OGC to Distribute Intense MTB Cycles in Canada

50 Comments

thewheelman (Dec 10, 2009 at 8:42)

Don't quite understand the anger everyone so far has reported. Intense is a small brand with extremely limited channels of supply. If I recall from living in Montreal, owning an older M3 and working at many BTAC tradeshows, the boys up at On the Edge were less than helpful, to put it nicely.
This will be a cost effective way of accessing a large market (OGC is a national brand with multiple warehouses and sales offices). Want to get that Fox40 on your next Intense 951? Well, now its cheaper because of what OGC brings to the table. If everone is simply upset over the fact that a small "underground" brand is selling out, well, thats just business.
Even if the few angered here decide not to buy another Intense ever again, I can only imagine that there will be many more Intense bikes out there next season because of this deal.

picc (Dec 10, 2009 at 10:40)

Yeah, I had a similar impression from OtE but thought it may have been a "one-of" experience. That or because I'm a West Coaster.

I think this could be a positive move.

thewheelman (Dec 10, 2009 at 12:08)

I've lived in both East and West coast, so while you may have a valid theory going, they don't seem to discriminate, if you will. With such expensive framesets, I expected better attitudes and better answers, that is why whenever I came across tech issues, I would go to California directly with my questions. I agree, OGC will likely be a positive experience for all Canadian's riding Intense bikes now and in the future.

pushingbroom (Dec 12, 2009 at 17:34)

I got tired of reading all of the useless comments up above.

I own an Intense and have had to deal with OTE, both personally and through my LBS. After a phone call to Intense to have a part warranted and they said that they would eat the cost.. but I had to call my local distributor ( OTE ) OTE said they had no idea what kind of drugs Intense USA were smoking and wanted to charge me a ridiculous amount of money for the part needed. It took me 3 months to get the part I needed which they said they had in stock.

I bet they got Intense to ship them the warranty part and then made a profit off me. Walk off a short pier and die OTE !

Hopefully OGC will continue to provide amazing customer service and offer fair pricing to the LBS so that we are all happy !

Thank you OGC for distributing Intense !

picc (Dec 10, 2009 at 8:02)

Does that mean OGC will be the ONLY authorized distributor in Canada? Currently "On the Edge" in Quebec is the only authorized Intense distributor. However, their mark-up is outrageous, making buying an Intense from your LBS (Arrowsmith Cycles here on the island) insanely expensive.
Having a second distributor may help reduce the mark-up but I imagine that’s controlled by Intense.
I recently jumped through a ton of hoops getting my Uzzi frame across the boarder.
Bought it online (neg props I know), had it sent to a friend in the states and then shipped across the boarder. However, even after exchange, shipping, duty and buying my buddy down south some beer for his troubles, it was still $1000 CDN cheaper than buying in Canada.
Again, I hope this is a good thing and maybe make these great bikes a bit more affordable in Canada.

stevehell (Dec 10, 2009 at 8:43)

Hi!!
first sentence near the end... "exclusive"
Saddly bikes and pieces from all brand (except canadian brands) are cheaper in the US... that's also true for almost anything!!

stevehell (Dec 10, 2009 at 7:20)

Sad news...
M6 kawasaki green 2009 to sell... i will never ride an intense bike or products anymore...
But good news!! The new Turner DHR seems to be a better ride by far!!
Today's lesson: Be aware of the "funny smiles" when you do business!!

richiban (Dec 11, 2009 at 18:35)

I wonder if this means now that build kits in Canada will improve. Kits from OTE were always really dodgy. I've bought two bikes with OTE Intense kits and both times had to part out so much crap before my bike was set up the way I wanted - anyone want to but a 'motion control' totem coil???

Also, OTE did not offer shock options offered in the US. Eg, try to get an Uzzi with a CCBD or a DHX Air in Canada. Not a chance with those guys. However, given that OGC distributes Fox, I wouldn't be surprised to see more shock options. Also, hopefully this means no more kits with ghetto OEM Rockshox forks. I'd like to see OGC put together Fox spec'd build options that include top of line aftermarket forks (with RC2).

All in all this is good news. And best of all, if OGC distribution can increase Intense's presence in our market, maybe Intense will be a bit more serious about getting booking orders filled North of the border. This would be a huge improvement for both dealers and consumers.

cutsz (Dec 10, 2009 at 7:46)

My experience with OGC was not good. Tried to order a rebound cartridge for a Fox fork. Cost should have been about $150 but because they are the exclusive supplier I had to have it shipped to a store who I also paid $150 for the guy at the store total $300)to open the box and hand it to me.

clapforcanadaa (Dec 10, 2009 at 11:01)

Let me get this right. OGC is a bad company because cost of a cartridge is $150, but you paid $300 through a shop?
You are complaining becasue a shop has to mark up a product so they can make a product? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

noelonpc (Dec 10, 2009 at 17:02)

ya, when a shop orders your (approx) $150 piece, OGC doesnt charge them $150, it'd be around $60-75 wholesale... YOUR SHOP takes the $150 MSRP (suggested retail) and can charge WHATEVER they like... meaning, your shop ripped you off... next time, order off jensonusa.com or pricepoint...

