12.12
It’s been a tough 2009. Businesses are closing or reducing the number of employees. Bottom line is that we are losing our asses in this economy! While many American’s will only look at the US economy, the world is suffering throughout; I guess misery loves company…?
Even with the horrible economy, I find it comforting that people still ride and race. We have customers that are buying 1500.00USD racing suits and 1000.00USD exhaust systems for their motorcycles. While people are still finding ways to buy motorcycle gear and apparel, the way they buy and the expectations they have have changed dramatically. The resultant change is what I call “WalMart-ism.”
Shopping at WalMart is stressful for me. All the people in the way (GRRRR). I walk like I race; I have somewhere to go, get out of my way! I still go there though, because they have the best prices and an outstanding selection of general goods. I buy groceries, trash bags, and tupperware there; all of which are generic in nature and do not require specialized knowledge. If I buy a ladder at WalMart, I could take it home use it for my one project and return it without question (assuming I didn’t beat it up).
The ability to buy at the lowest possible price, have the ability to return it without question and have a huge selection of product is incredible. The ability to do these things has somehow been ingrained in our minds to be the norm for all retails; this is “WalMart-ism.”
If a person wants to buy a helmet and goes to WalMart to get a Bell helmet; that’s cool. But what if you have a question about that helmet? Does the clerk in sporting goods know anything about helmets, or are they reading off the packaging? Hell, I CAN READ TOO! If you need to know something specific about a product, you need a specialist. There are a lot of professional people in the motorcycle industry that can ensure you get the correct product for what you’re doing. Unfortunately, expertise does not come with the lowest price tag, unquestioned returns, or unlimited selection at your finger tips.
We get phone calls all the time asking for highly technical infomation. Information like “What type of material is used to stitch an Arlen Ness race suit?” or “What is the difference between CE Level one and CE Level two armor?” I’m cool with those questions, and enjoy searching-out accurate and relevant answers. Getting those answers takes time, and time is valuable though.
Keep this in mind the next time you bend somebody’s ear for an hour and then buy from someone else because of a 15.00 price difference. We want to help, but we also want to be in business in a year.
With my Saturday morning rant over, I want to thank all of my customers and friends for being so loyal! 2010 is just around the corner and there are some positive things to look forward to. Keep your chins up, rubber on the ground, and create some good “mojo” in your life!
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