Motorcycle sales are down in this recession and the margin on most brands is rather low
Just like anyone, I look for a good deal and buy stuff online all the time. However, sometimes I am willing to pay more for good service.
When it comes to my Connie, I usually buy locally. My dealer went out of business last year and the next nearest dealer is horrible!
Lucky for me the service manager and his boyhood friend who also turned wrenches there opened up their own shop doing service and repairs. They are the most talented bike techs I ever met and they are honest guys. I just had a ton of maintenance work done on my c14 which included tires. I wanted Conti road attack II's but his distributor did not carry them. He said he could get them but they might be pricier than other brands since he had to get them elsewhere. I explained that I was willing to pay for some mark-up because the bottom line was that if he only relied on labor to pay the lease, bills, insurance, lights, heat, etc that he and his partner would likely not be in business very long.
Not only would I hate to see them close but I also have a stake in making sure he stays open. I don't want to have to find another mechanic that I can trust.
Owning and running a motorcycle business can be tough. Think about it. At least here in New England, you basically have about 8 months maximum business. When it is cold nobody comes in the door. Motorcycle sales are down in this recession and the margin on most brands is rather low. No dealer can make it by just selling bikes and some gear so they need to make money in service. People think every dollar paid between wholesale and retail is profit! It is not. You need to pay the following........
Lease or mortgage on building
Taxes on the building if owned
Heat
Electricity
Building maintenance and upkeep
Payroll for staff, mechanics, parts counter, sales, etc
Payroll taxes. (Did you know every dollar the employee pays in federal tax is matched and paid to the IRS by the employer too?)
Workers compensation insurance
Medical insurance for staff
Vacation pay
Sick pay
An accountant or book keeper
Signage
Company taxes on profit to state and feds
Advertising
Telephone and internet
And I am sure there are some big things I am missing
So the bottom line is that if a dealer or shop only charges you labor and does not mark up parts they will probably close shop. I am willing to pay more in these instances so long as I am not getting royally shafted. For me those tires were $325 online. I was fine paying $385 because I knew he would take care properly mounting and balancing them for me too.
People think every dollar paid between wholesale and retail is profit! It is not. You need to pay the following........
Lease or mortgage on building
Taxes on the building if owned
Heat
Electricity
Building maintenance and upkeep
Payroll for staff, mechanics, parts counter, sales, etc
Payroll taxes. (Did you know every dollar the employee pays in federal tax is matched and paid to the IRS by the employer too?)
Workers compensation insurance
Medical insurance for staff
Vacation pay
Sick pay
An accountant or book keeper
Signage
Company taxes on profit to state and feds
Advertising
Telephone and internet
And I am sure there are some big things I am missing
So the bottom line is that if a dealer or shop only charges you labor and does not mark up parts they will probably close shop. I am willing to pay more in these instances so long as I am not getting royally shafted. For me those tires were $325 online. I was fine paying $385 because I knew he would take care properly mounting and balancing them for me too.
Internet based business typically have these expenses also... I'm just saying - there aint no silver bullet.
The reason there are non-working demo's are missing parts is theft and vandalism.
Internet based business typically have these expenses also... I'm just saying - there aint no silver bullet.
Yes they do but they also sell to the entire country, not just some local area on a map. They offer lower prices because they sell volume. It is pretty hard to compete when a website sells online at large volume levels and gets to sell it to you tax free.They will all be gone in two years. When you order directly from the warehouse, you save the expense of the retail building and everything in it. The only way Best Buy can be competitive is to do enough volume that the mfg. delivers direct. Right now Best Buy is getting too many items via UPS and freight, just like you get them when you order on the internet.
Google Best Buy News for another example of the web versus brick and mortar retail. There is a good chance Best Buy stores will be gone in a few years. Yes, some of their issues are mismanagement but most of it is increased internet competition. So many people walk in there to see a product then go home and Google the item for the best available price.
That is part of it. But another reason is that there was never a real working thing to begin with. For example- I go to a store to look at phones. In most cases, they are all fake! Exactly what can I learn from a "fake" phone? The outer dimensions?
Headphones- all sealed in that damn clamshell stuff. Great, so I can't tell how they fit, what they weigh, what they sound like, how they feel. It is no different than looking at a picture on a website!
Tablet- glued to a display rack and stuck in some demo mode that doesn't allow any real app to run or any decent interaction. Can't even hold it to see how it feels or what it weighs. Can't test speakers. Pretty much useless.
Sorry for the ranting, this just touches a nerve for me
2 jack stands with your axle spanned across them (with the wheel on) will work too.Tried this method. Does not show that the wheel is heavy on one side or the other. Not sure if that is good enough or if I should take find someone to do that.
Makes a nice and cheap balancing stand.
Tried this method. Does not show that the wheel is heavy on one side or the other. Not sure if that is good enough or if I should take find someone to do that.
Yes they do but they also sell to the entire country, not just some local area on a map. They offer lower prices because they sell volume. It is pretty hard to compete when a website sells online at large volume levels and gets to sell it to you tax free.
Google Best Buy News for another example of the web versus brick and mortar retail. There is a good chance Best Buy stores will be gone in a few years. Yes, some of their issues are mismanagement but most of it is increased internet competition. So many people walk in there to see a product then go home and Google the item for the best available price.
Tried this method. Does not show that the wheel is heavy on one side or the other. Not sure if that is good enough or if I should take find someone to do that.
I take mine to a local Tyre place. http://www.universal-tyres.co.uk
They do car, van, truck and motorcycle tyres.
I get a front PR3 fitted to a loose rim with a new Schraeder core for £130.
Rear costs £160.
I take my car there too.
What many of the dealers miss out on is building a relationship.
When you come in for the tyres they need to chat to you while doing your tyres.
If you become a regular customer they can offer you a coffee while you wait.
If the dealer treated you well when doing your tyres, you would probably go there for your servicing, parts, and one day for a new bike.
It's their loss, not yours.