Ranting about NZ retailers

[trustme]

Thing is ive no real interest in paying for a guys rent/power/accountants bills,i understand how it used to work but the reality is very rarely would i notice if bike shops disappeared (as in shops that carry a few bikes and bits n bobs).I know what i am after so online i go and its here around 7 days later for a better price.Bottom line is if the bloke that owns the bike shop cant afford a new boat these days tough,either can i.

So we end up with no dealers & buy our bikes off the internet. Want a test ride ?? Sure thing , check out ' you tube ' . If there is no shop left to sell bikes , buying them gets a whole bunch harder. JMHO

[Ocean1]

For quite some time, now there's been two completely seperate worlds when it comes to the supply of all sorts of equipment.

There's the stuff out of China which often costs the western consumer approximately what his local manufacturer would pay for the materials.
And then there's the stuff from that local manufacturer, usually via at least one intermediary.

I've spent much of my time over the last couple of decades trying to maintain some distance between the two. After all of the various trade barriers are removed there's just one way a local manufacturer can survive. Make shit they can't. I've done OK, but it's fast approaching the point where even that's not possible, I don't have quite the superior technical edge I used to, and all you can do is hope that your reputation for quality makes up the difference.

The thing is, much of what you buy on-line is artificially cheap, through a combination of bulk-buying economies of scale and the absence of a vast range of official and unofficial trade barriers. The last company I worked for couldn't buy the raw materials for their products for the cost (retail) of an imported Chinese finished product. I'm not suggesting the typical 200-300% margin on the local supply over the off-shore price is defensable, but the field certainly ain't level, and it's not looking good, long term for the local guys.

[bogan]

So we end up with no dealers & buy our bikes off the internet. Want a test ride ?? Sure thing , check out ' you tube ' . If there is no shop left to sell bikes , buying them gets a whole bunch harder. JMHO

So us guys buying parts for our second hand bikes are all subsiding the rich cunts who can afford new bikes anyway? Seems like an odd way to run a business...

[imdying]

So we end up with no dealers & buy our bikes off the internet. Want a test ride ?? Sure thing , check out ' you tube ' . If there is no shop left to sell bikes , buying them gets a whole bunch harder. JMHO

Can't get a test ride here anway, so no big deal. Just order from the states, there's a few companies that specialise in flat fee shipping who handle all the hard stuff...

[trustme]

So us guys buying parts for our second hand bikes are all subsiding the rich cunts who can afford new bikes anyway? Seems like an odd way to run a business...

If you put as much effort into aspiring to be a rich cunt as you put into hating them , you might just be a happier person

[bogan]

If you put as much effort into aspiring to be a rich cunt as you put into hating them , you might just be a happier person

I have no shortage of either aspiration or happiness. I do however question the validity of a business model where the biggest sales items must be supported by the smaller to be a viable business, especially in light of the fact customer have a choice when it comes to the smaller items. Guess it doesn't really matter, as if it isn't a viable business model, bike shops will be forced to adopt one that is, or close up. Time will tell eh!

[trustme]

Can't get a test ride here anway, so no big deal. Just order from the states, there's a few companies that specialize in flat fee shipping who handle all the hard stuff...

I can see the dealer networks fading for sure. I'm far from convinced that long term we will be any better off. I'm currently buying bike bits out of Florida [ not available here] time delays make emails & phone calls kind of dragged out, sure as hell would not want to do it all the time for every part .

Remember when computers were coming , hell yeah , the end of paperwork . Still buried in paperwork & screeds of mindless emails from people attempting to justify their existence / job

No texts though . If you can't be bothered talking to me I can't be bothered responding.

[trustme]

I have no shortage of either aspiration or happiness. I do however question the validity of a business model where the biggest sales items must be supported by the smaller to be a viable business, especially in light of the fact customer have a choice when it comes to the smaller items. Guess it doesn't really matter, as if it isn't a viable business model, bike shops will be forced to adopt one that is, or close up. Time will tell eh!

