Hi CR folks,
My understanding after talking with the folks at United Bicycle Tool is that some other business - located in Ashland OR, was in the works to pick up where Third Hand/Loose Screws left off. Given that they're planning to keep up with the web bussiness indicates that perhaps that isn't the case.
Note that any bike shop (or us for that matter) can order from United Bicycle Tool the items that Third Hand sold. A problem, though, is that Third Hand had a huge advantage over its competitors based on its location. It didn't have to stock much as United Bicycle Tool was in town. Plus, a look at the prices of Third Hand vs United Bicycle Tool revealed that Third Hand was getting product for much less than the typical wholesale prices paid by a typical bike shop. This isn't just speculation - and given the huge amount of business Third Hand did with United Bicycle Tool it is not unreasonable that they did get special prices.
This is great for consumers, but lousy for bike shops and other business such as ourselves - if Third hand is selling items for 15% over cost, a shop simply can't compete if forced to meet price.
My guess is that either Third hand will continue in some form, or some local business in Ashland OR will emerge to fill the void. At Bicycle Classics we'll perhaps pick up the tool side of the business a bit, but a retailer in Ashland OR could certainly do a much better job. And the key thing to remember is that if you have a Third Hand catalog, just visit your local bike shop and for a fair premium over Third Hand prices they should be able to get you anything you need. The wide array of goodies you can't get from them may be available just around the corner at your local bike shop.
Michael Kone
At 09:28 PM 3/13/01 -0500, Jon M. Schaer wrote:
>TH/LS started out as a "retail" operation from UBT, but split quite a while
>ago. Jeff and Jean have run it as an entire seperate entity ever since. The
>website and cat are their own, as is the supplier network, etc. I'm not
>knocking any LBS, but I doubt many will find many shops with the capability
>or knowege or desire to step into that arena. Sheldon Brown/Harris Cyclery
>may be about as close as we'll come. I do understand that TH/LS will
>continue on in web form, after some recoup time, but in a reduced capacity.
>Mostly remaining inventory, I think. The days of a cornucopia of tools and
>service parts available at finger's end are probably gone. But who knows,
>maybe some time off will refresh attitudes.........
>
>Jon Schaer
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Monkeyman <monkey37@bluemarble.net>
>To: David Van Hook <dvanhook@yahoo.com>; <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2001 6:30 PM
>Subject: Re: [CR]The Third Hand, Loose Screws
>
>
>>
>> Well Third Hand is also part of the United Bicycle Parts and Tools thing,
>> so my guess is they're just getting out of the retail thing. If you need
>> something abfter the doors have closed ask a cool LBS.
>>
>> enjoy,
>> Brnadon"monkeyman"Ives