Dirt Rag Ebay article

[bdee]

It's in the new issue that just arrived 2 days ago. Anyone else read it? Any thoughts on the LBS vs Ebay vs the LBS (or bicycle manufacturer) that sells through Ebay? Do you feel guilty for using Ebay now, or are you a free market capitalist who could care less where your parts come from? Just curious, it seemed like a timely well balanced article to me, and it won't change my buying habits (60% LBS 40% used market - MTBR, Ebay etc.).

[steve_b]

I don't subscribe - was the article ripping people for not buying from the LBS or "discussing" both options? ???

[bdee]

It was pretty balanced, but I picked up some LBS sympathy in the article (not a bad thing necessarily, but it was there). If they post the article on the DR site I'll try to paste it here. It's an interesting read, and I'm sure more than a few people will be guilted into not buying on Ebay etc.

[Dave]

I haven't had a chance to check out this article yet, but I'll be honest with you, I do some web shopping, and a bit of ebay for bike related items. I have also compared prices on some stuff between online and my LBS and I've found my LBS is quite competitive with most of the online dealers. I've even seen them beat the online dealers in cases where they had the same price on an item and gave me 10% off for being a regular there and having previously bought a bike from them. I can see both sides of this story, I try to split up where my money goes cause when it comes down to it, service from a person is the best part of the LBS.

[Geoff G.]

it feels good when I buy stuff from the lbs, but it is definately more expensive. I just threw down about 180 today at my lbs for a bunch of parts/ installiation, but I walked out of there with everything I bought installed so it was sweet. I bought the frame the stuff was going on used, and got a good deal. I think that lbs's should sell used stuff too. also I have to drive 1/2 hour to get to a decent shop so that's another reason to buy online when I can

[gnurider1080]

i like going to the lbs. the guys there are cool and its awesome being around all the bike stuff.

[Quo Fan]

Most of the time, when I'm looking to buy, my LBS doesn't carry what I'm looking for. My last major purchase was a complete bike, which I got through my LBS. Most of my parts I get online, because the mark-up isn't that much ( I think) and I get all my clothing online because I can buy closeout at a substantial discount. I tend to be very specific about what I want, and a lot of the time, the LBS doesn't have what I want.

[bike187]

working at a shop, welled more like worked at one (been long time since been in) i buy from them most of the time. the only time i actually check out online retailers is if they're having some huge sale. that and when they liquidate old parts to clear space and the old stuff works for one of my bikes. old stuff through a shop isn't usually at liquidating prices, unless they're small shop without space to store old stuff not likely to be used. new stuff, that's almost always through the shop. i do scan the for sale sections and ebay every so often when i ahve money and i'm looking for some part that i don't really care if it's new. for instance, i'm rebulding my jamis komodo at my extra/putzing around bike. i've got my old wheelset on it rite now and a seatpost. the wheelset a couple years old and beat. i know it could crumble under a huge hit, and deteriation is sped up by the fact that the rim eyelets are starting to crack, but it's not that big of a deal to me. i keep a tight track of it. i want a fork for the bike, and i'd be all for using my old psylo on it but the steerer is alarmingly short for the bike. the chances of finding an old decent heavy duty fork with rim brake tabs and uncut steerer isn't great. the price of a new steerer and stanchions defeats the purpose of buying used most of the time. NOS on ebay or catalogue, the chances go up. bike budget for that bike is wicked small right now so i'm in no rush, so i continue to search. i'm all for supporting lbs for new parts, as well as used. they should give you discounted or free installation of what you buy there if it's easy to do (flats excluded). if they don't, well they should realize they're turning customers away except for service. that said, the shop i work at has competetive prices on parts, and is cheaper then the other local shops on labor prices.

[slapheadmofo]

I used to drop lots of $$ at my LBS, but since I moved and don't have as much disposable income anymore (not to mention that the LBS's in my new locale don't seem to have the selection or knowledge that I was used to) I buy pretty much everything second hand except wear parts (chains, cogs/rings, fork seals, tires, cables, grips, brake pads, etc). Buying online cuts the prices almost in half for a lot of that stuff. I do pop into the shops once in awhile to see what's marked down or on clearance, but the standard shop prices are pretty jacked up. I can't think of anything I'd pay someone to install or work on except possibly a fork rebuild by somebody that really knows their stuff.

