| Author | Message | ||
     Firebolt020283 |
Today I went to the local motorcycle shops in my area to buy some gloves, cleaning products, a face shield for my helmet and blinkers. out of those things I came home with only a can of cleaner. When I asked why neither of the shops I went to had much of a selection of things they said it is because too many people shop for everything online. So I feel bad for ever buying random things I would normally buy at those shops online. Now don't get me wrong I do not feel bad about buying buell parts online because neither of those shops sell buell things but little random parts like blinkers and other universal farkels is what I am talking about. It really sucks as far as gear because I hate buying new riding gear online because I can't try it on to see if it fits me right. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Do a happy medium. Order the items you'd buy online at the local shop. They have the same parts suppliers and usually will price match. That's what I do. | ||
| Fahren |
At least you have a local shop. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
by local shop I don't mean Buell shop I ment motorcycle shops in general. My nearest buell shop is an hour away each way. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
My diswasher recently needed a part. I searched online and found the part # and price ($17.50). I then figured I'd call the local parts place to try and keep things local. The guy quoted me $55.00, pay before ordering. I made double sure with him we were talking about the right part and told him I would call back. At more than twice the price,I never did call back and ordered the part online. I don't feel bad about it. I don't mind supporting my local business for a FEW $$ more, but that was rediculous! | ||
| Fahren |
The only motorsports store close to me closed last year. Gentleman Jon may know of another, but at the very tip of Long Island, not much for bike parts, accessories, etc. Riverhead is pretty much just a HD shop, despite their having a few tube-framed Buells, still. | ||
| Tiltcylinder |
Yeah, I kind of make a habit of buying things at the local shop. Especially the doodads, dohickies and common stuff you get everywhere. Although I've shown them things like the finger mounted visor wipers, with a "You need to carry these, they'll sell like hotcakes". Only to get a "you ride in the rain?". I want them to still be in buisness when I have to have a chrome 3 1/2 inch long 5/16" NC allen bolt or six 1/4" NF X 1/2" button heads to complete a project... today. Same reason I go to the local hardware store first, instead of the Home Depot Lowes. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Seek to create a "win-win" opportunity. If you are dealing with someone reasonable, some revenue is better than none. That was the way I bought my last car. I showed the car online I was preparing to buy plane tickets to go buy, they matched the price, I saved myself a ride back from Houston and traded with a local dealer. I bought my Uly the same way as well. Give the local dealer/shop the opportunity to compete for your business. Unless they are completely dense (or the competing deal is outrageous), they will usually find a way to create a "yes". | ||
| Gohot |
Motorcycle shops have always been risky business or you work your ass off. Sometimes there are days where you sell nearly zero or even nothing at all. Been there and lived it. The typical shop of the past is soon to be obsolete, so roll with it or find another gig. It's just the future of the industry. OF EVERY industry (Message edited by gohot on March 30, 2011) | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I donno I wish there was autozone/oriley/advance auto type stores for motorcycles. It is real nice when I am working on my car to be able to just walk in to one of those places and just get what ever it is I need and not have to order anything and wait a week or two for the part I want. My bike on the other hand I either have to order the parts or come up with my own solution. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
for us with tubers, HD dealers usually have basic stuff in stock. Or Cycle Gear for a one-stop-shop kind of place for accessories/gear. Yeah, it does suck buying so much online, but I not paying twice as much for the same thing just cause its local unless it is an emergency situation. | ||
| Two_seasons |
When I first got back into cycling last year after a 28 year hiatus, I needed a helmut fast so I could ride my 1125r home. I was told that a local shop had a good selection. Wound up buying a Shoei RF-1000 from them at almost $500. Later picked up a pair of gloves. Shortly after buying my 1125r I found this board. After reading some of your posts, I realized that I needed gear. ATGATT! And I knew, at my age, I wouldn't heal fast anymore with a deep wound. MotoSports Factory is the name of the shop in Waukesha. They are a KTM dealer too. Later, when I asked a guy at work about gear he said to shop at newenough.com. Well I went there, got some ideas, then went down to MotoSports Factory and bought from them. Spent the better part of a grand with them including the helmet. Went back a couple of months later and bought the same package that I had, Cortech GX-Air II with another RF-1000 helmet. Then the owner started to give me a discount, a nice discount, but it took more than one or two sales with them. Mark, the owner, has been in business since 1989. The place doesn't look like much from the outside or the inside, but they have people there that care about the relationship they build with you. And they have a mechanic there that used to work for Buell, so it's a win for me. Since I first have been there, they've got my business in the shop too. Local business rely on building personal relationships with their customers. Some have been able to survive the current dot com on-line buying for pennies cheaper crowd. As this thread points out, if a business is reasonable with their prices, I'll shop there for everything. And I have. MotoSports Factory is the only place I take my bikes now, unless I need a specific HD# part. Relationships are key to everything in life. I'll bet that is why Homecoming is so popular! (Message edited by two_seasons on March 31, 2011) | ||
