I too, am a small shop owner. One of the other items about not being a "dealer"is that if someone ever needed to send a bike back, then who does that? Does the consumer try and do it or do they hire a shop to pack and send the bike back? That can be quite costly, so another piece of this puzzle to think about. In this day and age of things, consumers have to be quite independent and resourceful often times to get what they want/need accomplished. Whether it's bikes or anything else we have today, I do not think that this is a great option. But over time, I do think that this will come back to supporting local shops and local business... most items are quite difficult to maintain and UA-cam videos aren't always the best way to go about that. It also gives shop owners time to change what they need to and truly make their shops, and one that will help customers when they are needed . Thanks for sharing and have a great rest of the season!
I always bought bikes from local bike shops until the pandemic year. At that point, most LBS in my area (Austin, TX) were closed, and when they eventually opened there weren't many new bikes available due to the interrupted supply chain. I ended up buying two mountain bikes, one from Cannondale and another from Transition, on line. I then found two local bike shops who were willing to assemble the bicycles for a fee I was willing to pay, and I now take those bikes to these shops for maintenance and repairs. I'm happy to pay these guys for servicing and/or initial assembly of my bicycles. The shops I used to buy bicycles from aren't even in business anymore, so I still have to find local bike shops willing to work on my old 2002 Klein. Anyway, there's always a need for businesses willing to service bicycles. I would never expect warranty work from a shop that had nothing to do with the purchase of my bikes.
Great video! I just looked at our area, the closest Canyon authorized repair center is a 3.5 hour drive. It’s incredible how many people don’t understand that if they buy the bike online they are putting their local bike shops at risk. The customer might save a few nickels up front, but they end up paying in lost time and $$$ over the life of the bike. I’d love to hear your thoughts about TREK offering consumer direct. Thanks for making this video.
You should become an authorized Canyon repair center. Sounds like there is a huge need for it in your state . It would also be great if people didn't expect everything to be free today !
A quality bike shop is a value to the community. Sram, shamino, and the big component companies are willing to sell their stuff to the direct brands and some of the high end brands are going direct. Crazy times for the bike industry for sure. One that is true, bike will need service and parts. I am happy to pay for quality work and will support my local bike shops.
I live in NC and local Trek dealer near me has a $90 per hour labor rate. Seems a lot of customers only look at the initial cost of a bike and don’t consider warranty or services. Points well taken in this video.
Bottom Brackets that failed after 1,000 miles used to drive me nuts. Then my mechanic explained to me that BB’s are considered disposable wear items. 🤦♂️
She would have to drive to Houston, Texas, or Orlando, Florida. Or box it up and ship it. Personally, that type of customer should always buy local. If you buy a bike online, you had better be mechanically inclined to build it and maintain it. Imo.
Or find LBS willing to service your bicycles, or build them up if they're new. I think that's the new world we live in. Whether it's books, appliances, bikes, even cars - on line purchasing is supplanting brick and mortar. Servicing is the name of the game. However I buy it, I need someone to install and service my appliances and assemble and work on my bikes. I still need authors to write the books I buy, and for them to be motivated financially to continue writing. The world has changed.
Could you please help me understand why bike shops will not be around if everyone buys a direct to consumer bike? Is the repair business not profitable at all ?
My friend owns a bike shop and tells me some about some of the drama. Especially with delusional people who think that just because someone works at a bike shop that they are somehow a social worker or lawyer that is some type of consumer advocate lol. As for disposable bicycles, we already have seen that happening in land fills. As for the planet aspect, it’s not just the direct to consumer brands polluting our environment but its brands that continue to change “standards”. For example 142x12 seems to work for 1x12 gravel bikes but somehow wasn’t enough for 1x12 mountain bikes. 100x15 was working for the first batch of gravel bikes but now they have to be 100x12. Was this just to keep consumers from using “environmental friendly” rebuildable hubs from thier old mountain bikes and repurposing them for gravel bikes? My point is big bike companies are as abusive to the environment as the automotive industry in many ways.
I think you are paying out of your hoop no matter what manufacturer, you just don't get as much grief when you bring them something they sell or have cornered the market with
I have a question. What about building bikes? Is that something even possible? Can you buy a frame & you pick & choose the components? Is that something a bike shop even does?
@@JohnnieVYeah some companies only sell frames or at least concentrate on frames. I’d expect that to mostly be racing or other special scenarios, like what Rivendell does. The same things apply: A local shop would need to be willing to put everything together for you and be willing to work with you afterwards if anything went wrong or did not meet expectations. A lot of that is no different than if they were selling a complete bike sent by a “name brand” maker. Keep in mind that the big names are mostly frame makers who add value by adding off the shelf components to complete the bike and ship it in one box. You’re paying for that research, development, to meet a certain price point. It’s not like buying a car and the only engine that fits correctly is the one designed for it.
