[Karaya One]

I'm not saying every shop is perfect. Many know how to run a business, and others insist that retail is great for a tire price - these guys also never buy tires.

Bettencourts buy Michelin from me, and work on a much tighter margin. They accept less to get the sale.

Central Maine Powersports buy a lot of Michelin from me and do $250.00 a set for Powers. They also accept less to get the sale.

What is a variable is how much less are they willing to accept, can they make up the difference another way. The given costs of the business are still there - insurance, taxes, salaries, work.comp etc.

A good parts dept. can build the sale, build the loyalty. I do deal with a lot of great people in this industry who know how to make a buck and keep everyone happy. I also run across people who think $450.00 a set for Powers is a the price or get the fudge out.

And liability is a HUGE issue now with tires and mounting. We deal with it with Michelin every Spring.

[FastJohnny]

The stance of "I don't know where it came from, so Im not going to accept the liability of mounting it" is a weak stance. Any dealer knows where a Pilot Power came from, it came from Michelin! Are the dealers incapable of telling a good tire from a dangerous one? If they are I dont want them mounting any tires for me.

Here's an analogy for ya: Refusing to mount internet tires for a fair fee would be like me refusing to have sex with my girlfriend because she didn't blow me first. It's an all or nothing mentality.

Are you seriously telling me that the $120 Im going to pay for a mechanic at Baers to mount my tires wont cover the mechanic's $15/hr and the electricity needed to run the machines they use?

Is the $90+ in profit, my future business, and the likelyhood I'd come on here and say "Baers looked out for me by mounting internet tires" not worth it to them if they cant rape me on an overpriced set of tires?

Then fuck them..

BTW After initially telling me to have the mail man mount my internet tires, and complaining about how the cant compete on prices, Baers agreed to do it for $60/wheel.

[deeto]

Originally posted by Karaya One
A good parts dept. can build the sale, build the loyalty. I do deal with a lot of great people in this industry who know how to make a buck and keep everyone happy. I also run across people who think $450.00 a set for Powers is a the price or get the fudge out.

I totally agree.

There will always be people who don't mind spending the extra money the dealerships charge. I'm definitely not one of those people though.

I prefer to deal with someone who charges a fair price and knows what they're doing. That's why I bought a few sets of tires from you this year Dave, and had you mount them too.

[Karaya One]

$60.00 a wheel is cheap. I know one shop that charges $100.00 per wheel for internet tires.

And is $60.00 fair? I know quite a few shops that mount for $20.00 if you buy it there.

The mentality is - if I wasn't good enough for the sale, why am I good enough to mount it? And is that really a wrong way to look at it?

Galen at Bikeworx was mentioned earlier. He will match the 'net. And mount at a fair price. Buys his Michelin and Conti from me. Works VERY hard for the sale like many other shops. Does he pass out the super discount to everyone? NO. But, if you work with him he will work with you. Give your local shop - Jenn at Baers - a chance first. And - you can prolly have it the same day since I'm about 3 minutes from that shop. The number in the end may have been the same and you helped a local business. Not some warehouse in Duluth.

The liabilty issue is real to me, since I hear it from shops all the time. And quite a few think internet tires are blems only. I hear it from a select few. Is this true? It's a LIE, but makes them feel better.

Originally posted by FastJohnny
The stance of "I don't know where it came from, so Im not going to accept the liability of mounting it" is a weak stance. Any dealer knows where a Pilot Power came from, it came from Michelin! Are the dealers incapable of telling a good tire from a dangerous one? If they are I dont want them mounting any tires for me.

Here's an analogy for ya: Refusing to mount internet tires for a fair fee would be like me refusing to have sex with my girlfriend because she didn't blow me first. It's an all or nothing mentality.

Are you seriously telling me that the $120 Im going to pay for a mechanic at Baers to mount my tires wont cover the mechanic's $15/hr and the electricity needed to run the machines they use?

Is the $90+ in profit, my future business, and the likelyhood I'd come on here and say "Baers looked out for me by mounting internet tires" not worth it to them if they cant rape me on an overpriced set of tires?

Then fuck them..

BTW After initially telling me to have the mail man mount my internet tires, and complaining about how the cant compete on prices, Baers agreed to do it for $60/wheel.

[Karaya One]

You bought tires from me???? You gotta be a crazy person!!!

Originally posted by deeto
I totally agree.

