Motorcycle shop retailers using the Internet as a sales tool for wholesalers

[Quasievil]

Good come back quasi but I can aford my online persona becuase I am not trying to build relationships with potential Wholesale suppliers or customers eh.

So can I, my reputation is outstanding

Anyway Must dash

[Mully]

I'd be interested to know how much of the distributors' reluctance to supply online-only stores (i.e. Quasi in this case) - is due to pressure from the retailers to not undermine the long-term existing business.

[wysper]

Part of it can be that the Supplier believes (rightly or wrongly) that the end user may be reluctant to buy from an retailer who is online only.
And also is reluctant to supply someone who MAY undercut the RRP to such an extent that the bricks and mortar retailer suffers, also brand perception can suffer too.

The supplier may have agreements in place not to supply online retailers.

The supplier might not wish to deal with certain dealers.

None of this may apply to Quasi at all, just an opinion.

(sorry Quasi, I read through this a couple of days ago and can't remember if you addressed some of the above points or not. these are just broad general comments, not specific!!)

[imdying]

Clearly if the existing business' are that susceptible to being undercut in that manner, then they're adding no value, and deserve to go the way of the dodo.

[wysper]

I would have to disagree with you there, but that is going considerably off this threads topic to reply.

[SS90]

Interesting.

I believe the reasons some wholesalers won't supply Internet based sellers is primarily brand protection followed by protecting their established retainers who, prior to the Internet age, where the wholesalers "bread and butter".

It is logical.... What do the internet based sellers have in their favour? PRICE, they constantly market themselves as cheaper. If a wholesaler was to supply an Internet based seller a brand of Helmet for example, to compete with an established bricks and mortar business, the Internet based seller will clearly make it cheaper, and as there is only so much business to go around, the establishes business will lose out.

Not a nice way to treat your long termers is it?

[Henk]

And if you decided to alienate the established bick and mortar stores, who in my opinion do add value, why bother with online only businesses to resell. Would make more sense in that case to go to online sales direct and cut out, or collect another chunk of margin.

[Hitcher]

It's not just about price. It's also about service. I refer to my conversation-killing example: the 3XL helmet. Bike shops can be as nice as pie and trumpet the merits of the myriad of pinhead helmets they stock about which I give not a fuck, but they're not going to stock a 3XL on the basis that they'll only sell one a decade. They won't get a sample in on a sale-or-return basis because the distributors don't hold them either (apart from Shoeis or HJCs in black only). I understand that. So please don't get all pious and sniffy when I buy one ex-USA or ex-UK.

[SS90]

It's not just about price. It's also about service. I refer to my conversation-killing example: the 3XL helmet. Bike shops can be as nice as pie and trumpet the merits of the myriad of pinhead helmets they stock about which I give not a fuck, but they're not going to stock a 3XL on the basis that they'll only sell one a decade. They won't get a sample in on a sale-or-return basis because the distributors don't hold them either (apart from Shoeis or HJCs in black only). I understand that. So please don't get all pious and sniffy when I buy one ex-USA or ex-UK.

Fair enough.