RIP Revzilla

[Triple Jim]

How many Amazon resellers (other than RevZilla) offer instant returns, let you print out a convenient prepaid UPS label, and let you do this routine repeatedly until you're satisfied?

I can't say that motorcyclegear.com (formerly newenough.com) does it exactly the same way, but I've been very happy with their inventory, size recommendations and reviews, and customer service.  They also have a used gear section that sometimes has really good deals. 

[canuguzzi]

With any outlet you have to be a careful shopper.

Every product you buy as Prime adheres to Amazon's return policy.

Who sells there direct? Sena. Heard of them? Kabuto helmets. Plenty of others.

Point is that there is a reason why Revzilla sold to CG and it wasn't because CG was hurting Revzilla. It could be that the owners wanted to cash out but given the obvious revenue from Revzilla it isn't like they needed the money.

Smart business owners look forward and IMHO ( which is all any if this is) they saw increasing competition and the likely result that as more and more shops open on Amazon that they'd feel increased pressure and going forward more competition.

Now here is one thing Revzilla could really offer no matter how good they might be, buy online and pick up in store or even exchange at store.

This is a huge place Amazon is going. Your local motorcycle retailer can open up shop on Amazon, you order via the web and go there to pick up or return if it gets shipped. Why order online from a local company? Because often the local company might not have it in stock that day but does the next day. So you could order online from your local store on Monday and pick IP on Tuesday, at the local store and try it before accepting it.

Revzilla can't match that and neither can CG because CG isn't local to many towns but your local bike shop is.

That isn't a reality yet but it is more so every day. That let's local motorcycle shops reach their local customers online, still get one on one face time and then also get you to go into their showrooms to see those new bikes.

Revzilla can't get there and neither can CG. They simply don't have the means to do it.

[jas67]

Don't be so sure. Revzilla faced huge and growing competition from Amazon, people would visit Revzilla but buy elsewhere. CG hopes to leverage the Revzilla name online but Amazon is slowly taking that away.

Revzilla is my favorite go-to site for motorcycle gear.
When I browse there, I buy there.  It helps, of course, that they are 1-2 days ground shipping from me, and that they offer free ground shipping for any order over $50.

I've been very happy with their customer service.

That said, the Cycle Gear store here in Harrisburg is pretty good.
I've also been happy with their customer service.

The "lifetime guarantee" on their store brands is good.    They stand behind their products pretty well.  I have  a pair of their "Bilt" store-brand boots that after putting a lot of miles on them, they replaced them for free, because a seem started coming undone.   They did this even though they were clearly very worn.   The soles were quite worn.   They replaced a pair of Bilt winter gloves because the velcro stopped sticking.

Too bad I stopped using those gloves, because I found another pair that work much better.   They're "Strength & Steal" brand (I think another Cycle Gear store brand).  They're much less bulky, but, still insulate very well.

[segesta]

I guess I'm the opposite of the modern consumer: I used the Revzilla reviews, videos etc to do my research, then I go to my local motorcycle dealer to actually purchase the product. Costs a little more but actually the best of both worlds for me: the broadest information + personal service.

[oldbike54]

 All of you experts on how business works are wrong . The correct answer is ...



                                                                       Blue

 Dusty

       

[jas67]

The RevZilla return policy is exactly that, not an exchange policy.  You get your purchase price refunded regardless of whether you buy a replacement.  This speeds things up considerably, since you can order the different size and get it fast, before RevZilla even receives the one you sent back.  For that matter (although I've never tried this), you can order several sizes at once, and return all but the one that fits, saving multiple return shipping costs. How many Amazon resellers will do this?  Will Cycle Gear do it?  Furthermore, RevZilla has a price-matching policy, and I've found that they do honor it.

I've done just that with them 

[Triple Jim]

For that matter (although I've never tried this), you can order several sizes at once, and return all but the one that fits, saving multiple return shipping costs.

On their web site they specifically ask you not to do this.  They ask that you take advantage of their advice on size before purchasing.

[leafman60]

I generally prefer using Motorcycle Superstore over Revzilla. MS has been very accommodating and helpful for me. I've found the Zilla guys a bit more testy and MUCH tighter with their refunds and returns.

