QBP's High-End Whisky Carbon Components will Sell on Amazon & eBay

Mar 14, 2019
by Richard Cunningham  
Whiskey Co parts
Engin Ti 29er: QBP's Whisky Co carbon components are popular among custom bike makers.


Amazon, eBay and... QBP? Those are three nouns I never thought I'd see in the same sentence. Quality Bicycle Products is one of North America's largest cycling wholesalers, and arguably, the most influential when it comes to making money and setting trends. The Midwestern mega business prefers to operate quietly behind its widespread base of brick-and-mortar retailers, and a surprisingly diverse group of bike builders and custom fitters. QBP's portfolio includes an in-house wheel-building factory, at least four bike brands, a clothing and gear brand, and two component ranges. Until now, the only way ordinary folks could buy those things was through a QBP-certified retailer's own store or website - until now.

bigquotesIf Amazon is the first stop for shoppers, then a QBP brand like Whisky has to be there.John Sandberg, QBP

John Sandberg, Marketing and Communications Manager at QBP, says that well over 50 percent of all product searches begin on Amazon. And, while less than half of those who make a purchase will do so on Amazon, the site has become the universal go-to for price and feature comparisons. Sandberg put it simply: "If Amazon is the first stop for shoppers, then a QBP brand like Whisky has to be there."
Whiskey Co parts
Whisky rims and carbon fork on a 44 Bikes' custom fat bike.


QBP chose its Whisky Co component brand to launch the program, which is called "3P Select." Whisky produces things like carbon wheelsets, handlebars, carbon forks, and a variety of specialty items for elite mountain, gravel and fat bike enthusiasts - all of which are a good fit for on-line shoppers. Sandberg says the two key aspects to 3P Select is that QBP maintains control of the product's presentation on Amazon and eBay by curating the photos, graphics, and product information in order to present the most accurate and useful customer interface possible.

"We curate the products and ensure that all pricing is MAP (minimum advertised price)," says Sandberg. "But, the retailers make the sale and ship the items from their inventory."

How would a Whisky purchase on Amazon would transpire? Say you searched for a Whisky Number 9 Carbon Fat fork. It would come up on Amazon with Whisky branding, along with specs and an MSRP of $540. Only qualified retailers who stock a full range of Whisky products and have a well-proven on-line presence will be approved for the 3P Select program. Amazon's algorithms would arrange and display a Number 9 fork from each of those shops. You select which retailer you want to buy from and a few days later, your fat bike fork arrives at your doorstep.

Whiskey Co parts
Whiskey Co parts


Sandberg admits that QBP expects some pushback from traditional store owners who vehemently oppose any form of on-line sales, many of whom view Amazon and eBay as the great Satans of retail. QPB's 3P Select system, however ensures that all their retailers will benefit in some way, whether they choose to sell online or not. According to QBP's most recent press release, "there are 310 million people who use Amazon and 177 million on eBay, many of whom are there to purchase bicycle products." If you divided that sum evenly between QBP's 5000 retailers, that works out to 97 thousand more opportunities to sell Whisky components. Reason enough for both QBP and its retailers to adapt to Amazon and eBay's third-party sales models.

At present, a number of bike stores also host sister outlets on eBay, so QBP's move to standardize the pricing and presentation of their products in that market may be more contentious. Consistent pricing will be paramount to keeping QBP's core retailers on board, and it also takes some of the stress out of the purchase process.


bigquotesQBP's move to Amazon is a pilot program intended to offer the wholesale giant a chance to learn as much as possible before they consider expanding the program beyond their Whisky Co component range. I believe it will be successful. 3P Select doesn't employ unproven technology or ideologies. It offers cycling customers convenient online access to QPB's products, it locks in the retailer, and fulfillment is channeled through two proven entities. The entire bike industry will be watching this one.RC






Posted In:
Industry News


Author Info:
RichardCunningham avatar

Member since Mar 23, 2011
974 articles

186 Comments
  • 206 12
 Brand name is spelled wrong every single time you wrote it. It's whisky not whiskey.
  • 31 3
 Not sure why anyone would downvote you. Spelling the brand wrong again and again is a bit of an error.
  • 39 1
 Hilarious that the brand name is in the photo that the caption underneath still gets wrong!
  • 31 10
 Proof-reading and spelling are so 90's . Fake-news?

But for real, you're publishing a story and the IMAGES are the only spots with correct spelling. You wonder what the effects of Canada legalizing the devil's lettuce are.
  • 10 0
 Srsly, there’s a huge picture with WHISKY written all over the product lol.
  • 13 2
 You expect the former editor in chief of an actual print magazine to proof read and edit his own articles ?
  • 23 1
 He must have Irish Whiskey on his mind when writing the article rather than Scotch Whisky components...
  • 2 0
 @wythall1: That was my first thought too. They're both good.
  • 1 0
 @DarrellW: Yes indeed they are!
  • 18 1
 DUCKING SPELL CHECK!
  • 5 0
 Maybe they meant whisky as in like a whisk or something that whisks a lot.
  • 2 1
 @wythall1: Bear in mind that there are Irish "whiskys" aswell. The seperation of spelling was as much a marketing trick as anything else..
  • 7 0
 Maybe they're drunk?
  • 3 0
 what about the "QPB" typo in the 4th sentence? Maybe that's named for the portfolio and not the Co.
  • 10 0
 Rye? Rye not?
  • 11 0
 It's pronounced HWisky
  • 10 0
 @undertheleaves: as in Cool Hwhip?
  • 6 0
 @Mfro: wheird
  • 5 0
 Love how this was edited without a casual thank you....
  • 96 12
 "QPB's move to Amazon is a pilot program intended to crush the brick and mortar stores who have spent years making our business successful." - RC
  • 34 19
 That’s business
  • 18 34
flag jpdincv2 (Mar 14, 2019 at 12:49) (Below Threshold)
 @mkotowski1: you just do not understand my friend
  • 18 6
 @mkotowski1: it’s equal parts business and greed.
  • 5 0
 @cuban-b: Just like how Kevin O'leary rolls!
  • 39 6
 @mkotowski1: I understand that its "business." But its crappy business. I'm in the ski industry, I know a sell out when I see it.
  • 4 2
 @jpdincv21: please enlighten me?
  • 6 1
 @gally-nh: I hear ya dude, the business world is cut throat whether we like it or not and when you need to hit your margins an owner will sometimes “sellout” for the sake of the business. All we can do as consumers is vote with our money.
  • 35 1
 Amazon will get the last laugh when they buy YT and SRAM (with their pocket money) and wipe the industry out overnight.
  • 52 9
 As crappy as it is, I don't feel greed is part of it. Business 101 is a business must make money to cover costs and make a profit. If their customers (bike shops in QBP's case) are buying less or actually disappearing, that business must look for other avenues for income to support their owners, employees, investors, etc. Greed is an aggressive label.