Well, nearly all Brands sell online now - but I've seen issues getting replacement parts from overseas - and warranties being challenged/denied. After all as a US based consumer your only recourse is a phone call and email. Whereas if you buy local you create a relationship - it was rare, but I've gone to bat for several good customers, and the customer didn't know it.
To me, Trek's acquisition/control of the LBS model has done far more damage than the direct to consumer models. If your warranty claim is "it sqeaks like this and I want it to stop", direct won't go well and you may want a local shop who will really cater to you (at the relative higher cost of thousands of dollars per occurence). To those who can figure out how to document/photo/remove/mail/install components, the direct warranties are quite convenient.
Why don’t you tell Trek to stop charging $3,000 for an identical $2,000 Canyon bicycle. The components are all the same (Either SRAM or Shimano). Also realize there are hundreds of bicycle companies out there other than Trek. You’re not going to turn down business from a Specialized, Giant, Cannondale, Orbea, Cervelo or Felt bicycle. You’d even work on an old Schwinn or Huffey. So please don’t threaten the bicycle community and say you would not work on a Canyon.
By the time u do all that work you are at 60-70% of new price? Huge Malls are closing. The whole country is becoming mail order. Selling disposable merchandise 😊
Wrong, this how it works no matter where you buy it! If it breaks or wears out you pay for it unless it’s a major failure such as a frame, wheel, or fork/shock issue. People are totally f****d. They suck, there I said it for you. My LBS hates Canyon…they don’t care after they make the sale. I would send them away all day long. Charge $100 hour for bikes not bought from you and charge $80 for your client’s bikes. Charge in 15 minute increments. BTW, I buy everything through my LBS and get a fair deal since I buy only high end stuff. They make money, I get treated fair, and they take care of me…weird that when you support a business they support you….that’s a foreign concept to most people.
Man, many people seem confused about the difference between price and value.
I too, am a small shop owner. One of the other items about not being a "dealer"is that if someone ever needed to send a bike back, then who does that? Does the consumer try and do it or do they hire a shop to pack and send the bike back? That can be quite costly, so another piece of this puzzle to think about. In this day and age of things, consumers have to be quite independent and resourceful often times to get what they want/need accomplished. Whether it's bikes or anything else we have today, I do not think that this is a great option. But over time, I do think that this will come back to supporting local shops and local business... most items are quite difficult to maintain and UA-cam videos aren't always the best way to go about that. It also gives shop owners time to change what they need to and truly make their shops, and one that will help customers when they are needed . Thanks for sharing and have a great rest of the season!
I like this dude. He’s from my era. So much has changed. The “Bicycle Industry” is no longer the “🤘🏼bicycle industry 🤘🏼”!
I always bought bikes from local bike shops until the pandemic year. At that point, most LBS in my area (Austin, TX) were closed, and when they eventually opened there weren't many new bikes available due to the interrupted supply chain. I ended up buying two mountain bikes, one from Cannondale and another from Transition, on line. I then found two local bike shops who were willing to assemble the bicycles for a fee I was willing to pay, and I now take those bikes to these shops for maintenance and repairs. I'm happy to pay these guys for servicing and/or initial assembly of my bicycles. The shops I used to buy bicycles from aren't even in business anymore, so I still have to find local bike shops willing to work on my old 2002 Klein. Anyway, there's always a need for businesses willing to service bicycles. I would never expect warranty work from a shop that had nothing to do with the purchase of my bikes.
Great video! I just looked at our area, the closest Canyon authorized repair center is a 3.5 hour drive. It’s incredible how many people don’t understand that if they buy the bike online they are putting their local bike shops at risk. The customer might save a few nickels up front, but they end up paying in lost time and $$$ over the life of the bike. I’d love to hear your thoughts about TREK offering consumer direct. Thanks for making this video.
My business is all professional service oriented. I’d rather do that than retail any day. Sounds like your shop is a solid place!
You have my dream job. I would love to own a bike sales and repair shop.
You should become an authorized Canyon repair center. Sounds like there is a huge need for it in your state . It would also be great if people didn't expect everything to be free today !
Sounds like an untapped market that I would avoid like the plague.
I’d be curious to hear an update about what happened with the bike and customer. Thanks.
Lol at the customer. Way out of touch. Your time isn't free. Don't like it, take it elsewhere or do it yourself.
u had what id call a karin sir
A quality bike shop is a value to the community. Sram, shamino, and the big component companies are willing to sell their stuff to the direct brands and some of the high end brands are going direct. Crazy times for the bike industry for sure. One that is true, bike will need service and parts. I am happy to pay for quality work and will support my local bike shops.
I live in NC and local Trek dealer near me has a $90 per hour labor rate. Seems a lot of customers only look at the initial cost of a bike and don’t consider warranty or services. Points well taken in this video.
Bottom Brackets that failed after 1,000 miles used to drive me nuts. Then my mechanic explained to me that BB’s are considered disposable wear items. 🤦♂️
Use old fashioned square bottom brackets...;-)
They don’t get it Bro. They think we owe them. But giving great service is what we are about
She would have to drive to Houston, Texas, or Orlando, Florida. Or box it up and ship it. Personally, that type of customer should always buy local.
