I can't say I'm surprised. The variety of their parts (tires, helmets, etc...) was pretty weak and everything was full rack retail. Several things that retail for less than $25 were $5-7 less for me just by taking a drive over to Bike Bling in Escondido. The one time I took my bike in there for service, they wanted $80 to service my DT Swiss 240 hub, just the rear hub!! That usually runs me about $30 but I was desperate and they guaranteed me a 24 hour turnaround. Turns out that the mechanic ends up breaking the specialized tool needed to service the hub.

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If you don't go this year, you'll only be a year older when you do - Warren Miller

Any smaller business will continue to struggle for years to come or be put out like this one.
It's very hard to compete with larger online businesses like Amazon and even BB here in SD.
(Heading over there in 15 minutes..because they have stock and fair prices)
Increasing costs of doing business like rent, purchasing in volume, employee/business insurance drive their profits down so most raise prices. That results in less sales and only compounding the issue.
The world is changing the way we run our lives and this is one that will affect many for the future.
Heck, even Walmart and McDonalds are caught up in this.
Having been a business owner 3 times myself I feel for them but fully understand your perspective.
We all have choices in where/why we spend our $$$. I know it has affected where I choose to buy my stuff.

Thanks for letting us know about the shop and if we all want them to stay around we could choose to support them (or not)

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You never know what tomorrow will bring so go ride your EBike today or walk your pooch
Fear the Yeti
"Go ride your bike today, don't let the old man in.."

Mike

Its a shame that the OEM's/Distributors vary the price based on sales consumption. (I don't know if they still do, last time I worked with bicycles they did. One LBS recently said a price match was lower than their cost for the goods so I think it still rings true). Seems if they gave everyone the same cost no matter what, the small bikes shops could compete.

I try to buy local all the time but some shops do charge crazy prices. I remember awhile ago I needed a brake adapter for a new frame I was building. Called around and prices ranged from 12-30 bucks. I remember thinking 30 bucks! Its 6 bucks or less online(granted shipping costs). I ended up buying the 12 dollar one so I could ride the next day but I can't believe the one selling it for 30 is still in business.

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"You're like a mountain biking version of a mall crawler."-24v

I went to the Ride in Encinitas one day and walked right back out. Hey, it's their business model, so I'm not complaining. I simply chose not to shop there since I thought their prices were at the very top of the market, but without any additional value from my own perspective.

As Dirtrider suggests, I am unsure how many B&M retailers are going to survive in the coming years, particularly in high-cost / high-tax states like CA, unless you have a compelling differentiator, as Bike Bling has with their large in-stock inventory and low/fair pricing. I still buy a lot from Amazon though just due to convenience.

Service businesses and restaurants ought to be fine, but B&M retailers? Yikes. It's not a business I'd want to be in...

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"it can go full porno alley"

- Kimba - One love, many bikes - 2020

While I was waiting to pay at BB an hour ago, someone asked why they don't sell "Big S " bikes any more. They answered that the company made businesses purchase their whole line like clothing, helmets, etc. They stated that some things like the clothes were very poor selling items.
This is a prime example how hard it is in business today.

On my purchases today I could have saved $4.50 from the online store but choose to support BB.

It is pretty hard to beat Amazon where I shopping for a tablet on Sunday never leaving my house, found a great deal, and had it on the doorstep Monday w/ free shipping

Back to bike shops- Like avidtest wrote above, I went into the new shop in 4S and turned tail myself

_________________
You never know what tomorrow will bring so go ride your EBike today or walk your pooch
Fear the Yeti
"Go ride your bike today, don't let the old man in.."

Mike

Maybe without their weekly rides our trails will get reduced usage since they moved in.