Disclaimer, I am a previous bike shop employee with the same small shop for 10 years. As much as I don't like seeing the little guys go under, this is the environment we live in. As the article states, the sales will be channeled thru their current bike ship client base. I am sure if QBP mishandles this too much, many of their brick-and-mortar clients will drop them as tough as that would be to get products.

I will await my downvotes
  • 14 14
 @mkotowski1: Companys like that are ruining shop bike shops. I am always having to fight against people who are price shopping us from an online site. With amazon they offer a great deal and free shipping. We cannot fight that price and shipping at all. Then customers complain about labor prices because they got the product for so cheap. Also our QBP rep sucks and never comes in even though we get most of our products from them. Stop ruining bike shops and spend a little more money for people that need to put food on the table.
  • 30 2
 I go online more and more because the brick and mortar experience does not live up. Bike shops have their place, but as an enthusiast, buying products online is a better experience (shop for product > shop price > see real time stock > delivery tracking > to my front door). Bike shops have to deal with supplier networks which is holding them back imo.
  • 15 0
 @spinko: I do hear ya, there are a ton of bike shops out there that have no idea what customer service is and thats the bike shops fault. if you go to a good shop customer service should be the first thing they care about. I am sorry the bike shops around you do not meet up to great standards.
  • 3 0
 @jpdincv21: But there's also a residual effect. I own a ski shop, and our first and foremost priority is to be an experience and to provide excellent customer service. It has to be. But bad experiences elsewhere push people online, even though good shops exist and companies like QBP are capitalizing on that. Thankfully in the ski world we have robust pricing protections that allow us to remain competitive with the online mega stores, but not in all cases. Believe me, we get showroomed all the time.
  • 4 1
 @jpdincv21: Don't get me wrong, I love my shop. I've bought lots of bikes there, they treat me like family. They do have their short comings though, and I don't suspect that they can clean up their processes that much due to how the dealer network stuff works.
  • 26 8
 I literally just came back from a brick and mortar store 5 minutes ago to try on some new bikes shoes. There was a Shimano, Giro, and Scott model that I was considering buying. The shop carried those brands but didn't have any of the 3 models that I was after and what they had was 2018 stuff at full MSRP in pygmy and giant sizes. Now I'm back online and can find the model, size, and color I want at the best price. Stupid me for trying to patronize the little guy, right?
  • 5 2
 The Whisky parts are for small market of niche products with Chinese production sold to hand builders, rigid and hardtail riders. All of whom are already looking at aliexpress to cut QBP, the middleman, out. My No. 7 rigid fork is no better than the HongFu or Tideace forks I also own. Best of luck to them. The web is an enticing sh!tshow. We all love Amazon and we'll eventually pay for our weakness.
  • 21 3
 @jpdincv21: Asking your customers (or potential customers) to simply "spend more money" and do so because they should apparently feel bad for the people who "need to put food on the table" is the exact reason so many bike shops are failing. I come from 10+ years at a LBS which failed to evolve and ultimately went out of business. Large e-comm sites like Amazon are not the bad guys here, they're not out to destroy small business and make everyone homeless and hungry. e-comm is simply an evolution of the way consumers are shopping based on competitive pricing, convenience and selection. There is room in this world for high quality bike shops who treat their customers with respect and know how to wrench. Those shops though, need to adapt to the idea of companies transitioning to D2C, selling on Amazon and doing whatever else they need to do to grow their business. Like it or not, everyone is going to worry about their own business first, successful businesses will evolve and grow, that's what makes them successful.
  • 11 1
 @bvd453: this is my experience for almost anything I need at our local shops.... they are constantly saying - "we can order it for you".... why in the world would I have them do something I can do myself and i don't have to come pick it up. On top of the fact that all they can carry is what their major companies supply them... and no i dont want a shitty pair of bontrager bib shorts or the low end shoe in 3 sizes too small. They either need to specialize in clothing/accessories or bikes and bike parts because they cant do both well.
  • 8 1
 Pivot or die.

"These dag nabbed internets are ruining things! I can't change!"
  • 24 6
 There´s only one thing that is killing brick and mortar stores and that is the "greed" of distributors and their lack of willingness to adapt to a new market.
Shops get f*cked by the distributors´ unwillingness to match the speed and convenience at which online sales operate.
Example:
I go to my local store and need a SRAM X01DH derailleur. Naturally, that is something most shops won´t have in stock.
I am then asked whether i want to order the product (at full price of course) with an added shipping fee of a measley 10 bucks or so and an estimated delivery time of at least 2 weeks.
I then continue to leave the shop without doing business and order online for half the price and next day delivery.
At least that´s how my past 5 or so visits in local stores went down.

Now there´s absolutely nothing a shop can do about this and i feel really sorry for those trying real hard to satisfy customers needs but are then hindered by the distributors inability to get them any parts in reasonable time without huge costs involved.

