Can anyone tell me why bike shops only open for half a day on Sunday?

**IdunBrokdItAgin** · 21st February 2010, 20:31

I have never worked this one out.

I did ask in a motorbike shop once and the reply was "we don't make enough money on a sunday to break even".

Surely more people are around to buy accessories and trial bikes on a sunday than on a week day?

Just never made sense, you don't see harvey norman or dick smith closing early on a sunday (just comparing some retailers).

It just seems like a really strange business model to me. At first I thought they closed to allow for shop organised rides but this doesn't seem to be the case.

**Virago** · 21st February 2010, 20:34

Most bike shop personnel are keen bikers too, and are perhaps entitled to some time off to ride their bikes...?

Here in Dunedin, all the bike shops are open Saturday mornings only, closed the rest of the weekend. I've got no problem with that at all.

**AllanB** · 21st February 2010, 20:35

Stop your bitching - there are no motorcycle shops open on a Sunday in Christchurch and they all close by 1.00pm on a Saturday.

The Harley shop used to open on a Sunday and close on Monday but they stopped this a year or more ago when the recession hit.

However they were open today, but that was due to the Harley thingy happening down here and they were probably hoping to sell some bikes and bling!

Besides - this everything open all weekend and public holidays - stuff that, I'm against it. Where's the family time now days for the poor buggers working retail?

**Big Dave** · 21st February 2010, 20:37

The main reason is the people who work in them have lives outside the bike shop. A lot of them go for a ride.

**IdunBrokdItAgin** · 21st February 2010, 20:50

Bloody hell - a lot of replies very quickly.

Seems like a bit of a sensitive question though. Not trying to push anyones buttons - just trying to understand why.

Maybe I'm thinking a bit too corporate - I suppose bike shops are run by people with a passion for their work (where as you couldn't say the same of a harvey norman manager).

Plus - I'm not bitching - I can take the time to get to a couple of shops nearby during the week. Question is more out of interest.

I'd think the approach the Christchurch Harley shop took (open on weekend closed one day of the week) would make more sense.

**Motu** · 21st February 2010, 20:54

Well that's just a selfish attitude,if they aren't open 24/7 they deserve to go bust.

**Hitcher** · 21st February 2010, 21:06

No motorcycle shops in Wellington open on Sundays. The closest motorcycle Sunday shopping is ANZA in Palmerston North, thanks to the associated car yard business. Hop on your bike and go for a ride.

**FJRider** · 21st February 2010, 21:06

Perhaps when bikers buy more stuff IN motorcycle shops ... instead of on "trade me" or similar internet sites, they could afford to open all weekend ...

**Pedrostt500** · 21st February 2010, 21:15

Originally Posted by Motu

Well that's just a selfish attitude,if they aren't open 24/7 they deserve to go bust.

They are also slack at mind reading, turning up at what ever country road, with the exact parts needed, and not wanting payment for 90 days or more.

**Brian d marge** · 21st February 2010, 21:21

Ive been in working in the bike trade in Britain and in Japan and always have opened on Saturdays and Sundays

in fact OPEN anytime YOU the CUSTOMER wants me to open. ( yes midnight in the truck picking up one of my customers whose bike has stopped, or returning from the auctions after starting at 6 in the morning )

Its a concept called customer service , or work in other parts of the world.

( sorry but its true , should I reach for the flame suit now ??? )

You Have to GO out there and get business ,

Stephen

oh I forgot we are talking about the third world here,,,

carry on , remain closed , tickets for bread are available from the city hall on Tuesdays

**pritch** · 21st February 2010, 21:30

Originally Posted by Virago

Most bike shop personnel are keen bikers too, and are perhaps entitled to some time off to ride their bikes...?

Too true. I don't get the "shop til you drop" bullshit. People like Steven Tindle go on about people spending time with their kids. People who don't work in the Wherowhare presumably. How do you spell hypocrit?

There are now very few times when shops aren't open: Christmas Day, Good Friday, the morning of ANZAC Day?
And still there are politicians who want more.

Really, how thick do people need to be, to be unable to make their purchases on the 362.5 (?) days the shops are actually open ?

**Mikkel** · 21st February 2010, 21:38

Originally Posted by Brian d'marge

Ive been in working in the bike trade in Britain and in Japan and always have opened on Saturdays and Sundays

in fact OPEN anytime YOU the CUSTOMER wants me to open. ( yes midnight in the truck picking up one of my customers whose bike has stopped, or returning from the auctions after starting at 6 in the morning )

Its a concept called customer service , or work in other parts of the world.

( sorry but its true , should I reach for the flame suit now ??? )

You Have to GO out there and get business ,

Stephen

oh I forgot we are talking about the third world here,,,

carry on , remain closed , tickets for bread are available from the city hall on Tuesdays

Customer service works well - provided the customer realises and is happy about the fact that he has got to pay for it. Also, in order to provide 24/7 service you either need extreme dedication to the business - i.e. the proprietor doing it himself - or you need a business big enough to support significant staff rotation - i.e. employing more people than you really need to fill out the schedule.

Many Kiwis would be too tight to be wanting to pay the premium for such extra services.

**merv** · 21st February 2010, 22:03

What I like when I am overseas in great countries like Aus and USA (laugh if you like) the shops seem to open late and close late though the bike shops aren't open all weekend from what I have seen. This makes a lot of sense to me. Office workers go in before 9 and go home at around 5, shop workers go in by 10 and stay until 7, 8 or 9pm. So they can hang out their washing before work (yeah right) drop off the kids at school etc while the office workers knock off early, get the shopping done, go and pick the kids up from creche or whatever and get the dinner on etc then the shop worker comes home all sweet I reckon.

I would just love the bike shops open until say 7pm at least so I can get what I want and then I wouldn't even care if they didn't open in the weekend - we could all go riding then. A few times I order my stuff from Malcolm at Econohonda just because its easier getting it delivered (by the right Courier) than waiting until Saturday to drive over to Motomart for example.

We definitely need better overlap in the times we can do things.

My pet hate are couriers. They come around to your house and leave a card because you are at work. What a waste of time. If its Courier Post they at least deliver it automatically on Saturday or you can pick it up at the depot. Other dorks don't deliver Saturday and they are in some god-forsaken place you have to pick up before 5pm or you have to give them another address to deliver to. WTF can't they just deliver when we are home like between 6pm and 8pm at night for example. The time and effort they waste cruising the empty 'burbs during the day is just plain ridiculous in my view. They should sharpen up their customer service.

**AllanB** · 21st February 2010, 22:08

Originally Posted by wild_weston

I'd think the approach the Christchurch Harley shop took (open on weekend closed one day of the week) would make more sense.

I always thought it was a bloody good idea, after all most customers are at work Mon- Fri anyway. I suspect it became a issue with servicing being closed Monday may have caused some headaches. I'll ask next time in in there.