4 ms·

Do bike dealers not also make money from increased demand for services?

notesinthefield 6y ago
Ive experience with three shops, given the lowish margins, transaction costs of stock and sometimes reduction in mechanics - its not nearly enough to make up the deficit. The most lucrative services, fittings, are not something every shop does or is equipped for. Maintenance is relatively cheap and 2020 waiting lists were sometimes months long given the spike in riders forcing many to DIY. Many will let you order parts through the shop but prices are almost always more expensive than going to the vendor site.
- learnstats2 6y ago
  > Maintenance is relatively cheap and 2020 waiting lists were sometimes months long given the spike in riders forcing many to DIY. As another commenter has said - why don't shops charge according to the increased demand? This situation benefits them.
  - notesinthefield 6y ago
    If youve only so many mechanics, who do you really benefit increasing the price when most people will end up on the wait list anyway? Then you run the risk of losing them to the next shop.
tonyedgecombe 6y ago
Supplies of spare parts have been constrained as well. It took two months to get some replacement tyres for my bike.
dfgdghdf 6y ago
Servicing (except perhaps puncture repairs) is a very low margin business. This is why online retail has hurt the bike industry so hard: the servicing was subsidized by bike and component sales. Now, local bike shops are expected to service bikes purchased online.
- tonyedgecombe 6y ago
  My nearest bike shop is only servicing bikes bought in the shop. They introduced this before Covid.
  - enriquto 6y ago
    Isn't this self-defeating? Why would they refuse a service instead of charging more? I expect to be able to buy a bike online and the shop assembles and adjusts it for me (of course for a price).
    - tonyedgecombe 6y ago
      I'm assuming they had a stream of cheapskates in the shop who expected high levels of service without spending any money.

Ive experience with three shops, given the lowish margins, transaction costs of stock and sometimes reduction in mechanics - its not nearly enough to make up the deficit. The most lucrative services, fittings, are not something every shop does or is equipped for. Maintenance is relatively cheap and 2020 waiting lists were sometimes months long given the spike in riders forcing many to DIY. Many will let you order parts through the shop but prices are almost always more expensive than going to the vendor site.

learnstats2 6y ago
> Maintenance is relatively cheap and 2020 waiting lists were sometimes months long given the spike in riders forcing many to DIY. As another commenter has said - why don't shops charge according to the increased demand? This situation benefits them.
- notesinthefield 6y ago
  If youve only so many mechanics, who do you really benefit increasing the price when most people will end up on the wait list anyway? Then you run the risk of losing them to the next shop.

tonyedgecombe 6y ago

Supplies of spare parts have been constrained as well. It took two months to get some replacement tyres for my bike.

dfgdghdf 6y ago

Servicing (except perhaps puncture repairs) is a very low margin business. This is why online retail has hurt the bike industry so hard: the servicing was subsidized by bike and component sales. Now, local bike shops are expected to service bikes purchased online.

tonyedgecombe 6y ago
My nearest bike shop is only servicing bikes bought in the shop. They introduced this before Covid.
- enriquto 6y ago
  Isn't this self-defeating? Why would they refuse a service instead of charging more? I expect to be able to buy a bike online and the shop assembles and adjusts it for me (of course for a price).
  - tonyedgecombe 6y ago
    I'm assuming they had a stream of cheapskates in the shop who expected high levels of service without spending any money.