What premium to support LBS?

[gbnz]

it applies to retail in general. Whether it's your local book shop, your local greengrocer or your village shop, these are precious assets we are steadily losing in the quest to save a few quid.

Hmm..the local greengrocer down in the Yorkshire Dales this summer, bananas at £0.80 per fruit, the local bookshop, mouldy smell and an owner who didn't appreciate potential customers looking at the books, the village shop, selling fags on the sly to local children. The good old days

I suppose OAP's struggle to adjust to the modern world

[Vorpal]

I'd say it depends upon the LBS.

I love mine, and the guys there are good for a natter and a cup of coffee, as well as advice, bike repairs, and bits. Some things, I order on-line, if I know what I want and they don't carry it. Some things they order for me, because I want them to install it, or I want to see it before I buy it. Some things, I buy elsewhere and do myself. They're happy to tell me when something will be much cheaper on-line. They are on a main cycling/pedestrian route and do a good business in repairs.

I will happily pay a bit more, if it helps them stay in business.

[fastpedaller]

it applies to retail in general. Whether it's your local book shop, your local greengrocer or your village shop, these are precious assets we are steadily losing in the quest to save a few quid.

Hmm..the local greengrocer down in the Yorkshire Dales this summer, bananas at £0.80 per fruit, the local bookshop, mouldy smell and an owner who didn't appreciate potential customers looking at the books, the village shop, selling fags on the sly to local children. The good old days

I suppose OAP's struggle to adjust to the modern world

Many years ago my Mum's local grocer was offering spuds at 8p a lb, or 7lbs for 56p. I said to him 'but that's the same!' to which he replied "I know, but you'd be surprised how many come here for 2 lbs, and end up buying 7lbs"

[djnotts]

"I suppose OAP's struggle to adjust to the modern world"

Just because some of us choose not to does not mean that it is a struggle. Always a mix of amusement and annoyance when assistants offer to help this poor old chap use the self-service or the automated banking machines. I say "I won't use those...." and respond to the "it's easy I'll show you how" with "do you not understand English - I said WON'T not CAN'T. Why are you so keen to destroy yet more jobs - yours included?"

[old_windbag]

the local bookshop, mouldy smell and an owner who didn't appreciate potential customers looking at the books

Made me think of this:- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4087148/Rude-miserable-bookseller-charges-customers-50p-enter-shop-told-change-attitude-leave-town.html

[PH]

Most cyclists can't change a bottom bracket, or fit new cables.

Do you think the only place that can do it for them is the traditional LBS? In my area that is no longer the case.

[thirdcrank]

I thought this thread was about retailers - and a specific type of retailer - who were struggling to adapt to the modern world.

[pete75]

Most cyclists can't change a bottom bracket, or fit new cables. I value my LBS enough to put what work I can their way, in the hope that they'll be there to sort out a problem quickly when it arises unexpectedly at the wrong time. Flinders (above) says everything I would want to, and it applies to retail in general. Whether it's your local book shop, your local greengrocer or your village shop, these are precious assets we are steadily losing in the quest to save a few quid.

Change that most to some and you'd be right. What you call precious assets are only so to those who use them. No one owes them a living.

[hondated]

What I really hate is people going into local shops (of whatever specialism) picking brains, handling goods, and then either demanding web prices, or leaving and buying on the web. That behavior stinks.

Me too. Any time I do visit a LBS for a particular item I commit to buying it from them rather than getting it on line as I just think its courtesy. Its often meant me having to wait days and cost more but I would rather that than to be left with the feeling I have used the shop owner.
I posed the question up thread but to be more specific now does anyone know how difficult and expensive it is for a small retailer to set up a comprehensive web site as it would be brilliant to be able to order what you wanted from them and be able to pick it up.

[simonhill]

I would think that it was more a matter of how much time it takes to keep a good website up to date that would be the problem. Nothing worse than an out of date website (of course lots of things worse).

My LBS uses a number of suppliers all online and all able to deliver in a day or two. If I want anything that the LBS hasn't got I stock, they go online while I'm there, see if it is in stock and tell me when it will be delivered. The service is as fast as ordering myself without the hassle of me waiting in, but with the hassle of walking up the hill to the shop.

Last year, realising that prices were going to rise sharply post brexit vote £ slump, I emailed my LBS while I was on tour and asked them to order me a new frame. They did and it was waiting for me on my return. They were rewarded with me paying for it to be built up.

Lots of ways to skin a cat.

[mnichols]

I posed the question up thread but to be more specific now does anyone know how difficult and expensive it is for a small retailer to set up a comprehensive web site as it would be brilliant to be able to order what you wanted from them and be able to pick it up.

Setting up a website is fairly cheap and easy if you have the right skills - I've done a few for friends and family, but have a technical background

The issue would be stock. For it to be comprehensive they would need to hold a wide variety of stock in different, colours, brands, sizes, etc

[AdamS]

I wonder if there might be something about the way that cycling tends to be a sport or a hobby in the UK. Deciding not to paay a premium does rather depend on knowing what you need to buy online, knowing how to fit it and being willing to spare the time. I'm guessing this is more true of keen UK cyclists than those who cycle in places where utility cycling is more prevalent.

[PJ520]

I'm sure some Christians were trying to limit cycling back in the 1880's, something about it interfering with Sunday worship

Once went into a caving club cottage in S Wales and they had a C19 Methodist poster showing the paths of righteousness and of sin. On the sinful path were the usual temptations: Drink, Gambling, etc, and right before the Gates of Hell was "Trains on Sundays"

[ianrobo]

I have used Wiggle, since god knows when and feel no regrets about it all. Returns are easy, costs are fine and if I want to pay for it, next day delivery.

Times change and LBS's like others have to move along with it, offer other services, package it up say with a bike fit, offer free bike checks etc.

We can not keep things as they were, that is not and never has been this world and nor should it be.

Would I pay a premium for stuff I get at Wiggle, simply no unless it was an emergency.

[mnichols]

It seems that some will pay a premium but most won't

Some will pay for value add, but many shops can't or don't offer it. Some customers don't see or don't want the value add

From the customer perspective it's a premium, from the LBS view it probably reflects their higher costs and the margin required to sustain their business

Some LBS look like they are struggling. Given that cycling is fairly niche anyway you wouldn't have to take away many customers for the model to be unsustainable

The internet has happened. The genie is out of the bottle.

The message to the LBS seems to be evolve or die

I for one hope that they evolve