[bdee]

I was in my LBS (prov bike) last night to install the cups in my replacement Komodo frame, and to drop off the Psylo for it's semi annual rebuild. Two nights before that I was in with the used Chameleon I bought on Ebay (caught some crap for it, but after I bought a king HS and a decent post I think it was already forgotten). I think most shops realize that good customers try to support them as mucha s possible (like when I bought a new 'cross bike, I went to my LBS rather than buying from an online retailer or Ebay - even if I paid a little more). If you are looking for specific parts (old school stuff, rare bikes or say square taper bottom bracket/cranks etc.) then Ebay still rules. Some stuff it is very hard to justify buying from the shop, like drivetrain parts. I've been trying to buy as much as possible from the shop when I build a bike from the frame up. Sometimes though the budget makes it almost impossible not to pick up parts online. BTW - my LBS sells stuff through Ebay themselves when they need to liquidate old stock. I don't think they would ever seriously giev anyone a hard time for using the web to buy parts - they know how it goes. The article mentions this as well. The one thing on line retailers can't offer is a sense of community, and a reputation of reliability that is fostered by a really good LBS. And that, in and of itself, is worth spending more in the LBS than online.

[johnbryanpeters]

I buy from LBS when they have what I want in stock.

Many of my ordering exercises at LBS have been disasters - takes three months, wrong parts, whatever. THis has tended to be true across at least three local shops.

J

[C.P.]

'Just got to this article.
Interesting read...
One thought - Ebay is gonna change the way we buy a lot of new things, (not just bikes) - My fear coming away from this article, is that with time the "LBS" as we know it will suffer, and less of them will continue to exist. Ebay itself has gone through a rapid change from an online yardsale type venue, to a fulltime close your brick/mortar retail store and sell online type venue. I know it's part of the internet economy but the fact that the top tier of the selling chain (Suppliers) are whoring their sole brick and mortar existance to the lowest bidder ONLINE is sad.

I once went to a bike shop liquidation auction...and coming away from it, I now could see a cool thing for a local bike shop who has some liquidity issues at season end/start..They could hold their own live auction. You know - in their store! It could be an evening event one time a quarter, or season or whatever...they could mail flyers to the folks on their customer database (many shops have these now) - and call attention to the event...this way they could keep some strong customer relationships going and possibly get the attention of a real good biker crowd, and potetially get some "extra"s sales as folks head for the door. Not to mention, they wouldn't be breaking any dealer rules...they could tell folks to come in weeks early to pick out stuff they want to bid on, get fitted to their dream bike or whatever. Then when they come in, they could be cued up for the thing they want to bid on... let the fun begin!

Anyways, I have only used ebay for the occasional NEW purchase, and buy most of my NEW bike related items through 40% online retailers/60%LBS.
OTOH, I do use ebay to solve a problem, selling my used otherwise good condition bikes/parts. Now where else can you get 1000's of potential buyers looking at your used item for 5bucks?

[jh_on_the_cape]

Retail is tough. Looking forward to reading the article. All I have to say is that the traditional LBS needs to adapt to a changing world. Many are successful at this with other sports equipment or rentals or whatever. Some remain stubborn and complain and become cranky and snooty and eventually will suffer.
If something costs more at LBS (understandably) they have to offer something that online does not. Service. I think the simple fact is that alot (not all) of bike work is pretty easy with some basic tools.

[benb]

A few Smart LBSes are buying/selling parts on eBay, and they don't feel real bad if they find out you do the same.

The ones who get easily offended are the dinosaurs who are at risk for losing their competitive ability anyway.

I think anyone intelligent realizes there is a wide range of appropriate choices depending on who the customer is, what they are expecting, and how much they can afford.

It is great to pay a little extra for convenient service, but it pisses me off when I get that occasional situation where a shop I trust and have bought multiple bikes from charges me 2x the fair price for a part and then has an ill-trained bozo install it poorly on my bike.