The fact that the industry leaders (those that actually utilize brick and mortar stores) like Trek are pushing dumb standards and by this make the situation even harder for the shops, doesn´t help either.
My personal conclusion:
The industry is killing off brick and mortar stores more than anyone else, simply by putting huge strain on their ability to satisfy customer needs. Manufacturers and distributors need to reevaluate the way they cooperate with local shops in order to keep them competitive.
  • 4 0
 @Loki87: Very good points. Most situations the component isn't purchased for 'half-price' compared to a local shop. However, sizable price differences are the norm. CRC for example orders 300 of a $200 derr, sells 250 and blows out the last 50 below what the bike shop can purchase it for to clear up cash and space. Local shop orders two of the expensive derr and maybe sells one. They are stuck with the other one and may even have to lose money to get rid of it. Bike shops do get screwed. Hopefully most consumers realized they aren't out to 'get you' pricing wise. They are just trying to survive.
  • 7 7
 @Loki87: That shop charging you "full price" and telling you it will take two weeks is an exact example of that shop NOT evolving with the times. If the shop was smart they would shift from this now unrealistic concept of keystone pricing (that's doubling their cost and calling it "MSRP") and crunch the numbers on getting that product to you as inexpensive as possible then enjoying the long term benefit of a loyal customer who will (in many cases) pay them the high margin labor cost to install the part. This is the same mentality of a shop who talks shit and overcharges for service when you bring them a bike from a D2C brand like YT or Commencal. There is no "greed" involved, simply legitimate companies looking to fulfill their natural selfish desires to sell more shit. As @scott-townes puts it... PIVOT OR DIE
  • 6 3
 @m-sor: This, exactly. If my LBS can come within a couple of bucks of Amazon or Jensen for a component, I'll buy it from them. Parts are not where they make their money anyway. Amazon and Jensen aren't going to install your new brakes or rebuild your suspension for you. Can I do it myself? Sure I can, but my free time is precious, and I'd rather spend it riding or engaging in other hobbies vs. wrenching on my bike. My LBS wins, and I win.
  • 1 4
 @jpdincv21: as long as businesses’ models focus on profit as the most important factor (them being themselves really) things like this will keep happening
  • 6 0
 @Loki87: This is something I don’t understand. The distributor should be able to get a part to your shop within 2 or 3 days also, because most online retailers don’t stock components, they drop-ship from the distributor as well. My LBS will get me what I need within a couple of days if they don’t have it in stock.
  • 2 2
 @m-sor:
There´s a reason i wrote "greed".
I see it the same way you do as far as shops unwillingness to adapt is concerned, however i do also see those who do still struggle to compete, essentially being forced to cut their own bottom line in order to compensate for shortcomings on the suppliers side.
I do fully realize that some businesses may need to operate the way they do, however, if you´re dependant on a local dealer network you need to go with the times as a distributor and enable your local shops to be competitive in an ever more challenging market.
It cannot only be the shops responsibility to match online pricing, hence why for example Shimano is protecting US based shops through shipping limitations on european online sales. This is one way to protect them. Another would be to offer more flexible pricing and delivery options for shops based on general sales volume and not only on volume per one specific article. There are options, but as of now, they chose to just let the shops deal with the problem they created in order to protect their own bottom line.
That is of course a legitimate practice but i don´t see how it´ll benefit them long term if customer frequency in shops declines and more and more people drift off to online competitors. Somebody has to visit those shops to actually buy those Treks off the showroom floor. So i can´t really see this strategy of protecting their own bottom line work forever because local shops can´t shoulder all the responsibilities forever.
Of course many shops are simply unable or unwilling to adapt, but that´s always been the case. Bad businesses will eventually die off, that´s nothing new. The new thing is one market evolving (online) while their competitors (brick and mortar shops) are held back by dated structures on the side of their supplier chain even if they do try to go with the times.
  • 1 0
 @SlodownU:
I dunno. Maybe that´s a local thing around my part of the world where parts go through many hands before they arrive at the customer, but i have experienced it often enough that the LBS wasn´t even able to give an estimated delivery date as they were at the mercy of the suppliers good will to ship them the stuff they ordered, which would only happen if a certain number of orders was hit.
  • 7 0
 @SlodownU: Wholesale retailers don't have every item in stock at every location throughout the U.S. For example, if your shop is located in California and their wholesaler only has that item in stock at their Florida warehouse, it can take 5 business days to arrive after its been ordered. People need to have less unrealistic expectations.
  • 5 4
 @dougwagz: LBS for: service you don't have the tool for, wheel builds, suspension service, warranty help, group rides, small parts, bike fitting for roadies, small parts (tubes, lube, shift cable, etc.). Interwebz for: anything else over $40
  • 8 5
 So sick of the "help the little guys out, support your local bike shop" BS. I live in a mountain biking town and most of the places here rip you off and/or hire inexperienced wrenches who will probably do more harm to your bike than good. Also you can just watch an online video most of the time now to learn how to do things yourself for much cheaper. Online DIY is more of a threat to the bike shop than anything.
  • 5 1
 @jpdincv21: @jpdincv21: what do you expect people to do? My local shop never has in stock what I want and it takes longer for them to get it then it takes me plus its cheaper. Also they dont know things about brands they don't carry and are generally quick to dismiss products they can't get and for no reason really.

It sounds like you run a shop. If supplier A charges you 30% more and takes longer to deliver than supplier B who are you going to order from? Its pretty obvious and bike shops would jump on any chnace they have to dave money too so why would consumers act different? Thats what bike shops need to grasp, they get so bent out of shape at the online world when they would do exactly the same of they could.
  • 4 1
 @GBeard: I just love how strangers feel like they have the right (audacity) to tell other strangers how to spend their money. And then argue if you disagree.
  • 16 0
 @bvd453: A good LBS is a place of sanctuary; escaping work, learning about bikes, and spending money your wife doesn’t think you have.
  • 4 3
 @sevensixtwo: the only reason your wife thinks you don't have that money is because she knows you buy stuff from the LBS amd are getting ripped off.
  • 4 0
 @SlodownU: You are dead wrong. Profit is made primarily on parts and accessories. Bikes sometimes. Labor is hardly profitable, but necessary. It could be very profitable, but to pay people a livable wage AND profit well, would mean much higher labor rates. I think that's where things are going though.
  • 3 0
 @sevensixtwo: very true sir. Kudos. Big Grin
  • 6 2
 I don't whine when I have to change a business model to keep being successful.

Here's a tip: learn about a business model canvas. Create one for your business and use it to evolve. We are in an evolutionary period for most marketplaces. You can evolve, or shrivel up and post on pinkbike about how modernization killed your business.
  • 11 5
 @Loki87: Total nonsense. No one is owed an existence and nor should the rest of the supply chain support the continuation of the obsolete business model which is the LBS.

Face it - there is very little market space or economic reason for LBS to continue to exist.

An LBS:
- has very little storage space and therefore can only hold small amounts of stock
- a shop in a high-density retail precinct has high rental costs which must be absorbed into the price of product
- serves a very small footprint of customers - ie locals - so there is a tiny customer base
- is reliant on physical walk-in customers. Consumers are increasingly time-poor. Getting to stores is often a pain-in-the-@$$
- the probability of having the right product, for the right customer at the right time is low and getting lower

It is totally uneconomic for a LBS to hold sufficient supply of the enormous range of parts, accessories and clothing available today, to sell to the limited footprint of customers it serves.

Online business:
- Can operate out a giant warehouse in a low rental area. Can therefore hold a truly massive range of stock
- Has a GLOBAL customer footprint - justifying massive stock holdings
- Benefits of large economies of scale, lower overheads and can therefore offer lower pricing to consumers
- Offers anytime, anywhere, anyhow service to its customers and can have product to their door in days.

The fact that a giant warehouse in the UK via a website offers better stock selection, pricing and can have products to my door in Sydney in a couple of days after taking a moment of my time whilst sitting on the bus on my way to work, vs an LBS which takes hours out of my day, doesn't have what I want, and can only get it at a much higher price point is basic evidence of the point.

Think of it like an investor - WHY would you invest your money in an LBS? The LBS business model is mostly broken and works in a very limited and narrow market space which is not economically sustainable.

You make comments about distributors not backing LBS enough. Why should they? Distributors exist to move large amounts of stock. Who is selling more and more stock? Their online retailer customers who buy XO1DH derailluers in bulk - not 1 pissant unit per your example.

Where is the incentive for the distributor? Not to mention distributors are getting squeezed by online retailers going direct to manufacturers - why pay margin to a distributor when your volumes are large enough to just go direct to manufacturer?

Online is winning because the basic economics of the business model makes vastly more sense than bricks-and-mortar retail.

Online has its challenges, but its market space justifies investment being made to improve the model.

The LBS model is old, dead and uneconomic. There is no point in anyone throwing any more money at it. You will never generate the returns and will only lose money in the long run.
  • 6 2
 @GBeard: 100%

Online DIY videos are brilliant. Most bike mechanics is simple stuff and easily learned.