[sib]

I've never met the guy, but based on his demos and some interviews he's given, I would guess that the real reason why RevZilla sold itself to Cycle Gear is that the guy who runs the show, Anthony Bucci, got bored and wanted to move on to something else.  He seems to have worked 24 hours a day every day for the past 10 years making sure that RevZilla did everything right, and that must be exhausting and ultimately boring.  I look forward to seeing what he tackles next.  Think a hunkier version of Steve Jobs minus the sadism.

[canuguzzi]

All of you experts on how business works are wrong . The correct answer is ...



                                                                       Blue

 Dusty

       

Oh brother, 

[oldbike54]

Oh brother, 

 What , you can't see that is the obvious answer ? Sorry , my emos have gone on vacation again , picture a laughing face here .

 Seriously , we are having a Green Acres moment on WG , so "blue" is as good an answer as any .

 Dusty

[canuguzzi]

Green, red, purple and pink will be along shortly with the board, black sheets, candles and dingle balls, wait for it...

[Guzzistajohn]

What , you can't see that is the obvious answer ? Sorry , my emos have gone on vacation again , picture a laughing face here .

 Seriously , we are having a Green Acres moment on WG , so "blue" is as good an answer as any .

 Dusty

Green acres moment? A little Ava Gabor would liven things up around here. And some humor would be nice instead of trying hard to pee in each other's cornflakes all the time.

[oldbike54]

Green acres moment? A little Ava Gabor would liven things up around here. And some humor would be nice instead of trying hard to pee in each other's cornflakes all the time.

 Oliver , "the next time we have a picnic , bring some food"

 Lisa , "well , if your hungry , I turn on the radio"

 Oliver , "what good will that do"

 Lisa "maybe you will hear something good to eat"

 
  Dusty

[kidsmoke]

And some humor would be nice instead of trying hard to pee in each other's cornflakes all the time.

Here! Here!

[Moto Fugazzi]

Revzilla can't offer manufacturer to customer direct sales, Amazon can, letting manufacturers set up their own shops right on Amazon and then they just fulfill for them. When you buy, the buy is factory direct Amazon just ships but also requires factories adhere to standard return policies.

Well, 2 weeks ago I purchased some Woodcraft clip-ons from Revzilla, as they were cheaper than going direct, and I got some zilla bucks in return. The clip-ons were shipped directly from Woodcraft in this instance. I don't think they do that with many vendors, but it did happen with Woodcraft.
I could have purchased the clip-ons from Amazon, but estimated delivery was 4-10 days out, and I received the Revzilla Woodcraft order in 3 days.

Unfortunately, we're now at that point when we demand everything within one or two days, if not the same day. Remember back in the day when everything was actually mail order? You had to fill out a form, mail in a check with a postage stamp, wait for the check to clear, and you received your order in 3-4 weeks if you were lucky? Those were the good old days...
Ken

P.S. Revzilla has been a pioneer in internet sales. Videos on everything, all specs listed, reviews by many riders, and typically same day shipping. This will be a tough act for CG to follow.

[cee2cee]

Well, they're not going to pay $400-500M just to throw away their recipe for success.

So we'll have to see how this develops.

But the CG'sv around here generally are pretty crappy and mostly stock their lousy house brand stuff.

Failed corporate takeovers, buyouts and/or mergers are far more common than successes.  Arbys/Wendys, Sears/Kmart, Bank of America/Countrywide, eBay/Skype, AOL/Time, Quaker/Snapple, Yahoo/Tumblr to name a few.  The $400M quoted is chump change int the M&A space and does not guarantee that the number crunchers will not screw it up by trying to re-coup their investment sooner rather than later by cost cutting.

[Kev m]

Failed corporate takeovers, buyouts and/or mergers are far more common than successes.  Arbys/Wendys, Sears/Kmart, Bank of America/Countrywide, eBay/Skype, AOL/Time, Quaker/Snapple, Yahoo/Tumblr to name a few.  The $400M quoted is chump change int the M&A space and does not guarantee that the number crunchers will not screw it up by trying to re-coup their investment sooner rather than later by cost cutting.

I didn't predict/guarantee success, but the very title of this thread (and stance of many posts in it) seems to assume failure.

My point is that we'll see.

[sturgeon]

I've never met the guy, but based on his demos and some interviews he's given, I would guess that the real reason why RevZilla sold itself to Cycle Gear is that the guy who runs the show, Anthony Bucci, got bored and wanted to move on to something else.  He seems to have worked 24 hours a day every day for the past 10 years making sure that RevZilla did everything right, and that must be exhausting and ultimately boring.

