Dear Anybody out there,
Bruce Gordon's letter hit home and I would love to see every body out there grab a frame or two before all these bike builders give up and get a real job. But I want to give some ideas that may help. I think a problem has come up with the way these frame are sold. Years ago when I first open up my bike store someone came in and ask to buy the "best frame out there" well I felt Bruce Gordon was one of the best if not the best out there so I said lets try him. I measured up the customer and figured out the angles and the weight of tubing I recommended and we call Bruce and ask him to build a frame for this young man. After I ordered the frame I asked is there anything in this for me too since I directed him to Bruce and measured him and have invested a few hours in the sale too. I was told no that it was not in the price. Well ok that is fine I was a new store owner and did not know how it works. But I will tell you Bruce it was harder to send someone to you and invest that much time when I do not make anything to pay my bills. Over the years I have sent about a dozen people to other builders and met with the same problem every time a few even got the parts sale so I did not even get that. I have sold hundreds of high end Italian frame over the year that I wished were made here in America but want am I to do. Then I heard of Land Shark and that change. I am given a part of the sale. How great is that. I can push a frame builder and can help pay my time to sell the bike. As I watched the news this morning I saw a segment on a person that sells paintings out of her gallery. How else will a person that paints art going to get there work out there. We as buyers need to see this work of art to better understand what it is that make it so much higher then that made over seas mass produced product. Maybe Bruce and some other builders should try and get your bikes in to some shops and find a way of letting us make a few dollars too and we all can do better. If you did I would be first in line to get my Bruce Gordon and make a web page for it and show off that frame to all that would listen and maybe more sale would take place. Just an idea. Thanks
Steven Willis
The Bike Stand
1778 East Second Street
Scotch Plains NJ 07076
908-322-3330
http://www.thebikestand.com
<classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>; <richardsachs@juno.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 6:29 PM Subject: [CR]marketing and lugged bikes
> Listers:
>
> I believe that evil word 'marketing' is done by everyone here in the
> handbuilt bike biz too. e-richie does a fantastic job¡DThere are a lot of
> cigar smoking millionares that want 'the best' -even the best bike. And I
> doubht they are looking at his bikes as just bikes. It's a matter of
> artistry. The 329 surly customer and riv saluki customer is not a richard
> sachs or B bayliss customer- at least not yet. I know I'd buy a cheaper
> bike that's made in taiwan (which by the way has the same issues
> ¢Ð¢Õbrought up- even Taiwan bike makers discovered it's not all about
> price but quality and crafstmanship are a factor in the buying/selling
> decision) for now, but the holy grail is mos def a Sachs or bayliss or
> weigle. I just can't afford that artwork right now. I have a few friends
> that spend a lot of time behind the canvas or other medium and while their
> work moves me to tears (really)- much like some of the bikes at the NAHBS-
> I will not be able to afford their work for at least a few more
> years. That doesn't stop me from haging pictures in my living room.
>
> Your customer base is out there, it just hasn't been discovered yet,
> Bruce. Take a page from your colleagues. But don't berate your future
> customers for the desicisons they make in not buying your craftsmanship
> just yet. That will surely keep them away, thereby fulfilling your
> phrophecy.
>
> I went to San Ho on friday and wished I had more time to go on saturday
> and sunday. I talked to my girlfriend all night about it (she was happy
> about that....), rang up some friends and blathered to them about it. It's
> the only thing I talk to my colleagues here at a trade show on the other
> side of the world. Pretty much everyone doesn't even know many of you guys
> exist. And some of them live in the same town as you. And they are bike
> guys.
>
>
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