Good article I think

[BigDL]

http://singletrackworld.com/2016/03/10-ways-to-be-a-dick-in-your-local-bike-shop/

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Odinson]

Luckily enough we have never had any of these guys on The Bikehub:

 

7: The online flamer.

Before you put fingers to keyboard about some slight you have experienced from your LBS, take a moment to consider what actually happened. Did your three month old cracked carbon frame just crack as you rode along or did you actually hit something at speed and cause the damage yourself? Were you entirely honest with your LBS or did you leave out some key facts. As you type your invective strewn tirade after you left the shop in a flounce, threatening to flame them online, do you think it will help or hinder your plight? Sometimes a little sugar goes an awfully long way. Have a look at the work of other online flamers – notice how most of the time they leave out the whole truth and get found out in the end? No LBS wants a dis-satisfied customer but if your approach is confrontational from the start, be prepared to get nowhere and lose friends and respect in the process.

[leeubok]

I don't see why one can't ask for discount? The worst that can happen is for the LBS to say no. 

 

8: The information gatherer. 

It depends whether you're buying a R100 multitool or a R50k bike. If it is a 50k bike then surely you SHOULD gather as much information as possible before parting with that much cash?

 

Other than that, very good article. One doesn't always think of these things from the shop's perspective 

[the nerd]

I think we have a deeper issue in SA, and that is the mentality of ripping the ring outta everything and anything. 

 

Look how many shops do price matching and all that rubbish, how about just making a normal amount of profit instead of trying to always catch the noobs... irritates me. 

 

The other more pressing issue are the suppliers here:

 

I know of shops who can order parts from another distributor of the same product in the USA and have it delivered for less than the local distributor who is literally down the road!

 

Same goes for the other local distributors, ripping off the shop who then has to try and be competitive in the market place. 

[Sharkie 2]

I don't see why one can't ask for discount? The worst that can happen is for the LBS to say no. 

 

8: The information gatherer. 

It depends whether you're buying a R100 multitool or a R50k bike. If it is a 50k bike then surely you SHOULD gather as much information as possible before parting with that much cash?

 

Other than that, very good article. One doesn't always think of these things from the shop's perspective 

Do you ask for discount at Pick 'n Pay, Checkers, your local coffee shop etc?

[leeubok]

Do you ask for discount at Pick 'n Pay, Checkers, your local coffee shop etc?

No, because at PNP and checkers you have 100 items. At the coffee shop you pay 20 bucks. I'm talking about buying something expensive at the bike shop (not the R100 multitool). And almost always they give you a fair amount of discount. As the nerd said above, SA consumers are being ripped off, so why not ask for a bit of discount? If their price of the item in question is already low then they'll just say no. Then I'm happy to pay the original price

[Eldron]

No, because at PNP and checkers you have 100 items. At the coffee shop you pay 20 bucks. I'm talking about buying something expensive at the bike shop (not the R100 multitool). And almost always they give you a fair amount of discount. As the nerd said above, SA consumers are being ripped off, so why not ask for a bit of discount? If their price of the item in question is already low then they'll just say no. Then I'm happy to pay the original price

 

That's a bit of a blanket statement....

[PhilipV]

I think we have a deeper issue in SA, and that is the mentality of ripping the ring outta everything and anything.

 

Look how many shops do price matching and all that rubbish, how about just making a normal amount of profit instead of trying to always catch the noobs... irritates me.

 

The other more pressing issue are the suppliers here:

 

I know of shops who can order parts from another distributor of the same product in the USA and have it delivered for less than the local distributor who is literally down the road!

 

Same goes for the other local distributors, ripping off the shop who then has to try and be competitive in the market place.

I think the general mindset that someone else is not allowed to make a decent profit off me is a bigger problem.

How many times have you heard:

"Doctors ask too much."

"i see the builder drives a new bakkie, he is going to be too expensive. "

"so and so drives a Porsche, his bike shops are ripping us off."

" I saw them buying toilet paper at woollies, we are paying them too much."

 

Even though the Dr studied 7years just to get into an internship. An Obs and gynie specialist needs to pay 700k a year for professional insurance.

The builder sits with labour issues, people that don't pay upon completion of projects.

The lbs needs to pay massive tent, buy stock up front (almost no one gives stock on consignment anymore) and tries to turn it before the payment term, has to stock a full workshop with tools etc etc

Wholesalers need to bring in Stock in volatile currencies, hope it sells like projected and that they can keep the price stable over various shipments.

 

Business is rough and times are tough. But as long as you want to pay peanuts, be satisfied with crappy service, and sub standard items. The service deliverers, wholesalers and retailers have to roll with the same punches as you, but the also sit with considerable risks that you may not be aware of.

 

Gun elkeen sy eie plekkie onder die son.

[the nerd]

I think the general mindset that someone else is not allowed to make a decent profit off me is a bigger problem.

How many times have you heard:

"Doctors ask too much."

"i see the builder drives a new bakkie, he is going to be too expensive. "

"so and so drives a Porsche, his bike shops are ripping us off."

