Retail direct bike companies

[steve_sordy]

[QUOTE="Fivetones, post: 62290, member: 2838".........What constitutes a monopoly?

..........[/QUOTE]

When the company was working for was investigated by the Monopolies & Mergers Commission (a UK public body), I was told that the definition of a monopoly is if you are the largest in the market and you have 25% or more of the market. Next question is "what is the market?"

 

[Fivetones]

[QUOTE="Fivetones, post: 62290, member: 2838".........What constitutes a monopoly?

..........

When the company was working for was investigated by the Monopolies & Mergers Commission (a UK public body), I was told that the definition of a monopoly is if you are the largest in the market and you have 25% or more of the market. Next question is "what is the market?"[/QUOTE]

And governments are completely ill prepared for how that relates to a digital monopoly.

 

[steve_sordy]

............
And governments are completely ill prepared for how that relates to a digital monopoly.

About the only thing governments are prepared for is to legislate for things that have already happened. Somehow they are never prepared for things that are entirely predictable. Shortage of schools and schoolteachers? Don't they see the birth and immigration stats so that they have 5 years warning? Ditto doctors and nurses, prisons, houses, energy supply, gas provision, salt for the roads in Winter, old people's care homes......... In fact, all the things that you would think Government and the Civil Service was supposed to be there for!

 

[MattyB]

About the only thing governments are prepared for is to legislate for things that have already happened. Somehow they are never prepared for things that are entirely predictable. Shortage of schools and schoolteachers? Don't they see the birth and immigration stats so that they have 5 years warning? Ditto doctors and nurses, prisons, houses, energy supply, gas provision, salt for the roads in Winter, old people's care homes......... In fact, all the things that you would think Government and the Civil Service was supposed to be there for!

Yes, but as terms of office are 4 years and all they spend 90% thinking about the which actions give them the best chance of being re-elected then that kind of common sense goes out of the window...

 

[motmcd]

This is a good discussion thread.

Like others here, I worry about the impact of online shopping on local communities when the brick and mortars shutter their doors. Online retailers sure make it easy to shop for a lot of items, but without the local retailers, who is going to sponsor the little league soccer club or baseball team, pee-wee football, cycling teams, Scout troop, and all the rest? And that's not to forget about who will provide employment.

These are the real consequences when dollars leave the local economy - dollars lost due to loss of employment opportunities, family businesses closing up, and more. So for me, I'm pretty much looking at every purchase I make and then deciding what to buy online or in local stores.

As for cycling purchases, I buy just about everything through my LBS. They order for me anything that they don't carry in the shop and the price is more often than not the same price I'd pay online with the added bonus of not paying shipping costs.

Cheers to all!!

 

[dirt huffer]

I wonder if we'll see shops jacking up service prices for people who bring in their bike to make ends meet? I do all my own work, but i could see service prices going up and up

 

[R120]

I always think part of the problem is the retail locations, not just bike shops but in general, the move to mall type retail environments, whether in the shape of now decrepit mid to late 20th century city centre developments, or warehouse like out of town ones, has made the whole shopping experience very impersonal. It seems to me that the shops that still thrive, tend to be those who are located in traditional mixed high streets, or locations that put them in the heart of a community.

I live in Reigate, and we are lucky to have two excellent bikes shops in the heart of town, one is a high end roadie shop called Maison Du Velo, which is part coffee shop and part roadie porn selling mostly very high end road bikes from the likes of Look, De Rosa, Lightweight etc, that has made itself a destination for cycling clubs on rides round here to grab a coffee, but also a hub of high end bike knowledge.

The other, Finch's, has been in the town for nearly 100 years, and is your traditional bike shop selling everything, but again a real part of the community, with great staff who are always happy to help and chat.

 

[Fivetones]

In another thread there was talk about how forums are returning after the fall of Facebook groups. I think people value and thrive on personal contact. It’s that sense of community that I was getting at.

The traditional small town centre with mixed shops is a much nicer environment for this than out of town retail. Also potentially more accessible by bike too.

 

[R120]

I never participated in Facebook, so have always been a fan of forums, and most of the ones I have been involved in have real world meet ups and as much relevance off line as on line to the members

 

[steve_sordy]

When the horseless carriages arrived, I'm sure that all those involved in the horse trade railed against the new technology. Where am I going to get my horse shod? Where will I buy my saddles, my feed etc.? Who will employ all the farriers and the horse breeders etc? Yes, the new technology was disruptive, but new and higher paid jobs were created and the world did not end. At least the streets are not 20' deep in horse shit, despite the average speed in the city being pretty much the same as in the 1800's!

And we still have horse breeders, farriers, blacksmiths, saddle makers and so forth!

 

[Kernow]

All our local bike shops seem to be doing very well , lots of stock and all happy to do a deal . I think the online sales has created this , the local bike shop no longer has the monopoly and has to charge sensible prices , hence turnover is up prices are down and there is more choice for everyone . Most business has gone the same way , electrical goods , cars even food shopping .
I buy from local shops where I can buy it’s also great to have the choice online .
Many local bike shops have met the situation with concept stores selling what has become considered high end brands specialised , trek , Scott even giant now looking at the current prices , this is a monopoly selling method as well , offer less choice , make your customer believe they are getting a superior product charge more for it , spec your own brand of components and in many cases save money on lower quality own brand parts . I actually find that more annoying than online sales because many consumers are tricked into paying more for less .

 

[steve_sordy]

Yes, but as terms of office are 4 years and all they spend 90% thinking about the which actions give them the best chance of being re-elected then that kind of common sense goes out of the window...

Long term thinking and planning is the job of the Civil Service. They are in the jobs for life and it is their objective. However, whatever they propose to the Minister, no matter how sensible, will always be viewed through the prism of what will it do for the Minister's career, and he wont have one if he doesn't get elected again! So yes, short term-ism is the plague that blights our system of Government; not just national, but regional and local too!

 

[OldBean]

Long term thinking and planning is the job of the Civil Service. They are in the jobs for life and it is their objective. However, whatever they propose to the Minister, no matter how sensible, will always be viewed through the prism of what will it do for the Minister's career, and he wont have one if he doesn't get elected again! So yes, short term-ism is the plague that blights our system of Government; not just national, but regional and local too!

Just watch “Yes Minister “ to see how civil servants behave .....we are going through one of their spats now!
I an still determined to have fun inspite of civil servants.