Is there room for a new bike shop in WGTN

**Clivoris** · 11th July 2006, 20:11

Oops. Forgot the thread question for a while. There are a couple of shops in Welly that get my money at the moment. I imagine if something like a superstore opened and drew clients away, it could get hard for the current crew. But I can't imagine switching my loyalties at the moment.

**Madness** · 11th July 2006, 20:15

I don't think there's room. You'd have to be pretty passionate & commited to go for a couple of years at least without breaking even.

Boyle Kawasaki

Wellington Motorcycles - Suzuki, H.D, Triumph

Sawyers/Motorad - BMW, Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, GasGas, Gilera, Italjet, PGO, Piaggio, Vespa

Motomart - Honda, Ducati

TSS - Yamaha, Aprilia, KTM, Hyosung

Maidstone Yamaha

Boys Toys - Yamaha (both of 'em)

Dude in Pukerua Bay selling Buell's (word of mouth)

McGuinness Classics (apparently have more stock than Boys Toys)

There's also an interesting Chinese scooter shop in Alicetown and a scooter place in Abel Smith Street from memory.

I like the idea of a bike shop in Martinborough, they would have to have a Barista service of course.

**James Deuce** · 11th July 2006, 20:15

Originally Posted by Slingshot

Best bet would be to open a bike shop in Martinborough.

You could open just on the weekend and have the week off, you'd pretty much capture the Wgtn market and I'd have a new excuse to go for a ride..."I'm just popping out to the bike shop to pick up that headlight bulb, be back in a couple of hours"

Best idea I've seen yet.

There's the surrounding Farm equipment market to service Wednesday to Friday, and the Welly crew for road bikes and equipment on the weekend.

Free courier back to Wellington for Purchases Over $200.

Free coffee from the Fush for purchases over $50.

Riding time Monday and Tuesday.

*Runs off to talk to the wife about selling up and moving to Martinborough*

**madboy** · 11th July 2006, 20:52

Well I'm a loyal TSS man. They know my face, they know my name, they know my bike and they know what I'm into. I can ring up, say my name, assure them that I still DO have a license, then get the answer and/or service I want. And I get an honest answer, not an "We've got excess stock of product bla so I highly recommend you take a set of them, they stick like shit to a blanket and work from -20 degrees, got 'em on my mates bike and he swears by 'em!" I go there not because I'm particularly displeased with any of the other shops, but geography drew me to them and I kinda stayed. My current bike came from them, and I expect my next one will too. In saying that, I frequently hear good things about people at other shops - Martin (SparkyBills) at Motomart for one, but to be honest I've always got what I wanted from the guys at TSS so never had a reason to consider anywhere else.

Bikes are a lot different to other commodities. If you want to buy a Ferrari, you usually go to the Ferrari dealer. But if you want to buy a "car", you can pick any one of 100 caryards that sell "cars". Most people buy "cars", but most bikers LOVE their little "ferrari". And because we see the dealer a lot more often that we are likely to see the car dealer again, we tend to form relationships and stick with them.

I have no opinion on whether there is room or not in the Wgtn market for another shop, I just know what I like and see no reason to change.

**Hitcher** · 11th July 2006, 21:03

Originally Posted by Jim2

*Runs off to talk to the wife about selling up and moving to Martinborough*

*Hmmm. Ditto*

**diggydog** · 11th July 2006, 21:35

Originally Posted by Colapop

What's available now...
TSS
Motomart
Sawyer/Motorad
Boyles
Wgtn Motorcycles
Boys Toys (2 road bikes - hardly counts)
A place in Kapiti (can't remember it's name)

In Wellington Central yeah I'd like to see a decent shop in competition with the marketed for the masses WGtn M/cycles. From what I've been told and talking to them TSS and Motomart seem to have the Hutt Valley sorted. Colemans should open a franchise....

Not that many, don't think it would hurts, as we benefit with the competition and keeps prices down.
Theres a couple of bike shops i know of, even brought a few bikes at sawyers and boyles,was it sawyers use to be in cuba street if i remember right, thats going back 25yrs +

**SARGE** · 11th July 2006, 21:58

Originally Posted by Colapop

.
The problem with Wellington bike shops is not really the number of them (more or less wouldn't matter too much) it's just the service. Service seems to be grossly under-rated. Lou and Sarge (sorry to drag you in here guys) are examples of sales staff who go the extra mile for their customers (from what I've been told) but they seem to reap the reward for that service. No, I don't believe (having been in sales at one point) that you have to be a simpering suck up, just provide good service.

bottom line is that Lou and i are bikers FIRST and sales persons second.. we've both been on the other side of the desk more than once in a bike shop and know what good service should look like..(unfortunatly , neither of us are the Owners and sometimes our good service gets cock-blocked by those at the top of the food chain.. beyond our control at times.)

