Action cycling CT

[raptor-22]

Xavier hasn't decided what to do yet. I'd like to see the altitude centre continue. Maybe customers should get in touch and encourage this?

I'd be pretty frikken pissed if an investor pulled the rug out from under me in the way it happened to bikeplus.

[milky4130]

Milky, they were going to run the chamber for a few weeks. But everytime I have gone past it looks closed.

That's a real shame I had good sufferfests in there & was hoping to return there sometime in the near future again. All the best Xavier & Judy.

[Headshot]

Damn, wondered why they were closed up over the hols - Bikeplus that is.

 

I am not a concept store fan at all and even less so if it means shutting out long time retailers. 

[banna]

I am not a concept store fan at all and even less so if it means shutting out long time retailers. 

Jip. Maybe I'm too sentimental about LBS's but for me the concept stores always feel to "cold" and corporate. Yes, I do understand that business is business, but you never get the feeling that they will go the extra mile for you after they've rid you of your hard earned cash. Maybe I'm wrong and its just a perception. But I still like my LBS where they know you and your bike inside out. And where they don't mind if you rock up just to talk *** about bikes.

[Capricorn]

There's still a remnant of Action Cycling available, Marcwhatshissurnameagain? he is near the french embassy in cape town. Don't have details at hand, maybe someone else can share?

[Capricorn]

Jip. Maybe I'm too sentimental about LBS's but for me the concept stores always feel to "cold" and corporate. Yes, I do understand that business is business, but you never get the feeling that they will go the extra mile for you after they've rid you of your hard earned cash. Maybe I'm wrong and its just a perception. But I still like my LBS where they know you and your bike inside out. And where they don't mind if you rock up just to talk *** about bikes.

 

and often the relationship develops into discounts and small freebies. It just bolsters the relationship. Not to mention shop floor assistants without a clue. They just there to push product.

[banna]

and often the relationship develops into discounts and small freebies. It just bolsters the relationship. Not to mention shop floor assistants without a clue. They just their to push product.

Absolutely. I have been into a few concept stores where it feels like you just walked into the Aston Martin shop.... Please sir, do not scratch our product...... Pfffttt....    

[Edge_Design]

Jip. Maybe I'm too sentimental about LBS's but for me the concept stores always feel to "cold" and corporate. Yes, I do understand that business is business, but you never get the feeling that they will go the extra mile for you after they've rid you of your hard earned cash. Maybe I'm wrong and its just a perception. But I still like my LBS where they know you and your bike inside out. And where they don't mind if you rock up just to talk *** about bikes.

 

If that's your experience of a owner/cyclist managed LBS then I fully understand/agree with your view. Since the old CW Cycles on the old Stanhope Bridge in Claremont joined Olympic Cycles (many many years ago), I have yet to find another LBS that I enjoy going to in Cape Town. In comparison I found the guys at Cycle Lab (Northgate Island and then CBD) were great to deal with - definitely not perfect, but when there were issues they dealt with them like a business and not like an owner reluctantly reaching into his own pocket to fix the issue (which has been my personal experience of many LBS's).

 

I have no idea what happened in this case, but investor's don't pull the plug if things are going well (you'd also have another 10 lining up to replace them if they did)! 

[banna]

If that's your experience of a owner/cyclist managed LBS then I fully understand/agree with your view. Since the old CW Cycles on the old Stanhope Bridge in Claremont joined Olympic Cycles (many many years ago), I have yet to find another LBS that I enjoy going to in Cape Town. In comparison I found the guys at Cycle Lab (Northgate Island and then CBD) were great to deal with - definitely not perfect, but when there were issues they dealt with them like a business and not like an owner reluctantly reaching into his own pocket to fix the issue (which has been my personal experience of many LBS's).

 

Ja, you know cycling is a fantastic sport, but it's the relationships that you build through the sport that makes it even more special. And a great relationship with your LBS just adds so much more to the overall experience (for me anyway).  

[Cat2forLife]

For the more serious cyclists I think it's a great concept. If they stop supplying stores entirely then the concept of recommended retail prices falls away and they should be able to cut their selling prices (that's in theory - it might not happen but that's an issue of greed). Specialist stores also means they should have a full range of spares for their products and more extensive knowledge. Warranties could possibly be done directly from stock and not through a wholesaler which is much more efficient. They also carry stock of all models in all sizes due to a more limited range (rather than it sitting in a box in a warehouse waiting for an order, it can be on display).

