GT drop Halfords !!!

Mark_K

I see GT will be retailing via LBS's as of Jan next year ! Good move me thinks hopefully they will get some better brand recognition as they deserve it imo !

Mark Peterman, US-based General Manager for GT said:
“Choosing suitable GT distribution is done on a country-by-country basis. Paramount to every search is strong partnership relative to the fostering of the brand image, growth opportunities and a thirst for driving GT to the top of the market.
"We felt that, for the UK, a full corporate commitment to the tremendously strong IBD channel is our best solution. We thank Halfords for all their support over the past decade and acknowledge the effort achieved.”


Thoughts ??????

joshtp

Good news IMHO. Halfords can be good, and they can be crap. GT tend to get put down by the halfords image, and frankly they need more recognition, they are, afterall, awsome bikes.
also, this means spares, info and help for my GT at the LBS.

MacAndCheese

I think the damage has been done, but it's still good news, Kona need to do the same.

The Northern Monkey

joshtp wrote:

Good news IMHO. Halfords can be good, and they can be crap. GT tend to get put down by the halfords image, and frankly they need more recognition, they are, afterall, awsome bikes.
also, this means spares, info and help for my GT at the LBS.

how is this good news?
wether halfords are crap or not... the bike is still the same.

The bikes are currently being sold in a nationwide outlet that everyone has heard of... and they're being sold cheap.

Expect prices to go up.

Also, why would them leaving halfords mean your LBS will now be able to provide help/spares/info?

kaytronika

I dare say this'll knock GT's sales quite a bit.

joshtp

The Northern Monkey wrote:

joshtp wrote:

Good news IMHO. Halfords can be good, and they can be crap. GT tend to get put down by the halfords image, and frankly they need more recognition, they are, afterall, awsome bikes.
also, this means spares, info and help for my GT at the LBS.

how is this good news?
wether halfords are crap or not... the bike is still the same.

The bikes are currently being sold in a nationwide outlet that everyone has heard of... and they're being sold cheap.

Expect prices to go up.

Also, why would them leaving halfords mean your LBS will now be able to provide help/spares/info?

true... will help the image of the brand though, and thats always a good thing. Prices may go up, but i dont think that will be big issue , and hopefully my LBS will become a dealer.

MeddlE

GT share the same distributor as Mongoose, Charge and Cannondale (along with a few BMX brands also) so spares have always been available from your LBS.

As for brand snobbery in regards to GT well that's just laughable. One word, Zaskar.

P-Jay

I don't get it? GT are already sold via LBS's (although the bikes are slightly different) anyway - all they've done is lost Halfords.

I don't see how it'll force prices up ether, I've always found Halfords stupidly expensive.

The only time I ever went into Halfords is if it was caught out with a broken bit on a Sunday, even then I usually came out dissapointed because whilst they'll sell you a dusty SX5 derailer from 3 years ago for full RRP, they wont have an X9 on the shelf, or a 9 speed chain of any kind, any pedal I'd even consider using.

SInce Tredz opened, and trade Sundays I haven't set foot in one.

The Northern Monkey

GT wrote:

Mark Peterman, US-based General Manager for GT said:
“Choosing suitable GT distribution is done on a how much money we can make basis. Paramount to every search is strong partnership relative to the fostering of the RRP, growth of the profit and a thirst for driving GT to the top of the market by making it very expensive and therfore exclusive."
"We felt that, for the UK, a full corporate commitment to the tremendously strong IBD channel is our best solution to make more money. We thank Halfords for all their support over the past decade and acknowledge the effort achieved, but they were sellif stuff too cheap.”

nickfrog

I remember the outcry from the LBSs when GT went into Halfords, was it in 99 ?

The Northern Monkey

P-Jay wrote:

I don't get it? GT are already sold via LBS's (although the bikes are slightly different) anyway - all they've done is lost Halfords.

I don't see how it'll force prices up ether, I've always found Halfords stupidly expensive.

The only time I ever went into Halfords is if it was caught out with a broken bit on a Sunday, even then I usually came out dissapointed because whilst they'll sell you a dusty SX5 derailer from 3 years ago for full RRP, they wont have an X9 on the shelf, or a 9 speed chain of any kind, any pedal I'd even consider using.

SInce Tredz opened, and trade Sundays I haven't set foot in one.

becasue Halfords are a big chain they can offer incredible discounts and sales on full bikes.
You won't see anything like that at a LBS.... RRP all the way.

Parts is a completely different thing and hasn't been mentioned in the thread... its about bikes.
Then again, i'd never go to a LBS for parts either... cheaper online.

The Northern Monkey

nickfrog wrote:

I remember the outcry from the LBSs when GT went into Halfords, was it in 99 ?

Probably becasue they knew they'd never be able to match the prices..

bails87

GT were already sold in LBSs, so as others have said, all this will do is make their bikes/spares less accessible. Unless they're increasing the number of LBSs they sell from, which they could have done while keeping Halfords.

