Parker brothers close shop

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Re: Parker Bros. - done

bikermahn said:
When I go to GPBikes they are always packed, always making sales and seem in good spirits. Go down the street to Oshawa Cycle, they are dead. They don't even have a mechanic in the shop during the winter. Both are bike shops, one is big and one is small. The small shop that turned Big Box store-ish seems to have the right idea. I go there because they typically have what I want when i want it, I don't need to wait...

I don't see the economy moving that much slower, people are a little more safe with their money. If you can buy a product for 200 on-line shipped to you, are you really going to buy the exact same thing locally for $300? NO.

How are local shops dealing with this? Pushing inferior asian made products, at a low low cost. And that helps them, but does not help North American manufacturers.

So everybody is looking out for #1 and we will all end up in #2 in the end.
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That is the reality for any business. Let's turn the table and if PB had two suppliers yet one of them were selling them items 10-20% more than the other then which one will PB order from.
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

Sorry to see Parker Brothers go. I liked the shop, bought my first set of gear from them and Dave was my instructor at FAST.

I think everyone is missing the bigger problem:

<b>The motorcycle industry in Canada is crumbling. </b> We won't recognize it in 5 years.
Many of the new models don't appeal to the people who have the disposable income to buy them.

In 2008, 89,390 new bikes were sold.
In 2011 48,660 new bikes were sold.
Source: www.mmic.ca

Even the brand loyal followers of Harley Davidson have slowed down:
World wide sales:
2006 - 349,196
2011 - 233,117

I think the current economy has also made many realize the high cost of this hobby.
It is very hard to have a successful business when almost HALF of your potential customers are gone.
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

I've shopped at Parker Bro's and every time they had to order stuff in. So i have to make time, go down there, order it, a week later, make time again, pick it up.

So...if they have to order it, how is that diff than me ordering it online?

I have no qualms with paying a bit extra for local service and next day availability. But to make it more inconvenient, higher priced and still have to wait the same amount....whats the point?

Dave was a good guy, but he primarily catered to a very niche market of dual sport riders who for most part are handy enough to fix their own stuff....kinda hard not to be handy when you're taking the bike places where your life depended on it. That niche market took away a lot of $$ in service.

If you're a KTM dealer and you dont have generic parts for an LC4, by far the most used KTM engine in their street line up,...what does that tell ME about YOUR commitment to the customer? Thats a two way street.

Dual Sport Plus in Hamilton is my "local" go to place now as they went out of their way to get me a product...i can respect that.

Dont blame the changing enviroment for your downfall, blame your lack of evolving and staying mainstream.

In the end, every and last shop can close up and it will not effect me as i wrench on my own bikes and its a HOBBY, if my bike doesnt run for a week waiting for parts, its not the end of the world.
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

Franko! said:
Sorry to see Parker Brothers go. I liked the shop, bought my first set of gear from them and Dave was my instructor at FAST.

I think everyone is missing the bigger problem:

<b>The motorcycle industry in Canada is crumbling. </b> We won't recognize it in 5 years.
Many of the new models don't appeal to the people who have the disposable income to buy them.

In 2008, 89,390 new bikes were sold.
In 2011 48,660 new bikes were sold.
Source: www.mmic.ca

Even the brand loyal followers of Harley Davidson have slowed down:
World wide sales:
2006 - 349,196
2011 - 233,117

I think the current economy has also made many realize the high cost of this hobby.
It is very hard to have a successful business when almost HALF of your potential customers are gone.
Click to expand...

The cost for insurance here is also a considerable mitigating factor imo.
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

Red_Liner740 said:
Dont blame the changing enviroment for your downfall, blame your lack of evolving and staying mainstream.

.
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Theres the moneyshot, right there folks! ^^^^^

I hate to hear of any business closing, but the reality is, with the power of the internet, We live in a global economy now. Businesses have to adapt to survive.




