Thoughts on Basso bikes (Loto, Laguna or Astra)

StillGoing

The official UK dealers are Langdale Leightweights in Nottingham and Winstanleys.

http://www.bassobikes.com/

I guess anyone else is just clearing what stock they had left before Basso limited their distributors. You can still get framesets and bikes from the likes of Primera for instance. There used to be a very good Basso dealers in Northamptonshire, but Basso were adamant they wanted less outlets.

g00se

A few days ago, there was a longer list of stockists, but the nearest one to me (OP) had closed down.

I emailed them and they said the list was old and they were currently sorting out a new distributor (no longer same as Forme) - and that there was only two local shops they were dealing with direct for 2014 bikes - Langdale and Winstanleys.

So I guess the list may grow...

StillGoing

g00se wrote:

A few days ago, there was a longer list of stockists, but the nearest one to me (OP) had closed down.

I emailed them and they said the list was old and they were currently sorting out a new distributor (no longer same as Forme) - and that there was only two local shops they were dealing with direct for 2014 bikes - Langdale and Winstanleys.

So I guess the list may grow...

Not so sure about that. Basso is a small company building their frames in house. As such, they can't meet the production demands of larger companies and refuse to farm out production in case it results in sub standard production. Keeping a small selection of distributers means they can manage supply and demand. Basso are also honourable in that they won't sell to a dealership not on their authorised list. Their loyalty to their dealer network is beyond reproach and to be admired.

smidsy

philthy3 wrote:

Their loyalty to their dealer network is beyond reproach and to be admired.

As is their bike design and manufacture - simply amazing.

g00se

philthy3 wrote:

g00se wrote:

A few days ago, there was a longer list of stockists, but the nearest one to me (OP) had closed down.

I emailed them and they said the list was old and they were currently sorting out a new distributor (no longer same as Forme) - and that there was only two local shops they were dealing with direct for 2014 bikes - Langdale and Winstanleys.

So I guess the list may grow...

Not so sure about that.

Just posting what Basso said. I'm sure they won't mind me reposting it here:

"Thank you for reminding us to updated our dealer list as soon as possible.

We are in the process to change our distribution company and must wait for the new list of shops to come in.
Meanwhile you can check with the two shops that are already informed on the new products, or place your request to us and we will supply from Italy."

StillGoing

I'm not disputing what you've been told. I spoke with a Basso dealer in Northants earlier this year who had been told that the distributors were changing and as a consequence he would no longer be an authorised stockist. The reason was as I posted; Basso only produce a certain quantity of bikes each year and don't need a massive dealer network. Far better to have a handful of dealers who can meet demand than a shed load who can't because Basso can't make the bikes fast enough without compromising on their production standards. If a customer knows they can get the bike or frame set they want within a reasonable time frame by using one of a small number of authorised dealers, then they'll presumably be happy when it arrives without much delay. But if a customer orders through a dealer in a large network of them, but Basso can't supply within a reasonable time, the customer is more likely to buy something else.

Once the new distributer is announced, no doubt Basso will look at their list of dealers and pick a handful that they're happy with to be Basso dealers, based on reputation and logistics.