| Crackhead |
I do prefer going to a local sop to try on and buy my gear because I am often in between regular and tall sizes. Unfortunately most shops choose to stock XXXL sizes instead of Medium Tall. Any I guess i have a old preference of clothing, I don't want sport bike names plastered across my chest or non armored leather. I guess I fit in better with the sport touring crowd. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
my local dealer has a sale at least twice a year with everything 20% off his regular price. That is when I purchase things I know that i'm going to need for the future use such as tires, oil, filters, spark plugs, ect. I even bought a FXRG riding suit at 20% off. I plan ahead and save! | ||
| Irideabuell |
I've found Cycle Gear has a pretty good selection of your basic motorcycling needs. They mount tires on the rims for a nominal charge if purchased there and also provide road hazard insurance which I've had to use in the past and received a full replacement at no cost to me (since the tire was still relatively new). I know they are few and far between, but just wanted to put it out there for those that may have seen a Cycle Gear shop, but not checked it out. | ||
| Oysterman |
+1 Two_seasons, relationships are key to everything in life! I run a family owned business. We have several trucks, boats, and various other pieces of equipment that I have to maintain and keep running. I know that I could save a bit of many by ordering things online, but a company hundreds of miles away cares little about what you need or want. I've had local shops open for me/get me things I needed in emergencies when they were closed!! Plus free advice, and by keeping things local people know me and know what I have. Lets see most online companies match that... I know that's not bike related, but I feel that the same principle applies to supporting your local bike shop. And of course the price difference has to be within reason. | ||
| Two_seasons |
My wife and I own a small landscaping business, since 2002, that we run out of our home. Plus a full time job for me. Relationships are the very foundation of which we build everything in our lives. Some businesses you get close to, others you just can't find a way. Sometimes, no amount of income is worth the hassle. The old adage "20% of your customers take 80% of your time managing them" is true. Like you Oysterman, I've got my power equipment shop on speed dial and wouldn't hesitate to call the owner at 4am. | ||
| Guy_glover |
Local shops have trouble matching on line prices.Most on line places are a warehouse somewhere and don't have the overhead of a storefront. Your local shops do more than just sell parts --- If you don't support them once in a while you might find its hard to get your bike Dynoed ONLINE. I owned a shop for 20 years and usually found that the people who buy elsewhere are usually the ones who think they deserve the biggest discount!!!! Make a few purchases at your local and you'll find they probably will treat you better knowing your a repeat customer. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
In the April edition of Rider magazine, there is an article written by Clement Salvadori that addresses the consequences of pinching too many pennies and the effects it has on mom n pop shops. He calls it Cheapskate Blowback. What he says it comes down to, and I agree, is you're best off having a shop around the corner that can meet your immediate needs rather than having to go 150 miles down the road. We're all having to watch our pennies so our dollars take care of themselves, but if you don't support the local businesses, they may not survive. As said above, its all about relationships. The people whose jobs you may be saving are not just random people wearing a nametag, they are probably your neighbors. BeLinda. | ||
| Trbulnt |
+1 on Motorsports Factory in Waukesha, WI. I live about 10 minutes from them and try to buy all my gear from them. Great service and smart people behind the counter. I am waiting for a call from them any day now for my new back pack to arrive. | ||
| 86129squids |
Two seasons- I spoke about the 80/20 rule a few days ago... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_principle | ||
| Ted |
i've felt that i would give a local business and/or a small business a try. the difference is i expect excellent customer service for that extra $. if i dont get it i dont go back. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Two_Seasons & trbulnt, I don't think we've ever met. I also live in Waukesha... Motosport Factory are awesome guys. VERY close to online prices. And in many cases will be better. Especially on tires. And they mount them free. I try to support them, and Ride. The owner of Ride was a high school friend of my Wife. So, we usually get outstanding prices from them as well. | ||
| Junkyrddog780 |
After stopping at a motorcycle dealer on a roadtrip with friends, I tried on and fell in love with an Arai Vector. Came home and looked up the price online, then headed down to my local shop who proceeded to beat the price by something like $80. Without me even mentioning looking it up online. Your local shops may surprise you. | ||
| Trbulnt |
