Is Specialized a bike shop or a boutique?

[GLuvsMtb]

Here's a thought: Try and build up a relationship with a retailer before asking for wholesale changes to the standardized product offering. I have done this with reasonable success in the past, and not just with bikes. If you are a regular at Aubergine in CT, Harald may just do your steak for you flambé with his very special Hollandaise, if you've bought a few Audi's / Toyotas / Opels from your local dealer, they may swop out the stock standard Pirelli's for the Bridgestone equivalents. Sales staff are trained to try and work out what your future economic worth is to them before bending over for you. Its a symbiosis that requires a degree of brand loyalty in exchange for a service offering beyond the retailers standard offering.

[Patchelicious]

I dont see how this can be the excuse, your staff is as good as you train them to be , and realistically your permanent staff should be manning the till or present in the shop.....if not i dont know why you are open.

Good point.

 

The one thing that Spez is doing is creating space in the market for a good proper LBS. Summit, Mikes Bikes etc occupy the other end of the spectrum, there is space for both.

[Long Wheel Base]

Well, this pic has now gone full circle. I saw this pic in Google Images and followed the link to the Bike Hub where you LWB explained the story behind the pic.

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/156183-road-bike-pedals/page-3

Lol good work.

[Halfdoesyn]

Good point.

 

The one thing that Spez is doing is creating space in the market for a good proper LBS. Summit, Mikes Bikes etc occupy the other end of the spectrum, there is space for both.

 

Yes, like iStores, Matrix Warehouse and Jimmy's Computers. You connect the dots.

[Skinnyone]

I dont see how this can be the excuse, your staff is as good as you train them to be , and realistically your permanent staff should be manning the till or present in the shop.....if not i dont know why you are open.

I don't disagree but if you are the only full time staff member in the shop on a busy Saturday or Sunday? If you think the shop should be closed otherwise then perhaps take it up with the shopping center management, the one center I worked in, the shop was fined for opening late, closing early, and up to R10k fine for not opening at all...

 

Or perhaps take it up with the (more often than not) absent shop owner who is more than likely off riding with his buddies and has the attitude of that's why I pay staff...I am not saying this is always the case but have a look for the owner of the store next time you're in your LBS on a Saturday...

 

But enough of my rant, back to the original topic, point is it is up to the discretion of the owners of the store as to whether or not they want to swap or upgrade parts for you...and like I said in my first post, it is not just a Specialized thing nor is it just a concept store thng as others have attested to - so no point bashing the particular store - be it a concept store or not...

[Patchelicious]

Yes, like iStores, Matrix Warehouse and Jimmy's Computers. You connect the dots.

Dont forget your cousin Billy, who got a set of small screw drivers in a Christmas cracker and now fixes all the cell phones and tablets in the family...