LBS vs ONLINE

[Rocket-Boy]

I assume the same goes for going in, trying on shoes/helmets or even Lycra for size then buying it online ....

 

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That is downright low.

If Im going to buy anything that needs to be sized online then I accept the risk it wont fit, its completely unfair to try something on in a store then go buy it online.

 

*edit*

Im not saying you do this NSBB, I couldnt imagine you being that type of person. 

Im just referring to people in general that do that.

[NotSoBigBen]

That is downright low.

If Im going to buy anything that needs to be sized online then I accept the risk it wont fit, its completely unfair to try something on in a store then go buy it online.

 

*edit*

Im not saying you do this NSBB, I couldnt imagine you being that type of person. 

Im just referring to people in general that do that.

 

I am closely related to an LBS bike shop owner (ex SiL) and he has told me that he is aware of this happening a few times hence my comment ... 

[The Guy in Pink]

My LBS also does a major line of Fishing tackle and has fishermen coming from all over the province and the neighbouring countries, so he sells a hugh amount of Shimano products  - Fishing reels,  But he has at times asked me to order  on his behalf Shimano bike parts from the likes of CRC as we can land them cheaper than he can get from the local distributors.  

[Grebel]

Without starting a new thread to rant, I'll just piggy back on this one....

 

I recently purchased a second hand Holdfast Top Runner rack from a hubber. Came at a good price, deal was struck and off I went. It didn't come with any straps to secure the bikes so I decided (After chatting to a few people and reading invaluable advice on this here hub) that toe straps were the answer.

 

On my way out of the gym on Saturday morning I stopped in at a LBS to see if they had. They did, but only two bags (I needed three bags which totaled 6 straps). They did however have three bags of toe strap equipped pedals hanging next to the toe traps of which one bag was already open.

 

The owner happened to be serving me and he told me that he could order me another set of straps on Monday and I could collect on Wednesday. I asked if it wouldn't be possible to take the straps out of the already opened bag of pedals and save me a return trip and then when my ordered straps arrived, he could just put those onto the pedals. He said not possible as then he couldn't sell the pedals. I told him to go ahead and order me a set and that I would be in on Saturday to collect. 

 

I ended up not getting there the next Saturday and went in two weeks after that and guess what..... no straps.....He still told me that some guy had come in and bought the last two bags and that he needed to order some more.... Dude, that was me and it was only two weeks earlier!

 

And the bag of opened pedals were still hanging there.

 

Shops complain about people buying online and them losing business, but when stuff like this happens, people get irritated. I understand his reluctance to strip a set of pedals to give me the straps, but please don't forget to order my stuff!

 

I'll find somewhere else to buy my straps thanks....

 

Just needed to get that off my chest.

 

TL;DR: LBS wouldn't go slightly out of their way to help a customer so customer will take his business somewhere else or order online.

[Shebeen]

proper rant on this in the Fullsus Stirling revolution column this month.

 

http://fullsus.co.za/

 

basically, having a go at a bike brand that you order directly from overseas.

no money spent on local economy.

 

As far as i'm concenred, if the local part of the trip adds no value - then no point in paying extra for what is just a middleman.

 

and i don't really see VAT contributions as a reason to support a local business in my purchasing decision.

[GaryvdM]

It's not just about price. It's about just been able to get what I would like in a reasonable time frame. Wanted to get a Shamino hub. I would have much rather have bought via my LBS, but the earliest I could have gotten it was November, thanks to useless CoolHeat, and even then the LBS was not confidant that they would get the order right.

[Grease_Monkey]

I assume the same goes for going in, trying on shoes/helmets or even Lycra for size then buying it online ....

 

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I know in some overseas countries a fee is charged to try shoes on, which gets waived if you buy from them. Kinda rough because if you genuinely don't like how the shoe fits you lose, but I get why they do it.

[Schnoodle]

What is more frustrating is when a bike shop has moved and hasn't bothered to change their address on the internet and you drive out there to support them and get disappointed

[gogo@]

It's not just about price. It's about just been able to get what I would like in a reasonable time frame. Wanted to get a Shamino hub. I would have much rather have bought via my LBS, but the earliest I could have gotten it was November, thanks to useless CoolHeat, and even then the LBS was not confidant that they would get the order right.

This!!!

What they are prepared to bring into the country (in which century!!) versus what’s out there...

[bertusras]

What is more frustrating is when a bike shop has moved and hasn't bothered to change their address on the internet and you drive out there to support them and get disappointed

 

Hah, makes me think of the Redhub thread of the other day. Quite a while ago, I called on a Saturday morning to confirm what time they closed, as I wanted to buy some shoes from them. Drove all the way from Pretoria and got there 45 mins before the confirmed closing time, only to find that they were closed. Mailed them on Monday about it, got this in reply: "I am so sorry about that…unfortunately we have to close at 12:30 cause we had to go for a ride that afternoon."

 

Thanks!!

[Butterbean]

It's pretty simple... It seems that most bike shops are run by cyclists and not businessmen... And so you end up with a sales team full of mates, elitist owners who have a disdain for the uninformed, and an unwillingness to sell to those who don't wat to use their workshops....

 

Then, the brands tie their hands even further by having terrible stock, support, and pricing...

 

So in all honesty, I can't see how the industry is surprised by the condition its in... The concept store model seems to work great as you have slightly more confidence in finding and trying what you need, and they have the responsibility to be competitive so you have an incentive for buying from them...

 

It's so easy to lose a customer nowadays, and bike shops do so little to gain them... Shame...

[stefmeister]

proper rant on this in the Fullsus Stirling revolution column this month.

 

http://fullsus.co.za/

 

basically, having a go at a bike brand that you order directly from overseas.

no money spent on local economy.

 

As far as i'm concenred, if the local part of the trip adds no value - then no point in paying extra for what is just a middleman.

 

and i don't really see VAT contributions as a reason to support a local business in my purchasing decision.

Shame, sounds almost like DSTV's CEO argument about Netflix. 

[Simon123]

The bike I wanted was not available in SA.  So I bought the frame from abroad.

 

Does this make me a bad person? 

 

I also consider it as follows:   If the value of the item I want from overseas offers more than a 40% saving after ALL costs (shipping, VAT, etc) then it's a no brainer.  I still regularly support two LBS and buy pretty much all my other items locally.   Sadly most LBS are downright useless, but that said, the good ones deserve support.