what do you think of showrooming?

[kawashima]

When I buy new riding boots or jacket, I never order them online without trying them at actual shops. If the price difference was small, I try to buy them at the shop cause I don't have to wait, no need to dump carton, possibly fitting may be worse(rare though), and "thank you" to the shop. But I ordered the same boots from amazon cause the boots at the shop was stinky(maybe a lot of people tried them).

If everyone buy them from online like amazon, actual shops sales drop and maybe shut up like (the one near my house).
I don't know about amazon's strategy, but I'm afraid they may raise prices after actual shops disappeared.

So what do you think of showrooming? Do you think it wrong or OK?
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own:2020 Serow 250
owned: 2012 YB125SP, 2008 TDM900, 2005 W650, 2002 LS125R, 2002 CB400SF, NS50F, C50 / Trip to UK(2009), Hokkaido touring(2013)

[arry]

Personally I don't mind spending an extra 10% to have the service and I'm not one for waiting in for parcels to arrive, so I buy in the shop and I'm happy to do so.

If the price difference is huge I won't, though. I sometimes give the shop the opportunity to rethink their price, however. If they don't want to then that's their choice.

Internet retail is like Tescos. You can see that ultimately it's going to be a bad thing and lead to the the death of the high street but they're just so convenient.....

[James83]

[daverave999]

I bought both my textiles and my leathers at the store once I tried them on (separate times). I had a vague idea of how much they were on the internet but checking after, I'd actually paid LESS in store than I could have got them online.
Only the second time I went in (over six months later), the guy recognised me straight away and then gave me a tidy discount for the repeat business. Obviously, it's the first place I consider now.
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2007 Versys 650 2001 Yamaha XJ600S Diversion
HT: Imagine a bike......A bike designed by way of crude polls, assembled by cretins using the finest hammers that Lidl had on offer.

[kawashima]

[kawashima]

[DrSnoosnoo]

When I bought my lid, I obviously went to a shop to try it on but it was over 30 quid more than online somewhere.

I told them, thanks for letting me try on but 35 quid is a lot for me, probably is for anyone else too.

The guy ran off and said, yeah no worries we'll do the online price for ya. At the same time I bought another lid for the missus and they knocked off 10% on that too.
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[kawashima]

[DrSnoosnoo]

[Llama-Farmer]

Always try to buy from a physical shop if possible. Means I can try the stuff on, compare it with other alternatives etc, and hopefully, if I need to, returning/exchanging is easier. Plus you don't have to wait for the item to arrive. And keeping the local bike shops in business is in everyones interest I think, if the shops are good.


Only exception to this is I'll often buy online from Demon Tweeks, which have a physical store too which I've been to, it's very good and really helpful staff as well but just too far away in Wrexham to visit when I want to.


I don't mind paying slightly more in a shop, because they do have higher overheads than online-only retailers, but at the same time will always hope for a discount. Places I go to regularly will usually give me one without asking, other places if I'm buying enough stuff will usually give me one if I ask. Hein Gericke I always used to ask for one purely because they were overpriced but generally really helpful
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Current Bike: 1999 Honda CB600 FX Hornet
Next Bike: I want a CBR-RR. And I want an F800 GS-A. And a VFR 800. Can I have all 3?
Dream Bikes: Honda VFR750R RC30, Honda NSR500, Ducati 996 R

[c_dug]

[Ribenapigeon]

Sometimes the online price is so good you're stupid to pay shop price. I tend to think this is more for hardwear (cameras/spares etc) but clothing is not massively cheaper online and if bought fom ebay is often a second.

When Hein Gerick was going under I overheard one of the workers saying he felt a lot of the problem was they couldent offer "deals" to customers. Given clothing markups are easily 100% its an area with massive room for a deal so there's not a lot of excuse if a retailer dousent give their staff room to deal.

[kawashima]

[barrkel]

For my helmet (Schuberth C3), the difference online vs offline was ~200 GBP IIRC.

For my textiles, the difference was maybe 150 + 400 GBP (jacket and trousers respectively - bought from louis.de or motoin.de).

For my 2-piece leathers, the difference was 150 GBP (25% of price) - and the store didn't have the exact size in stock, would have had to order it from Italy (Dainese), and Italy was on holiday (August).

For this kind of money, it's not worth paying the premium IMO.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[kawashima]

[Ste]

Amazon is great for accepting returns and they pay the postage.

If your credit card isn't too full you can buy the few pairs of boots you're considering, try them on and send them all back apart from the ones you like best. I've had no problems with any of the online shops I've done this with.

Online shopping offers much more than high street shops can, as you can get pretty much anything delivered next day, I only go to actual shops if it's something I want or need right then.

Trying on and then buying online is a bit crap, if you want that shops services then you should buy from them.

[J4mes]

I always try to buy from a shop if I have felt the need to try something on, fiddle with something, test it out or whatever. Purely because if they go under, chances are you're gonna spend more time sending stuff back which doesn't fit/feel right/work how you want or whatever.


I nearly always ask if they will match the online price though, often printing out the page for the item so they can see it.

Usually they will match or get closer to it, so it's win win for everyone.

[Doomsnite]

I just get 2 sizes and a range of things from somewhere like Sportsbikeshop and then just send the ones back I dont mind. They do free postage returns now. Do this with all clothes to be honest.
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Triumph Street Triple-R
Sold: Honda Hornet CB600F-Y / Yamaha YBR125

[smegballs]

[Llama-Farmer]

[Tungtvann]

I've bought all my motorbike gear in shops, from £400 Shoei helmets to boots and full sets of textiles. I can be a bit impulsive and sometimes regret it when I look online and see how much cheaper they were, but everything I've bought has been as well priced in the shop as it was online. In fact, my Shoei lid was quite a bit cheaper because they had a deal in the shop that wasn't anywhere online.

I'm happy because I've had a good customer experience, a chance to browse and try different things on, and the shop can remain in business because of my (and hopefully many others) loyalty.

[Rogerborg]

I do (or did) try to support my local J&S but last time I was in looking for an open face lid, they had a tiny selection in stock, and no particular interest in getting anything else in. "Well, we could, but..."

So really, what service are they offering that's worth my time, let alone any price premium? I'm a pretty standard medium, so I went home, click, done.

If the shop doesn't offer anything more than I can get online, will I miss them when they're gone? I can't see why.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[thx1138]

motorbike stuff I pretty much only buy online now

regular clothes I like to try on in the shops, though I am a bit of a tart when it comes to fashion since I've lost 4 stone

[chickenstrip]

In the past, there have been bike shops I've been happy to frequent because they offered more than just the things I wanted to buy. That is, the staff were welcoming, friendly and ready to just have a chat/offer a coffee. I also enjoy a close up look at the bikes in the flesh, and prefer to buy clothing/helmets by trying on different brands/models all in one place.

A really good dealer was like a small community, where you might bump into friends too, or use it as a meeting point for ride outs etc.

All this, I miss

[TheCatSatOnTh...]

As soon as the internet solves the delivery and courier issue I think that is the day the high street is doomed.

Until then, I don't fancy driving an hour to collect my parcel because I work when they want to deliver the items. Ergo: I haggle with the shop.