Who supplies the LBSs......interesting (to me at least :) )

[Dave7]

So........I went to my LBS** for a bigger rear mech' as I am changing the sprocket for more teeth. I wanted black, as the present one is black (as are other parts).
They cant get it for 10 days!!!
So I approached another shop......same response.
They told me that the majority of bike shops buy from the same supplier (Madison's)...........as do Halfords.
I suppose people like Wiggle & Chain Supplies, with their buying power, can go direct to the manufacturer.
** BTW.........I can't go to Wiggle etc. as I want the sprocket, mech & new chain fitted (I am not good/confident enough to try it myself).

 

[snorri]

Dunno, but I wonder if there is some sort of connection between wholesale suppliers of sprockets and bananas. I leave the green bananas on the shelf in one shop hoping to get ripe ready-to-eat bananas in the next shop and whadyaknow, all the bananas are green in the next shop too.

 

[summerdays]

I know I've been frustrated when I've wanted a particular product that my LBS didn't stock and wasn't in their order book. I ended up buying it in one shop and getting my LBS to fit it. I felt like suggesting they ordered it online as a normal person and I would still be happy to pay a bit on top and the cost of fitting it. But I didn't quite have the courage to suggest it.

 

[Citius]

Madison is the sole distributor in the UK for Shimano cycle stuff. Shimano does not sell direct to retailers. If Wiggle has something in stock that an LBS doesn't have, it just means they buy it in higher volume.

Most manufacturers work through a distribution tier, who supply to the retail trade.

 

[Dave7]

Madison is the sole distributor in the UK for Shimano cycle stuff. Shimano does not sell direct to retailers. If Wiggle has something in stock that an LBS doesn't have, it just means they buy it in higher volume.
Most manufacturers work through a distribution tier, who supply to the retail trade.

Well I must admit to being amazed at that.............when I ran a business I manufactured a few products that I sold via distributors. I never considered having just one distributor-----I had maybe 10 throughout the UK. That ensured the end user could always buy competetively.
I'm not suggesting I am right and Shimano are wrong..........just that I am surprised at that way of marketing.

 

[Citius]

Well I must admit to being amazed at that.............when I ran a business I manufactured a few products that I sold via distributors. I never considered having just one distributor-----I had maybe 10 throughout the UK. That ensured the end user could always buy competetively.
I'm not suggesting I am right and Shimano are wrong..........just that I am surprised at that way of marketing.

Depends on your channel strategy I guess. Sole agency is not unusual.

 

[themosquitoking]

Well I must admit to being amazed at that.............when I ran a business I manufactured a few products that I sold via distributors. I never considered having just one distributor-----I had maybe 10 throughout the UK. That ensured the end user could always buy competetively.
I'm not suggesting I am right and Shimano are wrong..........just that I am surprised at that way of marketing.

Shimano are probably, not casting aspersions here, a much bigger outfit than your place was though and they're playing all over the world. Only having to deal with one company in each territory simplicates things massively on their behalf and also ensures pretty much everyone selling all parts at the same price. That doesn't apply quite so much in these modern days of internet wonderfulness.

 

[Cuchilo]

There's always a way " in " so you can deal direct , you just need to find it . As you have been in business you know that yourself .

 

[Citius]

There's always a way " in " so you can deal direct , you just need to find it . As you have been in business you know that yourself .

Direct with Shimano? Absolutely no chance. Shimano are unlikely to compromise their entire distribution model to sell a rear mech. Maybe if you offered to buy 1,000....they'd still tell you to call Madison.

 

[nickyboy]

Depends on your channel strategy I guess. Sole agency is not unusual.

It is very common when the supplier (Shimano) is not based in the UK.

I've run distributors and for a UK company we would have quite a few. But in distant countries (like E Europe) we would have one per country. In some W Europe countries we might have 2-3

 

[400bhp]

Even better, Specialized do not allow 2 shops to have their bikes in the showroom if they are close to each other. IIRC it's a mile radius

 

[vickster]

Trek the same from a conversation I had with Evans in Wimbledon when action bikes, a Trek dealer, were up the road. Action bikes went under, that Evans now has lots of Treks

 

[50000tears]

I do find it frustrating trying to support my local bike shop. The club I ride for is run by them and takes their name but they seem unable, with a few exceptions, to offer a good price. Prime example was yesterday when I asked them to price me on a front wheel replacement for my Shimano RS81 that got wrecked in an accident I had in April. Got quoted £330 when a full wheelset is £460 rrp. Got home and within 5 mins on Google I found it on sale and in stock for £180. Madison again I guess.

 

[Citius]

None of this is Madison's fault. Trade prices tend to be based on volume. If you are ordering one wheel, you pay a higher unit price than someone else who orders 100 of the same item. Then add your margins on top. LBS high street margins are going to be a lot higher % than a warehouse and it's quite possible that some of the larger online retailers have stockholding arrangements with Madison anyway.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

So........I went to my LBS** for a bigger rear mech' as I am changing the sprocket for more teeth. I wanted black, as the present one is black (as are other parts).
They cant get it for 10 days!!!
So I approached another shop......same response.
They told me that the majority of bike shops buy from the same supplier (Madison's)...........as do Halfords.
I suppose people like Wiggle & Chain Supplies, with their buying power, can go direct to the manufacturer.
** BTW.........I can't go to Wiggle etc. as I want the sprocket, mech & new chain fitted (I am not good/confident enough to try it myself).

Buy them yourself and get you LBS to fit them.

I wanted to replace a few things on my bike and I also wanted a couple of other jobs doing that I didn't want to do so I approached my local Specialized Concept store and they couldn't get the parts as cheap as me so I got them and they fitted them at the same time they did another job on the bike for me.