Possible Dealership idea!

[marfar]

This is my first post. Thinking about opening a segway dealership/tour in a resort area of Southern California. I have great contacts, a lot of experience in tours (have an established, award winning tour company for 4 years now), and am on the board of the local tourism association. This area is starving for a NEW activity. Could be a GREAT opportunity. Would be interested in partnering with an already successful segway dealer or a person who has experience with this type of venture. Here's to possibilities! Cheers!

[quade]

Good luck. You're going to need it.

(I can't think of a single place in SoCal that isn't already saturated, but who knows?)

[hellphish]

Come to Ventura County! I need a local dealer :)

[wwhopper]

And talk to dealers and tour operators in your area. also check out the website dedicated to tours alone I think it is Segwaytours.com

I know the dealer I work with, often partners with firms such as yours to get them started in the Segway Tour Business.

You have a great future, no matter what the Segway Chat pundits say!

Indpendant Segway Tours operations as well as those that are run by dealers are very profitable and offer tourists a top notch oppoturnity to experince the community in a whole new way. In our tour operation, it is great to see a family enjoying the Segway Tour for totally different reasons, Mom and Dad like getting out and seeing the sites, the teenagers love the Segway, and Grand Mom and Grand Dad love the history and being able to keep up with everyone.

A Segway tour operation done right is a wonderful sight to behold.

[jryan]

I would say go for it! You could probably buy a bunch of used machines from dealers across the states. If it works out well you can expand and look at newer machines, if not you can just resell the used machines and probably won't be out a whole lot of money (depending on the deal you may even break even).

I have, many times, thought of how good a tour operation would be in Madison (gliding around the square and up and down State Street!) I will probably start such an operation once my settlement comes in in 1-7 years! No matter how you slice it if there are things to see then a tour operation would be a great business!


Jeremy Ryan

[macgeek]

I would say go for it! You could probably buy a bunch of used machines from dealers across the states. If it works out well you can expand and look at newer machines, if not you can just resell the used machines and probably won't be out a whole lot of money (depending on the deal you may even break even).

I have, many times, thought of how good a tour operation would be in Madison (gliding around the square and up and down State Street!) I will probably start such an operation once my settlement comes in in 1-7 years! No matter how you slice it if there are things to see then a tour operation would be a great business!


Jeremy Ryan


It was -3° today In madison, I hear its gonna warm to +4° by friday

Jonathan

[jryan]

It was -3° today In madison, I hear its gonna warm to +4° by friday

Jonathan


You are correct Jonathan, it has been rather cold. The schools were actually called off because the windchill was lower than -30. Seems odd though because Monday it was 46 degrees. Madison certainly has wierd weather which is why, if I started a tour, it would be closed most of winter. There are really no tourists to Madison in winter anyway and those that come stay indoors!


Jeremy Ryan

[wwhopper]

It was -3° today In madison, I hear its gonna warm to +4° by friday Jonathan


On one of Darth Segvators X-2's outfitted with a snow plow that is!


Actually Madison being a university town, would be a great place for gliding, in season of course!

[quade]

. . . in season of course!

Will, what is the season in DC or do you run tours year round?

[jryan]

Actually Madison being a university town, would be a great place for gliding, in season of course!

Yes, in season. I must say though that the fact it is a University town is not the main thing that would attract gliding. The biggest reason why Madison would be great for Gliding is that it is EXTREMELY liberal. I love this about Madison, but as such it is also extremely green. The green market is attracted to Segway's and I think it would go over well. You must remember that there are tens of thousands of people in Madison who have no clue what a Segway is and millions in the U.S.!


Jeremy Ryan

[quade]

The biggest reason why Madison would be great for Gliding is that it is EXTREMELY liberal.

And Segways are known for their "liberal" views?

(I love how the language in the US has been corrupted.)

[wwhopper]

Will, what is the season in DC or do you run tours year round?

About 11 months a year. The DC Tour operations seem to be busy at least 10 months of the year. And of course on a nice winter weekend, when the weather is warm, the sun is out, it is great to glide around DC.

I glide as often as I can, even in the snow.

[jryan]

And Segways are known for their "liberal" views?

