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

[Ixion]

..

I'll have their people call your people.

Meh, Dude, get with the times. this *is* the twenty second century. Nobody calls anyone anymore, and I don't have people. Their bot should txt my droid.

[Big Dave]

*sigh* As your agent, I'll get you up to speed eventually. If you are serious, you turn the phone off till after lunch and at least 6 beers are done. Then you negotiate. We're talking 'people' hyar.

[mynameis]

Initially I was thinking a better comparison would be a new car dealer. Less sales but similar business style. They (for the most part) are open 7 days a week, but then the volume of car sales far outstrip motorcycle sales, and motorcycles are for a lot of people a life style, not their primary method of carting the kids around, getting the groceries, taking the rubbish to the tip. Also fewer people would be going to a new car dealer to purchase accessories/spares on the weekends (as a lot will leave their vehicles how they optrioned them and motorcyclist are more likely to carry out work themselves). So they cater to a much wider and larger demographic, so it makes sense for them to be open on Sundays, and the business can support it (number of sales staff). But it's not the perfect comparision.

Another possibility could be the boat industry. Once again, not perfect but as to most buyers of boats their choice of purchase reflects a lifestyle (sames as motorcyclists). Sales figures are no doubt lower but a lot of their customers would be buying accessories etc (similar to motorcyclists again). I had a look at some boat dealer websites (Link 1, Link 2, Link 3.) and the first 3 I found are all closed on Sundays. It appears the 2 of them have a 24hr parts ordering system, allowing them to compete with internet traders.

In my humble opinion I would suggest that the motorcycle industry is a bit of both, recreational and primary transport for individuals. An online parts ordering system, like some of the boat dealers have, would go a long way to resolving some of the issues.

+1 Good example.

Fairly fundamental question that. Are the bike shop owners running them as a business, or as a lifestyle? Sounds like the latter. Thing is , I don't have to "fit in" with them any more. There's another option now. And more and more people are going down that route. Not necessarily willingly - I'd much rather give money to fellow Kiwis than send it out of the country. But if it comes down to the bike shop saying "fit in with my lifestyle or piss off", my answer will be "No, I'm the customer, you fit in with MY lifestyle , or I will piss off, onto the Internet".

Yes fairly fundamental question and fairly simple answer which any successful businessman will very quickly tell you, as quickly as a 10 year old fat kid eats his chocolate cake.

You don't enter into business with one mind set of making large amounts of profit. Businesses who operate primarily with profits in mind fail quickly and long term sustainable and successful businesses have widely been linked to other factors like having passion to service certain industries as opposed to profit margins. There are 100's of cases out there.

A lot of people enter into business not only to make profit but to suit and fit their lifestyles. Do some reading/research and you'll figure it out. And I am all for work life balance. If one "buggers off" because a Bike Shop isn't open 1 day of the week than it speaks volumes of their narrow minded approach. You'd probably be better of shopping on the net and servicing your own bike.

I on the other hand am more than happy to inconvenience myself and fit in with their opening hours if it means a hardworking honest fellow gets some time off to suit his lifestyle. (And on the other hand you also have to take a common sense practicle approach to it i.e. you wouldn't be at bike shops every single weekend shopping for parts/accessories/service.)

I've grown up in that society and want my kids to grow up in the same lifestyle/society that we are well known for. Enjoying the outdoors and having a balance as opposed to pumping 100 hours a week.

Because your $1,000,000.00 in the bank is worth nothing if you don't have the time to enjoy it.

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

Initially I was thinking a better comparison would be a new car dealer. Less sales but similar business style. They (for the most part) are open 7 days a week, but then the volume of car sales far outstrip motorcycle sales, and motorcycles are for a lot of people a life style, not their primary method of carting the kids around, getting the groceries, taking the rubbish to the tip. Also fewer people would be going to a new car dealer to purchase accessories/spares on the weekends (as a lot will leave their vehicles how they optrioned them and motorcyclist are more likely to carry out work themselves). So they cater to a much wider and larger demographic, so it makes sense for them to be open on Sundays, and the business can support it (number of sales staff). But it's not the perfect comparision.

Another possibility could be the boat industry. Once again, not perfect but as to most buyers of boats their choice of purchase reflects a lifestyle (sames as motorcyclists). Sales figures are no doubt lower but a lot of their customers would be buying accessories etc (similar to motorcyclists again). I had a look at some boat dealer websites (Link 1, Link 2, Link 3.) and the first 3 I found are all closed on Sundays. It appears the 2 of them have a 24hr parts ordering system, allowing them to compete with internet traders.

In my humble opinion I would suggest that the motorcycle industry is a bit of both, recreational and primary transport for individuals. An online parts ordering system, like some of the boat dealers have, would go a long way to resolving some of the issues.

Thank you. Green bling coming your way.

So if we take a bit of car dealer and a bit of boat dealer as a comparison are they:

Open late weeknights?
Open Staurday afternoons?

I think Sunday opening is effectively a non starter.

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

Ok so I take it you're some University Student .......

Nope. project management usually implementating change programmes.

Downturn conclusion is based upon bike shop closures, as posted by other members on here.

Doubt red baron keep sthe NZ operation open because it only loses the equivalent of loose change. (Didn't know they were part of a larger corp though). Most overseas branches, of multi-national corps are judged on a return on capital basis.

You really hate that Dick Smith example don't you. I'm fine with it.

I do think bike shop owners have thought about it and then think "oh bugger it no - if no-one else is doing it then I don't have to". The point of this thread was to give a consumers opinion upon this.

