#!markdown
Funny this should come out now. It was 4th of July weekend almost 10 years ago
that the Accell group, a huge bicycle corporation from The Netherlands who
bought out Seattle Bike Supply a few years earlier, decided that this was the
best time of the year to scrap our efficient computer system and go with the
Accell's European-based system. The new system was an utter failure and turned
our sales reps into CSR's (corporate for customer service reps) at best. There
were roadblocks everywhere, much of the text was in dutch and it made up-
selling to the dealer almost impossible. The head honchos never cared that
their new system wouldn't work and on top this was the worst time of year to
make an 'upgrade' in our industry, especially one based in a Northern climate.
They even flew in an IT guy from Europe to live in Seattle for a year to fix
their failure, all the while losing customers and profits. He never succeeded.
Now Accell is bypassing their own distribution network in the US
(Raleigh/Lapierre/Redline/Torker/Seattle Bike Supply) to sell Ghost bikes
direct to REI. They've got the network set up but It's all about $$$'s now.
I've heard that 'thing's won't change' mantra before. I hope things are
different here…good luck!
July 3, 2015, 12:07 p.m. - bikesales
#!markdown Funny this should come out now. It was 4th of July weekend almost 10 years ago that the Accell group, a huge bicycle corporation from The Netherlands who bought out Seattle Bike Supply a few years earlier, decided that this was the best time of the year to scrap our efficient computer system and go with the Accell's European-based system. The new system was an utter failure and turned our sales reps into CSR's (corporate for customer service reps) at best. There were roadblocks everywhere, much of the text was in dutch and it made up- selling to the dealer almost impossible. The head honchos never cared that their new system wouldn't work and on top this was the worst time of year to make an 'upgrade' in our industry, especially one based in a Northern climate. They even flew in an IT guy from Europe to live in Seattle for a year to fix their failure, all the while losing customers and profits. He never succeeded. Now Accell is bypassing their own distribution network in the US (Raleigh/Lapierre/Redline/Torker/Seattle Bike Supply) to sell Ghost bikes direct to REI. They've got the network set up but It's all about $$$'s now. I've heard that 'thing's won't change' mantra before. I hope things are different here…good luck!