For really difficult stuff, you can hire a self-employed wrench operating out of a van who comes to your door and costs less than a bike shop. So now I don't have to take time out of my day to bring my bike into town, leave it for a couple days, then waste more of my time going back to get it.
  • 2 1
 @Loki87:
Yeah, cos only the big guys are in it for greed - only the little guy just does it for the passion...

Everyone is in it to make money, no one is in it for charity and everyone is trying to capture as much of the value chain as possible.

LBS are not entitled to special protection.

Trek/Specialized/Giant can for the moment justify having shops given their sheer scale provides economies of scale that allow them to price bikes similarly to lower volume, online competitors.

BUT - that equation is changing. As online brands sell larger volumes, improve their business models and become more competitive it will over time challenge the big 3's model and their strategy people will be closely monitoring it. And when one of the big 3 changes, you can watch the other 2 jump ship very quickly as well.
  • 13 1
 @Ktron: I can buy beer cheaper at a grocery store, but i still like to go the bar for the scenery and conversation. And just like at bike shop, every once in a while I get lucky and bring something home.
  • 6 1
 Everything I buy at my local bike shop is the same and sometimes less than what I can find it for online. The owner does have to order stuff half the time but it’s quick and I would rather buy it from him.

If I pay cash things are cheaper. He has even sold me some used tools and parts for a couple bucks so I didn’t have to pay the retail price of new ones. If I need an odd ball screw, he will dig one out of his parts bin and give it to me.

I use his bike stands and tools to work on my bike all the time. He has taught me the majority of what I know about building bikes. He never ask, but I usually just give him $20 or so to say thank you for using his stuff for an hour. Or bring him beer. Beer goes a long way in his bike shop.

There is always a customer hanging out for no reason in this shop. Just drinking a beer or coffee.
  • 4 2
 @sevensixtwo: Now there's a customer I can bank on! Randomly visits the shop, takes up my employee's time with conversation and browsing around before leaving and only once in a while buys a new pair of gloves or some other random product that I can make $20 profit on.

Hold on while I get a 2nd mortgage on my house, pull out my life savings and open an LBS in your neighbourhood!

People pay huge price increases on booze in bars because of the scenery, conversation, entertainment etc.

Bike shops sell bikes and bike accessories. Read any article on this website. People don't like paying anything extra for anything bike related.
  • 5 0
 @m-sor: online stores order direct from manufactures in bulk and can lower prices as a result. Bike shops can only order through wholesalers like qbp, so their margins are much lower. So low that oblinenoricing is below thier cost sometimes.. Brick and mortar can only market to a small area because of brand restrictions, where as online can market to nations.. they are pissed because of the insane amount of restrictions that are put on them. People literally use them to test ride / fit and then they buy it online cheaper. It’s a pretty sad situation.
  • 4 2
 Bike industry isn't exactly unlike the Fly Fishing industry. 900$ fishing rods and 450$ Goretex jackets all to stand in the water waiving a stick. Which I love and def like those fancy rods. That being said, the supply/distribution chain makes it hard/impossible to ever sell rods at a discount. Same with other stuff at times too. When it comes to expensive stuff, the good shops have a lot of it and in spades. Even my tiny town of 8k people has a shop with loads of stuff. I've know the guy since I was 10yr and he was 19. How does he do it? 75% of his revenue is online sales. He kills it nearly globally I think. Sells a bunch of rods and everything else somehow. His website sucks too simply because its his buddies son who runs and updates it to some new crappy version that still sucks ha. Nevertheless, there are other ways to do business but the distributors and shops need to make the effort and clearly can't just sit back and pretend that all their money will be brick and mortar customers. Hell the ecommerce thing kicked off 20yrs ago...if the fly shop guy and his IT guy can figure it out, so can these LBS even in small towns. It serves the customer well.
  • 2 0
 Keystoned? Yeah right. Try 30-40% Presta valve adapters, if bought in bulk might be keystoned. Tubes? Nope. Components? Definitely not. Bikes? Hell. No. @m-sor:
  • 4 0
 As a flyfisherman and bike shop owner I can assure you, the bike industry and the flyfishing industry have nature in common and that’s about it. The flyfishing industry doesn’t revolve around ever-changing standards, I can run a new reel on an ancient bamboo rod. @Svinyard:
  • 4 1
 Why do we always have to roll the same old LBS debate out.
The world evolves. As the saying goes, evolve or die.
Business has to adapt to change. Most online stores started as shops and evolved. If you chose to not evolve, then dont whine at those that did and succeeded. That makes you a bad losser. Business is competition regardless of anyones passion. Anyone doing it for a passion needs to understand that.
Anyone that works is ‘in business’ (of paying mortgages, bills, etc) and needs to invest their assets (time/money) wisely hence moving to online purchases.
There is a place for LBS but dont be so preachy about it.
  • 3 0
 @Loki87: I would very much love to have a local mountain bike go-to bike shop... But whenever I go to one of them and want to buy something that is not super-expensive, full-electric, full-suspension and made by their preferred big brand, they will treat me like a dirty clochard who just wants to steal something of them... And then there is the online dealer who will track down speciality items for me, ship things in one day and give me suggestions for cheaper alternatives when I rant about being broke ... Hmmmmmm

(I have to admit for my SingleSpeed/Gravel-needs there is a local dealer in town with a superb shop who is small but great and as a result I always buy anything of that category from them. But it is one shop in twenty in town and doesn't do mountain bikes :-()
M
  • 1 0
 Adapt or die. It’s a disruption that has been a long time coming for the bike industry. You can’t blame QBP when their brick and mortar customers are disappearing. Performance just closed 100+ stores for example. IBD’s have had their numbers cut in half in the last decade. Ask yourself this: would you invest $$$$& in a brick and mortar operation right now?

everything can be bought online for cheap and conveniently dropped at your doorstep. You can make one trip to the shop to have it installed instead of multiple trips. For most people, TIME and Money are their most valuable commodities. Online handles both of these. Shops must adapt or die. Service oriented shops will be the only ones that survive.
  • 1 0
 @bvd453: Warranty help? Why would a shop help you with a warranty for something you bought online? Help with warranties is one of the main attractions to buying from a brick and mortar retailer.
  • 1 0
 @emptybe-er: that should create more of a component demand then as old stuff gets deprecated.
  • 3 0
 @fattypants: SRAM and Shimano dealers can file a warranty claim for gear that wasn't purchased from their stores. Stores can charge a fee for filing a warranty and sending it in, which only takes 10 minutes to set up. The shop can also help re-installing the warrantied part for another fee. If you file a warranty through the online retailer you purchased it from, the customer has to pay to ship the item to the retailer and the back and forth shipping alone can add a couple weeks to the process and no installation help.

