What are YOU looking for in a moto store?

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mimico_polak

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I noticed there were a few threads popping up over members asking where is the best/cheapest/easiest place to buy motorcycle gear and parts and there's answers that range from stores in the GTA, US, or even Europe with exchange rates and shipping included.

So I'm curious, what is it that YOU are looking for?

Is it price? Most stores I notice are selling the same items for the same price with the same deliveries as they get them through a distributor (i.e.: Parts Canada) or a store in the US (i.e.: Twisted Throttle) who sell to them and then goes to you?

Is it service? Seems that there's a consensus on most stores are NOT very customer friendly from what I read here, however some stand out greatly.

Is it selection? Some carry a lot of gear, some don't, and others do simple order and ship once their order arrives?

What would you want in a store? A storefront? Or just an online store where you call/email and order and wait for your items? I'm asking because my friend continues to ask me to get into a store business with him so he wanted some help with research.

From the looks of it being a run of the mill store is more difficult because frankly you're fighting on price with every other store in the GTA, and online selling the same items.

Basically what would you like to see in a store that you deal with?
 
The internet has spoiled us. I want a vast selection to fondle. Not gonna happen.
 
inreb said:
The internet has spoiled us. I want a vast selection to fondle. Not gonna happen.
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Unfortunately we can't have it all....we want it...and yes we are spoiled with the internet nowadays. Everything at our finger tips and if it fails once then off we go to the next one. What a wonderful world to live in!
 
GTA stores don't really compete with each other on price though, maybe on a few things like tires and oil. If you want to run your business on price pretty much the only sane way to do it is the way Pete's does it, which is to order everything by the skidload. Otherwise it's impossible. You can NOT do it through the Canadian arms of American distributors.

Honestly, if I were to do it, I would sell some bike stuff & food. Dead serious. I think it would be pretty easy to create a biker hangout in the GTA. Run a lot of low cost events (some equivalent of pub trivia), make sure you have a parking lot where the bikes are out front. I like BLTs & hot wings
 
Price competitive, (which is different than just the lowest price). I understand a bricks and motar retail location comes at increased costs over a warehouse/online location.

Having said that I visited a local retailer this week looking for a cover for a friends new bike. Just happens there is another retailer a few hundred meters down the road. Problem for retailer # 1 is the exact same cover at retailer # 2 is just over $20 less. I can understand charging a slight amount higher if you fell your store/staff give better service/selection. But a 25 - 30% premium is not reasonable nor price competitive.
 
big selection. small prices. and a sales girl who is willing to do anything for that sale of a $10 cargo net :D. and i mean ANYTHING.
 
i work in retail, so when i go into a motorshop, first thing i look for is service. like stated above, we can get anything for a relatively same cost everywhere. and so the winning factor for me is excellent customer service. friendliness, eager to help and always open to questions will always win me over. if i didn't care about all that stuff, i would just buy online, because, let's be honest, is a lot cheaper.

if i come into a shop and i feel that the reps look at me as dollar signs, i will not shop there. this is mainly the reason why, where i work, i implement this way of thinking; win the customers over, then we will strive.
 
Certain things you can buy off the net from just pictures or less. Other stuff you really need a close up look. It's frustrating to google search a vast array of choices, narrow down to a handful you like and then find out: no dealers for that product locally or if dealers, no stock or sizes etc. Back to the drawing board. So whatever you buy ends up being a second or third choice. You're supposed to be spending happy money not settle money. Yes, I'm white and these are my problems.
 
Customer service, price competitive, and knowledgeable staff, in that order. Good location certainly helps as well.
 
A very decent selection to choose from and service to start with.

As someone mentioned above, we would LOVE a place to hangout when we come in to buy something that serves beverages, food, drinks, coffee etc and just shoot the s_h_i_t. It's a great business idea and something different. Will help build a customer and clientele base and would be fun for you as well. Not to mention the hotties you'd have serving us
 
xfactor said:
T&A
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++++1. However this is useless if the carrier has minimal knowledge/experience.
It's impossible to factor price in as we are spoiled by the online market place, so it boils down to Customer service.
Do what you do well.
 
selection of common sizes. I was going to check out gpbikes this weekend.. however I quickly emailed them what I looking for, and well the only have one in my size, but not in the colour I'm looking for. so I won't be going to gpbikes this weekend and just order from the internet.
 
Take gp bikes and add a hooters addition! You'd have the best place ever!... big shop, with lots of choice but i dont shop there very often since im at the other end of the city. I also cant speak of their staff, since again im not there often. But its the nicest shop in the gta for browsing that i know of.
 
corpse said:
Take gp bikes and add a hooters addition! You'd have the best place ever!... big shop, with lots of choice but i dont shop there very often since im at the other end of the city. I also cant speak of their staff, since again im not there often. But its the nicest shop in the gta for browsing that i know of.
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Seriously. .. food at gp and I'd move closer lol
 
Customer Service is KEY. Theres one store in the East End that has a great range of product and helpful staff.
A big factor is if the person in the store conveys to me their knowledge on the product I am buying and why it would suit my need over another item. I will go to the store on a less busy day so rather than getting someone without the knowledge, I can get someone who can answer my questions.
Pricing and selection are important too. (really wish we had a Rev'It dealer in the east end ;-) )
 
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