If you buy a bike online, you had better be mechanically inclined to build it and maintain it. Imo.
Or find LBS willing to service your bicycles, or build them up if they're new. I think that's the new world we live in. Whether it's books, appliances, bikes, even cars - on line purchasing is supplanting brick and mortar. Servicing is the name of the game. However I buy it, I need someone to install and service my appliances and assemble and work on my bikes. I still need authors to write the books I buy, and for them to be motivated financially to continue writing. The world has changed.
Could you please help me understand why bike shops will not be around if everyone buys a direct to consumer bike? Is the repair business not profitable at all ?
My friend owns a bike shop and tells me some about some of the drama. Especially with delusional people who think that just because someone works at a bike shop that they are somehow a social worker or lawyer that is some type of consumer advocate lol.
As for disposable bicycles, we already have seen that happening in land fills. As for the planet aspect, it’s not just the direct to consumer brands polluting our environment but its brands that continue to change “standards”. For example 142x12 seems to work for 1x12 gravel bikes but somehow wasn’t enough for 1x12 mountain bikes. 100x15 was working for the first batch of gravel bikes but now they have to be 100x12. Was this just to keep consumers from using “environmental friendly” rebuildable hubs from thier old mountain bikes and repurposing them for gravel bikes?
My point is big bike companies are as abusive to the environment as the automotive industry in many ways.
I think you are paying out of your hoop no matter what manufacturer, you just don't get as much grief when you bring them something they sell or have cornered the market with
I have a question. What about building bikes?
Is that something even possible?
Can you buy a frame & you pick & choose the components?
Is that something a bike shop even does?
There are plenty of shops will assist with that.
@@SteveFullerBikes thanks. I didn’t know if that was even possible. I was thinking like computers. People build computer
S all the time
@@JohnnieVYeah some companies only sell frames or at least concentrate on frames. I’d expect that to mostly be racing or other special scenarios, like what Rivendell does.
The same things apply: A local shop would need to be willing to put everything together for you and be willing to work with you afterwards if anything went wrong or did not meet expectations. A lot of that is no different than if they were selling a complete bike sent by a “name brand” maker.
Keep in mind that the big names are mostly frame makers who add value by adding off the shelf components to complete the bike and ship it in one box. You’re paying for that research, development, to meet a certain price point. It’s not like buying a car and the only engine that fits correctly is the one designed for it.
We love to do custom builds and the customers end up really happy !
Canyon will grow much faster than Trek will.
Only if they are disposable. Even with something like phones, an entire ecosystem of battery replacement services exists outside the maker.
Well, nearly all Brands sell online now - but I've seen issues getting replacement parts from overseas - and warranties being challenged/denied. After all as a US based consumer your only recourse is a phone call and email.
Whereas if you buy local you create a relationship - it was rare, but I've gone to bat for several good customers, and the customer didn't know it.
To me, Trek's acquisition/control of the LBS model has done far more damage than the direct to consumer models.
If your warranty claim is "it sqeaks like this and I want it to stop", direct won't go well and you may want a local shop who will really cater to you (at the relative higher cost of thousands of dollars per occurence). To those who can figure out how to document/photo/remove/mail/install components, the direct warranties are quite convenient.
I doubt it. Not by an educated consumer.
By the time u do all that work you are at 60-70% of new price?
Why don’t you tell Trek to stop charging $3,000 for an identical $2,000 Canyon bicycle. The components are all the same (Either SRAM or Shimano). Also realize there are hundreds of bicycle companies out there other than Trek. You’re not going to turn down business from a Specialized, Giant, Cannondale, Orbea, Cervelo or Felt bicycle. You’d even work on an old Schwinn or Huffey. So please don’t threaten the bicycle community and say you would not work on a Canyon.
lol dont they all DO THAT i last week ordered my self build 12 speed gravel with ait fork cost me 780 EXPLANE THAT BUILD UR OWN
Did this customer abandon her Canyon because she didn’t want to pay you for service?
Came and picked up the bike later that day , happy customer after some research
By the time u do all that work you are at 60-70% of new price? Huge Malls are closing. The whole country is becoming mail order. Selling disposable merchandise 😊
Just another day of dealing with a typical Canyon owner 😂
Pay direct to consumer but expects something Spesh would provide. 😊
Wrong, this how it works no matter where you buy it! If it breaks or wears out you pay for it unless it’s a major failure such as a frame, wheel, or fork/shock issue. People are totally f****d. They suck, there I said it for you. My LBS hates Canyon…they don’t care after they make the sale. I would send them away all day long. Charge $100 hour for bikes not bought from you and charge $80 for your client’s bikes. Charge in 15 minute increments.
BTW, I buy everything through my LBS and get a fair deal since I buy only high end stuff. They make money, I get treated fair, and they take care of me…weird that when you support a business they support you….that’s a foreign concept to most people.