Exactly, the bike shops here are pretty much useless, and to find one that isn't, I have to drive 150 miles. Oh sure, they're willing to order that part for me, but uh yeah, if I'm gonna wait for something I want right this minute, I'm gonna get it cheaper.

There's a tack store in town the sells Billy Cook barrel racing saddles for $800. There are places that sell them for a lot more, but the owner of the store has realized that not only can he make a profit off the item at the price, but they literally fly out of the store. Is he an enormous establishment? Nope, just a little local one man show, trying to raise two teenage daughters. Unfortunately not all people in business have seen that light. It's not a contest to see how long that shiny object can sit there, it's not worth anything, if it's not making you money. Not only that, but that tack shop now has a loyal customer who will come back for any little thing they need. He can sell lower ticket items at regular mark up and still have, what I've learned is called a "lifetime profitable customer."

Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather sell an item at a $50 profit, than have it sit for months, hoping to sell it at a $100 profit. I mean, in that time I could have sold it with less profit, and have that person tell his buddy, and sold two at that $50 profit, and made just as much as I would sitting, and waiting.

The guy I've been buying all my bike goodies from works on that principal, and admittedly sometimes he doesn't have a lot of room to wiggle on price. However, in order to get that breathing room from your wholesalers, you have to get product. Can't become a level 1 Mavic dealer if you don't move Mavic product.

love and cookies
-smurf