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Post by rootbrewskies on Jul 9, 2008 19:07:59 GMT -5
i've heard lance allows a few drop shippers to remain. i'm not sure why they would drop everyone but a few companies. anyway i've heard this is the case.
anyone know who remains as official drop shippers of lance?
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Post by theg2 on Jul 9, 2008 19:10:22 GMT -5
The deal according to what i've seen.
Lance is no longer drop shipping. They are only selling to brick and mortar(B&M) dealers, those dealers who are B&M can order the scooter from Lance, and then ship it off from their dealership. Expect prices to rise would be my guess.
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Post by rootbrewskies on Jul 9, 2008 19:18:05 GMT -5
i read somewhere on this board that www.motortoyshop.com/ was 1 of 4 remaining authorized drop shippers. i'm not sure if thats true or if they are just buying from lance and shipping out, but they do appear to have lance scooters and are taking orders unlike many other websites that used to carry lance. also, why is lance doing this? it doesnt make alot of sense to me, they were obviously reaching a broad market of people shipping openly. by refusing to do that now and only selling through b&m or online retailers that can ship on their own they are cutting off a big chunk of their market. |
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Post by theg2 on Jul 9, 2008 19:57:55 GMT -5
i read somewhere on this board that www.motortoyshop.com/ was 1 of 4 remaining authorized drop shippers. i'm not sure if thats true or if they are just buying from lance and shipping out, but they do appear to have lance scooters and are taking orders unlike many other websites that used to carry lance. also, why is lance doing this? it doesnt make alot of sense to me, they were obviously reaching a broad market of people shipping openly. by refusing to do that now and only selling through b&m or online retailers that can ship on their own they are cutting off a big chunk of their market. MotorToyShop is doing what I described above, ordering from Lance to their store or warehouse and then shipping to the customer. If they are 1 of 4 may or may not be true, as I know there are a number of Lance dealers out there. However I've talked to several of them and they are all having problems even getting the Lance's in stock to their B&M stores so be weary that there might be long wait periods. Lance most likely did this to cut down on the amount of scooters damaged in shipping to people's homes. Damaged on arrival scooters leave a bad impression and can hurt image, dealing directly with dealers usually means the bikes are in better condition and people should have proper dealer support. In reality, they are attempting to bring their brand up higher from the run of the mill dropship scooters that they are sold side by side. As someone who's scooter has been delayed by this, I understand the frustration but hopefully it'll work out in the end. |
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Post by jrsharp21 on Jul 10, 2008 0:44:18 GMT -5
Looks like SFmotoretta.com is doing the same thing as motortoyshop.com. You can order with the online price and pick it up or they will deliver it to you.
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Post by einism on Jul 10, 2008 1:30:37 GMT -5
how can anyone wonder why they would do this . can you imagine the nightmare of the customer service dept dealing with thousands of individual customers 1/2 of which have no mechanical ability, or dealing with 200 dealers coast to coast with mechanics that know how to trouble shoot problems and perform proper pdi,s in order to give the customer the service they deserve they have to go with dealers just look at ATVD people waiting months for scoots than another for paperwork. constantly playing catch up. selling online probably gave them the capital to switch to dealers .
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Post by isawhim on Jul 10, 2008 3:12:22 GMT -5
The biggest drawback of shipping to individuals... is that they "Expect" more, but get less. The bikes are not drive and go, ready. Yes, some may appear to be, or might be... but that is not the intention of any manufacturer. (Unless they are small volume, and have hand inspected every single vehicle that ships, with certified mechanics. OCC does that... but don't expect that from any manufacture.)
All bikes require a certain skill-level to assemble. The bikes come assembled, because that is what dealers require/request. They don't want to have to build bikes, and handle missing parts. It is cheaper, in the long run, to assemble the whole bike, and pack the whole bike, with all parts in place. As opposed to tetris-packing, or individual wrapping and packing.
The bikes are together, for the purpose of knowing that all parts are there, and in the correct place. This is why we are required to do a dealer-prep. (Dealers who skip that, because they "Trust" that the bike is a drive and go... never last long. They make a quick buck, and that is all they make, before loosing it to lawsuits and returns.)
Dealing with a customer, even when they KNOW that this stuff has to be done... is not productive to sales. It requires a "Technical department for dummies", (No harshness intended, I am just knocking on the series of books, "... for dummies".)
You have to contend with calls and conversations that go like this...
Buyer: "My scooter is junk, it won't start!"
Seller: "Did you do the dealer prep, or have a certified mechanic do it for you?"
Buyer: "What?"
Seller: "There is a checklist of dealer prep items. Have you done those?"
Buyer: "What, all I have is a manual, and book about the battery."
Seller: "Oh, you are not a dealer. Let me walk you through this."
