The Bike Industry's Secret Manipulators Exposed

Didn’t know how bad it really is 😮

Yes I have noticed distributors are discontinuing items only to replace them with in-house brands. Maybe going direct to the brands is the way, it’s just tough to make shipping.
Also I do need to stop ordering for customers asap. 😊

In reality the average price margin seems 300 times higher than the original cost. Also U.S. Citizens are now paying exorbitant shipping and tariff fees attached to the price.

All small local bike shops should get a Shopify storefront with payment options like sezzle or klarna etc
That way you can get more chances to get rid of inventory, anyway ebike service as you already suggested is another way but you still need dedicated staff or being open to learn... It's hard but doable 😅

About your business, immersion, It's going mainstream, what's missing is a immersive wax blend fomulated for mtbs, I run ptfe/paraffin/paraffin oil (8 to 10%) and a very little part secret ingredient. Look at margins you might want to cook something up. Demand is coming...

This is why I made the choice to be a collection and return workshop only. With zero interest in bike sales. I'll be offering local area same day parts delivery in future, but for now I'm happy with just fixing bikes. Manufacturers can sell their own bikes, but they'll always need to be fixed.
I have nothing bad to say about the UK parts distributors, always available on the phone, a great website and next day delivery is all I need from them.

I like quality bikes with old school standards. I ride reliable rigid steel single-speed 29ers with mechanical disc brakes. I do my own maintenance. Skip complicated & expensive.

Very Good Points… I worked in bike the industry for the past 8 I feel your pain and no longer work in the industry because of many reasons but mostly because of lack of growth and money and chaos.

It's funny you quoted Tommy Boy 😂

The big bike brands are building their bikes overseas to save costs, but they sell them here and price them as if they are made here. They aren't passing that savings on to the consumers.

I bought a new superior 979 tr from bikesonline. But i had to go to the bikeshop for some things. I feel guilty i bought a bike online but the bikes they sell, (PIVOT) are absurdly priced, and they are just aluminum, not even carbon fiber.

Nice tool box

How big of the market are Trike sales?

I tried to buy something from my local bike shop recently. Told them I’d wait gave them my number never heard from them again. Sometimes bike shops close because of bad service.

My local shop is a Kona dealer, over the last year they went from stopping orders with Kona to being ecstatic to carry Kona because they've got a unique line and enthusiastic salespeople that make them feel heard, they're excited just to have a manufacturer that advocates for their success, that's all it takes, Q, Merida, Giant, and trek might be in for some lean times as the shop owners start turning to alternative brands to fill their shelves.

You have valid points, but not everyone fixes or maintains their own bike(s) so service is a huge factor for a successful bike shop.

what happened was Biden became president and the economy tanked so instead of people buying l this overpriced crap....they decided to buy food and gas and skyhigh rents and mortgage payments.... pretty simple

What bike is to your left 👀

bikes were always supposed to be affordable and clean energy transport thats not bad for environment. that has been completely ruined.

Another aspect of the modern consumer is the flow of information through internet and social media. I've been cycling for 40 years and am highly aware of new products coming into the industry. I can read and research heavily before I ever get close to a buying decision. Then, what I want to purchase, is usually not available at my local retailer. They tell me we can order it... but so can I at 75% of their cost. I have even seen this recently all the way to a higher price road bike. They don't want to take the risk to stock it, I have to pay before they will order. In that scenario you are basically put in a direct to consumer buying model. It's a difficult situation for the consumer and the retailer.

When I was a kid I used to love going into the local bike shop and just walking around admiring all of those beautiful works of art. After school and on Saturday I would ride my old Murray 10 speed to the shop just to walk through and browse the store. I'd walk in and the smell of all that fresh rubber would fill my nostrils. The bikes were shiny and colorful. All of the great ones were there: the Cannondales, the Nishikis, the Treks, the Panasonics, the Raleighs, etc. The small staff all knew me by my name and always made me feel right at home in spite of knowing that I couldn't afford any of those beautiful bicycles.

After I graduated from high school I joined the Navy and finally started making a living and saving up my money. One week when I was home on leave I went back to the shop to see my old friends and buy a new bike. It was a Nishiki mountain bike that happened to be the same color as my brand new 4x4 Toyota pickup truck.

The guys at the shop were so proud of me that that they all pitched in their own money and gave me a substantial discount on my first bike. I couldn't hold back my tears. I couldn't believe they thought that much of me to do that for me.

Are there still shops out there like this?

Most annoying place in the world - a bike shop

So somebody put your product in place of Muc-Off? That’s friggin dope.

Recently, I went into my LBS to buy some items, but was told 'our distributor doesn't handle that.' I was polite and left, but thinking, 'Don't you realize I can get anything I want from Amazon?' And it's happened to other shops in town! The bookstore, the toy store, the health food place. Unreal that Shops are so slow to pick up on this!

The issue with bike prices is specific to greed and thinking the consumer is stupid. Tell me again why an ebike is cheaper when alll the same parts and materials are on both then add the motor,battery, display, cords and tell me it costs less. They tipped their hand. We know they have been using greedflation to manipulate prices.

Most of my local bike shops have been terrible to deal with not picking up the phone,not replying to voicemail or Email and,on top of it all, treating us like low life...
They are hungry now and will be for a while. they have managed to upset me. So, be hungry, eat the stale breadcrums on the floor !! 😤

When i lived in Denver, about 20 years ago, I found an Ace hardware with a little bike shop in back. They didn't stock much, but it seemed like they would order ANYTHING for me. I miss that place.

Excellent synopsis of the industry that I would say applies to many businesses with a dealer network.

👍👍👍

Sadly I’ve been on the other side of this, but the LBS came through because they were local.
Bought an e-bike “made locally in Alberta 🇨🇦” and later found out it was assembled in China and shipped to shelves as-is, and of course, I had a ton of issues with it.
The good thing is that the bike shop accepted the return without prejudice, worked with me to find another bike, and gave me a discount on another model.
They also admitted that they wouldn’t be carrying that brand anymore and thanked me for awakening to the reality of working with that brand. I can’t imagine the hell I would have encountered if I bought this online.
Also, I found out that this brand is now selling their wares on Walmart… 🫠