RIP Agoura Cycles...

[smurfalicious]

Oh that's such a bummer. I thought the name sounded familiar and as it turns out they're one of our clients at work. Sad news, for sure.

[ridebikeme]

Aint Doody had a great point! For all of those who buy online, we are the reason that our local businesses aren't doing well!! Of course, the local business has some of that responsibility as well... but the reality is that we have to some degree created this!

If your local business doesn't carry what you want, perhaps they can special order it for you... I know that happens quite a bit in our area. If that isn't an option, then you have no choice.

What I have learned is this: after 17 years I certainly do NOT know everything. Just because something sold one year, it doesn't mean that it will the next year. Some times certain price points change completely from one year to the next. The key is to pay attention to what your customers want... and that is something that happens constantly. That is something that many businesses forget... we have so much to do, but the reality is that if you don't pay attention... then you have very little customers.

I would encourage everyone to shop locally! Try and support the smaller local business, in the long run, most are the ones that will help when you need it.

RM, as for you online customers, do the repair work and EDUCATE them at the same time. Explain to them what is happening, and the difference in quality between what Walmart has and what you offer. If they choose to shop online, then that's their choice. When I go to my local car mechanic, if I buy tires elsewhere... they charge me more for labor! That's a standard practice!! Explain to them that in order to keep you labor rate down, you make a small amount on parts... if you don't sell parts then the labor rate unfortunately has to go up.

Lastly, for all of you who want to service your own bikes; I think that's wonderful. However, with all of the information here and other websites, you are taking business away from your LBS. I realize that we all want to save money, but the other side of that coin, is exactly what we are talking about here in this forum!!

I hope that local business does survive this next year or so, and I would encourage all of you to work with them and help make that happen. CAn you suggest to a friend or coworker where to buy something? Local business keeps money in your area... and that is something that helps everyone!

[Aint Doody]

Well said, Ridebikeme!

[Bluetree]

I am friendly with the owners of four local LBSs, and I can see the predicament that they're in. Campagnolo, for instance, forces LBSs to maintain a strict pricing structure, lest they be threatened with "removal" from their vendor list. I saw the price lists – even the official cover page forbids the bike shop owners from discussing "other shop prices."

For high-end boutiques – whose clientele is 50%+ Campagnolo – it's a no win situation. European companies are not bound by the laws of forced pricing, enabling them to be more competitive, and in many cases, crushing their North American counterparts.

Take PBK, for example. I bought a bunch of Campy Record chains for $34 (no tax, free shipping). In comparison, my LBS's wholesale cost is $50. Their suggested retail price is $90. It's not fair. And while I try to throw them a bone once in a while (my bikes are serviced more often than need be, admittedly), the savings difference is too extreme to stay domestic.

As much as people harp on a company like Specialized for being heavy handed towards their vendors, their ban on selling the bikes online has saved many an LBS. You are pretty much forced to buy through a dealer, and those Specialized Concept Stores are better off than a lot of independents, who see their online competitors undercut them on almost everything.



P.S. I'm sad to see Agoura Cycles go, but a former employee told me they were hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to Giant. Bicycles John's, another reputable bike store and a big club/team supporter, is supposedly taking over the place.

[redrhodie]

After reading this thread, I headed over to my lbs and bought a few things, a co2 inflator, a tube, splurged on tires for dbf's road bike. Then, Jim tried to sell dbf a Pinarello frame "cheap". Um, yeah. I've been down that road before. There's no cheap way to set up a Pinarello for picky dbf. Had he tried, instead, to sell me a 'cross bike, I may be posting a pic right now.

I hope he's not reading this. I'm trying to refrain from more bikes.

They seem to be doing okay, though.