Buyer: "Will this take long, I want to ride this tonight?"
Seller: "Please, listen. Take the battery and battery acid and the acid funnel out. Place the funnel into the battery, like the instructions in the booklet show you. Push the acid down onto the funnel spikes, so the acid can drain into the battery."
Buyer: "Which thing is the battery... is it AA, AAA, C, D, or a 9v? This is stupid, what scooter dealer requires you to make your own battery work. I didn't have to do this when i bought my car!"
Seller: "The battery is the big black or grey thing, with a black top, and two metal terminals on it."
Buyer: "The trunk is a battery?"
Seller: "There is a trunk?"
Buyer: "Yes, there is a trunk. Do you even know what you sold me?"
Seller: "No, the trunk is not a battery. The battery is heavy, square, and about 4" by 3" by 5" in size."
Buyer: "Ok, I found it... It is already done, it is in the scooter. When I twist the key, it does not start."
Seller: "Is the side kickstand up? Is the kill-switch in the RUN position? Are you holding the breaks in while you push the start button?"
Buyer: "You don't just turn the key, like a car?"
Seller: "Have you read the manual for your scooter?"
Buyer: "I have the manual, but I just got the scooter, and did not have time to read it all."
Seller: "Can you please read the manual, and follow the instructions as it states, then call me back if you have any problems."
Buyer: "Hmmmph, O... k..."
{CLICK}
2 hours later...
{RING}
Buyer: "It's me again..."
Seller: "Are you having trouble with the scooter still?"
Buyer: "Yes, I need a new exhaust."
Seller: "So you got it running, and the exhaust is broken."
Buyer: "No, I told you I can't get it running, it will not start."
Seller: "What is wrong with the exhaust? How can you tell that there is a problem with the exhaust if it has not even started running?"
Buyer: "The manual says that the exhaust must not be blocked, or it will not start. So, it must be blocked, because it will not start."
Seller: "I don't think that is the problem."
Buyer: "Are you calling me stupid? How the hell do you know what's wrong with it, you are not even here! Send me a new damn exhaust, so I can get this thing started."
Seller: "Please, I am not calling anyone stupid. I just don't think that a restriction in the exhaust, is the source of the problem. Have you read the whole manual yet?"
Buyer: "No, I am in a rush, so I went to the trouble-shooting pages."
Seller: "You should not go to the troubleshooting pages, until you have read the whole manual and have completed all the instructions along the way. Troubleshooting is for when you have completed all that, and it still refuses to function as desired."
Buyer: "Why isn't all this stuff done already? What did I pay for?"
Seller: "This is stuff that a dealer must do, when they purchase from the manufacture. Since you did not buy from a dealer, this stuff is not done. You should take this to a certified mechanic, if you do not know how to do this stuff."
Buyer: "What, I have to spend more money to get it running!"
Seller: "Yes, you saved money, by having it shipped like this. You are required to do some of the assembly, and have some understanding of assembly, or hire someone who does."
Buyer: "I am reporting you to the BBS, for selling me a broken item, and refusing to send me replacement parts!"
Seller: "We did not send you a broken item, and it has not been determined what item, if any, needs replacement."
Buyer: "It doesn't run, so it is broken, and I told you what replacement part I need."
Seller: "You would need to take it to a certified mechanic, and give proof that it is broken, and needs replacement. If the mechanic tells us that it needs replacing, or that it is broken, we will take care of it."
Buyer: "Where can I find a mechanic to do that?"
Seller: "You don't know where a mechanic is, that will work on scooters?"
Buyer: "No, I thought I was buying a running scooter."
Seller: "You purchased a motor-vehicle, without knowing if it could even be repaired or worked-on. What if something went wrong, and you don't know how to fix it yourself, or how to get it running?"
Buyer: "Are you taunting me you little twit!"
Seller: "Please, fill out a return ticket, and we will come pick up the scooter, if you are unhappy with it."
Buyer: "No, I want this thing to run. Forget it, I will figure it out."
{CLICK}
Seller: "OMG, what a nightmare!"
Buyer: "OMG, what a nightmare!"
LOL...
Ok, that was long... but seriously... you wonder why the don't want 10,000 of those calls, shipping out 5,000 mufflers, 1,300 CDI's, 3,000 fuel-filters, 800 ignition coils, 750 regulators... and not one of those things needed to be shipped... it was just a chunk of plastic stuck in the main-jet...
I would rather have 100 calls, asking for 50 CDI's that needed real replacement, 25 regulators, 2 exhausts, 4 tires, 27 mirrors, and a carb...
More cost effective, and having someone who knows what they are looking for, and how to look for it... helps. (Also, having people not buy things, that they can't fix, or have fixed, once they get them, is a big help.)