I don't think the margins on bike sales will keep them afloat , they need the parts , servicing & accessory revenue as well

It's a pretty tough game at the moment . I don't think any of them are making any money , certainly not according to a major AK dealer who has decreased his staff by 30%. He should drop more but hopes he will not have too

[Bassmatt]

I don't think the margins on bike sales will keep them afloat , they need the parts , servicing & accessory revenue as well

It's a pretty tough game at the moment . I don't think any of them are making any money , certainly not according to a major AK dealer who has decreased his staff by 30%. He should drop more but hopes he will not have too

There are too many new motorcycle dealers in many areas , its as simple as that. For example Tauranga/Mt has 5 that i can think of vs 7 or 8 (I might be missing 1 or 2) new car dealers. Whats the sales ratio of new cars to new motorbikes? 10 to1? 20 to 1?
Then if you consider there are another 5 odd selling the same bikes 40mins drive away in Rotorua and possibly even more selling the same bikes an hour away in Hamilton...
edit: 2011 144,871 new car rego v 5202 motorcycles (yep dosent include off road, I know)

[bogan]

I don't think the margins on bike sales will keep them afloat , they need the parts , servicing & accessory revenue as well

Then they will just have to increase the margins on the new bikes, not exactly rocket science is it.

[Ocean1]

Then they will just have to increase the margins on the new bikes, not exactly rocket science is it.

The distributors set those prices, it's called a vendor driven market.

And you're right, they don't represent the buyers best interests.

[Swoop]

I enjoy a bit of Kayak fishing...

I have been looking for a shimano baitrunner recently. After this thread I thunked to myself "internet is cheaper" and tried to search out a few options.
A few visits to local fishing shops (plus tardMe, local 'net dealers, etc) and so far I have found one local dealer who is equalling the lowest overseas interdweeb dealer. The bastards have the nerve to also be open on a Sunday!

HOW DARE THEY!


(Unless someone can point out a cheaper supplier of baitrunners?)

[98tls]

I don't think the margins on bike sales will keep them afloat , they need the parts , servicing & accessory revenue as well

It's a pretty tough game at the moment . I don't think any of them are making any money , certainly not according to a major AK dealer who has decreased his staff by 30%. He should drop more but hopes he will not have too

Nothing much has changed then,ive spent some years selling both cars and bikes and remember back around 19 years ago selling Toyotas (for 7 years) which were then and still are i guess a pretty popular car,dealerships then wouldnt have survived without there service depts/parts depts.They struggled back then so its not a new thing,surely somebody should have come up with a new game plan eh,if they havent which it doesnt sound like then...

[avgas]

Slightly off topic but while I'm sitting here on my very high horse I'll have another moan.
The majority of times I have taken a car, trailer, pushbike or even a lawnmower into a mechanic/service center , the person I have dealt with has offered to try to find second hand parts in order to keep the cost of the repairs down. I have never had this when I have dealt with motorcycle workshops. When I was quoted $600 for a radiator fan, once I had stopped laughing, I asked about the possibility of a second hand one. This was met with a blank stare and an eventual "I suppose you (meaning me) could have a look on trademe". No real suggestions, no mention of motorcycle wreckers, no offer like " I'll see if I can find something and get back to you ".
The stupid pricks could have got the same second hand fan I did for $75 and charged me $300 and I would have been very happy at saving $300 and gone around telling people how fantastic (pun intended) they were.
End of rant. I feel better.

That is actually a very good point. Most of the bike shops have charged me a small fortune while they made everything official. The exception to the rule has been Blackwood (?) Yamaha in Cambridge - who saved my arse and my pocket when the FZ1 shat a bearing on its way to Taupo.

On a positive note. Had a good run in with Cycletreads lately. Got a 18" tyre, fitted, cleaned my wheel, replaced the valve......made me feel guilty when I put it back on so I had to clean the swing-arm and sliders.

[Headbanger]

So we end up with no dealers & buy our bikes off the internet. Want a test ride ?? Sure thing , check out ' you tube ' . If there is no shop left to sell bikes , buying them gets a whole bunch harder. JMHO

Sounds good to me, test rides are good for sweet fanny fuck all.

You can't tell in a single ride if you can live long term with a bike or not, At best you might notice if its fucked, But thats the second hand market....or a Hyosung.