FrancoisC Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 After all the rant about LBS ripping people of and online being the way to buy, I walked into Solomons in Woodmead yesterday and WITHOUT FAIL, EVERY SINGLE ITEM I was considering getting from CRC and having a friend bring to me end of March was a couple of HUNDRED rand cheaper at Solomons!!!!
AndreZA Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 But then again, Solomans are your regular bike shop. But you are right. I've priced a groupset and I could get it cheaper from some of the dealers that are using the Hub then from CRC.
Eldron Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 Gotta love the power of choice. Sometimes Solomons is cheaper, sometimes CRC is cheaper, sometimes CWC is cheaper, sometimes buying it on thehub is cheaper - I always go where the best deal is...
FrancoisC Posted March 3, 2011 Author Posted March 3, 2011 Just got sick of hearing LBS this and LBS that!!!!Moan Moan Moan!!!!Most of the MOANGATTE have no clue what stockholding, paying rent and salaries, worrying about turnover etc etc entails.JUST - "I want it cheaper".And when the conveniently located LBS around the corner closes down, becuase CRC et al are cheaper on everything and said LBS aren't trading, They MOAN again.So now they have to drive out R100 worth of petrol for a R30 tube.So I started looking around.
Thomo Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 Been seeing a lot of this lately. Seems local stores (and distributors) are finally beginning to realise just how easy it is to source something via the internet and are adjusting their prices accordingly.
Just Keep Pedaling Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 " I walked into Solomons " You had to drive there first. CRC - click, click. (And lets not talk about stock availability).
HowellingWulf Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 Went into Solomons about 2 weeks ago. They had Camelbak MULE's for R649 which is a mighty good price. I rarely go to other bike shops any more. Depending on what I'm looking for, I usually phone Solomons to get a good price, then FPC to get a market related price. Finally I hit the the websites. For small items and consumables I just go to Solomons.
Odders Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 Well the proof will be in the pudding. I'm about to place an order for R3800 worth of spare parts with CRC. Every one of the 15 items I wanted was in stock. I'll pop into Solomons today and do a little comparison and will report back tomorrow on my experience.
MTB_Roadie Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 Just got sick of hearing LBS this and LBS that!!!!Moan Moan Moan!!!!Most of the MOANGATTE have no clue what stockholding, paying rent and salaries, worrying about turnover etc etc entails.JUST - "I want it cheaper".And when the conveniently located LBS around the corner closes down, becuase CRC et al are cheaper on everything and said LBS aren't trading, They MOAN again.So now they have to drive out R100 worth of petrol for a R30 tube.So I started looking around. Not our problem, we want the best deal.....wherever its cheaper there I will buy it...why? Because I can...also saving R200-R500 on parts is another tank petrol...its called budgeting. I buy from CWC, sometimes CRC...or Cycle Centre.....I go where the deal is, its called money well spent....
FrancoisC Posted March 3, 2011 Author Posted March 3, 2011 " I walked into Solomons " You had to drive there first. CRC - click, click. (And lets not talk about stock availability).I live in Woodmead smartass, I walked there.Clic clic = fat ass.
Capricorn Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 Francois: CRC also has cost overheads. Admit it: u dont go into a shop wondering about all that overhead, and then making a sympathy purchase despite the higher price, do you? Peeps raved about CRC cos of the price and the choice. Price fixing allegations and charges against the LBS' didnt help their cause. Unfortunately, if you too slow in adjusting your business strategy, you going to fall by teh way side. It's not CRCs fault. But, some LBS' are responding nicely to CRC by giving the customer what they want: good service at a better price. I vote with my wallet.
koukie Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 (edited) So now they have to drive out R100 worth of petrol for a R30 tube.Wrong I just walk to my computer and order it online! Just yesterday a LBS pist me off again, the service is just k@k! Owner said he wil order something and it will be there the next day, got there 2 days later and still not there. I phoned the supplier and the supplier said they are waiting for payment from the said shop owner. So two days later it is still not dispatched! Edited March 3, 2011 by koukie
RudoJ Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 Went into Solomons about 2 weeks ago. They had Camelbak MULE's for R649 which is a mighty good price. I rarely go to other bike shops any more. Depending on what I'm looking for, I usually phone Solomons to get a good price, then FPC to get a market related price. Finally I hit the the websites. For small items and consumables I just go to Solomons.At last I find someone with the same strategy as me! FrancoisC, for someone talking about moangatte, you are quite a vocal chap, calm down boet, no need to get your knickers in a knot, just because you got your goodies at at good price. You have all the reason in the world to smile and not wine about it One great thing about living in a largely democratic society is the fact that each person can buy, search for goodies wherever he/she wants to.
AndreZA Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 Francois: CRC also has cost overheads. Admit it: u dont go into a shop wondering about all that overhead, and then making a sympathy purchase despite the higher price, do you? Peeps raved about CRC cos of the price and the choice. Price fixing allegations and charges against the LBS' didnt help their cause. Unfortunately, if you too slow in adjusting your business strategy, you going to fall by teh way side. It's not CRCs fault. But, some LBS' are responding nicely to CRC by giving the customer what they want: good service at a better price. I vote with my wallet. And opeing up in richman's neighbourhoods does not help either. I would like to see how long the Spez shop in Melrose Arch is gonna last.
pastapouch Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 And opeing up in richman's neighbourhoods does not help either. I would like to see how long the Spez shop in Melrose Arch is gonna last....and those richies there are SO INTERESTED IN CYCLING!
Just Keep Pedaling Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 "And opeing up in richman's neighbourhoods does not help either. I would like to see how long the Spez shop in Melrose Arch is gonna last." Went and checked it out - there are customers and they are buying. But that does not guarantee anything, I guess.
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