Hey RMB what about the UK?

[Just J]

Hey guys

Just wondering when I'm going to be able to order an Altitude through a UK dealer network?

Soon I hope because RMB need some good representation over here?...

[Just J]

The UK is that important a market then?...

[rockyuphill]

I would imagine that they are trying to find a replacement distributor, but it would take some time to find a sales distributor that wants to make a commitment to long term warranty support and service instead of simply selling bikes. That implies a fair bit of financial capacity to be able to have in-depth inventory of both bikes and parts. And they will want a distributor that will support the entire product line well. I don't imagine companies with that capacity are all that common.

A big retailer like Chain Reaction likely has the capability to do that as a dealer, but that would just tick off every other potential dealer in the UK.

[Just J]

You raise some very good points, although in the interim it would be beneficial to offer a direct ordering facility which has been rumoured before. Failing that, there are some excellent shops in the US and Canada that are more than capable of handling export to the UK. If RMB could offer their warranty and backup this way it might just cut out the middle man that have in the past driven the cost of their bikes in the UK to way beyond the competition...

[Just J]

I actually suggested something similar to them via email, I am yet to receive a response some weeks down the line though...

[anthonyinhove]

Hey guys
Just wondering when I'm going to be able to order an Altitude through a UK dealer network?
Soon I hope because RMB need some good representation over here?...

My understanding is that Evans Cycles took over as UK importer about a year ago, including responsibility for all spare parts supply and warranty support. Is this no longer the case? They are still listed on the RM website.

[Just J]

My understanding is that Evans Cycles took over as UK importer about a year ago, including responsibility for all spare parts supply and warranty support. Is this no longer the case? They are still listed on the RM website.

Nope, no longer the case I'm afraid.

[paulwatts]

Yes, as a new owner in the UK l don't know where to get info etc
The used frame l have needs a head badge
Where can l get one please folks?
Thanks!

[Just J]

Unfortunately it would seem that the UK is not an important market for RMB, I mean I'm not wanting to come across as being all ******y about this but nothing seems to be happening and they've been represented only very poorly over here since Silverfish parted company with them a couple of years ago.

I was really interested in an Element, but it looks like I'll be looking at staying with Orange or going back to Intense or Santa Cruz which at least have great backup over here...

Good luck on your search for a head tube badge, maybe try speaking to a US/Canadian Dealer who might help you out, there are a few about.

[anthonyinhove]

My impression is that RM has always been a low volume brand in the UK, owing to a policy of sky-high pricing. Low volume leads to high unit distribution costs, which just adds to the problem. Who wants to be the distributor for a brand that prices itself out of the market?

[Just J]

This is true, I was just living in hope that the pricing issues might have been sorted out and that a new distributor appointed.

[rockyuphill]

Just a guess on my part, but the pricing in the UK is likely set by the distributor in the UK, not by Rocky. In North America there is a retail price and all the dealers pay the same dealer cost from the factory. The dealers just have to cover the costs of getting the product to their door, and the US/CDN exchange variations.

The UK distributor would have to decide what margin they want to make on the product and then they would set a retail price that allowed the dealers to make a typical retail markup. So the UK distributor would figure out what their costs of shipping are, what the costs of inventory are, what the costs of the exchange rate variations might be on inventory, and then decide on the profit margin they want.

Because Rocky distributes product directly to dealers in the US and Canada, they don't have a built in extra 20-25% margin for a middleman distributor, so most of the retail price variation between North America and the UK is going to come from the cost of the middleman distribution in the UK (plus all the duties and taxes).

That's likely why it's a challenge to find a UK distributor as that would make Rocky a premium price brand compared to North America, and compared to bigger brands like Specialized, Trek and Giant who would have a built-in margin for middleman distribution, as they would have a global retail price in mind. Building in that extra 20-25% margin would just make Rocky too expensive in the North American market.

[JPHcross]

Rocky Mountain headtube badges can be purchased directly from our webstore.

[Just J]

Rocky Mountain headtube badges can be purchased directly from our webstore.

That's great, but what about the bikes?!

[paulwatts]

Thank you JJ but what is your website please?
lm a new member & can't contact you!!
Or perhaps someone else looking a this thread could tell me please?
Thanks folks!

[Just J]

I'll PM you my email addy

[paulwatts]

★★Help★★
I'm a new member and can't pm anyone. So......
How do l contact JPHcross -as above- to find out how to go to his webstore? ?!!

Thanks folks! Paul.

[skyak]

Not sure if this will help:

Accessories-Stickers-Rocky Mountain Head Badge

[cmadd]

Just had a look at the Rocky website , seems there is a distributor
GREENOVER LTD

To find a Rocky Mountain Bicycles dealer in the UK
Please contact our Distributor:

Unit A3, Westfield Business Park
Long Rd
Paignton
Devon
TQ4 7AU
Postal Code / Zip : TQ4 7AU
Phone : +44 1803 55 88 85
Email : info@greenoverltd.com
WebSite : www.rockymountainuk.com
Type : Dealer

[nickhart]

yep but the greenover web site doesn't work.
the altitude should be a brilliant uk bike. spoke to a guy in evans last week who said they could still get rm bikes!
it needs sorting out. i agree that if chainreaction got them it'd be the end of any lbs' getting an account.
ho hum, have to save up for a turner burner instead...

[Just J]

Yip I'll be sticking with Orange or buying a Yeti. It's clear that Rocky have no intentions on being big in the UK anymore so I'm out. You're right though the Altitude looks to be a perfect UK trail bike so it's a shame.

[RMB-PM]

Hi JustJ

Sorry, it's not that we have no intention... We are working to rebuild our network. Unfortunately, it's not an overnight thing. Nothing wrong with supporting hometown heros like Orange either. Any news on Michael Bonney from Orange?

Yip I'll be sticking with Orange or buying a Yeti. It's clear that Rocky have no intentions on being big in the UK anymore so I'm out. You're right though the Altitude looks to be a perfect UK trail bike so it's a shame.

[rockyuphill]

The other thing to keep in mind is that a manufacturer can't push a rope, they either need an established distributor to express interest, or someone has to form a distributor to sell their product. Most bike manufacturers don't have the capital to form their own distribution company in other countries. When there's a limited number of existing distributors in a market they kinda have to work with the ones that raise their hands, the press gang approach only works for old sailing ship crews. If a distributor isn't really committed to stocking and selling/supporting product, then you get the kind of half-hearted effort that everyone hates (customer and manufacturer) since the distributor becomes the face of customer service in that country. Every manufacturer would love to have an established distributor with a good financial base express interest in their product, but even that situation can change abruptly.

They can't efficiently sell directly to the LBS in the UK because the shipping on smaller orders is huge per bike, they need someone bringing bikes in by the shipping container to get the unit shipping cost down, most bike shops can't afford that sort of inventory cost.

[Just J]

I understand this, I've been a small distributor myself in the past hence offering twice to talk to you regarding numbers but you didn't seem interested in me as you failed to reply, which is fair enough but maybe this isn't a conversation for a public forum. No offence caused I hope, I really am interested in owning an Altitude but maybe we'll have to wait until you've got a distributor sorted out.

Michael has a long hard struggle ahead, he's currently in my local Hospital receiving specialist care, he got married a few weeks back to his long time partner. Hopefully his recovering will go as smoothly as possible. There's regular updates on the Orange website and Facebook page.

Again, no hard feelings and good luck setting up what you need for it to work over here

[rockyuphill]

I understand this, I've been a small distributor myself in the past hence offering twice to talk to you...

Not me, that would be silly... I just ride 'em, I don't work for 'em.