[TheThinkTank] Random Thought: Creating a bicycle parts/tools distributor for Community Bike Shops.

[Vyki Englert]

Love the idea, if there is a shop willing to set themselves up as a
distributor, I'm sure the kickstand would be interested in being on the
distribution list.
We are still so very new, I doubt we could set ourselves up for that
position.  Though down the road, I'm sure we would be able to help alot
more.
-vyki

On Wed, Mar 12, 2008 at 9:59 PM, 1304bikes <1304bikes at gmail.com> wrote:

> I really like this idea as well, mainly because we here at 1304bikes fall
> into the not established enough to get a distributor account.  This means we
> usually have to pay retail prices for anything we happen to need.  A lot of
> the local bike shops to give us a nice discount, but we still pay some
> markup on wholesale.
>
> I agree with option 2, that it is worth doing.  I'm just not sure how one
> would go about doing so; but i certainly love the idea.
>
> -Doug
> 1304bikes
> Raleigh, NC
>
> On 3/12/08, Jonathan Morrison <jonathan at slcbikecollective.org> wrote:
>
> > Distributors (
> > http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Distributors) are
> > just the middle men separating manufacturers from retailers.  Just like food
> > cooperatives that buy in bulk and disseminate food at bulk rates, we could
> > do that with bike parts.  For those of us that buy using distributors it
> > would save an roughly 25% off of wholesale, and for those community bike
> > shops that aren't established enough to get a distributor account -- we
> > would be providing an option that is 75% off of MSRP.
> >
> > Ideally we would get accounts with tool manufacturers like park tool,
> > pedros, hozan, etc.,... as well as wearable items like grease, bearing,
> > chain lube, patch manufacturers, and then lower-end (but quality) parts
> > manufacturers for things that we don't get enough of donated, or that aren't
> > worth re-using.  This will be different for each shop, but as an example in
> > SLC we don't re-use bearings, spokes, cables or housing -- they get recycled
> > and we put new ones on bikes.  We also buy new road tires (27" & 700c)
> > because we don't have enough decent ones donated, either they are too worn
> > or dried out.
> >
> > I can think of 2 conclusions:
> >
> > 1) It isn't worth doing.  The 25% cut a distributor gets is worth paying
> > given the hassle and it is just another random thought that might result in
> > spending $5 to save $3.
> > 2) It is worth doing.
> >
> > --
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Jonathan Morrison
> > Executive Director
> > Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective
> > 2312 S. West Temple
> > Salt Lake City, UT 84115
> > w: 801-328-2453
> > c: 801-688-0183
> > f: 801-466-3856
> > www.slcbikecollective.org
> >
> > Get Addicted to Crank!
> > http://www.slcbikecollective.org/crank/
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Thethinktank at bikecollectives.org
> >
> > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> 1304bikes
> 2419 Mayview Rd.
> Raleigh, NC
> 1304bikes.org
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>
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>
>


-- 
Vyki Englert
"sprocket" acting Director of operations
Member Board of Directors
Gainesville Community Bicycle Project, Inc "the Kickstand"
722 South Main Street Gainesville Fl 32601
www.thekickstand.org
vyki.englert at thekickstand.org
850.819.8808

'every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the
black flag, and begin slitting throats.' --h.l. mencken
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