 

For the family that doesn't know what they want and would like to see a range of bikes in a price bracket to compare, it's not a great concept at all and makes life quite difficult.

 

Overall I like the concept - keep the general stores for the small volume niche products, general spares and maintenance.

 

Not entirely true.. The Giant stores still get their stock from the local importers, Dragon Sports. Dragon sports still supply any other Giant dealer with bikes etc.

 

The two Giant concepts stores (Durbanville and Cape Town) are both independently owned and are in no way owned or partnered by Dragons Sports, nevermind Giant international. They are also not owned by the same people.

 

Where Specialized kinda got it right was by cutting out any local distributors. They supply directly to the dealers (which are also all independently owned). They do still however have a head office in every country and while warranties etc are sorted a lot quicker, they are still not from dealer stock.

[EVOBIKES ONLINE STORE]

Not the new Stellenbosch Concept Store...

 

Owned by Spez SA.

Not entirely true.. The Giant stores still get their stock from the local importers, Dragon Sports. Dragon sports still supply any other Giant dealer with bikes etc.

 

The two Giant concepts stores (Durbanville and Cape Town) are both independently owned and are in no way owned or partnered by Dragons Sports, nevermind Giant international. They are also not owned by the same people.

 

Where Specialized kinda got it right was by cutting out any local distributors. They supply directly to the dealers (which are also all independently owned). They do still however have a head office in every country and while warranties etc are sorted a lot quicker, they are still not from dealer stock.

 

 

 

[Edge_Design]

Not entirely true.. The Giant stores still get their stock from the local importers, Dragon Sports. Dragon sports still supply any other Giant dealer with bikes etc.

 

The two Giant concepts stores (Durbanville and Cape Town) are both independently owned and are in no way owned or partnered by Dragons Sports, nevermind Giant international. They are also not owned by the same people.

 

Where Specialized kinda got it right was by cutting out any local distributors. They supply directly to the dealers (which are also all independently owned). They do still however have a head office in every country and while warranties etc are sorted a lot quicker, they are still not from dealer stock.

 

My misunderstanding of the model then - then surely it should be exactly the same as your regular old LBS, but just with a more focused stock holding and more specialized knowledge (no pun intended)?

[Cat2forLife]

Not the new Stellenbosch Concept Store...

 

Owned by Spez SA.

 

Which is now the new head - office. Where all the shocks and warranties go.

[Cat2forLife]

My misunderstanding of the model then - then surely it should be exactly the same as your regular old LBS, but just with a more focused stock holding and more specialized knowledge (no pun intended)?

 

Exactly. The carry the whole range (or whatever is available in the local market) and they have better training at that one specific brand.

 

But they still get their stuff from the same places.

[Guest Lancesball]

Xavier hasn't decided what to do yet. I'd like to see the altitude centre continue. Maybe customers should get in touch and encourage this?

I'd be pretty frikken pissed if an investor pulled the rug out from under me in the way it happened to bikeplus.

 

Ever spared a thought why the investor pulled the plug? If things were going great and investor was seeing benefit he wouldnt pull the plug. If not, then I guess the latter.

 

Dont let bull**** blind you.

[GLuvsMtb]

was rather a bit fancy I thought, maybe run out of rich posers dropping silly money? ?

Do you buy your appliances at the old moms and pops or do you find yourself in the Samsung / LG concept stores from time to time? Do you only buy from Edgars and Stuttafords or do you pop into the Levi's / Adidas / Fossil stores?

These days there are more depth and breadth in each brand and often the LBS cannot cover this depth and breadth for all the brands they carry. Imagine a shop stocking 3 brands, each with different frames, spec, sizes, colours, etc. for the various disciplines. It is impossible to cover all the bases, but with brand specific shops you'll find that the range is far greater than at the multi-branded LBS. As these shops deal with one supplier only, orders, warrantee claims etc. should also be a far superior experience opposed to multi-branded stores that is not doing the volumes.

Its sad when a shop has to relocate or close down as a result, but unfortunately there sometimes are casualties when you are in a highly competitive industry.