Vicious spiral

[chris_suffolk]

So, I'm after a new pair of road mitts, and with 4 bikes shops within walking distance thought 'this will be easy'

First shop only ships stock in once you buy online for delivery to the shop. I asked how I try before buying, and was told 'just send it back'

Second shop said that manufacturers have stopped supplying shops, as they want to sell on-line (presumably at a higher profit margin) cutting out the middle man. Shop sales have been in decline and nobody is buying. I suggested that this was self full-filling, in that no stock meant I can't buy, meaning he doesn't stock and round we go, but he was having none of it.

Third and fourth shops just had no stock, and didn't seem to care that they couldn't take my custom.

Is this typical, and the way of things, or was I just really unlucky? Shops were a mix of national chains and independants.

[Nigel]

Dunno, as you say "Suffolk" has your search included the bike shops in Bildeston and Diss ? They would have been my places to try when I lived that way.

But, it could be the way of things and why the local shop in my current town has little choice in such things.

[chris_suffolk]

I'd try Diss and Bilderston if I was that way, but I'm in Lancaster for a couple of weeks, and it's not good. Have to wait until I'm home

[Eyebrox]

I work in a bike shop. A couple of years ago we used the takings from increased bike sales and repairs to buy a bigger collection of mitts than usual. Various sizes, various colours, various types of material and all within a wide range of prices. They're still there. I think cyclists try them on and then check prices, colours, brand names online and buy the ones that offer the best deal in terms of cost and delivery times. Most shoppers don't enquire about price. I don't think we'll be buying any more mitts, socks, shoes etc.

[chris_suffolk]

I work in a bike shop. A couple of years ago we used the takings from increased bike sales and repairs to buy a bigger collection of mitts than usual. Various sizes, various colours, various types of material and all within a wide range of prices. They're still there. I think cyclists try them on and then check prices, colours, brand names online and buy the ones that offer the best deal in terms of cost and delivery times. Most shoppers don't enquire about price. I don't think we'll be buying any more mitts, socks, shoes etc.

Sad state of affairs, when that means I have to buy the size I think I want, plus the size up and down, with the expectation of sending 2 of the 3 back. Now I MAY save a few pennies, but is the hassle really worth it? I guess from what you're saying, most people would say yes, it is, but for me, I'd rather pay a little extra, try it on and have a real place to deal with in the event that I have any problems.

My LBS charges full retail for stuff, which I CAN get cheaper. But last year they took 2 hours of fiddling with various parts to get a set of disc calipers to fit to a non standard mount. Yes they charged for the parts, but the labour - 2 hours - came free. When all the LBS's have gone out of business, the on-line giants won't be interested.

[TrevA]

I went to a LBS (now unsurprisingly closed down) and asked about clothing and was subjected to a 10 minute monologue about why they no longer stocked clothing.

Luckily, I’m not far from an Evans and several branches of Rutland Cycling plus a branch of Decathlon, who all do still stock clothing and gloves/mitts and shoes, amongst other things. I do buy online, but only from Fat Lad at the Back, as you can’t buy their stuff in a shop.

[Nearholmer]

The trouble with anything for the human body is the need to stock a range of sizes, so I can see why this becomes a problem, and increasingly so as makers "segment the market" (utility, roadie, mtb, and now gravel) to squeeze the last drop out of customer wallets. Unless a shop has mega turnover, it can't sensibly stock a range of styles and sizes. I reckon Evans will slice out a lot of human-wear, or replace it with an own brand fairly-cheapie sort, now theyre owned by that man.

In many things, the huge choice that we seem to demand (have been taught to expect, more like) can only work for really large outlets and over the internet.

[rogerzilla]

Shops can't compete with online when it comes to range. It's not only about price.

[atoz]

In my experience, cycle clothing has always been an issue with bike shops. It isn't worth their while stocking much of it. Also, cycle shops are often tied into certain suppliers, which means if you don't like a certain manufacturer's offerings, you are stuck, unless you go elsewhere. This often means online. I don't have the time to stomp around bike shops, and of course it costs money to do that. I use my LBS for wheel building, new bike parts like chainsets, tyres etc. In other words, hardware. In particular, it pays to cultivate a good wheelbuilder. I've been using the same LBS for this for nearly 30 years.

Bike clothing is just a form of sports clothing esp since the the growth of "athleisure" fashion, and is sold in the same way. You can tell this by the fetish in recent years for black, and the decline of certain colour ranges, along with gender colour stereotyping. The being said, years ago the range and quality was not great- fabrics that were not machine wash friendly and dried slowly, or they stunk when only on for a short period (early 80's polyester- yuk). When good quality lycra came in I was a quick adopter. The modern stuff is far better.In particular some of the cold weather kit is great- not cheap though. There's a reason why so many of the racing types wear Castelli Perfettos in the cold months- they're really good. But the price- ouch.