i make a decent living doing this.. but i personally refuse to put a person on the wrong bike just to make a sale.. if someone comes to me and tells me that they are looking for a commuter .. i wont try to push them onto a Hayabusa, just because there is a huge paycheck in it..that Busa i sell them as a commuter is going to be the last bike i ever sell them..

i'd rather sell them a great low priced 400CC bike today and a Busa in 18 months ..

there are certain bikes i do not discount ..GSX-r's, GN250's and MV's .. the Suzukis, because i dont have to.. i'll sell them all day long at full window and the MV's because .. well... they are MV's .. you dont walk into a Lambo shop and ask " whats the best cash price?"

and i never suck up to make a sale..no point in it if you feel dirty at closing time...been there, done that at another shop.
ive tossed more than one asshole out of the shop for being an unrealistic dick

p.s. fuck working Sundays too.. i already put in 60+ hours a week at the shop and another 10-15 at home on the advertising and marketing

Originally Posted by Skunk

Of course there is. But to have customers you (and all the staff) have to provide service. Something *most* bike shops don't seem to understand. Unless you're a 'buddy'...

best way to become a "buddy" is to come in with your cash..hehehehe

**Zapf** · 11th July 2006, 22:11

Originally Posted by bobsmith

Service with smile??/!!!!

Man you're in the wrong country for that, even with asian workers here. I tell ya, relative to service in asian countries (well when I say this, I only speak for south korea) I say all the asian workers I've seen in NZ are too bitter for no apparent reason... It must be a part of being allowed to work in this country.

I was wanting to take offence to that... but it didn't hurt.... oh well.

**SARGE** · 11th July 2006, 22:14

Originally Posted by Zapf

I was wanting to take offence to that... but it didn't hurt.... oh well.

i thought you were Mongolian..

**sels1** · 11th July 2006, 22:39

Originally Posted by Colapop

A place in Kapiti (can't remember it's name)
.

Actually there are 2 in Kapiti now, Twin Cam and Hi-Torque.

Service in Wgtn? I have had excellent and pisspoor - sometimes from the same shop!

ANZA Motorcycles in Palmerston Nth are open on Sundays, (and they have free coffee).

While I cant blame anyone for not wanting to work on Sunday, more and more retailers are heading this way. People who work Mon to Fri do most of their shopping on the weekend. Staff work a roster like any other 7 day outfit. Imagine what it would be like if the petrol stations and cafes were closed on Sundays....

**James Deuce** · 12th July 2006, 07:13

Originally Posted by sels1

Imagine what it would be like if the petrol stations and cafes were closed on Sundays....

It'd be brilliant. We could go back to concentrating on going for a ride and only stopping for petrol and toilet breaks.

**Insanity_rules** · 12th July 2006, 07:32

Originally Posted by Jim2

It'd be brilliant. We could go back to concentrating on going for a ride and only stopping for petrol and toilet breaks.

What???? no ride coffee??? Man my lil honda would only go 200k's on a full tank. Thats not a decent ride.

On to the real topic, I like dealing with my chosen bike shop. I give them my budget and what needs doing, they let me know if I'm being realistic and they quite often pull off a very well priced job too. They don't suck up and they're human! If they told me I was being unrealistic (they have done once) I listen to that. They all ride daily in the howling rain, so advice on gear is always smack on. Their bike prices are pretty reasonable and they have more than once gone out of their way to help me above and beyond the call of duty.

TSS rock!

**Skunk** · 12th July 2006, 07:33

Originally Posted by SARGE

best way to become a "buddy" is to come in with your cash..hehehehe

After buying five bikes off this particular shop I sort of 'expect' to be acknowledged as I look around the shop by *someone*... Maybe even asked how my day is?

Bike Assocory shop would be best in Martinborough I think. Rather than a bike sales shop.

**Hotchefnz** · 12th July 2006, 08:19

Hutt Area is well serviced - Motormart are great to deal with, and service department are always helpful.
Got a great deal from sales department, when buying bike.
Parts are expensive but then TSS are also good to compare prices with and are also helpful.
Wellington - wouldnt deal with as two times I have gone to get some prices and compare products have been given pretty shitty service.
I dont really think Wellington needs another, but then I think Lower Hutt provides great service and good courteous service.......
Motarmart & TSS are great..........

**snuffles** · 12th July 2006, 08:31

Originally Posted by Hitcher

"British"? What sort of cop-out nationality is that supposed to be? Usually reserved for use by poms with an identity crisis who're scared people will take the piss if they admit to being English. It's certainly not a term widely used by the Welsh, Scots or northern Irish.

Thanks for your obviously cultured veiw on my nationality..... I will file it with the rest of them