Retailer Frustrations

Retailers should carry more parts and products.

Situation: I needed to repair on a bike part. I had no real true time to repair it myself and take all the time needed to make it completely right.
I removed the entire piece, took it to a local bike shop and asked them to get it working and asked if it could be completed in less than a week.
Shop Response: no problem, fill this out, I'll have "Bob" take a look and see if we can get you fixed up.
Telephone Result-12 hours after drop off - "we can order a part you need and have it here next week, then get to your repair after the part arrives"
"we make orders once per week on Day X of the week"
My Response: Thanks, I'll be over after work today to pick up my part.
Solution: I ended up partially fixing the item myself, then taking it to another bike shop, out of state, and getting it repaired for 1/2 the cost the original shop wanted (not including the parts), they said "needed replaced".
After riding this bike for over six hours, I would easily say that part did not need replaced. But had they stocked my repair item, I would not have taken my money out of state or spent my valuable time attempting a hack-job repair.

Or you go to several of the same retailers to buy a piece for a project.
None of them carry what you need.
So, do you wait till they can order it for you? or go out to the interwebs and purchase said item and have said product in your hand in three days?
This is my general experience with hardware stores (lowe's-Home Depot), automotive retailers such as Napa or Advance Auto and lastly electronic retailers such as Best Buy. They want our business and money, and credit cards, but I think don't have a great grasp always on who their true customer is and their needs or immediate needs.

Recently I purchased some new parts for my bike that required specific type of grease. There wasn't a retailer in town, out of about 8 or more bicycle shops that had in stock a new tube of the proper lube. Yes I understand that it maybe a specific lube, but it has other uses and is a high quality product that can be used for Bottom brackets, and other bike parts. What did I end up finding? I found a local shop with a used tube, I ended up buying for a dollar.

My expectation is not that every retailer, including bicycle retailers, carry every single version of every single product. But you know as well as I do, when you need a derailer hanger, you need Ti Grease, carbon paste, a chain that is not a low grade model, seat post clamps, certain pedals, disc brake parts or even a shop that has a disc brake lever and caliper in stock, you need it that day at that time. I don't want to wait, three days, a week or a month.

I think this is the main reason, many reach out to the interweb to order bike parts. I like to support sponsors, I like to support independently owned retailers, I like to support local biz period, but get some inventory please and keep it updated. If you stocked it at one time, we go back to re-purchase and there is not even a replacement product on hand, then the customer is going to elsewhere.
How about using your social media outlet as a way to keep your customers updated on your new inventory? or new inventory items?
Yes it's tough for the smaller retail shops to keep a huge inventory of dollars sitting out on their floor if their business model doesn't support it, but if you are the big gorilla in town, it's important you have in stock multiple models of multiple brands in stock for your best customers to fondle and handle.
That one day someone needs a specific part, is the day it gets sold and disappears from inventory.