What's happened to the bike shops?

[Kittyhawk]

Wondering through the bike shops the other day, and I noticed there were hardly any second hand bikes. Usually front entrances are stacked full.....

[oneofsix]

Wondering through the bike shops the other day, and I noticed there were hardly any second hand bikes. Usually front entrances are stacked full.....

Two suggestions, possibly a combination of both. Trademe or riders not being able to afford to trade-up.

[sootie]

Wondering through the bike shops the other day, and I noticed there were hardly any second hand bikes. Usually front entrances are stacked full.....

A recession plus higher rego fees must have some effect, and I think most Bike Shops are struggling.
I had not noticed exactly what you described on the North Shore.
Red Baron (Ak city) was pretty devoid of second hand bikes the last time I looked though.

Interesting theme for further comment.

[Quasievil]

I think Bike shops are very complacent and not very reactive, there are 5 bike shops that know im looking for a bike and they have an idea what Im looking for, they have my contact details etc ..........NONE have contacted me in the last 3 months.................fuck it buy a race car instead

[Berg]

.............fuck it buy a race car instead

How to make a small fortune from race cars...............start with a large fortune

[jellywrestler]

i once rang every bike shop from wellington to gisborne accros to new plymouth looking for a bike for my partner, the most common reply was have you tried trade me, next most common was we don't even know what that is
Honda BROS 400 BTW
now if someone rang me i'd be typing with one hand to A find out what one was B see if there were any on trade me that may even be able to be chanelled through the dealer.
it truly was like everyone had just surrendered to the great white trade me.

[Tigadee]

now if someone rang me i'd be typing with one hand to A find out what one was B see if there were any on trade me that may even be able to be chanelled through the dealer.
it truly was like everyone had just surrendered to the great white trade me.

And instead of upping their game, the bike shop just lies down without a fight and passes you on to TM?! What a bunch of losers...

[baffa]

Its also that they are too uncompetitive.
Ive seen a few older bikes outside cyclespot, like an early 90s CBR250 in average condition, and they are asking about $5K for it. If they sold them with barely a margin I think theyd clear a lot more stock, then get a lot of customers coming back for services etc.

[sootie]

Its also that they are too uncompetitive.
Ive seen a few older bikes outside cyclespot, like an early 90s CBR250 in average condition, and they are asking about $5K for it. If they sold them with barely a margin I think theyd clear a lot more stock, then get a lot of customers coming back for services etc.

Servicing is a dirty word for most businesses. They do it because they have to offer it to get sales on new vehicles, equipment or whatever, but the trend is to close down this part of a business if you can.
It is expensive re necessary stock holdings, training requirements for staff, and it is usually hard to schedule a steady throughput of work which makes a profit.

It is much easier to employ a salesman in a suit or whatever and make several thousand profit on each sale (if you can.) Training "a suit" to tell lies convincingly is apparently a lot easier & more profitable than training a mechanic or technician. Welcome to 21st century NZ!

[Gremlin]

Servicing is a dirty word for most businesses. They do it because they have to offer it to get sales on new vehicles, equipment or whatever, but the trend is to close down this part of a business if you can.

Actually, there's several motorcycle shops I know where servicing keeps the doors open. When motorcycles aren't selling, its workshop that's generating business, inc parts etc.

[Big Dave]

The industry is in bad shape. Economy, tax levies and cheap performance cars have had an effect. There are a few bright spots. KTM eg. But big picture, 2007 would be nice.

My guess is over the next few years there will be a shift towards the current Hyosung business model. Distributor and retailer combined.

[DMNTD:Me]

Servicing is a dirty word for most businesses. They do it because they have to offer it to get sales on new vehicles, equipment or whatever, but the trend is to close down this part of a business if you can.
It is expensive re necessary stock holdings, training requirements for staff, and it is usually hard to schedule a steady throughput of work which makes a profit.

It is much easier to employ a salesman in a suit or whatever and make several thousand profit on each sale (if you can.) Training "a suit" to tell lies convincingly is apparently a lot easier & more profitable than training a mechanic or technician. Welcome to 21st century NZ!

Huh?? The Service Dept is generally the only department that makes any money over winter etc especially if the shop is not rural.

[sootie]

Huh?? The Service Dept is generally the only department that makes any money over winter etc especially if the shop is not rural.

Yep, it is still easier to get bikes serviced than most other things. Will it follow the same trend??

[Tigadee]

...I think theyd clear a lot more stock, then get a lot of customers coming back for services etc.

I thought they were supposed to operate on that premise already? "Forget margins on bikes, we'll get 'em on the parts, accessories and labour"?

[SILVER SUZI]

I'm no expert, but when was the last time you saw a second hand car in a branded car dealer? Some do keep the good trade-ins to resell, but many only have new cars. Why should bike shops that are affiliated to a brand be any different.
I'm guessing if you are going to take up floor-space in a showroom it might as well be with something that makes a reasonable margin.

Like I said, no expert, just my uneducated guess.