Are e-bikes sold out? Are customers in the bicycle trade standing in front of empty platforms? At the moment it's the other way around: lots of new bikes are just waiting to be bought. Velomotion asked around in the trade and learned that the situation is much more relaxed than the press likes to report.
If even Oliver Welke alludes to it in the "Today Show", it must be true: whether it's electronics or toys, a few weeks before Christmas the shelves are empty as a result of the global supply crisis - and even bicycles are no longer available!
Of course, this message is not entirely out of thin air. The bicycle industry has been able to report a significant increase in demand since spring 2020; At the same time, there were indeed supply bottlenecks caused by company closures caused by Corona and the well-known shortage of transport capacities. This summer, many models were just as difficult to obtain as important spare parts – and components that the manufacturers themselves need to complete their bicycles. Quite a few customers had to make the experience that their dream bike was not available. At the same time, in view of the strong demand in 2020, retailers have increased their order volume - and this leads to the absurd situation that bike shops are currently experiencing the exact opposite after a year of high demand and reduced supply.
Many bikes - few customers
"At the moment, surprisingly few customers are coming to us," says bicycle dealer Klaus Schmitz from Dorsten. "People think there is nothing there, but we have ordered a lot and are well positioned." The managing director of the ZEG specialist dealer Fahrrad Schmitz is not alone with this observation - in relation to the season, many dealers speak of a significant decline in customers, the can be up to 30 percent. This is the best time to buy a new bike, says Christoph Alff from Zweirad Joos on Lake Constance. "From June to October the platforms in the shop were empty, but now they are full again," he gives the all-clear, but also warns: "Customers should seize the opportunity and buy or order their bike now, because they know how things will continue no one exactly.” In his experience, popular models in particular are only available in stores for a short time: “They are either already reserved by customers or are sold out immediately.”
At Fahrrad Denfeld in Bad Homburg there are currently around 5.000 bikes in stock - significantly fewer than usual. "In principle, however, we can still cover one hundred percent of the range, since no section is completely sold out," says co-managing director Marc Denfeld. "City, trekking and children's bikes are available in all areas, E as well as non-E." "2021 models are still arriving, which are more attractively priced, as prices have risen again for 2022."
No crisis for the clever businessman
Martin Willner from the Willner Bicycle Center in Ingolstadt is also relaxed about the situation in retail. He says he ordered with foresight and in an entrepreneurial manner, and now the warehouse is even fuller than usual at the time. "Only the unwise businessman is talking about a crisis," sums up Willner, whose only concern is that supplies could fail to materialize. When asked about the spare parts situation, he can give the all-clear: "Even in the workshop, nobody is currently waiting longer than three days and there are still enough spare parts there." But beware: In many bicycle shops, their own customers currently have priority when it comes to workshop services. Where certain components are missing, it is quite possible that “foreign bikes” will not be accepted if you want to guarantee the supply of spare parts for your own bikes – one or the other dealer indicated this to Velomotion.
Better to go to the workshop now
At Europe’s largest bicycle purchasing community (ZEG) in Cologne with around 1.000 Member companies and numerous private labels provide an overview of the situation from both the retailer and the manufacturer's side. "The ZEG retailers are doing well with their purchasing network and have a large selection of bikes," says Axel Hintermeier, assistant to the board. He assesses the situation as less dramatic than portrayed by the media, but urges swift action, especially regarding repairs and maintenance. "Customers should go now and let them do what needs to be done – from December to February. Because from March onwards, overcapacity with very long waiting times is to be expected." This is when the seasonal high customer volume will overlap with the assembly of new bikes, which will take place later than usual due to delivery delays.
Hintermeier also points to a shortage of certain components; for example, some dealers would remove wearing parts such as chains from the range because they would be needed in the workshop. His conclusion: "Have your bike repaired now - everything is still there at the moment."
So is Oliver Welke wrong? Obviously, e-bikes are not sold out and sawing up a bike and giving half to each child, as shown in the satirical show, is certainly not necessary in the current situation. Buying and repairing a bike shouldn’t be put off either.