Tire Information

[Grumpy Goat]

I did my research online for a good price on tires and then went down to the local MC shop to see if they could price match. The whole idea was to support the local shop. While at the shop I talked to the owner who was working the floor and parts department. I asked if he could match the price. He told me he would not as he would only make a 10% markup.
I don't have a degree in economics but that just did not make sense to me. 10% plus mounting and balancing sounds like a value plus to me. I am sure there is more to the story on the owners side but the shop is gone now replaced with a bicycle store.

I guess the online price is lower than the price that his shop could afford and that he could not give a discount. That is also understandable if his cost was too high to begin with. 

The problem with business is people often charge prices more than the market will bear and then get upset when the customers go someplace cheaper. If he had suggested that he could not move on the price of the tire but he could do something on the mounting and balancing then that is different, and maybe he could gain the business that way and still make some margin. But instead, he sounds like he let the business walk out the door and as a result - boom - bicycle shop.

I too like to give local businesses a try first but if their business attitude is not right they lose my business. Simple. I don't owe anything to that kind of local business. That said, the online businesses can often times offer a much lower price which is why I allow a 10% upcharge on the local shop that has a good attitude.