The Pro's Closet at it again

[nmrt]

Monday morning quarterbacking is gosh darn easy. But I am not sure who could not have predicted the demise of TPC. They grew too fast. The first time I was at their facility (pre covid), my jaw dropped at the sheer size. Not sustainable for any era, covid or not. Just a few years ago, they were a dinky little thing on Broadway and Lee Hill.

Sad also is the sheer number of fine folks who have lost their jobs as the cog of private equity churns.

[glepore]

Monday morning is easy. What business doesn't seize the opportunity to grow?
I didn't like what they became, but back in the day they were killer, and they went with the flow. Sorry for all that got hurt, there and customers.

[prototoast]

Sometimes we get the idea that a business should exist in perpetuity, but I think it's positive from a social perspective if businesses come and go, in order to meet the needs of the moment. It's hard to start a business and it's hard to end a business, but just because a business is no longer viable doesn't negate the value it provided along the way.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by benadrian

Too many posts, but why not add my thoughts?

I really appreciated that the Pro's Closet existed, but I would probably never have used them.

I enjoy wrenching on bikes. TPC might buy a bike for $1,000, tune it up, replace a few bits, and then sell it for $2,000. If I wanted that bike, I'd look to get it for $1,000 to $1,200 used, and then fix it up myself for a maybe a couple hundred in parts. I get a better deal, and the person who sold me this bike might get a bit more cash.

I can understand why people would want the backing and warranty from the used bike reseller. I have to imagine, though, that people who are cool with buying a used bike are also people who can do tune ups and most basic maintenance. I suppose TPC was trying to show a demographic of non-wrenching cyclists that used bikes could be okay to buy.

Been in the bike biz a long time and IMHO, MOST who ride bikes, new or old, cannot do 'basic tuneups' and do 'most basic maintenance'. Air in tires, 'maybe' change a chain but not much else. And why should they? I don't change the oil in my 2017 car either. I probably could but don't want to invest in jacks, pans, tools, etc...

[Baron Blubba]

Originally Posted by prototoast

Sometimes we get the idea that a business should exist in perpetuity, but I think it's positive from a social perspective if businesses come and go, in order to meet the needs of the moment. It's hard to start a business and it's hard to end a business, but just because a business is no longer viable doesn't negate the value it provided along the way.

Very true about so many things in life. The duration of a thing is not always indicative of its value, I don't just mean financial value.

[cmg]

Just looked got Look 785 Huez rs from them in August. It was a good deal. How unfortunate.

[commandcomm]

Officially announced a going out of business sale on the front page.


https://www.theproscloset.com/