Independently Owned Shops
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,884
Likes: 912
From: South La.
Give and take man......Yea, I know I'll sometimes pay more but, It'll all come out in the wash.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 15,365
Likes: 24,241
From: NC, USA
I own my own business and overhear almost on a daily basis "Wal-Mart has this cheaper", "Ole boy at the Flea Market has these too", "I found one of these at a yard sale cheaper", "Cheaper than Dirt has a sale going on these" etc.
The Internet and big box stores have changed the way we all do business but there's still no substitute for developing a relationship locally. I tell my customers jokingly to call the Indian manning the phone bank from the Internet vendor you bought your stuff from next time there's a problem.
The Internet and big box stores have changed the way we all do business but there's still no substitute for developing a relationship locally. I tell my customers jokingly to call the Indian manning the phone bank from the Internet vendor you bought your stuff from next time there's a problem.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,991
Likes: 9
From: washington
i havent read all the remarks on this post, but heres my take on the buy internet VS. from the indy shop idea.... if i buy the part from the indy then labor should be free or at a very reduced rate, or if you bring something in you got from the internet then let the indy charge full shop rate... but i dont think if you are forced to buy from the indy you should have to pay the full shop rate, it shouldnt be by the hr. it should be a flat rate but when you buy else where and take it to the indy then it should be the shop rate
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 153
From: Fayetteville, NC
I have no problem with this rule....why? Cuz---my Indie's labor price is only a fraction of what the HD dealership charges. So, even if I allowed my Indie to make some money off of me on the parts----I'm still winning when I compare his labor to the dealership. So, I pay the Indie $250 for parts and labor (and most of the cost is parts) or I pay the dealership $350 for parts and labor (and most of the cost is labor). More importantly--I have a guy who just lets me pop in from time to time to get something tightened and he charges me nothing or he checks something that takes 15 minutes and charges me nothing.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, Oh
Most Indy shops will not install parts you buy elsewhere. They have to make their money somewhere plus some folks buy a bunch of parts w/o making sure they will work together then blame the indy if things don't go together smoothly. Remember time is money. Another saying to remember...Good, Fast , Cheap...pick any two.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,026
Likes: 4
From: Lansing, MI
This! Not to mention the relationship you build with the owners. I've stopped by my indy's shop just to check on his wifes jeep (they know I'm a jeeper too) that she was having issues with.
Give and take man......Yea, I know I'll sometimes pay more but, It'll all come out in the wash.
Give and take man......Yea, I know I'll sometimes pay more but, It'll all come out in the wash.
Another time, I was riding my mountain bike and my chain broke. I went to my local bike shop and they gave me chain because I didn't have my wallet on me (sensing a trend yet?
).If I only purchased based on price and didn't build a relationship, I would have been screwed.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,442
Likes: 418
From: South Carolina
There's a limit to this discussion, too - when you price out a Stage 1 at two different indys and they're both around $2,000 P&L, it's time to order the parts and install them yourself. There will be a different limit for just about everyone on here, whether it revolves around money, time, ability, etc. - there are times I pay someone to do something I can do easily just because it's quicker or I don't have the time to do it and want it done now (and done right)...but other times, I'll do the work myself because I have some free time on my schedule and want to dig into it.
So the correct answer, it seems to me, is: "It depends."
So the correct answer, it seems to me, is: "It depends."
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
If customers support their Indy's and dealers they will remain profitible and survive. If not they will go away.
If you only support the internet, only the internet will survive.
Don't be the one to complain when they close their doors.
If you only support the internet, only the internet will survive.
Don't be the one to complain when they close their doors.
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