This. I know several 'serial' entrepreneurs. They're all wealthy by most standards, some are wealthy beyond imagination. When I ask why they get out of a successful enterprise they've started, only to move on to the next, it's never about the money. They all have enough to live in high style for the rest of their lives. They're burned out, bored, need a short period of R&R, time to refresh, then they move on to the next great thing. 10 years doing the same thing, growing a successful business, is a very long time to a creative person. And that's what these people are, creative.

[canuguzzi]

Cycle Gear already has an on-line presence so they are buying a name and a site that does what they do already. They do get subscribers but those are a fickle group of people who can and probably do shop multiple stores anyway. What CG didn't get was the creativity, personality, drive and presence of Revzilla s owners unless they will continue to be the face of Revzilla which might defeat the purpose of selling it.

With 400-500 million CG could have pumped that into their own on-line store since it is completely integrated into CGs presence already. A lot of people really like CG although I find they have a few good lines and the rest are trinkety, especially their hardware/non-clothing stuff.

Will existing Revzilla customers stay or switch to another on-line store they already use as well? Will the lack of the front man at Revzilla affect retention?

Revzilla attracted customers because of the personal attention by the owners. They aren't there anymore. That makes Revzilla just a website name and some policies that can be duplicated and is now more CG than Revzilla.

The younger crowd buyers aren't nearly as loyal as more mature riders. That's known in the online industry already, younger people will switch to the next thing very fast.

Can CG keep it up and successful? Time will tell.

[Waltr]

All restaurants are Taco Bell now...

That's funny, I liked Demolition man.

[cee2cee]

I didn't predict/guarantee success, but the very title of this thread (and stance of many posts in it) seems to assume failure.

My point is that we'll see.

No you did not predict success or failure, but you did make the assertion that since they spent $3-400M they will probably not change the formula.  Sad to say, there are more examples of the exact happening then not. New management comes in and thinks they can do it better, cheaper, or their corporate culture clashes with the current culture and productivity rapidly declines.  Clearly this is a leveraged buyout for MG surely did not have  $300-400M in cash, so the pressure to cut costs is always paramount in these deals,  simply to service the debt and that is why so many of these M&As fail.  I personally bought a few items from Revzilla and like their business model a lot.  Only time will tell whether this acquisition will pay off, not only for MG but for the consumer who supported Revzilla.

[toma nova]

Revzilla is not being acquired by Cycle Gear.

http://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/letter-to-customers-revzilla-cycle-gear-partnership

https://www.revzilla.com/open-letter-to-customers-revzilla-cycle-gear-faq

I love Revzilla and will continue to buy from them, as long as they keep offering what's valuable to me:  tons of information / comparisons / reviews, free shipping, no sales tax, a generous return policy, and 5% toward future purchases.

Tom

[cee2cee]

Revzilla is not being acquired by Cycle Gear.

http://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/letter-to-customers-revzilla-cycle-gear-partnership

https://www.revzilla.com/open-letter-to-customers-revzilla-cycle-gear-faq

Now that makes much more sense.  Revzilla acquires CG which gives them instant access to over 100 brick & mortar stores, which Anthony states is one of their goals.  It will still be a challenge to succeed, but only time will tell.  I would suspect one of the first things they will do is  close a large percentage of the stores , those which are marginal.  The one near me never has more than one or two shoppers.

[stormshearon]

Happy birhtday! That is good news as I really like Revzilla and have actually found my local CG store (Lynnwood, WA) to be a decent place to shop for gear.

 

[roofus]

I have just acquired: Revzilla, Cycle Gear, Amazon, and Ali Baba!!!!

I will issue new price lists tomorrow!

[charlie b]

Now that was good news.  Can still buy from Revzilla!

[190 Octane]

Something I would love to see, would be order on Revzilla pick up at your local Cycle Gear, it would work great for gear and tires.  Hopefully this partnership will bring something like this about.

Our local cycle gear only stocks Bilt/Sedeci house brands or upper tier stuff like Dianese/Shoei/Arai.  They don't stock much in the middle anymore like FirstGear or Tourmaster.

Hopefully this partnership will bring Cycle Gear up and not Revzilla down.