As for Halfords being expensive, on parts, they tend to sell at or near full RRP, although there are some good deals to be had. But you can't argue with the price of the bikes.

MeddlE

The Northern Monkey wrote:

Parts is a completely different thing and hasn't been mentioned in the thread... its about bikes.

Parts are mentioned in the first reply to the OP.

joshtp wrote:

also, this means spares, info and help for my GT at the LBS.

Northwind

So there'll be Carreras, Boardmans and Voodoos to fill the gaps left in the range next year I reckon, and more expensive GTs in LBSs. Not sure if that's good or bad really.

There's an awful lot of overlap in the halfords' ranges, only the higher end Aggressors and the Idrives really operate without competition from other Halfords brands, and in the rest of the range where there's direct competition the GT's almost never the best option anyway unless you're too vain to buy a Carrera.

bails87

Northwind wrote:

unless you're too vain to buy a Carrera.

Probably the reason why a lot of people don't go to Halfords

The Northern Monkey

MeddlE wrote:

The Northern Monkey wrote:

Parts is a completely different thing and hasn't been mentioned in the thread... its about bikes.

Parts are mentioned in the first reply to the OP.

joshtp wrote:

also, this means spares, info and help for my GT at the LBS.

I was thinking josh meant warrany/frame spares... not just parts in general

supersonic

GTs have always been sold through some 'LBSs'. This is nothing new. Just google GT, will bring up dozens of shops.

Basically GT are saying the deal with Halfords is over, and that they will concentrate on the areas they ALREADY work in.

bails87

The Northern Monkey wrote:

MeddlE wrote:

The Northern Monkey wrote:

Parts is a completely different thing and hasn't been mentioned in the thread... its about bikes.

Parts are mentioned in the first reply to the OP.

joshtp wrote:

also, this means spares, info and help for my GT at the LBS.

I was thinking josh meant warrany/frame spares... not just parts in general

Yeah, I took that to mean suspension bearings/linkages, mech hangers etc. Not rear mechs, which aren't specific to GT.

The Northern Monkey

supersonic wrote:

GTs have always been sold through some 'LBSs'. This is nothing new. Just google GT, will bring up dozens of shops.

Basically GT are saying the deal with Halfords is over, and that they will concentrate on the areas they ALREADY work in.

my point is that its cutting a rather big and accessible outlet for them.

Prices are def gonna go up for GT which will be a shame.

supersonic

The parts were available anyway at the dealers that stocked GT.

biff55

i take it halfords will honour warranty repairs on GT bikes they've already sold even after they lose the brand license ?
Just a thought as i've a few mates who have bought GT bikes from halfords recently.

bails87

biff55
Yep.

Stevo_666

Will be interesting to see what Boardman does on the Halfords front that they are an 'established' brand. Anyone know when their exclusive distribution contract with Halfords is up for renewal?

kaytronika

Bought my GT Avalanche 1 in Winstanleys in 2003 for about £400

The GT Aggressor 1 which was pretty much the same bike but a Halfords exclusive was £400

kaytronika

biff55 wrote:

i take it halfords will honour warranty repairs on GT bikes they've already sold even after they lose the brand license ?
Just a thought as i've a few mates who have bought GT bikes from halfords recently.

Legal requirement of the purchase.

MarkLG

Anyone who can cast their mind as far back as the early 90's will remember when GT were one of the top flight US brands. Stuff like the RTS and LTS full suss bikes were cutting edge stuff in their day, but now they just seem to be another brand knocking out mid-price middle of the road bikes for the masses.
Maybe they're trying to get back some of that brand image back and move into the top end of the market again.
I used to work in my local Halfords in the late 80's and I can remember when they stopped selling Specialized bikes. At the time Specialized said they weren't happy with the service and backup Halfords were offering and the impact it was likely to have on the brand reputation if they carried on dealing with them.
Things have improved at Halfords in the last 20 years, but your never going to compete with the likes of Specialized, Trek and the like when your main outlet is a car parts and accessories chain....

supersonic

Not up on the road side of things but the MTB arm is extensive all the way up to super expensive carbon bikes. IDrive was pretty revolutionary.

Halfords are good for sales, but not so good for image. 1/3rd of all uk bike are bought at Halfords, but that obviously includes a lot of the cheap stuff.

I think GT want to concentrate on the image again through the IBDs.

The Rookie

kaytronika wrote:

biff55 wrote:

i take it halfords will honour warranty repairs on GT bikes they've already sold even after they lose the brand license ?
Just a thought as i've a few mates who have bought GT bikes from halfords recently.

Legal requirement of the purchase.

Not if its the GT warranty its not, Halfords only legal liability is as the original seller (statutory legal rights) or if its a Halfords as opposed to GT warranty.

Simon

supersonic

You still have sale contract with Halfords though.

cat_with_no_tail

I'd be interested to see if Halfords manage to sign a similar contract with another manufacturer to replace the GT line-up. Or, if like mentioned earlier, some of the existing brands add bikes to their line-ups.

Longer Travel Boardmans anyone?