tell me how a bike store is offering 'terrible prices' if they're getting a rough deal from their supplier?mezla wrote:As long as LBSs keep offering terrible prices, smart people will keep shopping online. It's pretty simple really.
The mates rates thing is not a sustainable business model, nor an ethical one. It means a brand new cyclist wandering into a shop will basically be ripped off until they've been ripped off enough times to be regarded a "mate", and then they'll get good prices. That is obviously not ok. It's bad for the shops, and it's bad for cycling in Australia.
Cliques - not a good thing.
The prices for many items on line are unachievable by most Aussie bike shops and you seem hell bent on placing the entire blame at the feet of the shops.
No one is arguing that that there's some room for movement, and the bike stores are playing catch up with the advent of on line trading, but so is the majority of the retail sector.
You're also unwilling to take any one else's POV on board, you keep going on about the same 'mates rates BS' , and to assume that the shop is blatantly trying to rip people off who are new to the sport is pretty piss weak and untrue.
You've been riding for how long? how many people and mates do you know and have in the industry? by your own reckoning, probably none cos they are all money hungry crooks.
I have a lot of mates who own bike shops - none of them drive Porsches or BWMs and live in mansions by the sea.
They are all enthusiasts who certainly aren't doing it for the money.
99% of people on here got their start on a bike probably bought at a bike store (I know I did, and most the people I race with and TT with did also).
So we're all fools that got ripped off then?
A FWIW - I know I can go to any of my mate's shops for a tube if I've got a puncture, and they'll change my tyre, for free.
No doubt I spend money in there, but that's not the point - they could charge me for the tube, but they don't , cos I'll tell other's about them and they'll make money from a future sale.
Here's another example.
Northwave Evo SBS shoes - I purchased last year from a mate's shop - at cost price, for my birthday from my mate for $279 - that's the price he paid Orbea for them, whole sale.
They are selling RRP in his shop for $325 - so he makes $45 per pair, that's it.
Wiggle sell the same shoes for $240 - so retail price for that same shoe on line is $40 less whole sale in Australia.
Is that the bike shops fault?