Angry Merchants

We like supporting small merchants, especially when they carry items that we are most interested in. Instead of falling back on the internet or big box stores. We seek out small merchants. We want to encourage real downhome people to continue their pursuit and we milk them for their expertise. Face to face, human to human. honesty and sincerity can be seen in their eyes...felt in our handshake. This is how we conduct our business. Lately we have felt their stress and disappointment..."Even our friends don't shop with us first. They buy something through their computer and then come in to show us how clever they were. And we often stock the same item." We often visit bicycle shops when we travel. We started writing, publishing, promoting and selling bicycle guides over forty years ago and therefore sold them door to door at bicycle shops throughout the Western U.S. Shop owners have evolved from excited purveyors of outdoor tools and exploration into sad or even disgusted prisoners of their quiet stores. Most bicycle shops in America do not own the building out of which they conduct their business. Their leases were agreed to back when times were good...five, ten even twenty years ago. Ebikes have accentuated the difficulties between merchants and potential customers. At least 90% of electric assist bicycles are sold online. The buyers are often surprised with the realities of their purchase..."The damn thing arrived in a box." Most of these are produced in China, Malaysia or Vietnam...which results in cheap components and disappointing performance, possibly even dangerous electronics. So, bicycle shop owners are hearing all of the retorts and anger (even though the customer didn't ask for advice or try to support their local business). I walked into the GoGreen Bicycle shop in Burbank, California last month only to hear an angry merchant hollering, "Retail Sucks!"