Rumors

What would cause a price hike to happen? I doubt that this is likely.
Bikes are expensive enough and bike shops would never deal with it. The
margin that they make on high-end bikes is so small already that I don't
they would stand for it. I know that I would raise a stink!

Thomps said:

To those of you in the know, or even those who enjoy speculating:

Why do I keep hearing/reading about imminent price hikes on bikes and/or
components?
Are they true?
I'd like to buy new, and am wondering whether to wait until this winter, or
if I'd be wiser to act sooner.

Thanks all,

Thomps

On Sun, 27 Jun 2004 21:18:46 -0500, "Thomps" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

To those of you in the know, or even those who enjoy speculating:

Why do I keep hearing/reading about imminent price hikes on bikes and/or
components?

Many possibilities exist; the rumors could be advance leakage of price
change information, or they could be idle speculation, or hype by a
salescritter who thinks that such rumors will help to close a sale.
Other possibilities exist as well.

Quoted message said:

Are they true?

You would have to examine each rumor and cross-check it with
information from reliable sources to determine this. There is no
global answer.

Quoted message said:

I'd like to buy new, and am wondering whether to wait until this winter, or
if I'd be wiser to act sooner.

I guess that depends on whether you can get a good deal now, and
whether the item you want will still be in production later, and a
number of other things. If the folks at your LBS were half as good at
predicting the future as their local weather forecasters, I suspect
that they'd get stuck with fewer obsolete, out-of-fashion and/or
overpriced items that sit unsold in the showroom.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Surrealism is a pectinated ranzel.

Thomps said:

To those of you in the know, or even those who enjoy speculating:
Why do I keep hearing/reading about imminent price hikes on bikes and/or
components? Are they true? I'd like to buy new, and am wondering whether
to wait until this winter, or if I'd be wiser to act sooner.
Thanks all,
Thomps

The real problem is the price fixing with both Shi... and Cam... engaged
in online price fixing through their North American distribution
channels. I don't know if wholesale OEM sales are affected.

--

RE: Imminent Price hikes for Campy & Shimangolo

www.campyonly.com reports that Campy is on its way to "its best year
ever". www.cyclingplus.co.uk - in this month's issue of the paper
magazine - carlton reid reports that raw materials prices in asia have
gone up so much that price hikes of 20% - 30% are very likely
throughout the industry, because materials shortages have developed
everywhere. The article suggests that Shimano grouppos have a 240 day
lead time.

Has anyone been affected by the supposed "Shimano parts shortage" ??
Have you ordered an unusual grouppo and been told that it will take 9
months ?? I tend to think that this sounds like something that an 800
lbs gorilla would just make up, only 12 months after it had
monopolized its parts distribution system in the USA.

I would think that "shortages of raw materials an acceptable price"
are likely for bike parts because the margins are slim.

In the mail 1 week ago, I got a flyer, "Cycling your way through the
energy shortage". When there is a sustained hike in gasoline prices,
and there is good weather, a cycling boom is likely to occur, just
like it did the last time, from 1973-1975.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

Muskie said:

What would cause a price hike to happen? I doubt that this is likely.
Bikes are expensive enough and bike shops would never deal with it. The
margin that they make on high-end bikes is so small already that I don't
they would stand for it. I know that I would raise a stink!

Actually, today's bikes are pretty cheap. A $450 dollar bike-shop
bike today would be only $100 in 1972, the last time there was a bike
boom. In 1974, for $100, I think you could buy 35 lbs 5-speed schwinn
"Collegiate", maybe. that was your entire selection at that price
range.

Imho bikes have never been cheaper than today. Well, maybe in 2000
they were cheaper, but they're still pretty darned cheap.

- Don Gillies

in season = high price , out of season = low price

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

To those of you in the know, or even those who enjoy speculating:
Why do I keep hearing/reading about imminent price hikes on bikes and/or
components?
Are they true?
I'd like to buy new, and am wondering whether to wait until this winter, or
if I'd be wiser to act sooner.

Shimano is supposed to be enforcing a new price fixing scheme. So chances
are the price of parts is going to go up. Only time will tell if it works.
-------------
Alex

Thomps said:

To those of you in the know, or even those who enjoy speculating:

Why do I keep hearing/reading about imminent price hikes on bikes and/or
components?
Are they true?
I'd like to buy new, and am wondering whether to wait until this winter, or
if I'd be wiser to act sooner.

Depending upon which country you live in, many frames and most
components will be imported. Thus, prices may change with exchange rate
fluctuations.

--
Tom Sherman – Quad City Area

adr-<< Shimano is supposed to be enforcing a new price fixing scheme. So
chances
are the price of parts is going to go up. Only time will tell if it works.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<BR><BR>

Heaven forbide I would defend shimano but you have it backwards. They are
stopping OEM resale, at ridiculously low prices and making all who sell and
distribute their stuff to have the same price. They are closing a loophole, not
'price fixing'.

Their 'problem' was the prices charged to OEM, they were artifically low, and
those parts found their way to MO. That is closed, MO is whining.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

"Qui si parla Campagnolo " <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

[...]

Quoted message said:

Heaven forbide I would defend shimano but you have it backwards. They
are stopping OEM resale, at ridiculously low prices and making all
who sell and distribute their stuff to have the same price.

Fortunately for consumers, that's illegal here.

Quoted message said:

They are
closing a loophole, not 'price fixing'.

They are doing exactly that under our law. Here they can set a recommended
retail price (RRP) but they cannot force any vendor to adhere to their
recommendation.

