Well I was in the Specialised "concept" store in Chelmsford several weeks ago as my car was being MOTd a few doors down at
Halfords (it passed no advisories). To pass the time I went and had a look. Certainly lots of space and high prices to match. It felt like a car showroom. Anyway I saw a saddle I liked and not really needing a new saddle I thought I would give it a go. £30 wasn't too bad a price and a bit off with BC membership would make the price easier to swallow. The guy at the till said they didn't do cycling discounts not for BC anyway.
Me: "Do you do discount for BC members?" Showed him my membership card.
Him: "Err.. no mate".
Me: "Surely BC the foremost cycling organisation in the UK promoting cycling, 10% off?"
Him: "Nope. Look mate we get lots of people coming in 'ere claiming discounts for all sorts - because they are teachers, doctors, all sorts".
Me: "But not BC members then?"
Him: "Dunno mate, but if we gave discounts for everything we wouldn't be in business".
Me: "Look, I've changed my mind I think I'll leave the saddle".
Now I thought the whole point of running a shop or any business was to make money. BC discount is generally 10%. It would hardly mean he made a loss on the sale as trade price is generally 50% of the retail price and then it was a Specialised own brand saddle, so the wholesale price they paid for it was probably 25-30% of the full retail price, so mark up would be 70% ish. Surely 90% of something is better than 100% of nothing? And giving British Cycling discount is hardly supporting any unrelated Micky Mouse organisation, it is the foremost body representing cycling in the UK. Period. Anyway they lost a sale. I hope they go bust and he loses his job which might be sooner than later if he continues with that attitude. Is it any wonder that people choose to shop with
CRC who incidentally do give BC members a 10% discount off the value of total transaction once a month. Halfords also do discount for BC membership even if you are not buying cycling stuff!
Decathlon does some good stuff, although the service can be a bit hit and miss in the UK as most retail jobs are filled by yoofs who know next to nothing and can only grunt to customers, but spend their time chatting between themselves. But the Decathlons I went to in Taiwan a couple of months ago were completely different, friendly, helpful and knowledgable staff. Great stuff and great prices, as like IKEA, they make most of their products under their own brand(s) names so products are cheaper.
Whilst the Specialised "Concept Store" in Chelmsford, the concept of not making money, is not an LBS in the traditional sense you have to question why some of these places are actually in business? Perhaps they make so much money they can afford to p155 a few people off, who cares, good riddance, we can manage without them, the Basil Fawlty school of business, or the training is so bad that they let sales slip through their hands. After a short time, the writing is on the wall, and they close. Despite having ridden a Specialised bike for quite a few years I wouldn't be sad. I'll just buy my stuff from elsewhere. It's their loss. Adapt or die.
