JW Groombridge closure

[IndigoJo]

Been browsing John W Groombridge's website for a few weeks for ideas on what to buy when (if) I ever get my licence, as it's not that far from me (though Doble and Hartgate are considerably nearer) ... and today I discovered that the place closed yesterday. The current owner cited "continuously rising costs, pressure within the industry, reduced profits and the current economic climate". They had been doing a "cost price plus £1" sale on all their clothing and helmets, but were still promoting their bikes on FB up until the 19th. Last week they had announced that they weren't participating in the Royal Enfield "One Ride" because of "unforeseen circumstances"; I hadn't seen anything on the website that suggested they were closing, but the message had been posted on FB last Tuesday.

 

Weirdly, I drove past Hartgate in Mitcham a couple of weeks ago and noticed that they'd moved from their former multi-unit premises on Upper Green East to a smaller shop a few doors down, with a much cruder sign. The old premises are now occupied by an employment agency which also occupies several other units on the same parade. The website still gives the same address and pictures. Unless they've got a warehouse somewhere, they will be selling nowhere near as many bikes as they might have been doing before.

[rob m]

 

[bud]

It's always a shame when a dealer closes. 

I was reading an article a few weeks ago. And they were saying that most people would be surprised how little money is made from the sale of a new bike.

They make much more from servicing and clothing.

[rob m]

There's more to come. The industry is on it's arse despite what social media and youtubers present to the rest of us. One of my close friends worked at Saltire Motorcycles in Edinburgh which closed business recently. KTM's demands on them were unsustainable and quite frankly taking the piss. Their business model is f***ked. 

 

Second hand prices are ridiculous, very few young people coming into the scene because of the costs of taking the tests, insurance and the upkeep of owning a bike. Older riders becoming...older. There's the 'touring by numbers' crowd who buy the £20k adventure bike, Rukka suit, get action cameras fitted, then add all the accessories and do a tour once a year but that can't sustain the industry. 

 

I hope I'm proved wrong though.

 

[IndigoJo]

Lots of people in the FB comments saying they paid Saltire for CBT they didn't get.

[rob m]

Yeah, I saw that. One of the many sad consequences of a business going under. 
 

 

[Gerontious]

and another one.. though this time a group.

[AstronautNinja]

8 minutes ago, Gerontious said:

and another one.. though this time a group.

Kick to the dick is that. I'd be "liberating" myself a van 

[bonio]

That's shite. A 4 grand contribution to the auditor's holiday in Tuscany next year. I would be smarting badly.

[ColinWB]

And private customers will be bottom of the list for getting any money back from the liquidator. I'd be fuming 

[Fiddlesticks]

Definitely a good case for using a credit card. Section 75 refund on the whole lot, even if you paid just part of it on the card.

 

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/section75-protect-your-purchases/

[AstronautNinja]

9 hours ago, Fiddlesticks said:

Definitely a good case for using a credit card. Section 75 refund on the whole lot, even if you paid just part of it on the card.

 

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/section75-protect-your-purchases/

Very useful. I'd totally forgotten about this 

[IndigoJo]

It's a mystery why companies are allowed to take money for products or services they know they are likely to be unable to deliver. The bosses knew they were bankrupt but only told people when it was too late to pull out. It should be fraud and the people concerned should be personally liable.

[S-Westerly]

I had my doubts about Completely Motorbikes since last November when i was looking at getting a Ducati V2S. They'd recently acquired the Worcester Ducati dealership but wouldn't even countenance a trade in for my decent condition Multistrada. Nor could they give a date for getting said bike in stock other than "maybe April". Another Ducati dealer in Bristol would have been much more helpful but I'd already committed to the Moto Guzzi. Looks like they were on the edge then.

[Fiddlesticks]

Just twigged that's Triumph Chester gone. Explains why I've not had a reply to my latest service query.

Sad news, they're a nice bunch of lads.

[IndigoJo]

Seen on some of the FB threads about the CM 'stock-take'.

 

Had to explain to someone that companies don't shut without warning to do stock-takes.

[rob m]

Just heard that P&H motorcycles in Crawley have gone under, not official yet. That one hurts, I've been going in there since the 90s. I drove past this morning and there were no bikes out front.

[IndigoJo]

3 hours ago, rob m said:

Just heard that P&H motorcycles in Crawley have gone under, not official yet. That one hurts, I've been going in there since the 90s. I drove past this morning and there were no bikes out front.

According to this video it's shutting for a refit, and will reopen as a Superbike Factory: 

 

 

Had a look at SBF's website yesterday. Seem to have a huge stock of secondhand bikes across five or six warehouse sites (the one at Milton Keynes looks much bigger than the P&H site) and they sell three Chinese brands' bikes new. Couldn't help but wonder what they meant when they said they had the expertise to only do what work was needed, rather than all the work other dealerships did which pushed up the price.

 

And Completely's administration is now official: https://www.facebook.com/completelymotorbikes/posts/pfbid02gt5Eptb8p2AwSjVp6BojJe4FYyq19GVFCK9iGbQa6izqZ2tthkkyK1vqehn8iZLjl

[AstronautNinja]

2 minutes ago, IndigoJo said:

According to this video it's shutting for a refit, and will reopen as a Superbike Factory: 

 

 

Had a look at SBF's website yesterday. Seem to have a huge stock of secondhand bikes across five or six warehouse sites (the one at Milton Keynes looks much bigger than the P&H site) and they sell three Chinese brands' bikes new. Couldn't help but wonder what they meant when they said they had the expertise to only do what work was needed, rather than all the work other dealerships did which pushed up the price.

 

And Completely's administration is now official: https://www.facebook.com/completelymotorbikes/posts/pfbid02gt5Eptb8p2AwSjVp6BojJe4FYyq19GVFCK9iGbQa6izqZ2tthkkyK1vqehn8iZLjl

Heard terrible things about the superbike factory, swapping tyres and other parts before delivery etc, delivering dangerous bikes etc 

[RideWithStyles]

And ritebike in Bradford area. Disgusting way to do business 

[Fiddlesticks]

Stopped past Triumph Chester this afternoon. All locked up, just an A4 note pinned to the gate saying "closed today - a further announcement will be forthcoming".

[Gerontious]

20 hours ago, Fiddlesticks said:

Stopped past Triumph Chester this afternoon. All locked up, just an A4 note pinned to the gate saying "closed today - a further announcement will be forthcoming".

it’s part of the completely motorbikes group. So is in administration like the rest of the group.

[S-Westerly]

Here's a question  - if one of these dealerships that go bust have your bike in for service at the time what happens then? Sounds like a potential nightmare. 

[Old-codger]

8 hours ago, S-Westerly said:

Here's a question  - if one of these dealerships that go bust have your bike in for service at the time what happens then? Sounds like a potential nightmare. 

It is a bit of a pain but all you have to do is prove to the administrators that the vehicle belongs to you and they have to release it. It cannot be classed as an asset of the company that has gone bust.

[RideWithStyles]

Yea as OC said.

Easy If its in just for service its still your bike, the company or other party has no right to hold on to it nor use it against stock or account it against money they have…in fact more of a worry if you were having some major work doing (full engine strip) and the bike was still in proper bits (like the Norton bikes) then its messier and awkward phone calls.

The supermarket types not as many people will get them serviced again there compared to buying because the higher number of customers that don’t require it, which is probably a factor in lower income.

though the proper Dealerships the ratio will more even.  
i suspect they stretched too far, too soon…
 

Edited October 14, 2024 by RideWithStyles