[chris_suffolk]

I use my LBS for wheel building, new bike parts like chainsets, tyres etc. In other words, hardware. In particular, it pays to cultivate a good wheelbuilder. I've been using the same LBS for this for nearly 30 years.

I use my LBS for hardware too, and wheels, but interestingly the 4 cycle shops I visited yesterday (all within walking distance of where I'm staying) had NO SPARES at-all, not even spare chains in any speed. As for a new cassette, derailleur, bottom bracket - forget it.

"It's cheaper online, so people won't buy in store" is what I was told. "Same for bikes too. Wiggle can sell for less than we can buy for"

Seems to be true, they had ONE road bike in the road bike department. The rest was spill over from the MTB section.

LBS must be a dying breed.

[PH]

It's probably a decade or more since I last set foot in a traditional bike shop, TBH it was usually a disappointing experience when I did. I'd have a fair idea of what I wanted, often gained from Cycle magazine, only to be told I should have something else. I know some have had better experiences, I don't miss any of those that closed in Derby.
I don't buy much cycle clothing, when I do I try and make it decent quality that lasts well. I don't mind if it takes a couple of returns to get it right, I know that's wasteful, but it isn't frequent. I tend to stick to a few favoured suppliers and have a decent idea of their sizing.
I also use Halfords a fair bit and occasionally Go Outdoors. Halfords have a dozen or so pairs of mitts listed, you could order those you think you might like and go to the store to try. It's a lot less wasteful than home delivery and returns, those you don't buy will stay in that store till sold or ordered by another.

[eileithyia]

Try being female and finding kit esp clothing to try on..... first we have to get past the yeuky colours and flowers then hope there's something in our size.....
I fully understand that shops can't stock a massive range of clothing with 1000s of £s tied up in a variety of sizes and colours. Go to Mallorca and the clothing shops have ranges in a vast array of colours and sizes but then every Spring they get a large influx of customers....
So we are left with online shopping only...

[Psamathe]

...
Third and fourth shops just had no stock, and didn't seem to care that they couldn't take my custom.

Is this typical, and the way of things, or was I just really unlucky? Shops were a mix of national chains and independants.

It's an interesting problem in a general LBS sense. My LBS (or rather the excellent one I use) has a fair compromise in that they are perfectly happy to fit and work with components you purchase elsewhere. They recognise that with a "bricks and mortar" shop they will never be able to compete on price against the massive warehouse operations. But if you buy components elsewhere then will charge you time & materials to fit - seems fair enough.

Often buying online has benefits beyond price e.g. range available and able to return items. If I get my LBS to order in some specific component they don't stock that's it, you can't then decide it's not what you wanted as they can't return it to their distributor and don't want the money tied up in specialist stock. Plus, online you get a far widre range of manufacturers that an LBS would be dealing with.

Makes things harder as it does mean that LBS will stock a smaller range of more general items but does not necessarily mean LBSs will go out of business, just that we need to accept if we want something fitted then we have to pay for the fitting service separate from the online cost and the business model of the LBS changes. And it's not a win-win for us because it means we have to plan ahead more so when an item is beginning to look like it's nearing needing replacement we have to get in a replacement earlier to get round "out-of-stock" and delivery delays.

Ian

[iandusud]

I ran a bike shop in the 80s and early 90s and I certainly wouldn't want to be doing it now other than for repairs and servicing. I am fortunate inasmuch as I have well stocked local bike shop and I am very happy to buy from them when I can. The idea that people would come in and try on mitts only to then order them online I think is awful and totally reprehensible. If people choose to buy online (as I often do) then they should accept the limitations that go with it. When I had a shop we weren't into clothing in a big way but we did stock a range of items in a good range of sizes that sold well. These included shorts, Tudor Sport tights, mitts, Eager race capes (anyone remember them?) and Freestyle Sports Gortex jackets along assorted jerseys. We were in no position to compete with the shops who were more dedicated to racing cyclists and held huge stocks of clothing but what we did stock corresponded to our clientele. Funnily enough I was in my "well stocked" local bike shop last week to buy something and asked about mitts, as I need to replace mine, and they had very little in stock and nothing that corresponded to my need. Oh well...

[Jamesh]

I used to get my clothing from Dyson enterprises out the CW. Mitts, jackets computers great stuff.
Along with Ribble and Graham weigh cycles!

Those were the days!

I recently brought a bontrager bottle cage from ikley cycles for £6 - cheaper than on line..!