Chris Willemse on imports

[Brandon Els]

Hi Hubbers. 1st thank you all for your support during 2007 and may you all have a fantastic 2008.

 

The products that Chris jnr are bringing in is not B Grade stock. It is the orriganel product and it comes from the real agents in Europe and the EU.

 

That is why we give the same gaurantee as lined out by the manufactores. Who ever had a problem with stock that were bought from us got serviced immediatly or replaced with a new part.

 

The Cartell. Yes that has all been said to us by an wholesaler that a cartell of 36 dealers in the country is busy forcing the wholesalers not to supply us with any products . Lucky for us is that some of that dealers is buying stock from CW jnr and keep us informing what is happening.

 

2 dealers have already given us written confermation on certain meetings that took place between certain dealers and wholesalers.

 

2008 is going to be very intresting. I can assure my supporters that you will see a few wholesalers and dealers in court summond by the COMPETITION BOARD  and ourselves. 

 

Let 1 more wholesaler close our account due to the importing that CW jnr does and you will see even better prices coming your way and the compitition board will be making some good money.

 

Please dont be afraid to contact us with any  questions or information of products. We will source it for you and promise to bring it in at a very good price.

 

2008 is going to be the year for the cyclist. We are going to try to help you getting better equipment at much better prices that most of the dealers can offer you.

 

Once again thank you and remember the more you support us the more we can buy and the mre we coan give you all better prices.

 

Now let me finish and go back to Hermanus for another few days holiday. 

 

Chris, can you please ask your dad to pay our account? Its in 60 and 90 days again!

[Icycling]

Bank - Pro bike INC. Ther 5th largest bank in SA after the big 4! Nice 1 Brandon

[madmarc]

I suspect that my wealth will increase 10 fold in manufacturing for the world market where you can control the price and not as "LBS" - beleive it or not that is where my energy now lies!

Been as "Willehond" put it been the "fruit farmer" - and only making 5% off the world market.

 

You cannot be complacent in sales. i achieved 136% of budget last year and plan for 150% this year. How you may ask? i just sent a letter of notice to all my so called lazy assed dealers country wide. I have employed 3 extra reps and will attack the end user market in the dealers areas - A completly new dimensia in our company but it is an out of the box idea changing the dynamics of using dealers in certain areas for the last 25 years. Now I don't have to sit and listen to their demands and reasons why they can't sell our product. I'd rather listen to my customers (the end user) and adapt my product and business to suite them.

 

rather invest your energy in changing the dynamics of how you do business, you will be able to retire a lot earlier - I promise

[MAESTRO's]

Chris, can you please ask your dad to pay our account? Its in 60 and 90 days again!

 

Good one Brandon......let the games begin.

[Mudsimus]

and i am sure the stock is not consignment stock?

 

Kaching!  Most of the ''expensive" R20000 +  bikes you see on shops floors are consignment. Either that or stock gets returned just before payment is due. Only 1 or two shops in the country can let those bikes sit on the floor.

[madmarc]

Steve - I on your side here - but as madmarc has indicated importor should become retailer etc. If this were to close finish Line cycles and the other shop in the area how do you think this would affect the cycling comunity in your area or even you own motivation to cycle?

 

You honestly can't believe that if 20 or 30% of LBS close, the cycling industry would colapse

 

the diy tool hire industry is currently the fasted growing business in SA with the highest return on investment. These tool hire companies are supplied by the same companies who supply the end user market in construction. I REST MY CASE!!!!!!!!!

[Icycling]

I actually believe this line would close about 75% or more or more of LBS. As we seen from just above the importors are also the BANKS for most of the LBS!

 

 

 

A lot of the shops need this back up /help to keep their doors open - with all due respect as also just above a lot of stock is "consignment" it invoice but then returned as invoice is due!

[widget]

Whoooo, now its getting dirty.

 

...........but let me just say, direct selling as someone pointed out is not revolutionary, lots of companies do it with their own outlets, lets look at Levi, Reebok,Addidas, Timberland,Diesel etc - not exactly poor companies eh?.

 

I say again, this economy and market (bicycles) is too small for a distributor based system to be economically viable, so Yes, probably direct selling or own retail outlets is the way some distributors will be forced to go just to survive.

 

Its not personal, its business, and its TOUGH.! 

 

[madmarc]

When more LBS start doing what CWC is doing (which is a big possibility) the tables will turn and then i see a lot of agents will end up closing their doors - it just depends on what side of the table you want to be standing when it happens.

[Willehond]

When it get's ugly like this you realise there is LOTS of money involved!  Very interesting. 

[Icycling]

The problem is most of i.e. 75% of the LBS do not have the capital to do this and actually the impotors would servive by going direct to the public and not the LBS as mentioned above the Levi, Reebok store etc now we may have a Shimano, Champy shop etc!

 

 

 

But my qustion is still will this be good for cycling and put more bums on bikes or will it implode the sport as I suspect?

[Willehond]

Let's get back to where this argument started:  straatvark is getting VERY bad service from a local agent, which seems not to be an isolated incident.  If you guys keep good customers like him upset through terrible service, then expect us to have NO sympaty for the greedy middle man.  Keep the cinsumer happy, don't just plead poverty and expect us to support you through sympathy!!!  It's business: DELIVER!

 

EDIT: Sorry, wrong thread.  look at the Mavic complaint thread started last night to see the disgruntled/abused customer complaining about being shunted around.

Willehond2008-01-02 08:26:11

[steve]

If Finish Line Cycles didn't stock bikes and accessories I'd still go there for the ride, but for how long would there be a shop if they had nothing to sell?

 

I lost an expensive camera lens between JHB and CT. It was sent via a small, read cheap, courier for repair but it never got to Sigma ....... if anyone finds a Canon mount 70-210 f2.8 let me know. Courier co said they aint responsible for theft, damage or any loss so that's why I buy from a real shop and not somewhere they have to post the stuff.

[javadude]

I doubt if the sport will implode. Their will be enterprising individuals who will fill the gap in the market, as CWC are doing in Cape Town.

[Willehond]

If Finish Line Cycles didn't stock bikes and accessories I'd still go there for the ride' date=' but for how long would there be a shop if they had nothing to sell?

 

I lost an expensive camera lens between JHB and CT. It was sent via a small, read cheap, courier for repair but it never got to Sigma ....... if anyone finds a Canon mount 70-210 f2.8 let me know. Courier co said they aint responsible for theft, damage or any loss so that's why I buy from a real shop and not somewhere they have to post the stuff.

[/quote']

 

Buy from a real shop like CWC.  Cheap AND good service!

[Owen]

I bought handle bar tape at a LBS in Gauteng in December, I paid R152.00 for it. And the guy gave me a so called discount.

I go on holiday to KZN and my sons bike also need bar tape, I go into the LBS and the same bar tape is R120.00 without any special discount. Now I ask you guys this, the importer of this product is in Gauteng.

 

So how can a bike shop in KZN who has to pay freight to get the product be cheaper than a store in Jhb.