If a shop denies filing a warranty for someone simply because they didn't buy the part from there, that shop deserves to fail. That's about as idiotic as a shop refusing to work on someone's bike because they didn't purchase the bike from them.
  • 1 0
 @Ktron: Are you a shop owner? I feel for you if you are, running a busiess is really hard. I admire your passion and courage to do something you truly love. I hope your shop is successful.

Have you done any research on conversion rates? Online, conversion rates are generally 3%. That means 97 people out of 100 people never buy anything. Browsing is just a part of business. And done right, conversation and hospitality are true incentives to create loyal followers.
  • 2 0
 @sevensixtwo: that last part hit's VERY close to home.
  • 5 0
 @Ktron: When I'm back in North America, I find the difference between bike shops (and most service) fascinating. In Asia its quick and professional, no bullshit. Since you're a customer, in the shop, needing service, guess what? Generally your bike gets sorted right away, unless it's major. There's no 'let's schedule that service for next Friday'. Techs are always working on bikes, whereas I can't tell you how many times I've been into a LBS and get 'we're booked out'...yet workers are standing around socializing, else working at a snail's pace. I think LBS's sometimes forget it's not a clubhouse, but a place of business.
  • 2 0
 @motard5: Yes. At my shop we try to respect the customer’s time and the often laborious effort it is for some to get their bikes to the shop in the first place.

We aim for on-the-spot repairs or same day if it’s takes longer than 20 minutes. A lot of times the customer will shop and pick up a few parts while waiting for the repair.

If it’s not possible for same day, most are done in 24 hours unless parts are ordered. Less time in the shop= more time riding = more worn parts and repairs in the future. Winning!
  • 41 0
 I just came here to comment on that DT skewer not being aligned with the fork.
  • 27 2
 1) don’t see a whole lot of demand for whisky product to begin with

2) don’t see bike shops lining up to stockpile a full range of extra carbon parts in the off chance they could fulfill some amazon orders for QBP
  • 24 2
 thinking the same thing..."Oh a carbon rigid, I'd love that" said nobody on Pinkbike.
  • 4 0
 I've always dreamed of a set of Whisky fat bike hoops. The MSRP my local shop has in their catalogue was $1200 per Whisky 70w rim (that is in Canadian $). Well within my "never ever ever own" price range.
  • 5 0
 @preach: Exactly! Steel is better.
  • 13 4
 Losing them must be like Lynskey deciding not to restock CRC. Oh nooo, please don’t! Because Brick and Mortar shops don’t live off Alivio level components sold to perfectly normal people, they rely on expensive carbon parts recognized mainly in lumber sexual circles.
  • 1 0
 @bsedola: nextie rims.
  • 23 1
 Article just glosses over everything and doesn't go in to enough detail.
Trying to read between the lines this looks like:
1. These will be sales through authorized QBP resellers on the Amazon/Ebay marketplace and NOT direct sales from QBP to Amazon/Ebay.
2. QBP is a distributor and the nature of their business model means they have limited control and visibility on what their current resellers do with pricing and distribution. They have guidelines and requirements, but these get violated.
3. Price protection, brand presentation standardization, Minimum Advertised Price Policy are all likely goals here.
4. Cracking down on and eliminating unauthorized online sellers is likely also a goal
5. There are currently 2 main ways to sell on Amazon. One is for a company to sell directly to Amazon who then resells it. The other is for authorized resellers of a brand's product to utilize Amazon as a marketplace where they list their product for sale. This Article reads like QBP is going with the second scenario.
6. You will be seeing more and more retailers offering up their online scale as a marketplace to 3rd party retailers. Walmart, Target are some examples.
7. Maybe PB can educate the masses on 1P vs 3P sales on Amazon and what that could mean for bike shops(many of who rely on their Amazon storefronts in addition to relying on QBP)and vendors seeking to protect pricing and make sure business is transacted through authorized resellers?
  • 4 1
 So QBP goes out and gets 12 vendors to buy their stuff. These vendors outlay a significant dollar amount to have inventory on hand so that QBP doesn't have to carry inventory. Smart, right? Now you get to sell on Amazon and the seller gets to pick you! Right?

QBP clearly has good intentions, but the reality is the Buy Box. No one searches through a list for their favorite
vendor, they just click Buy it Now. Amazon just cycles through the list of 3Ps, so if there are a dozen authorized vendors, you will get a 1 in 12 chance of selling your item. If Amazon gets in the listing, no one will sell anything.. meaning they have to sit on their inventory until Amazon sells out, then the 1 in 12 starts up again.

Now if you are a vendor with inventory you have to sell, the best option is to violate MAP by a penny or create your own listing. QBP might fight you, but that is easily mitigated because of the First Sale doctrine. That screws the other 11 vendors trying to sell their items too, but who cares, right? Not QBP.

The other HUGE issue is that demand on Amazon is static - meaning if an item only sells one per day, you cant change that. QBP sells to 12 vendors, that means you get one sale per 12 days (due to Amazon cycling through vendors). QBP now has a large amount of inventory they sold through to 12 vendors in Q1, but they wonder why no one is buying anymore inventory in Q2, Q3, Q4, etc.

So to mitigate the lack of orders from 3Ps, they sell a whole bunch to Amazon hoping to generate more sales, but now they have screwed the 3Ps they said they were trying to help. Due to the static demand, there hasn't been an increase in sales.. just orders, and now Amazon demands they buy back their unsold inventory. Since no 3Ps were able to sell due to Amazon being in the BB, QBP has no more cash to buy it back and has to file bankruptcy.

Wash, rinse, repeat. It happens to thousands of Amazon resellers every year. Short Sell your QBP stock now.

Edit: I just saw that Salsa and Surly are both owned by them too. Rip.
  • 1 0
 It also glosses over the buy in for the brand, which I have heard is 18k. Seems way high to me but that was the number told to me by a current dealer....I'd love to see a shop buy that amount of rigid forks and expensive rims that can be had from derby or elsewhere for much less
  • 25 5
 WOWWWWWWW

worked for a company who got shut off by QBP for selling product via amazon. now they do it too. hahahahahaha what a crock of shit