[Lurch]

This thread is becoming fucking hilarious. Can we get some string theory involved here also please?

Time for a random quote of the day:

"The plural of anecdote is not data"

[BoristheBiter]

I think they show you the stock on hand on the website. I remember one tyre I wanted showed out of stock , so I looked through the catalog and found a similar one that was showing as in stock. Of course, no online stock figure can ever be totally reliable, they may sell the last one while you're riding in. But it works fairly well.

Having an online catalog does go some way to addressing the problem. Not perfect but better, because it does mean that if I do have to take time off work, I know it won't be a wasted trip.

i agree but being asked to pay of it before they will even order it, not my idea of service.

[Ixion]

I guess they would say that if they didn't ask for payment in advance, the buyer would get them to order it, then go somewhere else, find it in stock there and buy it, leaving the first shop stuck with the ordered item.

I don't have a problem with paying in advance, providing they are definite they will get it .

[onearmedbandit]

So if we take a bit of car dealer and a bit of boat dealer as a comparison are they:

Open late weeknights?
Open Staurday afternoons?

I think Sunday opening is effectively a non starter.

A late Thursday or Friday night (any night for that matter) would need to extend to 9pm I believe to have any effect, only going to 7pm would be mostly pointless. A big part of your customer base probably have family commitments that can't really be excused by a wander down to the bike shop at dinner time. Late nights are also a bone of contention with most sales people, however balancing that with a starting time of say 1pm goes a long way to encouraging staff. However the gloss of late nights/late starts soon wears off.

Being open on a Saturday makes more sense, however I would extend the times out to 3pm. This would give ample oppotunity for most people to have a sleep-in, or take the kids to sports, drop the rubbish off, whatever and still get down to the shops for a look around/test ride. On top of that I'd setup an online ordering system, promote it strongly, make sure it is easy to use and reliable and employ someone whose primary duty was to ensure it ran smoothly.

It's not perfect, nothing ever is. It won't please everyone, but that isn't possible. But it would allow ample opportunity for people to get into the shop or order online, and keep staff morale higher, and keep overheads down so the owner could keep the doors open.

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

It's not perfect, nothing ever is. It won't please everyone, but that isn't possible. But it would allow ample opportunity for people to get into the shop or order online, and keep staff morale higher, and keep overheads down so the owner could keep the doors open.

Quote of the thread and very - true. All the necessary points are in there.

Cheers

[BoristheBiter]

I guess they would say that if they didn't ask for payment in advance, the buyer would get them to order it, then go somewhere else, find it in stock there and buy it, leaving the first shop stuck with the ordered item.

I don't have a problem with paying in advance, providing they are definite they will get it .

I don't ether but as i didn't know what size or if it would fit well (knee brace) i'm not giving them $700 to guess then get it wrong.

[Robert Taylor]

The best thing cycletreads ever did, was open on sundays.

Im sure thats both from a business and consumer point of view too.

Go figure.

In an area with high density population and with a lot of products ( an accessory and tyre warehouse ) yes that can work but not everyone lives in Auckland or Wellington or Christchurch.

The argument for having extra staff to fill in on weekends also wears very thin with me. The trade is a lot more complex than people realise and ( frankly) you get the best service from people with long experience that know the industry inside out. Such people are VERY thin on the ground.

Id hate to see the trade move further to redshed mentality where you get ''service'' from a pimply low paid 16 year old with no product knowledge, that being almost as good as it gets.

[Robert Taylor]

I am. But, I'd rather my money stayed in NZ. For lots of reasons. So , if I could get what I need locally I would. Even if it cost a bit more. But if I have to take 2 hours off work at a cost of $100 to go and buy a $20 part, then the effective cost is too high. I can probably get it delivered to my door for $15. And no time off work.

And then what happens, when I need the $500 part, I'll go overseas again cos I've got in the habit now. Cos the local bike shops just make it too hard to deal with them.

But, all that money going overseas is money that ISN'T going into Kiwis pockets. I'd prefer it to stay here. But the attitude of the trade makes it too hard to justify.

Thats a bit of a blanket statement isnt it? Not all the trade is as you say it is.

I wonder how many people reading this thread work in industries that are taking big hits from parallell importing, thereby affecting their job security?????

[Robert Taylor]

Which is of course true, but one small point... How much confidence in your abilities do you think it instills in your customer if you produce a 150hp dyno reading for a 110hp bike? Or do you think the average customer is just going to think your a bunch of incompetent arseholes? I mean, if they can't correctly setup a dyno to produce a figure that is close to accurate, what are the chances that they'll be able to setup a bike?

Also consider manufacturers ''pamphlet horsepower''

[Robert Taylor]

I might also add that I think the traditional bike shop business model has had its day. Times have changes and the bikes are A, Commodities B, Reliable ( what are Honda's now first service at 24 000 km? My BSA Bantam was every 24 min )

I don't know what a new business model would be , but off the top of my head I would say full on service and entertainment. ( try big screen MOTOGP and refreshments , or a few beers and Ill drop off your bike in my van, Just a thought )

Also i would encourage the purchase from the Internet , Come in and ask, I have the knowledge to help you purchase the part , I can also install it for you ( swings and roundabouts here )

in other words your local friendly bike shop here for you. ( oh and one of the boys will be in Akaroa if you need us )
























Honestly I dont know but if it was ( and I have been in the game long enough ) my shop thats what I would do

Stephen

ps Im over forty but sometimes forget things ,,and my hearing aid is getting repaired

Japanese bikes are reliable ( in most cases ) Chinese bikes arent so there need to be people in bike shops tearing their hair out working on this weetbix rubbish.