The Ouzo Posted May 31, 2018 Share Agreed, however demos (be it cars or bikes) whilst essential still cost a packet to implement and have available again be it through the LBS or Distributor... I know that to have a demo fleet - a distributor would need a van as well as a trailer to carry all the bikes - R500k for those two (more or less) then a reasonable spread of bikes to test - R500k (again roughly) and then branding - gazebos, flags etc, not to mention staff to run the demo days and maintenance on the fleet over the 8-12 months of the year that the fleet is valid for... Not a cheap exercise by any standard... I think you need to re-look at what vans cost. you'll need to double your budget for van and trailer. There seems to be a catch 22 here. Customers want demos to be available (and to an extent I dont blame them), but they still want rock bottom prices, some free stuff chucked in etc.I'm sure most (if not all) bike shops would love to offer this, but its simply not possible. All these nice to haves cost money, the shop needs to get that money from somewhere, so they need to charge the customer more. Customer feels ripped off and after demoing the bike at your shop they buy from the cheapest shop. forgotten1, Skinnyone and Wannabe 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinnyone Posted May 31, 2018 Share There seems to be a catch 22 here. Customers want demos to be available (and to an extent I dont blame them), but they still want rock bottom prices, some free stuff chucked in etc.I'm sure most (if not all) bike shops would love to offer this, but its simply not possible. All these nice to haves cost money, the shop needs to get that money from somewhere, so they need to charge the customer more. Customer feels ripped off and after demoing the bike at your shop they buy from the cheapest shop.Exactly and it comes back to - if you can demo a bike/car or whatever you are not going to say no...so you test ride a bike - can't get the deal you want from the store and you go and buy something else down the road ... The one thing as well is that a store want a demo bike cuz they have a client "very keen" on that model...they ship the bike to the store (incurring freight charges) the store spends time building the bike out the box, (workshop time and costs) you go and thrash the bike over the weekend - take it back to the store dirty and possibly broken, and say thanks very much. Next weekend you're seen by the store owner on another bike that you bought from another store.... forgotten1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forgotten1 Posted May 31, 2018 Share Its not easy. And you are right Skinnyone, the number of times my demo bikes went out and exactly that...the guy wanders in a week later for you to do the fitment you had included at no charge for him, on a bike he bought from another shop...and then he is shocked when you charge them for the fitting!! Skinnyone 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwissVan Posted May 31, 2018 Share Its not easy. And you are right Skinnyone, the number of times my demo bikes went out and exactly that...the guy wanders in a week later for you to do the fitment you had included at no charge for him, on a bike he bought from another shop...and then he is shocked when you charge them for the fitting!! The question is, why is the deal better from another store? Comparing prices of new bikes here in Switz, they are all the same price no matter which LBS you go to (comparing like models etc....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinnyone Posted May 31, 2018 Share The question is, why is the deal better from another store? Comparing prices of new bikes here in Switz, they are all the same price no matter which LBS you go to (comparing like models etc....)Perhaps one store will throw in add-ons like a free bike setup or some small accessories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forgotten1 Posted May 31, 2018 Share Skinnyone is right Swissvan. The price may be the same but what is the store prepared to offer to add value. Thats the difference. SwissVan and Skinnyone 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ouzo Posted May 31, 2018 Share The question is, why is the deal better from another store? Comparing prices of new bikes here in Switz, they are all the same price no matter which LBS you go to (comparing like models etc....)because the other store does not have to carry the cost of the demo and or backup service Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CogitoErgoSum Posted May 31, 2018 Share Demo day in Pretoria held by CYCLE at LYNNWOOD at Rosemary Hill Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk Edited May 31, 2018 by CogitoErgoSum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie NL Posted May 31, 2018 Share Exactly and it comes back to - if you can demo a bike/car or whatever you are not going to say no...so you test ride a bike - can't get the deal you want from the store and you go and buy something else down the road ... The one thing as well is that a store want a demo bike cuz they have a client "very keen" on that model...they ship the bike to the store (incurring freight charges) the store spends time building the bike out the box, (workshop time and costs) you go and thrash the bike over the weekend - take it back to the store dirty and possibly broken, and say thanks very much. Next weekend you're seen by the store owner on another bike that you bought from another store....That's just wrong. I've always made sure the demo bike comes back clean and lubed, just the way I got it Skinnyone and Malpiet 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malpiet Posted May 31, 2018 Share ExactlyWaiting for my Blur test bike next weekend Maybe I will go and check the BMC LBS this weekend.... Sorry Specz are making me widen my search (open my eyes....?)Mind you i do own a Epic Comp, but only because i cant afford a santa cruz ottherwise i would've bought one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwissVan Posted June 13, 2018 Share So.... 2 Weeks later Test Bike obtained and ridden for 2 days over the weekend Spot the mistake... Well at least the shoes say Specialized Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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