ORDER BTI / HAWLEY / ANYBODY BUT Q
  • 14 0
 Good luck running a shop not ordering from Q. They carry a bunch of stuff that you can't get anywhere else and their prices are great, not to mention they ship fast and consistently.
  • 2 0
 @seraph: No shit. Currently in school for a real job before the ship totally sinks so whatever...but I try my hardest to give everybody else as much of the business as possible without screwing up lead times, etc. If everyone did this, they could shut this down in a day methinks. But at some point you're pissing in the wind.
  • 3 0
 I used to be a QBP dealer that sold online *used to be. After being treated as a criminal by them for selling online (and doing it well) they are now pushing the sh*t on 3P sites. Sad day for the bike world that has been told over and over by QBP that bicycle parts are not commodities and should not be sold online. QBP is desperate. This is not an anti online rant....it's Anti QBP
  • 13 1
 Great...more business for Amazon. Whisky is actually a nice product but I will not buy from them just for this reason alone. I have used the same bike shop for almost 20 years and they are awesome...they always give me as much discount as possible and take care of service that I can’t handle at no charge. Not to mention it’s a place to just stop in and bullshit with people who are involved in our sport
  • 10 1
 Can't agree with you more on this one, the local shops just have so much more to offer than just parts, they are part of the cycling community.
  • 17 3
 Has anyone actually ever tried to buy bike stuff off amazon? It’s a f*cking nightmare, especially for very specific items with weird ass standards.
  • 2 1
 Agreed.
  • 1 0
 Exactly.
  • 1 0
 For stuff like grips, bleed kits, sealant, helmets, the prices actually aren’t that bad if you know exactly what you want. Amazon isnt organized super well for niche sports, so it sucks if you’re just browsing
  • 2 0
 Yep, actually... I only order from WorldWideCyclery on Amazon if I must use Amazon
  • 3 0
 Very true. Citing Amazon as the place where people go to for "feature comparison" sounds just silly in a cycling context. In fact, i know of no single vendor or platform which would be worse for product information and feature comparison, and that includes Craigslist.

Plus, Amazon and Ebay are the primary platforms for counterfeit products, and carbon bike components are an easy target for that (E.g. the proliferation of counterfeit Race Face Next handlebars). This practice is so widespread that i generally avoid buying brand-name stuff on either platform.
  • 9 0
 (Amazon's total user base + Ebay's total user base) / number of QBP retailers = a number without any meaning. Seriously, you must think your customers are idiots...
  • 9 3
 Bike company makes a product > Sells product QBP > QBP sells to bike shop > Bike shop sells to me. Seems complicated...

Why not just sell directly to the shop, and or to me. Lower price to consumer, and at no loss to the bike company. Why so many middle men.
  • 6 0
 List is long, but main reason is they bike company/parts company doesn't want to deal with additional warehousing and staff, sales team and staff, shipping departments, returns, etc.
  • 2 0
 Seems like the dealership model that car manufacturers use.
  • 2 5
 Carbon is all about torque spec. If you don't have a press for the bearings and are willing to risk damage from your trusty hammer...go for it.
  • 2 0
 @matadorCE: Tesla tried to get rid of the dealership model and got sued multiple times because of it. There're actually places in the states where it is not legal for direct to consumer vehicle sales.
  • 1 0
 MIddle men/ distributors are a psuedo union. They like their control and you pay to play
  • 1 0
 I'm all for cutting out the middleman in some instances, but if that's the idea, then why not just go consumer direct and cutout Q and Bezos? Half the niche hipster parts I like are already company direct anyway.
  • 10 0
 I'm pretty excited to have a new source for 120mm length stems!
  • 7 1
 I started my bike biz in 1991 as "MOBILE PEDAL SHOP" when QBP was a young company nothing but a paper black and white picture catalog. they grew and so did my shop... I doubled sales every year for about 4, 5 years, then I basically maxed out..with a 1600sqft retail store.
2008 happened and I just didn't sell as much with the retail store Pedal Shop....I moved the store to a business condo (shared space), started doing some "mobile" again but without warning, QBP closed our account... one day I couldn't log-in to QBP's site. they gave me some song and dance, told me to re-apply .. ehh, no thanks, treat a customer like that? I had been dealing with QBP for almost 15 years didn't count for anything? They do carry a lot of cool stuff but, I never got around to sending in a new dealer app.. just felt back-stabbed too much.
  • 3 3
 They're just biding their time. Shops should all stop further sales until they revoke this hair brained idiot idea.
  • 8 2
 Hey @QBP
You’re math is “fake news”
A. You didn’t account for people with accounts on each site.
B. Not every user on these sites is there for bike parts. Let’s be generous and say 10% for easy math. (Probably closer to 1% in reality). So 9.7k potential new customers.
C. But how many of those people are looking for Whisky specifically? Let’s say 1%?

So now we’ve got AT MOST 970 potential new customers per shop. And that’s probably still 10x to high. So more realistically, 100 people. Huge step down from 97k!

If you want to see what people buy on amazon? Google, “shit people buy on amazon.” *warning. You’ll hate people for the shit they spend money on....
  • 5 1
 Sorry. Even my math was off. That’d be close to 100 based on bike parts in general...closer to 10 people for “whisky”.
Shops are better off running a radio ad to get 10 more customers....
  • 9 0
 Every person outside of North America: "Who?"
  • 5 0
 Amazon has become a cesspool of goofy off-brand and occasionally dangerous products and shoppers are doing themselves a serious disservice by starting there. Go to Amazon and search "carbon MTB fork" and you're met pretty exclusively with what most people call "Chinese carbon." Are they safe? Will they fit? Is there a warranty? Good luck everyone.
  • 2 0
 True. I do look for specific items but I only end up purchasing stuff like cable ends and grips. Everything else is cheaper from a real bike retailer (online) and I know I'm not getting a knock off or something that was installed already.
  • 1 0
 and on top of that, Amazon is rife with knockoffs. weirdly, eBay is a much safer place to buy stuff these days, because at least you can see the seller has like 2,000 reviews from happy customers. on Amazon, you can easily open a seller account, sell a bunch of fake stuff and then disappear. I bought some fake KMC quick links - i didn't find out until later when they started rusting on me. thankfully none snapped. i went back looking for info and the reviews were all saying they got duped too. not buying that kind of stuff from Amazon any more.
  • 6 2
 That seatpost looks straight out of a Taiwan catalogue. Amazon will stitch them up wherever possible. Speaking from experience Amazon are difficult to work with and I will not buy from them as they are way to "tax efficient".
  • 4 1
 @jloader guess Amazon doesn't work efficiently in the UK. They are spot on service, shipping, returns at least in the US that is. I am not wishing they crush local bikes shops. But from the US perspective, super easy and convenient to work with.
  • 5 6
 @bman33: And they pay ZERO taxes. Contributing exactly ZERO to society.

'Murka!
  • 8 2
 @Lotusoperandi: That tax revenue generated by Amazon via sales taxes, employee taxes, property taxes, taxes on all the services and materials they purchase as a company is more than many countries generate. And always remember corps never "pay taxes' anyway. Any tax liability is baked into their pricing structure.