cutsz (Dec 10, 2009 at 19:18)

What happened was that I spoke with someone at OGC who quoted me the $150. When I tried to purchase it from them they refused claiming that I had no recourse but to go through my LBS. With OGC being the exclusive supplier I was hooped and had no choice because of their policies. Believe me I was no more pleased with my LBS and recognize their part in this, but the point of my comment was to call attention to OGC's exclusivity and how they view the end user (bike rider). For the record I do support my LBS and understand that they need to make a buck but without competition in the marketplace the consumer gets boned and forces us to seek alternatives like jensonusa, pricepoint, etc.

cutsz (Dec 11, 2009 at 19:17)

Btw I didn't feel my shop ripped me off. They had to pay shipping and taxes, probably some sort of fee to OGC and like I said earlier I don't begrudge that they make a buck, i'm just not fond of exclusivity and don't see a benefit to the consumer.

bigtard (Dec 11, 2009 at 19:21)

so the real problem was the dumbass at ogc who made the mistake of giving you information that wasn't for the public.
I mean seriously, the costs that are required to run a bike shop add up and thats the only way a business can survive
what line of work are you in?
whatever it is, how interested are you in giving me a deal for no reason. cuts into your bottom line doesn't it
no seriously, what do you do for work. the best part is when a f*cking dentist or doctor tries to score a deal off me.
like the tight bastard is gonna give me deal when i need a root canal. ha!

but go ahead and support jenson, how good are they at the essential service a bike shop can only offer though?
have they got the knowledge that takes years to gain that will prevent your stupidly expensive suspension from destroying itself from the inside out?
how good are their crappy prebuilt wheels?
granted there's a lot of mechanics that aren't worth anything as well, but when you find one its worth paying for.
just my two cents
support your local bike shop

jv86416 (Dec 11, 2009 at 22:23)

I'm all for supporting local shops but I've had better service experience online then in some local shops I've been to. Not all obviously, but a few in particular.

cutsz (Dec 12, 2009 at 13:25)

Bigtard, i agree with just about everything you said. In this instance all I was buying was a single part, I wasn't asking for service or anything that justified that much of a markup. About 80% of the stuff I buy I get from my LBS but there has to be some reasonable limit to markups. My only point is that competition is good for smart business managers as well as the consumer. OGC seems to have been able to get exclusive distribution rights to a number of products. I just can't see how this can be better for the consumer or for that matter LBS as they undoubtedly occur higher costs. I'll ask you as a shop owner, wouldn't it be better if there were choices for you as well? BTW I'll give you a great deal if you need some dental work done...LOL, just kidding.

nomade20000 (Dec 14, 2009 at 5:31)

Mark up of 100% is very high. For a part that your LBS did not have in stock. If the shop is big enough they would have paid that part 138$ with their volume rebate + 15$ for shipping. 225$ would have been a normal mark up on this kind of an order.

bigtard (Dec 14, 2009 at 19:06)

100% markup on parts people need and have to special order is quite normal. not everything is. but considering the situation it seems normal.
and they're certainly not gonna get a volume discount on the ordering of that 1 part
maybe if you were a more loyal supporter of the shop, you would have gotten some sort of a deal on it.

cutsz (Dec 14, 2009 at 21:26)

I give up! Bigtard you are absolutely correct, I am the jerk for taking issue with the above noted. One question that only someone so learned as yourself can answer...What is excessive mark up? 150%, 200%? Please enlighten me oh wise one. Take the time and set me and heretic ways along the path of righteousness, and forgive me for my lack of loyalty. I'm done and apologize to anyone out there who actually read this B.S.

bigtard (Dec 15, 2009 at 17:34)

whatever do you complain on the markup of the toothpaste you buy don't be a prick to me just because i feel the need to justify the industry i'm in. if you can't afford it buy a skateboard

noelonpc (Dec 17, 2009 at 14:30)

many of us are in the industry of owning bike shops that have posted above, and we're telling you abruptly that anything beyond 100% mark up isn't average... that's abnormal in the industry shared with bigbox sites like jensonUSA, pricepoint, CRC, BikeBling, ect; who mark products around 25-50% markup... the shop buddy bought from, "saw him coming" lmao

bigtard (Dec 17, 2009 at 15:17)

he wasn't paying more than 100% markup though

cutsz (Dec 17, 2009 at 22:48)

"buy a skateboard" , Thats CLASSIC !!! Wouldn't want to cause you anymore grief bigtard. Just what store is it that you own/ work at? I go to Whistler a couple of times a year and you probably wouldn't want a discerning consumer with such limited resources as myself coming inside. The skateboard line was good though I even had to give you props for that.

