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The Flame Board!
Tried to support the local shop
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[QUOTE="blackduc98, post: 1076672, member: 65764"] I said 15% [B]profit[/B] on items which they [b]don't stock[/b]. The dealer acts as a simple keypunch operator for that particular transaction. He takes my money upfront, keys in my order into the computer, and usually doesn't even bother to call me when my parts arrive. He pays no shipping charges on any order over $60 from Parts Unlimited. He pays $15/hr to the guy who puts the parts into the stockroom and mans the parts counter. And yes, there is rent and lights and telephone and other administrative overhead. Fine, calculate total cost including all these items and then add a 15% profit margin on top of that. Yes, I understand that if I only buy a single washer for $1.50 then he loses money on it because it takes just as much effort to put that washer into the stockroom as it does for a $700 set of carbon-fiber pipes. But I normally buy much more than a washer...too much in fact. I would go see a therapist about that, but I can't afford to because I've spent it all at the bike shop :-) BTW, in my local area the dealer which charges lowest prices (compared to other local dealers) happens to have the most extensive stockroom, the most knowledgeable parts guys and mechanics, and the best service. Their parts prices are usually within 20% of ronayers.com and it's always a pleasure doing business with them. If they weren't so far away from my house I'd probably never shop on ronayers.com again. I wish I could say the same about the rest of the dealers around here. Now back to the proverbial washer for a moment. The washer really costs 20 cents at the hardware store, and we all know that. If you set your price at $5 for that washer, you are really telling me "piss off, I don't want your business". Every year I spend hundreds of $$ on parts and way more on service, and I will take it to some place which doesn't charge me $5 for that washer. I simply hate the feeling of being ripped off, and I won't patronize anyone who routinely makes me feel that way. Maybe I'm stupid, but I don't understand how it can be $150 UNDER your cost. Or to put it another way, what is stopping you from getting this item for $699 from the internet just like anybody else? Are you saying that your distributor is ripping you off? I don't run a small business (obviously) so it is likely I don't understand something fundamental about it. Please educate me. That's another position I don't understand. Why not charge those customers your true labor+profit rate? You are an expert in your field, so your customers have to pay you for your expertise. That's what my local harley guy does for things like tires. He is very upfront about it, and I understand and respect his position: he has to make a profit if someone walks into his shop with a set of tires bought off the 'net and wants to have them mounted on rims. He is willing to do that at his normal hourly labor rate..however long it takes to get the job done. Or you can buy the tires from him for full retail price and mounting will be included - either way it's the customer's choice. Doesn't that seem like a reasonable approach? Anyway, sorry about the long rant. I really do want to support my local dealerships, but sometimes it's really hard to just close my eyes and pay whatever they ask, while knowing the price that is available to me with a few clicks of a mouse. And FWIW, I don't shop at WalMart either, but I won't pass judgement on people who do shop there. [/QUOTE]
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Tried to support the local shop
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