To believe they contribute "Zero to society" is naive and childish".
  • 3 3
 Found the bootlicker.
  • 2 0
 @schofell84: not defending Amazon as infallible. I much rather support a local shop. However, saying Amazon doesn't have it's place or is useless is a joke and laughable at best
  • 2 1
 @Lotusoperandi: Yet they use roads, air traffic controllers, ports of entry etc that is all funded by tax payer dollars....when will we get ours?
  • 9 0
 Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
  • 9 5
 Oh my God! They're changing their business model to meet modern consumer demands. The greed, the gall. Now if you don't mind I better return this VHS to Blockbuster. If you thought carbon was expensive, you should see this late fee...
  • 4 1
 Blockbuster didn't have late fees. That what sunk them
  • 1 0
 What are you talking about... They're killing it. I just saw them on Captain Marvel
  • 1 0
 @makripper: They did have late fees, and that's what sunk them. They ditched the late fees once they were already going under. Netflix, (The oldschool one with the DVDs by mail,) killed Ballbuster.
  • 1 0
 @SirLapLack: yeah they used to be normal, then went overkill then ditched completely. Poor way to run a business. Also yes, Netflix didn't help.
  • 3 0
 I have worked in the industry for 15 years now. Started as a bike builder at and LBS, moved “up” to management at Performance and now work sales for one of the largest distributors in the US. The retail world is changing every day. But there will always be dedicated people, on both sides of the counter, to the brick and mortar retail shop. Amazon, Chain Reaction and the others are great for customers who either know, or think they know, exactly what they want. What a customer can’t experience with any online retailer is the experience of someone to help them figure out what they need if they are new to cycling. Not everyone knows what size bike they need, how much travel they want or even how shifting works. As much as people will say they couldn’t care less if there wasn’t a bike shop in their town, think of the kid who gets a Walmart bike for Christmas, the teenager who quits riding because his derailleur breaks and he doesn’t know how to fix it or the elderly who wants a beach cruiser but “doesn’t use computers “. While shopping online may be perfect for you, it’s not for everyone.
  • 4 1
 - who gives a flying fart if he spelled whiskey correctly wrong..

- I worked for qbp and they had hitler type rules with their employees and customers. Not selling on eBay, Amazon etc was very high on the list.. I understand why but thier reasoning is for the exact reason bike shops need to. The industry f’s over bike shops.
  • 7 1
 At a certain point you're part of the problem.
  • 3 0
 Exactly, consumers control the market. Don't like Amazon? Don't buy from them.
  • 4 2
 The incredibly stupid customer base is the problem ... that is the only reason the bike co's can get by with all the stupidity of the last few years. New standards every 5 mins, fixing stuff that wasn't broken just to have something new to sell.

Honestly I think it would be good for biking & the world in general if some of these companies & customers went the way of the dodo.
  • 2 0
 Wow...a lot of negativity towards LBS vs buying online. As a shop owner, racer, rider, and consumer I can understand a lot of the arguments.
First thing that I will address is that LBS that do not evolve. We have some tech savy people, including myself, to run an online business. The problem is manufactures and distributors, such as QBP, do not want/approve internet sales much less selling on eBay or Amazon event though you see it countless times. Hell the new AXS stuff is already all over eBay. So those LBSes that choose to play by the rules are kinda between a rock and a hard spot when trying to compete with online shops. One thing that we do is we will price match almost anyone and if we do not have a product more than likely we can get it faster than you even though you can order it yourself. These are points we make known. Not that it works all the time, as you have those that want to order online and that is fine. However, if it is a part that need to be installed and you have your bike in for service more than likely you are going to pay to have that installed vs it just being thrown in.

Second, LBS stocking clothing. That is a hard one. So many colors and sizes. then the showrooming that consumers do (try it on to see what fits then go buy it online) Who wants that? Then end of the season have to blow it all out. Does not make sense. LBSes stock more niche products that are not widely available online or sold at super discounted prices. We also only carry brands that allow us to trade in our unsold product to go toward the purchase of fresh product.

At the end of the day, yes the LBS need to evolve and yes those that do not will die. We got into vehicle outfitting installing racks, hitches and such because you need to transport that bike right. Yes we sell racks but what shop installs hitches? We created a one stop shop for that. That is evolving and creating a positive customer experience. That is what is strived for...the customer experience. Whether you want a greenway bike or the latest rad ride from brand X. You , as the sales person need to speak the language of the consumer. If you can get these things right you will survive, but some of you need to quit being so hard on the LBS community. We are here for you all and not the other way around. We are here because we are as passionate about the sport as you are. No we are not going to stock every part or have every high end part, that does not make economical sense. However, there are good shops out there that are looking to serve your every need, you as the consumer just need to give them a chance. If you see foul shit then by all means don't make your purchases there but do not group us all together that we are all about ripping people off. Hell, for those that like Starbucks coffee you pay $4-$5 for a beverage that cost less than $1 to make. Nobody screams Starbucks is ripping people off and that is something you can easily do at home.

My shop started as online only, that made the most economical sense. Distributors and manufactures forced brick & mortar or would not sell to me. That's fine we have evolved and are still in business and actually just expanded, while other shops have closed. Sorry for the long rant, but yes some shops suck, does the typical business model suck? yes. But there are some of us out there that are doing things different than the traditional BS. Go out there and find them, they are out there willing to serve you. They probably ride next to you on the trails and you don't even know it.
  • 4 3
 With this additional entry into the cycling market, Amazon and eBay will be drunk with power. Who will be able to stop the binge shopping that will undoubtedly occur? Soon trails will be plastered with advertising. Lush forests will be a thing of the past.
  • 9 4
 That's a brand we won't be stocking anymore then
  • 3 1
 Higher prices aside, shops never have the stuff I need. It's kinda bullshit to have to wait for a shop to order parts for you, and what's worse is it often takes longer than online shipping does.
  • 3 0
 most LBS's deal with minimum order policies with the wholesalers --- or they try to reach "free shipping" modes which are often $400, $500, $600..... pretty sure, in order to get free shipping from QBP, you gotta drop $600. at least, that's what it was when I was buying from QBP … wholesale doesn't work like Amazon
  • 1 0
 Its quite literally because of QBP's profit driven shipping minimums. If these companies, or another one that fills their place operated like NAPA, they could do same day turn around. They are here in Denver but don't do same day / 3 hour delivery, and still require free shipping minimums to get the products 20 miles away.
  • 2 1
 Honestly, and I'm going to get downvoted for this... The current auto dealer distribution model that bike shops use makes absolutely no sense. It's the perfect storm for f*cking over both the retailer and the customer.

Ordering bikes at the start of the season to build your stock is a complete gamble. How are you, a small business owner, supposed to know if a new hot ticket item is going to sell? Do you risk not having it and turning away customers, or not being able to order it at all as the season progresses? What if you buy it, and it tanks- You're stuck selling it for cost a year and a half later. Now, throw size runs and different standards into the mix, and it's an absolute cluster f*ck. Sure, bike shops get to know their customer base, and their bread and butter, but it still always comes down to a guessing game for some percentage of their inventory. Tell me it's not. I've worked at bike shops and there was always 'that bike' nobody could sell.

The shear amount of product available on the market is truely staggering. Not many industries sell big ticket items through as diverse a network of retailers as the bike industry. No other sells this kind of expensive product without a nation wide marketing plan on a local level, and a corporate support strategy to manage inventory, store by store.