.
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

Not to insult anyone but I can see people are narrow minded

It is true that if I wan to buy let's say a set of plastics for my bike right now, I may spend a few less dollars by going to internet sales and getting some cheap crap from China, I understand the concept

Now, let me give you just one example of how this will affect you on the long run:

Eventually you will have kids, your kids will grow up to be teenagers, these teenagers will need summer jobs, once graduated from high school, they may also need those local jobs in order to save money for tuition, where do you think they are going to go and get those jobs from? from MR Ebay? or from your local bike shop, your local book store...etc. This is just one example

Sure, save yourself a few bucks and think about now, but we are slowly screwing ourselves
 
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Re: Parker Bros. - done

ZX600 said:
Not to insult anyone but I can see people are narrow minded

It is true that if I wan to buy let's say a set of plastics for my bike right now, I may spend a few less dollars by going to internet sales and getting some cheap crap from China, I understand the concept

Now, let me give you just one example of how this will affect you on the long run:

Eventually you will have kids, your kids will grow up to be teenagers, these teenagers will need summer jobs, once graduated from high school, they may also need those local jobs in order to save money for tuition, where do you think they are going to go and get those jobs from? from MR Ebay? or from your local bike shop, your local book store...etc

Sure, save yourself a few bucks and think about now, but we are slowly screwing ourselves
Click to expand...

Thank you, as I have felt the effect of the internet on bike shops as I got laid off from my local shop last year.
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

ZX600 said:
Not to insult anyone but I can see people are narrow minded

It is true that if I wan to buy let's say a set of plastics for my bike right now, I may spend a few less dollars by going to internet sales and getting some cheap crap from China, I understand the concept

Now, let me give you just one example of how this will affect you on the long run:

Eventually you will have kids, your kids will grow up to be teenagers, these teenagers will need summer jobs, once graduated from high school, they may also need those local jobs in order to save money for tuition, where do you think they are going to go and get those jobs from? from MR Ebay? or from your local bike shop, your local book store...etc. This is just one example

Sure, save yourself a few bucks and think about now, but we are slowly screwing ourselves
Click to expand...

Amazon said:
Thank you, as I have felt the effect of the internet on bike shops as I got laid off from my local shop last year.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but this argument doesn't fly. There are way too many fast food jobs, farming & paid internships out there. Just too many helicopter parented bubble children in the world who are better than minimum wage.
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

ZX600 said:
Not to insult anyone but I can see people are narrow minded

It is true that if I wan to buy let's say a set of plastics for my bike right now, I may spend a few less dollars by going to internet sales and getting some cheap crap from China, I understand the concept

Now, let me give you just one example of how this will affect you on the long run:

Eventually you will have kids, your kids will grow up to be teenagers, these teenagers will need summer jobs, once graduated from high school, they may also need those local jobs in order to save money for tuition, where do you think they are going to go and get those jobs from? from MR Ebay? or from your local bike shop, your local book store...etc. This is just one example

Sure, save yourself a few bucks and think about now, but we are slowly screwing ourselves
Click to expand...

We are talking about peanuts here.
Start with the big Corporations such as Apple etc...
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

killerkeith said:
I'm sorry, but this argument doesn't fly. There are way too many fast food jobs, farming & paid internships out there. Just too many helicopter parented bubble children in the world who are better than minimum wage.
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Ok but... once most of the local shops etc vanish, don't you think that getting a job at your local Fast food place is going to be very difficult and almost impossible? Since all Kids will have no choice but to apply to the same job? Do you want to get to a point where you need an university degree to get a job at MacDonalds?

Just something to consider

I used to buy my tires from Pet in Montreal, great service and awesome prices, now I buy all my tires from Dave at competition Cycle, why you ask? let me tell you

One reason is that he supports local racing, I have also created a good report with the guy and even if I spend a few more dollars on my brand new tires, on the long run I save money by having a local guy looking after me

Just this past Sunday he spent 45 min fixing a part for my race bike and he charged me $0. So at the end we both win because I spend my money on his shop and he helps me out

My advice is go out there and create relationships with people, sometimes you may pay more but at the end you win, we all win
 
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Re: Parker Bros. - done

ZX600 said:
Ok but... once most of the local shops etc vanish, don't you think that getting a job at your local Fast food place is going to be very difficult and almost impossible? Since all Kids will have no choice but to apply to the same job? Do you want to get to a point where you need an university degree to get a job at MacDonalds?

