"However, the problem as I see it, is many IBDs have as their customer base, competitive cyclists. Road and mountain bikers. By their very nature, their competitiveness isn’t just about their cycling stats, but buying from the cheapest source."
I spent a few years working in a bike shop and I think that's about right. It's nice to be able to sell high end bikes, but if you're lucky you sell a few a year. Regular people look at a bike that's $3 or $4k and are scared off, "OMG this place is way too expensive" and as a bike snob, I see something that's $200 and think "yuck". The people that came back a few times a year for tune ups and flat repair and other small things were the ones that kept the shop open.
I spent a few years working in a bike shop and I think that's about right. It's nice to be able to sell high end bikes, but if you're lucky you sell a few a year. Regular people look at a bike that's $3 or $4k and are scared off, "OMG this place is way too expensive" and as a bike snob, I see something that's $200 and think "yuck". The people that came back a few times a year for tune ups and flat repair and other small things were the ones that kept the shop open.