I want to support my local shop...I really do

[Phate]

The material object here is not really the issue. I could care less about some brand name logo full jacket. The point is that I really do wish I could support my shop more than I do currently. Yes, the guys who work there are nice and moderately knowledgeable, but no they do not usually price match. The funny thing being that this shop also doesn't even DO service, they are only licensed to sell products not do anything to a bike. The next thing I need is new tires and I will certainly look at all kinds of places including this shop but unless its within reason or they impart to me some amazing knowledge I simply won't be buying from them. I feel like maybe I'm just in a bad spot for good shops but maybe I just haven't found the right one yet. Fast by Ferracci isn't too far from here, maybe I'll try them next.

[stoinkythepig]

I usually ask them to price match. It's worked on large orders.

What I don't get is how little mom and pop companies on eBay can spank local shops on prices. Why can't the local shop have an eBay store and sell nationwide too? It's not like Internet service and folks who can make websites are hard to find...

There's a great tool store in Plaistow NH, right next to the Plaistow Power Sports. They have awesome prices and great service. They do great business locally but also have a killer eBay store. Why doesn't Plaistow Power Sports? Seems so simple to me...

[benVFR]

Some of the little places on Ebay are actually local stores.

I can't prove it's all that common but the bicycle shop I used to frequent was selling parts on Ebay at one price and then selling the same parts to walk-in customers at a higher price. By selling online they probably got their costs from the distributors down due to higher volume which then gave them even *more* profit on the in-store sales. They were probably selling parts that were "traded in" as well, which would bring huge profits, and then they were probably also selling parts which were removed from stock bikes when the customers wanted different parts. Those would probably also be huge profits on eBay, as the parts are heavily subsidized when they come on a complete bike. (Which has to be true for motorcycles as well, since even online prices would seemingly come out to $50,000 if you bought all the parts for a bike the manufacturer sells for $10,000.)

These businesses are not dumb, they're adjusting their prices to make the most money. If the product sells at the inflated price they're going to keep it there, not every one knows about the cheaper online price.

Of course it's a shocker that enough people would be willing to pay $80-120 for an ICON sweatshirt to be able to sell them at that price.

[chr|s sedition]

Just saying an $80 sweatshirt with an ICON logo on it is such a rip-off that complaining about the shop marking it up even more is kind of ridiculous.

No kidding shops mark stuff up. But when they're selling stupid and useless products you just don't buy the product period.

I *heart* this post. Hah. Go capitalism, go!

[tonyd]

Guys everything you buy retail is marked up. Even a $1 store only pays $0.40 for the items they sell for a buck, thats how it works. Most Dealers work with about a 30% markup on accessories, parts, and clothing thats not huge if you think about it. On japanese bikes they make about 17% if they can sell it for full retail.

The reason the mom and pop ebayers can sell stuff cheap is because they are selling it out of their basement, not a 15,000 sqft store in a retail location with 15 empolyees, less overhead, if they make $10 on a helmet their happy.

I like saving a buck as much as anyone (probably more) but we all need to be prepared for what happens next when we all buy online, dealers close, or become part of larger regional / national groups an we all get worse service than we do now. Just happened in my area, our local Kawi/Suzuki dealer was bought out by the Honda/Yami dealer who is part of a growing regional chain, hope I can still get the great service I used to.

[bobr]

but I just can't seem to do it! The prices are insane! I am all for supporting small local bike shops as much as possible and I really would like to throw mine (which is about 2 blocks away) some business but I can't. I really dont have a ton of money, only 1 year out of undergrad and very underpaid, but I would still do it if even reasonable prices were available. For example they had an icon sweatshirt that I have seen before and thought it looked nice so I decided to check it out. I have seen it online everywhere for $80, which is a ton anyway but it was just my birthday so I have a tiny bit of scratch to spend on myself. At the store it was $120!!!! NO WAY. What can you do?

Which sweatshirt was it? I'll check for you. It's not surprising you can find it "online" for less. The online supplier buys in a larger quantity then a small shop can. They get a better margin and can offer it for less. We fight this all the time. Believe me I understand it's an expensive sport. Try working in a shop when all the new catalogs come out.

[Pittenger5]

I just feel the need to make a couple comments. First off, I do not work in the motorcycle industry, so a few things might not be applicable. Secondly, I work for my familys paint and decorating business, so I have a basic sense of both consumer aspects, as well as owners.

First, obviously in my industry we compete against the home depots of the world. There is NO way we could ever match them in prices on some things. For example, tape, they probably sell more tape in a day at one store than we do in an entire year, and they can sell it for what we can buy it for, and sometimes they can sell it for less than we can get it from our distributors. Additionally, there is a bulk discount, whereas for example we can buy 3 boxes of tape for x amount that will last us a couple months, they can buy 300 that will last them a week. Yknow what, they get far better pricing from the manufacturers. This is just how the economy works. What we as a business need to do to make up for prices is to offer far better service. And like you noticed, people will spend a bit more for better service, but its a constant battle.
Secondly, as far as trying in the store and buying online, we deal with this constantly. We hire an interior decorator at a great cost to be in the store and work with the customers with color selection and stuff, and she will often spend hours with one customer to get all the schemes right and all that. At least once a day it seems its painfully obvious that someone comes in just to use her services and then go to a home depot or somewhere else to get the paint cheaper. Theres not much we can do obviously, but when she has to take time that could be spent on customers purchasing here, which pay her salary, we get frustrated. So if theres helmets laying out and you slip one on, thats one thing, but if you take up a salesmans time and efforts with no intention of buying there, its another matter.
I dont want everyone to think Im bitter or anything, Im in the same boat, Ill often get parts online if they're cheaper, but I just wanted to give a little input how the business owners need to look at things.

[sanfelice]

good post, pittenger. I see the day when we will be charged for the opportunity to try on items in retail establishments. I don't think it's that far off, really.

[TheIglu]

I think most people wouldn't mind paying a reasonable amount more for the opportunity to ask questions of an educated sales person and to try things on. Perfect example is MotoMarket.

When I get some 19 year old telling me false claims about why a helmet is better than another, I will sure as hell be that dick who leaves and buys it online.