Sportzone Suzuki - Christchurch?

[AllanB]

So ....... did Avon City Suzuki really do that much damage to Sport Zone? Sport Zone had a strong following of customers.

One thing that has not helped Suzuki or any of the Japanese brands over the past two years of global shittiness - their product has not altered (ie nothing really new and exciting) and the prices went up and up.

Now Harley and Triumph for example have introduced new models (or significantly interesting variations on existing ones) and prices actually fell in many cases.

With Street & Sport in Sport Zone I often said since September that Street & Sport are more likely to make a new Triumph sale to someone who walked in to look at a new Suzuki than vice versa.

Also - with Hampton Honda up and alive how are Casbolts getting on?

[scott411]

agree with the response above with the japanese sitting on models for two long,

but i think one of the biggest issue is the strength of the yen, the pound and the US $ have dropped big time, meaning the price gap has narrowed considerably,

[Muppet]

If the last issue of Avenues was anything to go buy, it's because Harleys attract old cashed up gits on image alone

I read that article and had to laugh, one of the hogsters said that they wave to each other and help if someone breaks down or similar. Absolute rubbish, they don't even wave to each other, let alone stop and help.

[Stylo]

So ....... did Avon City Suzuki really do that much damage to Sport Zone? Sport Zone had a strong following of customers.

One thing that has not helped Suzuki or any of the Japanese brands over the past two years of global shittiness - their product has not altered (ie nothing really new and exciting) and the prices went up and up.

Now Harley and Triumph for example have introduced new models (or significantly interesting variations on existing ones) and prices actually fell in many cases.

With Street & Sport in Sport Zone I often said since September that Street & Sport are more likely to make a new Triumph sale to someone who walked in to look at a new Suzuki than vice versa.

Also - with Hampton Honda up and alive how are Casbolts getting on?

Ahem, and Norjo's ? Can't say it's a shop I visit that often these days ...tables full of second hand goods and dusty motorcycles, tumbleweed blowing down the street ...walk in and walk out and you'll never hear a word from anyone..........and they're still alive ? ...go figure, guess their overheads are a tad lower than Sportzone though... hmmm

[bonita]

Yeah, same. They're a good bunch of guys and got shafted by Suzuki big time with Avon City getting road bikes as well as dirt bikes. ChCh is just too small for 2 dealers.

How can you say that when we have Two kawasaki dealers, Two honda dealers in town the Rangiora Honda and Happers Honda in Dunsandel, Suzuki has been the largest selling motorcycle for years of course ChCh is big enough if the others can survive

[bonita]

So ....... did Avon City Suzuki really do that much damage to Sport Zone? Sport Zone had a strong following of customers.

One thing that has not helped Suzuki or any of the Japanese brands over the past two years of global shittiness - their product has not altered (ie nothing really new and exciting) and the prices went up and up.

Now Harley and Triumph for example have introduced new models (or significantly interesting variations on existing ones) and prices actually fell in many cases.

With Street & Sport in Sport Zone I often said since September that Street & Sport are more likely to make a new Triumph sale to someone who walked in to look at a new Suzuki than vice versa.

Also - with Hampton Honda up and alive how are Casbolts getting on?

I don't think Avon City Suzuki have done any damage to Sportzone really, The rumour mill has it the rent for the new building was astronomical.

As for Suzuki versus Triumph in the same shop I think a lot of people would relate to Joseph who use to work for Sportzone and now works for Street and Sport I think it would have worked out better for Street and Sport.

Casbolt are a very established shop and with the Ducati's in there as well, They may have lost a few quad bike sales to Hamptons but if we wait long enough Hamptons will change brands again it must be about time.

[shrub]

How can you say that when we have Two kawasaki dealers, Two honda dealers in town the Rangiora Honda and Happers Honda in Dunsandel, Suzuki has been the largest selling motorcycle for years of course ChCh is big enough if the others can survive

There's a lot more to it than that, and business viability is not solely dependent on competition etc.

[Oakie]

At the risk of sounding like a vulture picking over the bones, I wonder if they are having a closing down sale. I need some new gloves for winter.

[trailblazer]

it's sad to see any bike shop close down expecially if it is one that you have had a good relationship with. but these days people would rather sit at home on the internet and save 20 or 30 bucks and wait 3 or 4 days for it to turn up than jump on the bike and go to your local and get it off the shelf and have a bit of a yarn at the same time. Sad but true.

[JimO]

it's sad to see any bike shop close down expecially if it is one that you have had a good relationship with. but these days people would rather sit at home on the internet and save 20 or 30 bucks and wait 3 or 4 days for it to turn up than jump on the bike and go to your local and get it off the shelf and have a bit of a yarn at the same time. Sad but true.

yea but the same people will happily call into a bike shop, have a coffee, mooch about the bikes, waste peoples time and go home and save the $$$ by buying of the interweb, peoples choice really but once the local guy has gone under he wont be back

[onearmedbandit]

it's sad to see any bike shop close down expecially if it is one that you have had a good relationship with. but these days people would rather sit at home on the internet and save 20 or 30 bucks and wait 3 or 4 days for it to turn up than jump on the bike and go to your local and get it off the shelf and have a bit of a yarn at the same time. Sad but true.

No. Unfortunately I'll save depending on what I'm buying $300-$400 and wait only 10 days instead of waiting the 4 weeks the shop suggests. I'm not singling out Sportzone, not at all, but if I can buy something overseas for up to a third of the price and get it here in a third of the time, explain to me why I should pay extra and wait longer.

[trailblazer]

can't say that i have ever purchased anything that i could save $300 to $400 on by buying of the net. Also can't say that i have ever had to wait 4 weeks for my LBS to get me in anything that i have ordered most of the time it has been over night or within 2 or 3 days. I have never briught anything for my bike off the internet and i will support my LBS just like they support my work with getting customers to come and see me for panel and paint work aswell as using me themselves. Im not saying that what you are saying dosn't happen it just hasn't happened to me.

[onearmedbandit]

can't say that i have ever purchased anything that i could save $300 to $400 on by buying of the net. Also can't say that i have ever had to wait 4 weeks for my LBS to get me in anything that i have ordered most of the time it has been over night or within 2 or 3 days. I have never briught anything for my bike off the internet and i will support my LBS just like they support my work with getting customers to come and see me for panel and paint work aswell as using me themselves. Im not saying that what you are saying dosn't happen it just hasn't happened to me.

Here's an example for you then. 2009 CBR1000 seat cowl from LBS, $640 plus a 4 week wait. I landed one here from America for $280 and it arrived in 10 days. At xmas time.

[Katman]

Here's an example for you then. 2009 CBR1000 seat cowl from LBS, $640 plus a 4 week wait. I landed one here from America for $280 and it arrived in 10 days. At xmas time.

Yes, but that is the fault of Blue Wing Honda - not the local bike shop.

They just get to suffer the consequences.

[onearmedbandit]

Yes, but that is the fault of Blue Wing Honda - not the local bike shop.

They just get to suffer the consequences.

Which in my thread about this example I put the blame squarely on BW's shoulders. However, because BW want to rape me, should I just bend over and get arse-fucked by them? Sure, it sucks for the retailer, but if they are aware of it they need to do something about it. It's not their fault, but it's their responsibility.