Cycle spares-what can cycle shops do to compete with online retail?

[NorthernDave]

It's funny that Evans have been cited as an example.
My local store is like two different entities. Upstairs on the bike sales side, the staff seem to prefer to congregate around the till chatting to themselves and when I popped in to see what they could do on C2W they had very little in stock at that price point despite having lots of £2k+ bikes.
When I asked I was advised to go on line to look at what was available. I appreciate that they cannot stock everything, but you'd imagine C2W would be a key sales area?
They also refused to order me a helmet in (I wanted a different colour to the one in store), stating it was no longer available. I enjoyed ordering that from their website and getting it delivered to the store to collect.

That said, the workshop guys are spot on.

 

[nickyboy]

Seems to me the only future business open to the LBS these days is to offer maintenance/fettling services. To avoid the overhead of a static shop in the high street or wherever best to work out of a van maybe. Order the parts when required for a job and hey presto.

This topic comes up every few months. You are right.

For an LBS to survive it must offer something that the online retailer doesn't.

That can be service, things you can't buy online like repairs, free cups of coffee while you wait, advice, specialism in some aspect of cycling

I was chatting to a small company that runs an estate of high street retail outlets. Their policy now is to only rent them out to businesses that cannot be done online (hairdressers, cafes etc etc). I guess a service only lbs would qualify

 

[Heltor Chasca]

My LBS has said they can’t compete on internet prices so will fit parts you buy if you like. They make their money in the workshop and from bike sales.

A few comments upthread, hint that Britain doesn’t do retail or customer service particularly well. Bike shops do seem to have a culture of the ‘Saturday Boys’ being on a paid social. I would rather shop online than deal with my own annoyance.

 

[screenman]

How much are you prepared to pay per hour to have your bike serviced/fixed.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

How much are you prepared to pay per hour to have your bike serviced/fixed.

£20-£25 ? Based on perceived skill sets and qualifications. Loosely looking at my rates as a gardener and what I pay a mechanic.

 

[screenman]

£20-£25 ? Based on perceived skill sets and qualifications. Loosely looking at my rates as a gardener and what I pay a mechanic.

No where near enough unfortunately and that is the problem.

 

[Jody]

£20-£25 ? Based on perceived skill sets and qualifications. Loosely looking at my rates as a gardener and what I pay a mechanic.

Keep the mechanic on side if you have anyone even remotely near that price.

 

[biggs682]

I use my lbs quite a lot but now where near as much as i use to for various reasons

 

[Crackle]

My LBS seems to do a roaring trade in maintenance and now employ two mechanics.

 

[NorthernDave]

£20-£25 ? Based on perceived skill sets and qualifications. Loosely looking at my rates as a gardener and what I pay a mechanic.

Considering what the minimum wage is now (and I'd hope a skilled mechanic is earning quite a bit more than minimum wage), that doesn't leave enough for other overheads and a reasonable margin of profit.
And there is the problem.

 

[byegad]

Considering that I taught myself maintenance, and can do anything apart from wheel building*, I'm afraid any LBS will only attract me if their prices are competitive with the Internet, which sadly is almost impossible.

*The cost of components for this is such that I'm happy to buy ready built wheels if and when I need one.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Keep the mechanic on side if you have anyone even remotely near that price.

Hah! I wish. He is nearer £50. I am beginning to realise that gardening might not pay me enough either. It’s a struggle, but I’m in a rut.

 

[screenman]

Hah! I wish. He is nearer £50. I am beginning to realise that gardening might not pay me enough either. It’s a struggle, but I’m in a rut.[/QUOT

Price for the job and not by the hour, faster you get it done the more you earn. I am on my 5th car since 9am, you would not have wanted to pay my hourly that is for sure.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Of those who've replied, how many have had any of their bikes fixed by an online shop?

I've had the same number of bikes fixed online as I have by a shop - none. I do all my own maintenance, wheels included. But I know many people can't so they need their shops. But how many people who post here spitting feathers because their LBS charged them more than the price of a cup of tea to repair a puncture or replace a spoke buy all their kit online?

You can't have it both ways, there are enough non mechanical cyclists around to keep the retail trade going if they really want them. If you need local shops it is up to you to go in and spend the money they need to keep them going.

 

[classic33]

I've had the same number of bikes fixed online as I have by a shop - none. I do all my own maintenance, wheels included. But I know many people can't so they need their shops. But how many people who post here spitting feathers because their LBS charged them more than the price of a cup of tea to repair a puncture or replace a spoke buy all their kit online?

You can't have it both ways, there are enough non mechanical cyclists around to keep the retail trade going if they really want them. If you need local shops it is up to you to go in and spend the money they need to keep them going.

I can do a far bit of the work myself, with the parts bought from my local bike shop. Those I can't do, I take into them.

Two "one offs" taken into them, because I needed someone I could trust to do the work. And because, at the time one was taken in the bike company wouldn't supply an individual.

There yesterday enquiring about getting a trike, I don't yet have, serviced. It's not the average cycle they normally see, so asked about when it would be best for them. Rather than just turn up and present them with it. That'd be unfair, it takes up the space of at least four bikes.

"No problem, anytime you want" was the answer.