There will always be people who don't mind spending the extra money the dealerships charge. I'm definitely not one of those people though.

I prefer to deal with someone who charges a fair price and knows what they're doing. That's why I bought a few sets of tires from you this year Dave, and had you mount them too.

[FastJohnny]

How about this.. How about you sell me the tires and I'll have them mount them.

You can beat $245 for a 120/70ZR-17 and a 180/55ZR-17 right?
Come on man.. I'm a Rossi fan too, hook me up!

[Karaya One]

Originally posted by FastJohnny
How about this.. How about you sell me the tires and I'll have them mount them.

You can beat $245 for a 120/70ZR-17 and a 180/55ZR-17 right?
Come on man.. I'm a Rossi fan too, hook me up!

What's the best price Jenn gave you? And I think Dave in service does $25.00 a tire if bought there.

You paid $365.00 for the set mounted and balanced all done if you paid $245.00 for the tires. I bet she could have done $300.00.

Bettencourts was doing $300.00 a set mounted and balanced. Central Maine is $320.00. Galen is in the same ballpark, too.

If you worked with the dealer, you may have saved money and supported your local shop! This is the point in all of this typing.

Me? I sell to dealers direct. We are a distributor. The only time we sell direct is at the track. Sorry.

[beet]

Hey Dave what do you need a tax #, how many sets of tires would I have to buy to get dealer prices ?
I was thinking group buy ?

[Karaya One]

If we did it, I would rather do it through a established guy like GMD - Peter Kates. He alreday buys from me and may be more likely to do a deal.

Another may be Rob the Tire Nazi.

A few of my shops read this board - Dave in parts at Bettencourts is one of them. I cannot and will not damage that relationship by doing a group buy to someone who is not an established shop or repair person. It is too damaging.

If we can get ten or so guys together with Pete, I can do a one shot deal at a great price that he is comfortable with.

[FastJohnny]

Originally posted by Karaya One
What's the best price Jenn gave you? And I think Dave in service does $25.00 a tire if bought there.

You paid $365.00 for the set mounted and balanced all done if you paid $245.00 for the tires. I bet she could have done $300.00.

Bettencourts was doing $300.00 a set mounted and balanced. Central Maine is $320.00. Galen is in the same ballpark, too.

If you worked with the dealer, you may have saved money and supported your local shop! This is the point in all of this typing.

Me? I sell to dealers direct. We are a distributor. The only time we sell direct is at the track. Sorry.

I didnt get a price from them yet, nor did I order anything online yet.

[gmdboston]

I'll do the group buy thing if we can make the numbers work.

[Degsy]

I'm in for a set of Michelin PP's 120/180 if we can get under $250 for the pair (ya know, to support local business) ;-) .

I'll also mount/balance any tires anyone buys in this group buy for a donation of at least $15 per tire to the Jersey fund. I don't want to leave Peter with all the mounting work. All I ask is that you bring me wheels OFF the bike and take your old tires away with you. All the donations will go towards fixing Jersey's bike.


So, to get the ball rolling, cut/paste your name under mine.


Degsy - 1 set of Pilot Powers

[Josephd14]

[akira700]

I'm down for a pair of the new dual compound Powers !

[Karaya One]

Originally posted by akira700
I'm down for a pair of the new dual compound Powers !

I have them in 120/70 and 180/55 only right now.

[JeffL]

I'd be interested if it werent for the whole 18" rear rim thing, and the fact I have no idea what kind of bike I'll be buying for next season.

[Rye]

Originally posted by Karaya One
The only issue here is liability.

If you change a tire for a friends friend and he crashes, you are likely in the lawyers sights when they are re-creating a crash chain.

And liability is another issue that I see raised by shops when I'm on the road. They don't know where the tire came from, or why it was sold on-line.

Exactly why I don't advertise. I've had the equipment for a while but I don't trust anyone, nor would I pay insurance premiums. In a civil suit they can take a lot of shit!

[97BladeRider]

Originally posted by JeffL
I'd be interested if it werent for the whole 18" rear rim thing, and the fact I have no idea what kind of bike I'll be buying for next season.

Except my issue is a 16" front wheel that Michelin doesn't cover.

[ZX-12R]

Originally posted by Karaya One
I have them in 120/70 and 180/55 only right now.

Do you have an ETA on the 190/55 2CT?