No criticism meant, just that I've noticed more than once lately, that dealers that used to carry Trek, now seem to only carry Trek. Not an isolated case, mind you. I wonder if they're being a little anti-competitive with their dealer network? Your example of being like car dealerships is not particularly accurate. The shop I went to today has carried Specialized for many years. No more. Only Trek. Just wondering if this trend is precipitated by Trek, or if a few unaffiliated shops have all recently decided to drop everything they sell aside from Trek and Trek brands like Fisher and Bontrager.

Exactly.

My point is that it's the bike shop's decision, not Trek's decision, that the shop sells what it sells. Trek sweetens the deal and requires certain things of the dealer; in exchange, the shop gets some things from Trek. There is nothing anti-competitive to that. What possibly happened was that the shop had deals with both Trek and, say, Specialized, and both decided to, say, up their dealer requirements for floor space. Well, the shop is only so big. So, the owner looks at his books, figures out which brand is selling the best, and makes a decision.

So, both; Trek is probably putting pressure on upping the dealer requirements to sell Treks (and they can do this because Treks are selling well nowadays), and the independent shops are making independent decisions to keep trek and drop other brands.

We are fortunate, in the greater Portland area, that there are several shops that sell several different brands of bikes.

Fail. Reread. Try again.

You do it.

I have to make dinner.

You don't even know what fail is.

Enough with the Trek talk. We have the makings of a BF pissing contest underway. Who will be the next BF MMA bada55:

Ratliff vs. The Banana tugger

I'm not white.

Find another picture that include an Injun.

Have fun. Don't forget to pay to one.

And to think this got started without a mention of BikesDirect!!!!

It's not a joke if it isn't funny.

No context isn't helping either.

Can't help it if it's over your head!

How many people in this thread work in the industry?

I'm scared to ask as there are so many racists on board that will quickly jump in with their chip on their shoulders...but what's an 'Injun'? Where I come from that would be an American Indian of which there are many to choose from - Navajo being the largest tribe.

::We must be careful here...treading on thin ice::

You can keep sitting in front of your computer laughing quietly to yourself.

I have pasta to eat.

I'm Ojibwa.

I could care less about what anyone calls us, or says about us.

Have at it.

Indian?

I'd pay to one eat pasta!

From a shop owner's standpoint, it makes sense to buy more from fewer vendors in order to reduce shipping costs. Trek is very easy to deal with, and unlike in the old days when I spent all day on the phone trying to find cool bike parts, now I can do everything including pay the bills at my convenience.

Since enthusiasts shop mainly online, and the people who really support shops these days want top notch warranty service and good solid products, buying mainstream products like what Trek and others like them sell is a no-brainer.

It comes down to the fact that when you are in a business where the shop owner gets to keep about $.03 on the dollar, you look for ways to save a buck or two...

OK, so you actually own a shop? Back when I worked at a shop, I was told more or less the same point that Psimet2001 made - Trek is a little heavy handed in "convincing" dealers to go exclusively Trek (ever since they started doing more Trek concept stores). I also remember reading (in BRAIN I think) that Trek was shrinking the margins on their stuff, which caused grumbles from dealers as well. Can you give any insight to this?

I do agree that there is a certain "sameness" in many Trek dealers these days. Before I moved to Madison (talk about Trek stuff everywhere...), I lived in the Twin Cities and occasionally went to Boku Bikes, which is considered to be the prototype for the Trek concept store. I work right by one of the concept stores in Madison, and there certainly are similarities.

My wife is totally of the opinion that Trek is the evil empire and that people are sheep who buy a Trek just because of the association with Lance Armstrong. I am certainly more reserved than that, and I have no problem with people who decide to go Trek, but I do believe that in any industry, the larger players try to throw their weight around to give themselves an advantage over smaller ones.

YES YES YES !! confirmed!1 I am NOT a DFH, but a red blooded ever loving lovin america American!!!
and yesz - it did make a differnce that my new Z4 was (more or less) made in America.
PARLEES SCREAM!

so excited I typo'd all over the place there......sorry

Lots of Ojibs in upstate new York...the ones I know I mostly call....friend.

I'm from Northern Ontario, but hi2u.

I have relatives in and around Watertown / Syracuse....don't get out nearly enough to visit. IF we're on bikes, then we're psart of the same brotherhood (even fat guys on Cervelos) , regardless of what happens here on BF.

The Trek Super Store was once a Trek owned concept store in San Diego. They have since sold it to another owner. It sells only Treks of course, but it sells a lot of them and the shop does a great job of taking care of its customers. I especially like the concept of their century training program with three speed groups they run every weekend. I haven't been on a ride, but I love the concept.


ettsn, how do you know the bike shops didn't start carrying Trek b/c Trek is what they can sell? They are just as good as any other bike manufacturer with competitive prices and the bike shop customer recognizes the brand from all of the TDF hype. I suspect every bike shop makes its decisions based on its own circumstances, but main stream bike shops might be selling Treks b/c that's what the public wants to buy.

My favorite local bike shop sells Specialized and Hura, but they are only my favorite b/c the shop I bought my bike from is pretty far away from my house.