Bit of a moan!
 

Tried explaining to the wife but she did not care........

Off to the Pyrenees next week so I thought I would get some new stuff for this year. I always like to buy from UK suppliers where possible and if I can Local to me. So after a fair bit of netting I started to order what I wanted. All I have got is "out of stock" and "on back order". Seems most of the internet suppliers I tried only buy of thee manufacturer when they get an order.

So undeterred I set off to the local dealer North of Birmingham, then South then East then West.

No one seems to carry any stock these days. I only got asked in one shop (HG) if I wanted to order one in, all the others just said "We haven't got it".

Is it just me or has the world gone to manufacturing to order!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could of been worse, I get really hacked off when they take your order and money then when you chase them as it has'nt been delivered they tell you it was out of stock and will be another three weeks sir. Have a good trip.

JIT (Just in Time) - The Japanese started it back in the 90's and got it pretty much on the money.... the Brits followed,, and well,, didn't (other than Nissan, who followed the Japanese model).

The Europeans, well, they looked at it and thought they could improve it with OOT - Out of Time !!

Truth is, whatever the item, if it sells loads, they would never allow themselves to run out of them or they would be at serious risk of losing revenue.

Example: Any phone shop you go or official Apple retailers cannot afford to run out of iPhones and iPads otherwise the punter will veer off to the shop on the opposite site of the road and buy them there.

For all other item which there is no major demand, to them is a matter of order and supply only, no one will risk stocking things that do not sell volumes.

OK so you guys know about JIT, but the business killer is IPS in process stock, i.e.that is items that you actually have (physical inventory) and have been invoiced for from a supplier, or worse still paid for but havent processed yet i.e. sold to your customers and recieved payment or invoiced the purchaser, so IPS is you dormant capital slowing you cash flow, unchecked this will kill a business and in a global recession death by lack of cash flow is quick
Logistics companies employing JIT are pretty damned good these days so, next working day delivery is usually a given when ordering stock in, sorry to have to tell you that in very harsh business climates racks of stock waiting for customers that may not come is just sooo last century and will not be returning any time soon if ever

What sort of stuff were you looking for????? I used to work for Land Rover in the Midlands and they turned JIT (Just in time) into TFL (Too fookin late) in the early days!!! If you need Yamaha clothing and spares and stuff in the Midlands then try calling Alf England Motorcycles, they are just off the M6 J4. Ask for Brian the service manager and see what he can do for ya!!! Ciao Simon

Not to name companies but I went to the uk,s largest Harlvasson stockist and they had in stock only two sizes of jacket per style. Out of over twenty different jackets but only two sizes. Now before you say I am not an abnormal size (short yes) 48in chest is XML or 2xl depending on the manufacturer.

I am not a big supporter of HG but the one in brum has lots of stock in lots of sizes. Nothing wrong with their stuff just not my flavour.

This was also the only shop to offer to get what I wanted as soon as poss. So I brought a new helmet from them.

I was not after anything extraordinary just the stuff that they say they sell and stock. If you have to wait two weeks to get stock then why not say so on the web site and stop me waiting time.

My money went else where so TFL for the ones who do not carry stock.

Sorry for complaining but I thought that shops still wanted all customers......

Next day ????

I worked in the Automotive sector for a few years (about 5, 20 years ago), helped develop on-line integration systems between suppliers and manufacturers. To us JIT was exactly that, components arriving at the point in time when the production line needed to install them. The same Japanese car plant in Sunderland uses the same processes today, only a little more 'integrated' Over night isn't JIT, it's next day - and you can get that from Amazon !!

I agree though, we're not going to see vast shelves of stock any more - to many bad business decisions, and the wrong 'lessons learnt'.

Fran has a point with Apple, but then they are fighting back by trying to bad anyone else from the market !! Rather than fighting on merit, they are fighting in the court room with over paid patent lawyers.

I agree the good companies do it very well, I worked for one once that did'nt. They introduced JIT but kept the old value of part manufactured driven bonus scheme! We ended up with a warehouse full of parts but none of them adding up to a completed item. Unfortunately the bike gear shops are up against folks coming in, trying on gear then ordering it from the web cheaper . Personally I try to support the local dealers but some gear you just cant get now other than online or one hell of a trek.

Well the changes in retailing over the past 5 years have been faster than anything over the 25 years prior to that. The good companies are trying to retail AND dipping their toes into the on-line selling too, and they need to have stock if you sell on line otherwise you will get awful feedback. Not easy though and I guess that we will see some large retailers going bump this year, I predict.

I hate doing any form of shopping, espeically cloths be it causal or for bike clothing. Those of you who have met me know im not the average size person (6ft4, 36inch waist, lanky long skinny arms and legs, with massive shoudlers but skinny neck, yes as mum says im special!!!) and when i try on any form of clothing its just a case of dont fit, dont fit,no no, so i always have to have somewhere that has the full range of sizes as im not going to order a for eg jacket that ive tried the wrong size in and am guessing/hopeing the next size up or down is gonna fit. Thats one reason i dont do online cloth shopping well.

I do like HG stuff and think its quality gear and also like the fact they always seem to have all the sizes of there clothing in, if not they will get it delivered in from another store free of charge for you to try on if you want (ok you gotta wait a few days but id rather wait and try it on then order and wait to find it doesnt fit then have to send it back and pay for 2 postages)

Havaralans is a bike gear that i want to try but as youve found out colin no one seems to stock the stuff so you can never try it before you buy it, and when we are talking jackets at �400 or so i think someone has to make sense that no matter how much it doesnt make sense to have stock, if you cant see and try the item on people arent going to buy it, or worse for the business the customer buys its and they have to fork out for the postage leaving the customer unhappy and they are not going to return to your business.......RANT