The bike shop as a major sales avenue is dying, and honestly I don't care. Get with the times, focus on service, stock a few basic parts. There will always be some people who buy from stores, but for most, I'm sorry to say, most bike shops don't offer enough to make the increased cost and hassle worth it. Never mind the the people who experience grouchy shop owners, eliteism, and sexism. I know a few women who are legit afraid to step foot in a bike shop, and I don't blame them based on the stories they've told. Now make it cost extra for the same products? Ya f*cking right.
  • 1 0
 Yup. The distributers don't care to help out either. We are 20-30 minutes away from QBP CO, and they take until 4pm the next day to get us our order. No reason they couldn't do same day delivery if they gave a shit. Imagine if shops could have NAPA-level of turn around on parts.
  • 7 2
 Shitty moves to be found all over the bike industry. Brutal.
  • 1 0
 Well, customers don't want to "unfulfilled".
  • 4 2
 100%. It's a passion/recreation industry and some business-minded people get into it thinking they're just in it for the love, but really they're focused on turning a profit like they would in any other industry. You're in the wrong game my friend, no matter how scummy your business attitude is you're not going to make a ton of money in bikes - and you're just f*ckin' it up for everyone who loves this stuff.
  • 2 1
 So QBP decided to move from Alibaba/Aliexpres where you could find their product( tyres) for 20-25$ piece
just hoping what qbp improved their quality control and recycling of “B” grade product before it surfaced on market.
  • 1 0
 I buy my bikes from my favorite local lbs.. Sometimes they do some work on it if I can't figure it out. Sometimes I buy things from them if i stop by after a ride. They treat me most excellent. I also buy lots of bike shit off Amazon and other online retailers. everyone's happy.
  • 1 0
 Ebay is definitely a great marketplace for bikes and bike parts. When I first started selling parts and components I was shocked at how many bidders and how much interest I had on my used items. For those of you that use the buy/sell section here I'd also recommend putting your for sale items on ebay.
  • 1 0
 Why would you buy QBP carbon brands anyway when there are so many other brands that do the same thing better?
Whisky stuff is not stackable against the competition anyway.
Reactive design to what other people already do better.
  • 1 0
 “BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (BRAIN) — Quality Bicycle Products' new 3P Select program allows its bike shop customers to sell Whisky Parts Co. products on Amazon and eBay. The program makes Whisky the first QBP house brand that dealers will be allowed to sell through third-party online platforms. ”
  • 5 1
 Fine. I'll buy Enve products. You could've just asked nicely.
  • 3 0
 I wonder how long it will be before these items end up getting drop shipped...
  • 4 1
 And the Amazonification of the planet continues marching on. You WILL be assimilated.
  • 1 0
 As long as I get to meet Hawthorne Abendson I am cool with it. #papercrane
  • 2 2
 QBP is offering the opportunity of a lifetime for a shop to Adapt or Die. If this becomes larger than their house brand, it will allow bike shops to sell online and ship inventory from their brick and mortar store. Most small shops don't have the time or money to set up a legit online store, but QBP is taking the reins on that to allow shops to make their move, if they so choose. Sink or swim, curmudgeons.
  • 1 0
 They should sell on AliExpress if they want a lot of shoppers. They could ship directly from the factory to the consumer and save the middleman
  • 1 0
 My first stop is usually the CRC homepage...because the item I actually click on in my Google search redirects me straight to the homepage.
  • 1 0
 So how will I be able to tell if the product is real or counterfeit?

Also... Any chance it will be selling on the Amazon Canada store or just USA?
  • 1 0
 I live in Portland. OR and have a bike shop here that also sells online, price matches and has decent customer service. it's not impossible to do.
  • 1 0
 Exactly, my local bike shop sells me everything at the same price I can get it online for with out paying shipping. The customer service is second to none. On top of everything, he knows his sh!t when it comes to anything bike related. His shop is not in danger of going out of business.
  • 2 0
 Suppose magna could just sell cars direct also.
  • 7 5
 Because you're going on sale thru Amazon, I will NEVER buy your products.
  • 4 2
 "High end" - what does that mean?
  • 2 0
 It's carbon. That's it. I wouldn't call Whisky Parts "high end" myself.
  • 1 0
 None of this makes any difference to me because, regardless of who is selling them, I can't afford $1500+ wheels. Smile
  • 1 0
 The most offensive thing about this is that someone considers Whisky "High-End."
  • 2 0
 "How would a Whiskey purchase on Amazon would transpire?"
  • 4 2
 As a veteran bike shop service manager..... this cuts deep.
  • 1 3
 There are 3 types of bikers when it comes to buying. Whatever the sales person suggests at the shop/store they happen to live near. The dirt bag park rat that only buys used, some to use and some sell for a few bucks. The rest of us that value our money and don't just waste it, in that I mean you don't pay retail and lightly used is just fine. Bike shops only support one of those groups. Chasing margins to pay rent isn't the best business model...
  • 4 6
 Anyone who spends a cent with Amazon is a fucking idiot. They will put every brand that they sell out of business eventually, that's their long term goal, to take all the business.
  • 5 1
 So you are saying their goal is to run Shimano, Sram, Lego, Matel, Vans, 5/10, Maxxis, Charmin, Tide, etc etc out of business? Is Amazon going to make all those goods and sell them under their own brand now?
  • 2 2
 @bman33: Amazon's goal is to own everything and everyone- eventually.
  • 7 5
 amazon sucks!!!
  • 1 0
 QBP to Amazon? Screwing bike shops for sure. ????????
  • 1 1
 The Spelling error is legend. Whiskey over and over and over again. Wow
  • 3 1
 Considering the Irish invented WhiskEy. then the spelling is correct.
If the brand has assumed the basterdized Scottish spelling "whisky" then ok.
  • 2 0
 RIP LBS
  • 1 0
 Exactly what I has thinking and this is HUGE. My favorite LBS has been ordering from QBP for more than a decade. If or when QBP starts offering their entire catalog (which is extensive) online via Amazon or seperate homegrown platform, that's going to hurt many local shops when a consumer will have the same resource.
  • 1 0
 @Myfianceemademedoit: I don't know the details around how QBP is going to select it's group of eligible shops but if I was still involved with an LBS I would be working hard on getting qualified as a reseller and building my Amazon business. Based on this press release it sounds like its a fair playing field for any LBS to come to the table and become a part of this decision.

FYI, the Amazon channel is my specialty so if any LBS want to have a conversation around building a successful Amazon business, let me know Wink
  • 1 0
 Support your multinational, multi-billion dollar a year company
  • 7 10
 Great, screw bike shops. Ill never support there product
  • 27 0
 I see what you did there. Whisky/ Whiskey . There / Their.
  • 10 0
 @usedbikestuff: I'll and ill
  • 2 0
 @yzedf: oh, 'I'll'! I though he was using roman numerals for a moment there...







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