A scooter isn't a DVD player... that is what people expect from an online store... a DVD player... Running, ready to go, just add water...
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Post by gymbeau on Jul 10, 2008 6:46:27 GMT -5
and you just know, that someone, somewhere, will read this and
then the post will appear.......
'I don't know why it quit, all I did was "just add water"!
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Post by theg2 on Jul 10, 2008 8:05:56 GMT -5
Looks like SFmotoretta.com is doing the same thing as motortoyshop.com. You can order with the online price and pick it up or they will deliver it to you. So far they (SF) has been trying hard to my get scooter to me, still hopeful. |
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Post by mollymil on Jul 11, 2008 23:16:09 GMT -5
lol...
That is sadly too funny, and at the same time, too true.
Most consumers have no idea what goes on with any scooter, bike, or vehicle between coming off the truck at the dealers and hitting the showroom floor, or going out the door. All bikes/scooters require extensive prep work before they are passed into the end users possession.
The buyers don't understand that they become responsible for this when a dealer never sees the scoot...
I respect Lance for deciding to go this path. It demonstrates their desire to have customers who are satisfied with their product. With scoot sales skyrocketing like they are, they could just keep drop shipping for the easy buck...But they choose not to go that route. Instead they are trying to establish themselves as a scoot with out the door quality.
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Post by bkbroiler on Jul 12, 2008 0:16:54 GMT -5
There are NO Lance drop shippers. I sincerely hope that they follow through with this decision and deliver a quality product, backed by their dealers. I hope that all of the rest follow suit.
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Post by motortoyshop on Jul 12, 2008 12:11:37 GMT -5
This is the quote from SFmotoretta.com ........ "NO LONGER accept any drop-ship orders. All scooters MUST be pick-up at our store, however we can still deliver your scooter(s) to your location at additional shipping fees. Please call store for further information." Looks like SFmotoretta.com is doing the same thing as motortoyshop.com. You can order with the online price and pick it up or they will deliver it to you. |
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Post by motortoyshop on Jul 12, 2008 12:15:35 GMT -5
There are NO Lance drop shippers. I sincerely hope that they follow through with this decision and deliver a quality product, backed by their dealers. I hope that all of the rest follow suit. WRONG again BK......... once again you make it sound as if they are NOT available online......... We are still shipping them to ONLINE customers....... Call it dropshipping or Shipping, the name doesn't matter to the consumer......as much as the idea of ordering from home and having it delivered. Get over the term "drop shipping' Who cares what you call it. The bikes ARE available Online. www.motortoyshop.com |
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Post by isawhim on Jul 12, 2008 14:53:16 GMT -5
"Drop shipping" is a process that involves a "Third party" relabeling a shipping invoice to the name of the "third party"...
"Shipping" alone, from a source of possession, is not "Drop shipping"...
EG... I am "Mojo Scoot"... I have no scoots in possession... never saw a scoot... and don't care about scoots...
I sell them, but the guy I buy them from, ships them to my customers, under my name. They have no idea that "Super-Cheap-Wholesale-Auctions", just mailed the actual scooter.
"Super-Cheap-Wholesale-Auctions" is the drop-shipper...
"Mojo Scoots" is the "Reseller", who uses "Drop shipping"...
Lance does not "Drop ship"... however... there may still be a "Lance, Drop shipper". lance does not participate in that "Relabeled shipping invoices" garbage. (I believe that is the stand of the company.)
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Post by motortoyshop on Jul 12, 2008 16:01:52 GMT -5
"Drop shipping" is a process that involves a "Third party" relabeling a shipping invoice to the name of the "third party"... "Shipping" alone, from a source of possession, is not "Drop shipping"... EG... I am "Mojo Scoot"... I have no scoots in possession... never saw a scoot... and don't care about scoots... I sell them, but the guy I buy them from, ships them to my customers, under my name. They have no idea that "Super-Cheap-Wholesale-Auctions", just mailed the actual scooter. "Super-Cheap-Wholesale-Auctions" is the drop-shipper... "Mojo Scoots" is the "Reseller", who uses "Drop shipping"... Lance does not "Drop ship"... however... there may still be a "Lance, Drop shipper". lance does not participate in that "Relabeled shipping invoices" garbage. (I believe that is the stand of the company.) I understand your take.........but consumers don't always understand these details.......so my biggest point is that when others say "Lance isn't dropshipping anymore" there will be some that leave this forum thinking you can't get a Lance online....that's all. |
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Post by glassvial on Jul 12, 2008 17:56:26 GMT -5
I think we need to start a new thread and delete these other Lance drop ship threads, one with a title/message that clarifies this whole mess...something like:
Lance no longer drop shipping, however you can still get a Lance online
<message body here explaining such>
Sticky.
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