Steve_Mackay - I am pretty sure we have not met yet. I just bought my first Buell last fall. I actually rode to Motorsports Factory today to pick up my backpack which is much more comfortable than the Jansport one I was using! I used to shop at Ride when it was Torque Center and have been in there a few times since the change over. I always receive good service their also. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Put it this way. A good local shop will survive. It's the ones that don't change with the times and try to stick with an outdated model or don't build a good customer relationship to make you WANT to shop there. They are ones that will be gone. Seeing it with many HD dealerships currently. With my being in the mil I will be all over the world and the states. Any shop I deal with has 2-3 years to get me to either recommend or avoid them and I WILL inform all the mil guys I work and ride with about them. | ||
| Cyclonemick |
Just this weekend I went to a some what local bike shop (50 min drive) to pick up a new Tour Master mesh jacket! I paid about $15 more dollars than I would have paid on line but I got to try it on and I felt good about helping the one of few bike accesorie shops in my area! I usually try them first for my needs but for Buell stuff my business goes On line. | ||
| Fast1075 |
It was brought up earlier, but when I buy new gear I MUST try it on and see if it will fit...size "fat yard gnome" is pretty rare...most places only have gear from Namu the tent maker sizes... The local Harley shop is little use for gear....but the local kawahonyamazuki shop has a good selection of jackets, helmets and gloves but little in way of pants....guess the flip-flop, wife beater, sagging shorts crowd don't by much gear...and I am not going to buy garments and THEN try them on....and be stuck if they don't fit... The local Harley shop still supports Buell owners for parts and they do a reasonable job of it....the parts department has some professional people...and I have come to expect to have to wait for my parts...in an EMERGENCY I will pull the overnight shipping thing from one of a couple of excellent out of state sponsors for this board (Hi Al and Joanne  ). When I worked for Honda, it was a different era...people worked and modded their own bikes and we kept a lot of stuff in stock and lots of the most common farkles and parts...it is a different world today....a lot of shops are missing out on a lot of impulse purchases. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
I, too, like to try things on before buying But some places like newenough/motorcyclegear.com are really good about returns if it doesnt fit right. I've not gotten anything from NE in a while, but they did offer 110% money back if it didnt fit right, helped cover some of the shipping cost. As for the local jap shops, only issue I have there is usually a lot of their stuff is sort of specific to the brand - like Gixxer branded jackets etc Or, non branded jackets but have all those dumb patches of parts I may or may not have. Either way, Im not trying to look like a racer when Im out riding around town And yes, Harley, when it comes to gear that most of us wear while riding sportbikes, doesnt cater much to us. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
well here we have 3 shops a honda shop, yamaha shop and harley(non-buell)... ironically of the 3 the H-d had the most protective gear out of the 3 but it was all H-D brand stuff. Both the yamaha and honda shop both told me they don't carry much stuff like that because no one buys it. It is ashamed because I like to try on gear before I buy it. It is odd though to me I just came from a city that has almost the same population as this one and they had all 4 jap brands represented, h-d, and some euro bikes sold there and you could walk in to any of the dealerships and find plenty of gear. Lake Charles did have a suzuki/kawi dealer that used to have a good selection but they just closed their doors because the owner decided he did not want to be in the motorcycle business any more. So now I have to go an hour or so east or west to get gear now. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"ironically of the 3 the H-d had the most protective gear out of the 3 but it was all H-D brand stuff". I'm not sure if it is just our local Harley shop, and good choices made by the motorclothes purchasing person, but when I stopped in a little over a month ago for plugs, I was surprised by all the armoured and hi viz gear they had on hand. The interesting thing will be to see how much of it ends up on the clearance rack, shunned by the t-shirt and no helmet crowd. Function over form is a good thing to me so if it is gear I need and like, meaning comfy, visible, protective, I don't really care what logo is on it. | ||
| Preybird1 |
One of the main shops i buy from is almost going under. When i went in 2 weeks ago the parts sales guy was cashiering! Not a good sign they will be there much longer. I have been buying bikes and parts from this dealer for 20+ years. I called 3 days ago to order a new leather jacket and they were discontinued but i called the manufacturer and they said it had only been discontinued for a couple of months and there should still be inventory. I gave my number to the parts guy, I have been shopping and riding\racing with the parts guy fernando for years and he didn't even bother to call me back......So i bought it online and probably wont be back buying from them for a long time! If they are even in business then. The other shop i went into had almost nothing on the walls in the way of parts or accessories and all the parts guys had these little calculators to add up costs of parts. And there was not 1 computer there to look up parts to order. It was weird and it was never like that. I came through the back door\service door, like i usually do and i was yelled at by some girl that was heading back there. She said you can't be back here. I said i have always come through here and she said things have changed and this is for employees only. And all my friends that worked there got laid off. Now no more deals here and no more of my money is going there now either. It's funny because the service manager there at the shop is one of "my" customers. |
