The "I hate Specialized" Bandwagon...... what's the deal?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

It is disturbing because in actual fact what they are doing is taking away a good percentage of a mans livelihood and redirecting it to the new kids on the block #revolution cycles and the likes.  

They Specialized are no better than the mafia in the way they operate.

The man was Loyal, he cleared a crap load of their old stock which he is still sitting with and on top that he used to sell spez bikes like hot cakes, I witnessed this several times while visiting his store. 

If the reason is for not converting his store quick enough then that is a BS reason of note.

Ja, that is indeed surprising. 

 

Bridge (as much as I didn't like the store itself - far too cramped for my liking) sold a huuuuge amount of stock. Scott, Giant, Spez as well, but most notably Scott & Spez from what I saw. 

 

They needed bigger premises, but their location is brilliant. And their stock levels on spares (if you can find anything) rival Olympics, IMO. Which are large. 

 

This is indeed sad - and a good reason to make them a port of call in the future. 

[Johny Bravo]

These concept stores are all going to fail, and sit with huge debt. 

[YUMEYA]

Ja, listen, Bridge cycles sold Spez bikes like hotcakes. They had the best deals in town. Service was a bit slow, and the store was waaaay too small and cramped.  Once bought a Spez from them for 4k cheaper than anyone else, went for a ride and my rear derailer fell off. Wasnt screwed onto the frame. Did not even bother me. I am a huge fan of Spez Bicycles. They suit me, but the company can f0k off. They have no ethics. 

 

Like I told Go Lefty today. My next bike is a Canyon. 

JB, I know you a SPEZ fan boy of note. Samet here bru.. It will be hard 

[carbon29er]

The other thing that's wrong and bizarre about this is a bike brand dictating to a bike shop owner about converting his shop and giving ultimatums (if that's true). Next thing they want to tell him how to run his shop. #Just saying

Every brand has the right to choose how they want to sell their products - who, where and how.

 

What Specialized are doing is franchising their stores in exactly the same way the motor industry does or KFC does.

 

The brand has the right to insist on their retailers/franchisees doing things the way they want them done.  What the retailers have been slow in learning, and the examples of Bridge above reflect this, is that the brands are getting serious about how their products are represented to the customer and will not accept a multi franchise store.  Bridge could have built a store but chose to delay and delay for 3 years. Olympic weighed up their options and pulled the plug, said no thank you.

 

I really don't think Specialized SA are any different to, say, Mercedes Benz SA or Volkswagen SA or Steers who all went through similar processes years ago to strengthen their brand and give the customer a more consistent offering, no matter what store they were dealing with. Every Steers has the same look and feel, every Ford dealership looks like a Ford dealership.  Bike shops are all over the place.

 

The retailer can be the strongest or weakest link in a successful brand.  Analyses of franchise businesses show that all brands are more successful where there is uniform delivery of customer experience.

 

That's how a franchise system works.

[Patchelicious]

They won't all fail, but they will close some and interest will slow until the market balances again, standard "hype cycle" stuff.

[YUMEYA]

Ja, that is indeed surprising. 

 

Bridge (as much as I didn't like the store itself - far too cramped for my liking) sold a huuuuge amount of stock. Scott, Giant, Spez as well, but most notably Scott & Spez from what I saw. 

 

They needed bigger premises, but their location is brilliant. And their stock levels on spares (if you can find anything) rival Olympics, IMO. Which are large. 

 

This is indeed sad - and a good reason to make them a port of call in the future. 

 

True about spares, they keep stock. many stores will not even have a BB in stock. If a man is pushing so many bikes out of a small "crappy" store then he must be doing something right.

[Johny Bravo]

JB, I know you a SPEZ fan boy of note. Samet here bru.. It will be hard 

I mean, I like the bikes. The politics are stoopid. I prefer a spaz over a Scott or Giant or Santa etc, based on look and feel. But the politics are getting me down. Time to move on. 

[urbanroyal]

Think I'll go with Bianchi as my next bike...maybe they have a bit more class and heritage. .being around for over a 100 years ...or are they also run by the mafia. ....????????????

[carbon29er]

These concept stores are all going to fail, and sit with huge debt. 

You really do post some rubbish. Please explain your thought process in arriving at this conclusion.

[SiriS]

Utter BS.

 

Commitment to build a new store was made and that is in progress. As usual the Spec disciples all flock to the defence of the indefensible.

I get that you're anti-establishment, super cool and know it all...

 

...but I did say that it was "what I heard" - and that from someone actually involved. So why don't you drop the attitude and move on from the rabid Spez fanboy accusations every time a post doesn't suit your opinion/POV/agenda.

