Bicycle, used-car businesses brisker
By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer
Charlie Clifton doesn't delight in other people's inconvenience, but he likes the bus strike. Just the threat of a public transportation shutdown, which became a reality yesterday on O'ahu, helped the owner of Kapiolani Mules sell three used cars to bus riders in the past few days.
"Obviously, it does help business," he said of the strike. "I wish they'd happen all the time."
Most of the regular bus riders arranged rides with friends, co-workers and private transportation services yesterday, but others have hit rental shops, retail stores and classified ads to find alternative means of transport.
The shopping spree by some bus passengers has boosted business for sellers and renters of everything from bicycles to mopeds and cars to car parts.
At McCully Bicycle & Sporting Goods, store manager Harris Habu said bike sales have averaged 20 to 30 a day since Friday — well above a usual back-to-school rush.
"We have a hard time keeping up with building the bikes and getting them to customers," he said. "It was kind of a madhouse, which is good for business."
At the Salvation Army thrift store in Iwilei, a $55 mountain bike in the store Monday evening was snapped up yesterday morning by a customer who wanted it in case he couldn't get a ride to work, store manager John Green said.
Green ordered more bikes from the Salvation Army's warehouse, hoping to replenish the store's supply. "I have a feeling in a couple of days they're going to start selling more," he said.
Jayne Kim, owner of Eki Cyclery in Kapalama, said she noticed a "slight increase" in bike sales as well as noticeably more people coming in for repair and maintenance work.
At Checker Auto Parts in Kapalama, store manager Gary Sodicta said an unusual number of people also were buying parts to repair their cars in the days leading up to the strike.
A $199 electric scooter with a top speed of 11 miles per hour also has been a popular seller at the Kapalama Checker, which sold its last one on Monday.
"It sounds like people need a car," said the seller of a $500 1986 Buick Regal who didn't want to give his name but said he was surprised to get 11 calls yesterday morning in response to a classified ad.
Retail gasoline sales also are expected to rise with all the extra driving, though it may not be significant enough to affect supply or prices.
Albert Chee, a Chevron spokesman, said it will take a few days to see if there is any appreciable change. "We haven't taken any steps to prepare as though there would be a run on gas stations," he said.
A sampling of rental car firms suggested that some bus riders rented cars for the day or week yesterday, though many inquired about prices but didn't rent cars.
Randy Monturi, regional vice president for Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental in Hawai'i, said customers in the past two days made about 100 same-day and next-day reservations for mostly weekly rentals.
"I just started seeing this (on Monday)," he said. "I'm sure the strike's got something to do with that."
Jay LeBaron, manager of Paradise Rent-A-Car in Waikiki, which rents mopeds for about $100 a week and cars for $140 a week, said inquiries from worried bus riders before the strike didn't translate to rentals.
"I think people are just winging it," he said.
The Waipahu location of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, which will pick up customers from home, also wasn't deluged by panicked bus riders. "So far it's been quiet," said Lani Pelayan, an Enterprise management trainee.
Tom Razee, manager of Adventure on 2 Wheels, which rents mopeds and cars in Waikiki, said demand picked up a little. He said he also sold a used moped for $500 on Friday to a nearby resident who feared not being able to get to his job at the airport.
"He was willing to take a loss if he needed to, but I'm sure he's pretty happy (today)," Razee said.
Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.