noelonpc (Dec 18, 2009 at 8:10)

bigtard, follow along, or leave this thread the hell alone... He said retail was $150 but he paid $300... wholesale would be $75(ish), retail being 100% mark-up makes $150, $300 would be 400% markup

bigtard (Dec 18, 2009 at 9:11)

no he said ogc quoted him 150. The wholesale price, they mistekenly quoted a non retailer the wholsale price. their mistake.
the shop sells it for 300
a very normal markup of 100%
seriously, you think any shop is gonna gouge a guy with 4 times the wholesale price?
there are things a guy can go buy anywhere on any day at lesss than 100% markup. tubes, glove, suspension forks.
when it comes to the specific parts needed to keep stuff running. necessities. its full markup time.

cutsz (Dec 18, 2009 at 11:57)

Bigtard, Whitemiscief, Looks like the three of us are the only hammerheads even paying attention to this thread and we are off topic from the whole OGC/ Intense thing. Here's what I suggest, we call a truce now like gentlemen and join the fray in a regular forum. Without checking I can bet this has been debated extensively elsewhere on this site. (Don't be offended by "Hammerhead", I use it as a term of endearment.

endlesstrailz (Dec 10, 2009 at 9:04)

That's by far the best news I've heard in a while. Guess I'll be getting an Intense frame after all

peskindo (Dec 10, 2009 at 12:45)

people complain about a bigger company buying a smaller company, but most people would rather pay less for a bike, and care less about how the company is doing. allowing a bigger company to carry intense is going to increase competition within canada driving the price down, which, like it or not, is how capitalism works, and why we are able to afford so many things

diroc (Dec 10, 2009 at 22:09)

If somebody can do something better for cheaper, they win. And it doesn't bother me one bit. In one scenario I can afford to ride an Intense frame. In the other, I can't. If Walmart starts carrying quality bike components for less, you can bet that I'll be shopping there. Why should I have to suffer for someone elses weak business model?

jctoupin (Sep 2, 2011 at 16:37)

I've been waiting 8 weeks for a return of warranty of my 951 and still not there wtf I missed almost the whole summer and many road trips... I'll never buy a Intense again they crack and customer service suck....

pimpmylama (Dec 10, 2009 at 5:29)

Well it seems that a big fish just ate a smaller one.

mojoriders (Dec 10, 2009 at 14:44)

im happy about the deal. was going to get one in the states but looks like i might end up with one from canada. hope the build kit is good.

dabishop (Dec 10, 2009 at 6:58)

Sucks for the OTE boys. I hate it when a small guy develops a brand only to have a bigger distributor pull the rug out from under their feet.

stevehayes (Dec 10, 2009 at 8:44)

OTE probably got a nice lump sum though.

TheBikeNurse (Dec 10, 2009 at 9:34)

OTE lost intense BMX last year to 2 suppliers and now Mountain. Thats brutal, OGC just lost a couple big names this year to Lambert too.

bigtard (Dec 11, 2009 at 19:26)

off the edge sucked at being a distributor anyway

stevehell (Dec 10, 2009 at 17:47)

Bike's price going down... i'm really f... septics!!

Did anyone tried to pull-up on the 951 seat?? funny things will happen!!

bigal243 (Dec 10, 2009 at 18:20)

Grammar

diroc (Dec 10, 2009 at 22:02)

Fragment

bigal243 (Dec 10, 2009 at 23:12)

That's a good point. Let me rephrase that. Stevehell, your grammar is atrocious.

diroc (Dec 16, 2009 at 23:55)

Hahah much better.

djbagines (Dec 10, 2009 at 7:43)

That is a shame... after looking at this screen sideways on my sofa i noticed OGC does look a bit rude lol

danny-oli (Dec 10, 2009 at 13:11)

lmao took me a while to figure that one out!! he must be enjoying himself lol :p

gazcan (Jul 29, 2016 at 6:37)

Now its the END for OGC and Intense

brandonf (Dec 10, 2009 at 20:14)

does this mean that any shop that can get parts from OGC will also be able to get Intense bikes?

louiffe (Dec 10, 2009 at 21:28)

No, it doesnt mean it at all. OGC will secure the distribution for 2010 and start modifying it in 2011. LBS that had Intense will have it again in 2010, except if they decide not to. So expect more LBS carrying Intense in the near future, if of course, they can find bike shop able to pay with OGC terms...

Another prediction: Dont expect to see a big price cut. The only reason why you'll see (or should see) lower price is because of the USD vs CAD right now. They do not have to support any 2009 inventory so they should have quite a competitve price. However, OGC is not a "cheap" distributor. Just have a look at the Mavic lineup at OGC compare to the MSRP in the US. My bet, -7 to 10% off the 2009 price.

brandonf (Dec 10, 2009 at 21:37)

oh ok. Well that just shattered my dream of getting a 951

buddylee (Dec 10, 2009 at 23:25)

I hate to tell you "louiffe" the price is going down just like with Fox and the service will greatly improve ....as far as not supporting 09 product i expect they will do everything they can.As far as Mavic msrp in the U.S look at Gmc pricing in the U.S. 33 million Canadians compared to 308 000 million Americans........

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