Just something to consider
Click to expand...

Here's what I think we need to do with kids that are in the 0-18 range right now. We need to be teaching our kids how to write computer software as a life skill and not a job. Get this in the public schools along with french. The new summer jobs will be the ones they create for phone applications.

http://mashable.com/2012/03/25/teaching-kids-write-software/
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

i spend about that much per year on my bike! $3K includes: insurance premium, gas, maintenance, lunches and snacks, lots of Timmies coffees and ice capps, etc.
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

killerkeith said:
I'm sorry, but this argument doesn't fly. There are way too many fast food jobs, farming & paid internships out there. Just too many helicopter parented bubble children in the world who are better than minimum wage.
Click to expand...

Not only that, todays kids are a bunch of spoiled, lazy, unmotivated ***** and feel they have a sense of entitlement to everything.
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

ZX600 said:
Just something to consider

Just this past Sunday he spent 45 min fixing a part for my race bike and he charged me $0. So at the end we both win because I spend my money on his shop and he helps me out

My advice is go out there and create relationships with people, sometimes you may pay more but at the end you win, we all win
Click to expand...

Not trying to set up a funky vibe or anything here's something to consider: dealers and shops aren't there to be your friends. Everybody wants to hang out and bench race, it's par for the course at bike shops but ultimately it's a business. If I want to build a good relationship with a bike shop I keep the chatter to a minimum and wouldn't dare take 45 min. of free service. Insist on paying for everything.
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

Bought my gear from them when they were still at the Dundas location. Helmet/gloves/boots/Jacket back in 2006 when getting my g2. Went to Kipling location a few times but wasn't able to find anything that suited my taste sadly. Saw the PB sign half torn few days ago was worried business wasn't good.
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

i never used parker bros. as I never had the need.
But i do feel badly for them and I dont like to see any part of this already too small an industry go away.
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

I loves me an economics discussion on GTAM.....GDP....Unemployment....

Sad to see Parker Bros go but like mentioned before, businesses must adapt during these times of globalization if you want to compete. Mom and pop stores need to have the mentality of a corporation just to run a hole in the wall joint. It's simple, match everything the corporations are doing and provide the personal touch. People will pay the little surcharge in price if you can do that.

Had Parker matched the business model of say GP or any shop that kept stock and made ordering easy, and combined it with their stellar service, most customers would have paid a little extra to go there. That's why people still go to GP when they can just order online.
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

Canadian motorcycle retailers need to band together and figure something out. The whole catalogue / distributor system sucks, plain and simple - I haven't been by a shop for a while, but I do remember it being impossible to order EBC's EPFA pads anywhere locally, even TWO YEARS after they had been introduced. I tried! Same thing with just trying to buy a EK screw-type master link. Whatever the big distributors carry here is half of what they offer in the States.

Also, does this sound familar?

Guy: I'd like to order this tire, please!
Shop: Okey doke, should be here in a week!
Guy: It's been a week, I'm here to pick up my tire!
Shop: Oh, hmm ... it's not here. Distributor says they will ship it in a week!
Guy: It's me again! Did my tire come in after two weeks?
Shop: Distributor was actually out of stock and it's backordered from the manufacturer. They might have it in ... 5 months!
Guy: Hooray!
Guy: Just kidding, give me my money back.

Then the guy goes online and has his tire by the end of the week.

This has happened to me with trying to order accessories for every bike I've owned. Maybe the Canadian system works great if you have one of the two most recent generations of the big four supersports, but it was always crap for me. This problem can't be insurmountable - there are a number of online Canadian businesses that have been fairly successful supplying to us, at reasonable prices (e.g. Blue Streak Racing, Bayside Performance, Pete's Superbike). If they can make it work at that level, why can't anyone make it work as a distributor?
 
Re: Parker Bros. - done

sad day. I has been there since they were beside cycleworld. Indeed I am still wearing the same jacket I bought from Parker Bros 14 years ago. (ok I am not helping their business...)

I remember the first time I ride squid to the store the staff (also a motorcycle instructor) give me a hard time about my dress of choice. Good time :)

My experience with Parker Bros are good. Said to see you gone...
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