--

A: Top-posters.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

"DRS" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Qui si parla Campagnolo " <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

[...]

Quoted message said:

Heaven forbide I would defend shimano but you have it backwards. They
are stopping OEM resale, at ridiculously low prices and making all
who sell and distribute their stuff to have the same price.

Fortunately for consumers, that's illegal here.

Quoted message said:

They are
closing a loophole, not 'price fixing'.

They are doing exactly that under our law. Here they can set a

recommended

Quoted message said:

retail price (RRP) but they cannot force any vendor to adhere to their
recommendation.

In effect they can price fix by not selling parts to those who don't adhere
to their retail price "recommendations". I don't believe any law requires
them to sell to everyone; a business can choose who they want to have
business relationships with.

I personally don't like it, but I don't believe it's illegal.

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Heaven forbide I would defend shimano...

We feel your pain, Peter. 😉

--
Tom Sherman – Quad City Area

On 28 Jun 2004 09:28:35 -0700, [email hidden] (Evan Evans)

Quoted message said:

in season = high price , out of season = low price

Only if it's in stock. If the lbs has to order it, the chances are
that it'll be at MSRP.

Of course, for the catalog and online merchants, "in season" includes
the period from about mid-March through December 25. This does not
keep them from having specials on stuff, though. (I often wonder how
many tires Nashbar actually sells at "full price".)
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Surrealism is a pectinated ranzel.

I have been looking into upgrading my bike with Campy Centaur. I try to
support my LBS since I used to work in one, but every time I talk about
this with them, they always say how EXPENSIVE that will be because of
the Euro. Problem is, I have been hearing that for several months now,
and online Campy prices have been stable. They have not even returned
my request for quote on their price for the group. The only real cost
to rumors like these can be lost buisness.

bigsky

Thomps said:

To those of you in the know, or even those who enjoy speculating:

Why do I keep hearing/reading about imminent price hikes on bikes and/or
components?
Are they true?
I'd like to buy new, and am wondering whether to wait until this winter, or
if I'd be wiser to act sooner.

Thanks all,

Thomps

"rosco" <reverse-the-following"ocsor_g"@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

"DRS" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Qui si parla Campagnolo " <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

[...]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

They are
closing a loophole, not 'price fixing'.

They are doing exactly that under our law. Here they can set a
recommended retail price (RRP) but they cannot force any vendor to
adhere to their recommendation.

In effect they can price fix by not selling parts to those who don't
adhere to their retail price "recommendations". I don't believe any
law requires them to sell to everyone; a business can choose who they
want to have business relationships with.

They can try if they're silly enough. You think that hasn't been tried
before? We're lucky we have a law with teeth (Trade Practices Act) and a
consumer watchdog who's prepared to go after the big players without fear or
favour (the ACCC). They know about those sort of games. If you've been a
Shimano dealer here for years and suddenly get dropped for a spurious reason
that just happens to coincide with your refusal to adhere to Shimano's
illegal pricing policy you've got a powerful friend in court.

--

A: Top-posters.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

Quoted message said:

I personally don't like it, but I don't believe it's illegal.

drs-<< Fortunately for consumers, that's illegal here. >><BR><BR>

shimano and many others MSRP policy has been POURED over by legions of lawyers
and it has always been found to be quite legal. If YOU think it's illegal, get
a lawyer and fight it.

BUY a shimano group, sell it at any price you wish, as a retailer. Sell it for
$1 over your cost BUT don't be surprised that you cannot order another batch of
components.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

"Qui si parla Campagnolo " <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

drs-<< Fortunately for consumers, that's illegal here. >><BR><BR>

shimano and many others MSRP policy has been POURED over by legions
of lawyers and it has always been found to be quite legal. If YOU
think it's illegal, get a lawyer and fight it.

I said *here* and *under our law*. Free clue: I'm not in your country.

Quoted message said:

BUY a shimano group, sell it at any price you wish, as a retailer.
Sell it for $1 over your cost BUT don't be surprised that you cannot
order another batch of components.

It's been tried before. Our authorities are a wake up to it.

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A: Top-posters.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

DRS-<< I said *here* and *under our law*. Free clue: I'm not in your country.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<BR><BR>

geee, is THAT what AU means???

Duh, shimano has looked at the laws at ALL countrys it sells in, I am sure,
even the place called Australia.

Don't expect shimano stuff to suddenly be a lot cheaper beacause it sells in
AU.

We'll see if DA/XTR go down in price. What is the retail price of DA/XTR right
now in AU? Convert to US$ please.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

"Qui si parla Campagnolo " <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

DRS-<< I said *here* and *under our law*. Free clue: I'm not in your
country.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<BR><BR>

geee, is THAT what AU means???

Duh, shimano has looked at the laws at ALL countrys it sells in, I am
sure, even the place called Australia.

Don't expect shimano stuff to suddenly be a lot cheaper beacause it
sells in AU.

We'll see if DA/XTR go down in price. What is the retail price of
DA/XTR right now in AU? Convert to US$ please.

You're choosing to miss the point. Retailers can just as easily choose to
sell at the RRP as below it. I confidently predict there'll still be
discounting going on here just as there always has been. I also expect the
very cheap ebay deals on new Shimano components - which are almost
exclusively from US dealers - to virtually disappear. A Dura Ace 10-speed
group retails at Cecil Walker's (a well known Melbourne bike shop) for
AUD2,150 today, a 2003 XTR V Brake Group Set for AUD2,523. For USD multiply
by .69 although it's pointless if you're after a long term view because of
the inevitable exchange rate fluctuations.

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A: Top-posters.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?