Just read that Hein Gericke have a possible buyer for the UK stores to keep them in business. Hope it's all pans out for them.
I will second that. I don't really use them but there is enough bad news out there without another good company going to the wall.
Well who ever buys it they need to sort out the model they use, because it simply does not work. I don't have the answer to how it can work, but having no stock and not meeting customers needs is no way to run a business..... as the current situation shows.
They are trying to retail a product that is a hobby, that folk can research and buy on-line for less than a retail store. They would almost do better having small areas / outlets in main dealers and concentrate on mail order - They tried to cater for all bikers with huge range of Helmets / boots etc. manchester one never looked to sell much stuff - shame for the staff who were good.
That's the point giv, if it was a good company you would use it!! Who would you buy some chain lube off? A corporate giant or the little guy down the road who owns his own bike shop and you like to think he does for love... I know where my money would go. Bikers like to think of themselves as an individual / minority, hein gerrick puts it in the mainstream and instantly makes it un-cool which IMO leads to it's downfall Plus the fact the place is always empty and looks like it's the same stock that was in every shop five years ago. Sorry, bad shop and poor business model, was always going to go pop....
Dont disagree with comments my friend but my point was about bad news and even i with my heart of stone would not like to see the working man out of work.Having said that there will be reasons why and if the bussiness model can work then maybe there is hope and even you may venture in (you never know).Ps where do you get your chain lube from Harrods ? lol
Me neither - never want to see anyone out of work. That's terrible. But a souless store that I don't think gives a great product or service going pop only gives a better share for the guys that try so hard to survive a better chance in a tough Market? Turn up at my local HG and theres three bikes there, two of them are the lads in the shop, was never going to last! Huge stores with nothing in... Not Feasible fella! Harrods??? Pah....mine is flown in from Dubai as it's made from melted eyelashes from racing camels....
I have to say, I thought the staff were quite helpful and friendly, if not a little clueless. I ended up buying my AStars boots through their on-line shop coz the Bristol HG staff were so clueless... a complete and utter f*&$ up they made of it too! That too me was probably a big nail in their coffin... in the days of super-slick Amazon and the like, if you cant put together a good, communicative, speedy on-line store, then you are truly fooked, and deserve to be so!
Staff were friendly and nice, all there stuff was just way too over priced.. It would be weird if - Tesco's bought them out just to open up more Express Stores..