no formal business training, no accounting expertise, unable to get good lines of credit from banks, no business plan other than opening the door each day and hoping for the best). As a result, they have no idea of the capital it takes to have a decent floorplan of bikes, plus the parts, location, equipment, salaries, and benefits it takes to do it right. They soon run out of money, cannot get what they need (no credit) and go under as they cannot take care of customers.

Here's the rub...I run into a number of people who lack the knowledge to make intelligent purchases (over the internet) but want free advice. We will provide the expertise and assistance as a way to help the customer make the purchase from us. But people like to come in and ask a bunch of questions, and use that info to help themselves. They cannot get that help from the net guys, typically.
If you use info from the LBS because you lack knowledge, then take that and go out on your own on the net...that's stealing. You want to go net, go net. Make a bunch of expensive mistakes and learn the hard way.
If you know what you are doing, more power to you.
FWIW...there are more and more suppliers requiring that product not be sold under cost (believe it or not, net companies DO sell stuff under cost) and LBS's do monitor that and will call the net guys on it if it happens.

I spent 22 years as a corporate executive, own and run a consulting company, and travel and speak and write on things like customer service and marketing....I do the bike shop thing as a diversion (raced Pro I II) when I am in town (typically specializing in the higher end road bikes and that type of customer)...but I take a bit of a different perspective as a business owner, myself, and also the experience of having had hundreds of millions of revenue dollars under my responsibility. The bike business, overall, is not well run and the employees are way underpaid for the work they do..but the margins are so low on products, that I can't figure out how some of them even stay in business. The guy that owns the shop where I am has it figured out. And they sell about four million in bikes a year with an extensive floorplan that allows us to correctly fit and sell the right size bike..if we don't have it we order it...but with that level of traffic flow (I've sold as many as ten bikes in a day) SOMEBODY will buy the bike.

But....if you go to your LBS for help, either pay them for the advice they give you if you make the purchase elsewhere, or do the research yourself and pay the price if you screw up. Don't ask for their help and then not give them the business.

Some people even come to the internet to get advice, anonymously, and use it...

roadwarrior

Yep...and you didn't pay the ridiculous shipping charges these internet guys charge customers...

catatonic

Well. the only thing I see that bugs me about bike shops is selection.

Many places I've been to won't even special order anything if you offer to pay the price in full lin advance. The reason the offer even has to be made is inadequate seleection. I've seen this especially at places that sell Specialized....If I go into a shop and realize they are a big dealer of their stuff, I just leave anymore, as for some reason none of them have any selection outsside of their catalog (and I'm not a die-hard racer type, I like going fast, but I need practicality here too).

Problem is too many bike shops either fall linto "low-end" or "high end" stuff, and nobody for those in-between. Touring nuts....good luck finiding anything. Internal hubs....special order. Moustache bars...again special order.

I think THAT is what's killing the LBS...not necessarily prices, it's the fact that if you have to special order it and wait every time, what's the difference? At that point might as well lbuy online and possibly get two for the same if not slightlyt higher price as special ordering one, so you have a spare.

No Exit

Thats like saying if you go to a car lot to test drive a car that you're thinking about buying and you dont buy it, THAT would be stealing as well. It's called SHOPPING. Maybe this is a point that men dont get since they like to get in get the product and get out. The guys at the LBS are TRYING to make a sale... just cuz you walked in and asked them something doesnt mean that they've already made that sale. Also, they're sales people... lots of times, you need to take what they say with a grain of salt. Just as a Dodge dealer will tout the benifits of a HEMI engine while a Toyota will try to talk you into their reliability and value, the bike shop will talk up the brand they are selling many times.

Not one shop (that I've seen, cuz I havent seen them all) has a sign on the door that says if you dont buy from them, they'll charge you for any time it took to help you. Thats just not the way things are done. No sales person can reasonably expect to make every sale just becuase they spent time on it.

roadwarrior

Nope...if your intent is not to buy from them and to only get the knowledge (like going into a store to try on shoes to find out which size you need so you can run home and netpurchase them to avoid having to ship back and forth) then that's not the same...you are not comparison shopping, only seeking the info you do not posess. If you went BACK TO THE STORE and offered them the chance to match...but most do not.
BTW, I said that to illustrate a point.
Thank you for proving it.

sirshane13

Man, you rip on a lot of people. Doesn't that get tiring?

As to the initial post, issues such as porn in your LVS and coffee in your LCS just don't come up that often in bike forums, strangely enough.

Just ride your bike. Spend the money you earn on whatever the heck you'd like.

No Exit

Proving what? You dont go to a shop for a paid seminar on bikes... it's a shop. They are trying to sell you stuff. Some people also have the opinion that its unrealistic and unfair to ask for a price match. Fact is, nobody is bound to any agreement of buying a bike just by walking in.

Along the same lines, if someone knew tons about bikes and they walked in and spent an hour discussing a certain line of bikes with an employee while another with no knowledge spends the same amount of time would that be different? So the person with no knowledge is somehow more obligated to give the shop his money? Thats ridiculous.

If the price was even close, most people realize the benifits of buying at the store. They dont go home to save 50 cents on a $100 purchase. A lot of times they're much higher and dont do any kind of price matching, using their overhead as an excuse. Well thats fine but people have every right to chose not to pay for their overhead. Are they going to ban you from walking in? No.

duhhuh

Hmmm, wanted to buy a bike at the LBS for the service. Wanted to get a good fit and adjustments and tuneups. Walked in yesterday and stood in front of the road bikes for about 30 minutes. Finally went up to the only kid around and asked for some help and he says just a minute as he puts down a magazine. I started to ask him about a Trek 1200 and he launches into some memorized spiel. Finally I interrupted him and asked to look at it. He hesitantly took it off the rack and held on to it while I looked. After about one minute he put it back. I guess I would be allowed to touch it after I bought it. I started to ask him about sizing and fit and he told me what size I needed and that it would require adjusting on the trainer. I was encouraged by this except he told me the trainer was in use and would be for another hour. I listened to this guy for about 15 minutes more and finally left. Went back today and had about the same experience, while three guys, including the owner, are assembling bikes in the shop area, I wait about thirty minutes again. Finally, some guy who jumps up to serve a guy who just walked in the door, points at the same kid and sends him my way. He asks me if he can help me and I tell him no. He says I'll get the owner. Finally, I think to myself. Fifteen minutes later no show and I walked out again. Tell me again how wonderfull the LBS will be to do business with. I had about $1250 burning a hole in my pocket. I guess I'll order the R-660 triple from Supergo. Ultegra instead of tiagra and sora and I'll probably have it in my hands sooner.

No Exit

Glad you didnt support people who obviously dont care. Someone said somewhere that their money is made in service and accessories... maybe that's why they didnt care if you got on a bike or not.

duhhuh

I am an engineer at a mill and as such must purchase a lot of sometimes expensive equipment. We have a golden rule there, 'Never take any $#!+ off anyone you are handing money to."