Blue mountains CRC order

Been mulling this over and trying to decide whether or not I should post. It's not really a reply to ABs post. I don't really want to open the can of worms that's it's bound too, nor do I want to come across as having a whinge and these ramblings are certainly not directed at The Blootman or any one else for that matter, but I have to say as a local industry insider who poors his heart and soul into local mountain biking it does get discouraging at times seeing every one opt for over seas orders as a first port of call.

Unfortunitley we can't compete in price with these big faceless corporations. I've read that CRC imports more shimano products to Australia than Shimano Australia does. Add to that there massive global presence and it means that they have a far greater buying power than our importers do and thus can often sell at prices at or below our whole sale prices here in Australia.

If someone comes in to my store and buys 2 bike they expect a discount(actually it rare for anyone to fork out rrp on a single bike without haggling it down anyway). When buying from wholesale our discounts generally start with 20.... But that's a whole other ramble

Now as an average Joe I know price is a big factor, for most people it's the major factor when choosing where to buy, but is it the only factor?

Service comes into play for beginners and the less mechanically gifted but I'd imagine that wouldn't include most enthusiasts who generally know how to fit and maintain their own gear.

So what else is there?

What about how much is given back to the local community?

I haven't seen anyone from these big overseas companies supporting local grass roots cycling. Whether sponsoring local club events, petitioning councils, meeting with land managers or building/ maintaining trails.

As a one man band I know there have been many time where my shop has been closed for times when I'm attending meetings with land managers or getting a bit of trail ready for a ride or race. Lately I have really began to wonder if that sacrifice is worth it. But I guess that's the rod I've made for my back and something i am passionate about doing.

Sure us local blokes are going to struggle to match these OS stores dollar for dollar (some of our whole salers are trying very hard to even the playing field but, as I said, with far less buying power even they struggle to match the big OS operators) but hey try your local shop, just give 'em a call and say "this is what I can get it for, what can you do." Sometimes we wont be able to get close. Sometimes we might, just give us a chance.

If every one stopped purchasing OS and suddenly Shimano Australia doubled it's turn over would that mean prices would drop more in line with OS super store? I have no idea, The Aussie industry is going through a massive shake up to try and compete. I have no idea how successful it's going to be.

Anyway... I understand price is going to be first and foremost priority when people are deciding where to buy but I'd hope that sometimes, at least, the return support to local scene also gets some consideration.

Flynny, I can understand your feelings here, as you go way above and beyond the call of what is expected of a bike shop, and I am sure your extra activities result in some extra sales, but I am sure nowhere near enough for you time and effort spent.

However most bike shops don't go so far and most seem to be pretty complacent to be just selling whetever they can and earning whatever money. Usually service is pretty ordinary and pushy to sell what they have in stock. My local bike shop I find to be a good one but so use them for quite a lot of items from clothes, special orders, racks, tubes, helmets, kids bikes stuff etc. Sadly as well one can often leave some bike shops feeling they didn't know what you were talking about or you were patronised or they just overcharged you for that bit because they could. Competeing with these feelings over the great feeling of grabbing a bargain online is hard.

Still we want bike shops as CRC is pretty bloody useless when lets say you are somewhere away from home like Canberra or Rotorua and you bike has a major failure. The excellent help and service you get from shops at those times earns them many points and shows the necessity of their being there even though it is obviously just what they do, the fix bikes and have parts to do it with.

For someone like me who can't afford to spend much on a bike the difference between buying everything from the lbs and other sources means a large difference in the type of bike, and even whether I can afford a bike to ride. As people can tell I don't care about new and bling and I like working on them myself so second hand parts serve a great purpose and are much cheaper even than overseas mail order items. Also it serves the green purpose of "waste not want not".

Then there are the other australian bike shops I mail order from rather than going through the LBS, often because they have stuff I can't get locally or are cheaper. Some of them are also damn helpful and quicker than getting stuff ordered in. Places like TBSM works with free postage and cheap prices or a place like Moruya Cycles because they have a lot of good bits and pieces others don't stock.

Still sometimes ebay is just too cheap.. Ma and Pa's camper barn in hick land US sometimes just has that bit they don't know what it is and is 1/5 the price you can get it elsewhere.

So how can a LBS compete against all these other possible sources of bike bits I don't know.

Further the industry I am in hit the iceberg around 10 years back because of imported product being much cheaper and the local industry couldn't compete. So instead of being on double the money compared to what I manage to scavenge for nowdays and having job security and perks I live off the dregs unappreciated and overworked compared to what I feel I deserve for my work efforts and responsibilty. I have perks like working from home, being with my family and my time is my own when I have it, but it also means great instabilty and a shit box '92 holden in the driveway. It is what it is and I don't get to ask for sympathy purchases.

So in many ways the market is what it is and just pleading for a sympathetic customer is not going to make any difference... its the same thing as idiot managers saying things "Like we must work harder to improve output"... that stuff doesn't work. (yeah spot the chip on my shoulder there!). I'm a socialist type lefty idealist type, but the reality of the situation is much more right wing.

So in the end bike shops need to work out a way to get customers in or they just won't survive. Expecting customers to somehow support them is not going to work, they need to offer something extra. So all what you do Flynny is truly awsome and really deserves respect and I hope it does pay divedends monetarily as well, but I think hoping for any realistic benevolence from a customer is just not a variable in the equation of attracting income that could ever be counted on.

Sorry if I am rambling... been working all night, not being paid for it and well I am just tired.

[blockquote] It is what it is and I don't get to ask for sympathy purchasess[/blockquote]

Certainly not asking for sympathy purchases. A lot of the time our prices are as good or better then the bigger aussie mail order stores, people just often assume they wont be.

Phantom and TBSM do a great job of running high volume/low mark up and being close to some major wholesalers means that if they don't have it in stock they can normally get it that day. They really have worked hard to get there and good on them. Aaron showed a fair bit of commitment specializing the DH market (and for a baldy legged lycra clad road racer he did a great job at building DH cred )

As for OS. yeah it's darn hard to compete with them on price but the local industry is trying, I know recently I've been able to call importers like Dirtworks or Jetblack and say "hey I have a long term customer he wants this and can get it of CRC for that$ what can we do?" and between us we can get to a price that makes it much more worth while for the guy to buy local.

Question, when you bike shop owners get together I know you all hate CRC etc, but what is the attitude towards the local mail order market. Its double edged I guess,?

We actually get along pretty well and help each other out. There's been occassions when my suppliers been out and Phantom has helped out and once or twice it's even worked the other way too . I get on with Aaron and the boys from the shed.

Anyway, I've got nothing against mail order or people saving money just had a shitty week and felt like rambling

[Mod. fixed blockquote]

Have you thought about changing your business model ... I know personal service is a competitive advantage, however, the scale that TBSM gets from mail order has to be attractive ... and you can still provide the personal touch to the locals or those adventurous enough to venture out to the store ?

Although thinking as I type, would shipping costs be a big issue for you ... or is Australia Post actually viable for you?

Prolly something to discuss over PMs or when I'm next unemployed and enjoying more pedalling time.