>>1299630I wish they focused on service instead of selling bikes. Service is profitable, but it’s also something that can’t be replaced easily by Amazon or BikesDirect. If services needed dries up run a flash sale on rates at about 5% off, enough for people who are on the fence to bring their bikes through.
Bike ‘safety checks’ are almost as expensive as bike services- I know they take time but fixing the issue should be essential or discounted if they’re the shop that does the diagnosis. Include maybe $30 worth of free repair in whatever gets diagnosed. (Derailleur headset, and brake adjustments, maybe run a single new rear derailleur cable replacement complimentary if needed- lots of people run their bikes into the ground and ‘got it serviced’ where only a diagnosis was made, and they think that bikes naturally run like total dog shit.)
To that end I also wish they kept a larger stock of parts. I understand the proliferation of odd parts (27.5”, etc.) has made this difficult but there are lots of small, but common parts that should be carried. This can cut down severely on turnaround and includes cassettes, freewheels, and derailleurs of multiple size and placement in hierarchy/manufacturer. Fewer people will buy a part from your store’s ‘ship to store’ (like performance and most LBS offer) when Amazon has the same part, but ships faster, and far cheaper.
Either charge amazon level rates for anything you’re shipping in and make it up on your installation cost, or carry it in store and charge the high rate for the convenience of not having to wait for it to ship in. But if you provide neither and still charge high rates, people will (and should) shop elsewhere.
Bikes take up a lot of floor space, (and frankly aren’t very good for the amount we end up paying.) If it’s not in-style it can be a real money loss.