 

BTW where is this new store of Cyclefunatic you refer to?

[YUMEYA]

Every brand has the right to choose how they want to sell their products - who, where and how.

 

What Specialized are doing is franchising their stores in exactly the same way the motor industry does or KFC does.

 

The brand has the right to insist on their retailers/franchisees doing things the way they want them done.  What the retailers have been slow in learning, and the examples of Bridge above reflect this, is that the brands are getting serious about how their products are represented to the customer and will not accept a multi franchise store.  Bridge could have built a store but chose to delay and delay for 3 years. Olympic weighed up their options and pulled the plug, said no thank you.

 

I really don't think Specialized SA are any different to, say, Mercedes Benz SA or Volkswagen SA or Steers who all went through similar processes years ago to strengthen their brand and give the customer a more consistent offering, no matter what store they were dealing with. Every Steers has the same look and feel, every Ford dealership looks like a Ford dealership.  Bike shops are all over the place.

 

The retailer can be the strongest or weakest link in a successful brand.  Analyses of franchise businesses show that all brands are more successful where there is uniform delivery of customer experience.

 

That's how a franchise system works.

no offence but I think you need to go back and read a few of the previous post. You may find many of the points you made have been touched on. 

Especially read the Golefty post where Spez tells Bridge all is ok and then pulls the mat from under their feet.

[GoLefty!!]

Every brand has the right to choose how they want to sell their products - who, where and how.

 

What Specialized are doing is franchising their stores in exactly the same way the motor industry does or KFC does.

 

The brand has the right to insist on their retailers/franchisees doing things the way they want them done.  What the retailers have been slow in learning, and the examples of Bridge above reflect this, is that the brands are getting serious about how their products are represented to the customer and will not accept a multi franchise store.  Bridge could have built a store but chose to delay and delay for 3 years. Olympic weighed up their options and pulled the plug, said no thank you.

 

I really don't think Specialized SA are any different to, say, Mercedes Benz SA or Volkswagen SA or Steers who all went through similar processes years ago to strengthen their brand and give the customer a more consistent offering, no matter what store they were dealing with. Every Steers has the same look and feel, every Ford dealership looks like a Ford dealership.  Bike shops are all over the place.

 

The retailer can be the strongest or weakest link in a successful brand.  Analyses of franchise businesses show that all brands are more successful where there is uniform delivery of customer experience.

 

That's how a franchise system works.

 

 

 

and all those auto brands have been nailed for price fixing... ... just saying

[Johny Bravo]

Every brand has the right to choose how they want to sell their products - who, where and how.

 

What Specialized are doing is franchising their stores in exactly the same way the motor industry does or KFC does.

 

The brand has the right to insist on their retailers/franchisees doing things the way they want them done.  What the retailers have been slow in learning, and the examples of Bridge above reflect this, is that the brands are getting serious about how their products are represented to the customer and will not accept a multi franchise store.  Bridge could have built a store but chose to delay and delay for 3 years. Olympic weighed up their options and pulled the plug, said no thank you.

 

I really don't think Specialized SA are any different to, say, Mercedes Benz SA or Volkswagen SA or Steers who all went through similar processes years ago to strengthen their brand and give the customer a more consistent offering, no matter what store they were dealing with. Every Steers has the same look and feel, every Ford dealership looks like a Ford dealership.  Bike shops are all over the place.

 

The retailer can be the strongest or weakest link in a successful brand.  Analyses of franchise businesses show that all brands are more successful where there is uniform delivery of customer experience.

 

That's how a franchise system works.

Everything you say makes sense. Consider this, Kfc, steers, Mercedes Benz, Ford etc, have client numbers in the millions. Kfc about 50 million. Bicycles, popular as they are, wont even reach a million. Not even close. 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

 

BTW where is this new store of Cyclefunatic you refer to?

meh. Brain Fart. CycleFunatic is in Durbanville

[GoLefty!!]

I get that you're anti-establishment, super cool and know it all...

 

...but I did say that it was "what I heard" - and that from someone actually involved. So why don't you drop the attitude and move on from the rabid Spez fanboy accusations every time a post doesn't suit your opinion/POV/agenda.

 

BTW where is this new store of Cyclefunatic you refer to?

 

 

where did I mention the store down the roads name.....?

[Johny Bravo]

You really do post some rubbish. Please explain your thought process in arriving at this conclusion.

You really are a douchebag. They employ useless staff, their products are overpriced, and they think the sun shines out of their asses.