(I love how the language in the US has been corrupted.)

No, Segway's are not known for their liberal views. What I was merely saying is that Segways are known and even advertised as "green" devices. They are very environmentally friendly. Liberals are very "green" people. "Green" people would be utterly appealed to a "Green" device (that they can even take on their hybrid city buses!)

Jeremy Ryan

[Cube128]

Not necessarily. I know many "Green" people that are totally opposed to the idea of Segways, saying that the only form of transportation that deserves to call itself green is a bicycle. Partially this has to do with sort of the anarchist counter-culture that characterizes much of the "Green/Organic" community, at least around where I live. You have to find a way to make it appeal as a fun and unique device, not counting on those who proclaim their green-ness to flock to it.

[KSagal]

I understand what Jeremy is trying to say, I just do not completely agree. On some levels, what he is saying is part of the propaganda, however.

I happen to be very green, I chop and spit my own wood that I use for heat, I use the segways, I collect and re-use rainwater (800+ gallon tank and rain gardens) and have several solar applications...

I also happen to be pretty conservative, but not so that many may notice...

I have heard that concept as he stated regarding liberals as being very green, I just have heard more than seen it in reality...

I believe it has a great deal to do with concept and presentation and less to do with lifestyle, but if he feels it to be so, I do not see a reason to argue it. He may be right that his area will embrace segways, for whatever reason. I wish him luck...

[fredkap]

I happen to be very green, I chop and spit my own wood ...

Karl, may I suggest switching to chewing tobacco?

-Fred

[wwhopper]

Karl, may I suggest switching to chewing tobacco?

-Fred

Spit nails...

[polo_pro]

This is my first post. Thinking about opening a segway dealership/tour in a resort area of Southern California. I have great contacts, a lot of experience in tours (have an established, award winning tour company for 4 years now), and am on the board of the local tourism association. This area is starving for a NEW activity. Could be a GREAT opportunity. Would be interested in partnering with an already successful segway dealer or a person who has experience with this type of venture. Here's to possibilities! Cheers!

I strongly suggest that you contact Segway of SB or Segway of Pismo Beach. Both run tours in larger tourist towns, but both have struggled over the years. If you're smart, you'll pay them for an hour of their time (and frank advice), and if you really listen to them then you may be saved tens of thousands of dollars.

If you still feel that you must attempt this business endeavor, then I'd refer you to SF Electric Tours up in SF and Segway of Oakland. Both have run rather successful tours for years, and again, if you pay for an hour of their time you'll get some idea of what conditions are needed for this to happen. The truly foolish person reads my first paragraph, ignores it and then just jumps ahead to doing what's described in the second paragraph and only reinforces their optimistic misconceptions.

[Desert_Seg]

Steve (polo) is right. There are enough successful tour operators out there that meeting with at least one of them is the only logical way to go.

I for one am interested in discussing this with him / her and am more than willing to offer what advice I can.

Steven

[Mr_Laurenzano]

Kagal~
I understand what Jeremy is trying to say
Jr~
is EXTREMELY liberal
Polo~
strongly suggest that you contact Segway of SB or Segway of Pismo Beach. Both run tours in larger tourist towns, but both have struggled over the years.
You feeling froggy garsshopper. Jump. I'll hold you hand.

Crash.
Welcome to the central coast. Now go home.

p.s. Bring the dog, I like dogs!

[streetSmart]

This is my first post. Thinking about opening a segway dealership/tour in a resort area of Southern California. I have great contacts, a lot of experience in tours (have an established, award winning tour company for 4 years now), and am on the board of the local tourism association. This area is starving for a NEW activity. Could be a GREAT opportunity. Would be interested in partnering with an already successful segway dealer or a person who has experience with this type of venture. Here's to possibilities! Cheers!
If your credit is good you can lease Segways and get the right insurance. Why start with used? Image is everything....

talk to us please.

Nick

[bentbiker]

If your credit is good you can lease Segways and get the right insurance. Why start with used? Image is everything....

talk to us please.

NickDon't know if you noticed, but Marfar only posted once and he hasn't even visited the site for a month.

[marfar]

Thank you - will consider it. By the way, I do check this often - just don't always sign in - sorry.