" I saw them buying toilet paper at woollies, we are paying them too much."

 

Even though the Dr studied 7years just to get into an internship. An Obs and gynie specialist needs to pay 700k a year for professional insurance.

The builder sits with labour issues, people that don't pay upon completion of projects.

The lbs needs to pay massive tent, buy stock up front (almost no one gives stock on consignment anymore) and tries to turn it before the payment term, has to stock a full workshop with tools etc etc

Wholesalers need to bring in Stock in volatile currencies, hope it sells like projected and that they can keep the price stable over various shipments.

 

Business is rough and times are tough. But as long as you want to pay peanuts, be satisfied with crappy service, and sub standard items. The service deliverers, wholesalers and retailers have to roll with the same punches as you, but the also sit with considerable risks that you may not be aware of.

 

Gun elkeen sy eie plekkie onder die son.

So how can I get the same part shipped from the USA from an authorised distributor for which I have an account for their other products for less than I can get it from the South African distributor just up the road?

 

No one has an issue with making profit. There is a distinct difference between making a profit and pulling the piss. Unfortunately the SA distis like to pull the piss and get upset when they get called out.

[rouxtjie]

Everything boils down to value add. If the lbs isn't adding any...well then they won't be around for very long in the age of the interwebs. I love the crc's / cwc's / easybike's of the world. They keep lbs honest from that perspective. Only a couple of shops that add value in my life and thus the only ones I will visit and spend my money at. 

[rouxtjie]

Do you ask for discount at Pick 'n Pay, Checkers, your local coffee shop etc?

If I can land a 2L milk / loaf of bread / piece of steak / grande cappuccino from America in my hands for less....I might 

[PhilipV]

 

 

So how can I get the same part shipped from the USA from an authorised distributor for which I have an account for their other products for less than I can get it from the South African distributor just up the road?

 

No one has an issue with making profit. There is a distinct difference between making a profit and pulling the piss. Unfortunately the SA distis like to pull the piss and get upset when they get called out.

So where is the line between a "fair profit" and "pulling the pics? "

You claim that it is a distinct difference, but yet people want a discount on an item with 30% margin that they buy once every couple of years?

Flip, I won't even get out of bed for that margin. Does that mean I'm pulling the pics and is by definition greedy?

 

Do you expect a local supplier to provide backup for the item you import yourself? Because in effect if you buy local, you pay for the support obligation as well.

[leeubok]

Seems some okes here have waay too much money and are all too happy to pay whatever price the shops ask. Good on you. Some of us however are less fortunate and unfortunately have to shop for the cheaper deals and even have the audacity to ask for discount (can you believe it!) 

[Spinnekop]

That's a bit of a blanket statement....

Not if you know the supply chain of SA bike shops.........

[the nerd]

So where is the line between a "fair profit" and "pulling the pics? "

You claim that it is a distinct difference, but yet people want a discount on an item with 30% margin that they buy once every couple of years?

Flip, I won't even get out of bed for that margin. Does that mean I'm pulling the pics and is by definition greedy?

 

Do you expect a local supplier to provide backup for the item you import yourself? Because in effect if you buy local, you pay for the support obligation as well.

If I buy a product from an authorised distributor I expect support no matter where I am. I didn't purchase the "Africa warranty". If you immigrate with your bicycle do you have to send your broken pedal back to SA to get warrantied?

 

That's another point. Support from suppliers here sucks, for every one good report their are ten *** ones.

 

I'm not talking about discounts I'm talking about retail prices. You show me 30% markup at big chain bicycle shop, more like 70% at least, and that's on top of the over inflated wholesale price the shop gets.

[Spinnekop]

I think the general mindset that someone else is not allowed to make a decent profit off me is a bigger problem.

How many times have you heard:

"Doctors ask too much."

"i see the builder drives a new bakkie, he is going to be too expensive. "

"so and so drives a Porsche, his bike shops are ripping us off."

" I saw them buying toilet paper at woollies, we are paying them too much."

 

Even though the Dr studied 7years just to get into an internship. An Obs and gynie specialist needs to pay 700k a year for professional insurance.

The builder sits with labour issues, people that don't pay upon completion of projects.

The lbs needs to pay massive tent, buy stock up front (almost no one gives stock on consignment anymore) and tries to turn it before the payment term, has to stock a full workshop with tools etc etc

Wholesalers need to bring in Stock in volatile currencies, hope it sells like projected and that they can keep the price stable over various shipments.

 

Business is rough and times are tough. But as long as you want to pay peanuts, be satisfied with crappy service, and sub standard items. The service deliverers, wholesalers and retailers have to roll with the same punches as you, but the also sit with considerable risks that you may not be aware of.

 

Gun elkeen sy eie plekkie onder die son.

There's a balance.

 

And in South Africa the "average" businessman tends to F#*(&$ the consumer over.

There are exceptions.....but getting screwed over and over and over again by government and business, one tends to get pissy over pricing if the preserved value is not what it seems.....