Today two mothers visited us with three children: they were looking for a Like-a-bike, but were not sure what size to get: Midi or Maxi? They spent half an hour debating posture, weight and life-cycles, while the children (very well behaved) tried various bikes we have on the floor. A decision was finally made: a red Midi, which retails for £159.00.
And here is when the ‘unacceptable face of capitalism’ took off its veil. The lady mentioned a cowboy site on the internet where the bike was offered cheaply. I explained that the price I was offering was the recommended retail price, i.e. she was not being overcharged. The lady started to bargain; I felt that for the service she had received, the full price was appropriate. The two ladies conferred and started to pick up their bags but not the new bike.
“Don’t you think that trying out the bikes is a service worth paying for? How would you have known which bike to choose, if you had not come here?” “Business is business” responded the ‘lady’. “No. There is ethical business, and there are cowboys, and you are acting dishonestly”. She did not repent and left with her retinue. What a tjuv.
What is disappointing is that suppliers are unwilling to unplug these internet cowboys; they fear the Office of Fair Trading will persue them for ‘price fixing’. That would be a perversion of the law: The role of the OFT is to pursue cartels and monopolies who abuse their market power, not suppliers who want to ensure that their product is sold by reputable retailers who provide excellent service. If people feel that Like-a-bikes are expensive, they can go and buy some shoddy Chinese copies: in six months they will realise that “Best is Cheap”.
Detail of ‘mixed-media bicycle’ from a selection by Merry Saddles
