Honda Otago to close

**Brian d marge** · 27th March 2009, 02:16

sorry tangent ahead .......

sad to hear about the shop , but lets face it the whole bike shop thing is down the pan ...the whole business model of the bike shop is out dated and ..well I wont go as far as saying flawed ..

crash damage and consumables . thats it ,,as sad as it is , you dont want repair ..

well repair could work ( maybe ) ..fixed price and a mechanic on the ball ,,ie get it right first time, and is quick and accurate ...........

Harley had it right with image and strong branding, but even now the bike side is falling down

Royal Enfield had it right with the bikes , cheap , and the spares are REALLY CHEAP ... and MAY ...( if the spares remain v cheap ) get it right again with the new bike ... ( I doubt it as the tooling was expensive )

I dont know , i would go down the events side of thing , good customer service ( limited range though , but backed up with a network ,,ie people who will take on the big jobs) and trying to involve bike shop and customer and bike in an event ,,,( no a sausage sizzle is plain dumb ... best left for schools trying to raise money for new chalk ,,)

a bike shop is service work , be happy in providing a service . ...... ( a customer wants to hop on bike and share experience of a ride with friends in /at after the ride ....had a few beers , dont worry bike shop is here to get you home ...........

Stephen

**Xaria** · 27th March 2009, 04:34

I have had nothing but awesome service at Honda Otago. Almost as good at MCR, McIvor & Veitch only really acknowledged me the last time I was in and SPV have not to this day noticed I have been in their shop.

On a more cynical note: Does anyone know if they are running a sale as I really need a new pair of winter weight gloves.

**my_r32** · 27th March 2009, 13:09

My boyfriend went past there twice this morning, said the doors wern't open, no bike out on the street as per normal, basically looked closed apart from a couple guys inside moving some bikes around.

Its quite sad to see a dealership close really. I had some good dealings with both Kevin and Dave there. Helped me out heaps

**Kemet** · 27th March 2009, 20:11

Originally Posted by jimjim

there isnt many options, MCR, Veiches or SPV

Unless something has happened since I last had a look, there is also the guys at Advanced MC in Waverley St, South D (a side street next to Warewhare and Pak n Slave).

**Ecclesnz** · 27th March 2009, 20:20

Originally Posted by Kemet

Unless something has happened since I last had a look, there is also the guys at Advanced MC in Waverley St, South D (a side street next to Warewhare and Pak n Slave).

They are still going and delivering great service

**Kemet** · 27th March 2009, 20:40

Originally Posted by Ecclesnz

They are still going and delivering great service

Multi choice for ya Ecclesnz:

Do you

A) Work there
B) Own it
or
C) just like it enough to post what you posted

**Solly** · 27th March 2009, 21:19

Can't say I bought much from these guys, but when we were looking for a bike for Amazon, the guy who served us couldn't be more helpful.....even going as far as offering a bike for the weekend....now thats' something you don't hear all that often.

**Ecclesnz** · 27th March 2009, 21:24

Originally Posted by Kemet

Multi choice for ya Ecclesnz:

Do you

A) Work there
B) Own it
or
C) just like it enough to post what you posted

Option C. I admit I'm not mechanically minded, any time I have gone there seeking assistance they have been more than helpful, charged pricing as if I was a dear friend and been just a great experience all round.

**carver** · 27th March 2009, 21:39

honda hamilton are still doing very well here

**shafty** · 27th March 2009, 23:07

Originally Posted by carver

honda hamilton are still doing very well here

Pity you can't get to look thru the windows after hours - a major failing in more than one bike shop............

**JimO** · 28th March 2009, 06:50

Originally Posted by Kemet

Unless something has happened since I last had a look, there is also the guys at Advanced MC in Waverley St, South D (a side street next to Warewhare and Pak n Slave).

they are importing bikes from japan, in fact undermining the other bike shops so i doubt they will be wanting to take on a honda franchise