New Limar 909

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

Quoted message said:

Arrived today from the states.. ended up being $207 to my door. Such
a niiiice fit too, and it looks good. Good to see they have the
Australian standards cert on the box and manual that comes with it.

With the prices that I saw, I couldn't go past finding the right fit
at the LBS and then just ordering from OS.. they wanted $299 from the
cycle store next to DSE Powerhouse in Nunawading (sp?).

What the hell are you talking about?

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my new 'stackhat' 😉

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Arrived today from the states.. ended up being $207 to my door. Such
a niiiice fit too, and it looks good. Good to see they have the
Australian standards cert on the box and manual that comes with it.

With the prices that I saw, I couldn't go past finding the right fit
at the LBS and then just ordering from OS.. they wanted $299 from the
cycle store next to DSE Powerhouse in Nunawading (sp?).

What the hell are you talking about?

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GPLama said:

Arrived today from the states.. ended up being $207 to my door. Such a
niiiice fit too, and it looks good. Good to see they have the Australian
standards cert on the box and manual that comes with it.

With the prices that I saw, I couldn't go past finding the right fit at the
LBS and then just ordering from OS.. they wanted $299 from the cycle store
next to DSE Powerhouse in Nunawading (sp?).

cheers,
GPL

You really aren't into supporting the local bike industry, are you?

He cheaps out on bottom end tubes at K-Mart and then cheaps out on a top end helmet via mailorder, after using the local shop for a fitting session. Sheesh. 🙁

It's not thrift, it's stupidity. Get used to paying even *more* in whatever bikeshop you go into, if that's you're attitude. Everyone will be looking for a guy with cheap tubes and a 909 helmet and a self-satisfied smirk, and serve him last.

M "it's not perfect, but it's the only industry we've got" H

BTW, what IS the one after 909?

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

Quoted message said:

GPLama said:

Arrived today from the states.. ended up being $207 to my door. Such a
niiiice fit too, and it looks good. Good to see they have the
Australian
standards cert on the box and manual that comes with it.

With the prices that I saw, I couldn't go past finding the right fit at
the
LBS and then just ordering from OS.. they wanted $299 from the cycle
store
next to DSE Powerhouse in Nunawading (sp?).

cheers,
GPL

You really aren't into supporting the local bike industry, are you?

He cheaps out on bottom end tubes at K-Mart and then cheaps out on a
top end helmet via mailorder, after using the local shop for a fitting
session. Sheesh. 🙁

It's not thrift, it's stupidity. Get used to paying even *more* in
whatever bikeshop you go into, if that's you're attitude. Everyone will
be looking for a guy with cheap tubes and a 909 helmet and a
self-satisfied smirk, and serve him last.

M "it's not perfect, but it's the only industry we've got" H

BTW, what IS the one after 909?

--
mfhor

why would anyone willingly pay $299 for a helmet when it can be had for
$200?

Quoted message said:

Dej wrote:
why would anyone willingly pay $299 for a helmet when it can be had for
$200?

I totally agree... BUT.. why should a bike shop guy bother fitting a helmet
if the buyer is just going to order one online anyway?

hippy

Well I'm getting my new Limar 909 for $120 so ner.

The only catch is that you have to already have purchased the same helmet and then have a crash serious enough to break it.

You then send your helmet to the importers in Sydney along with a letter explaining the accident and they send you a new one for $120.

mfhor said:

You really aren't into supporting the local bike industry, are you?

He cheaps out on bottom end tubes at K-Mart and then cheaps out on a top end helmet via mailorder, after using the local shop for a fitting session. Sheesh. 🙁

It's not thrift, it's stupidity. Get used to paying even *more* in whatever bikeshop you go into, if that's you're attitude. Everyone will be looking for a guy with cheap tubes and a 909 helmet and a self-satisfied smirk, and serve him last.

M "it's not perfect, but it's the only industry we've got" H

BTW, what IS the one after 909?

Fair enough, I prefer to support the local industry. However, there is a high profile shop in Sydney's CBD that is full of "you don't want that, you want this". Specifically, after spending _loads_ of time measuring and calculating spoke lengths that I wanted, the employee (who thought he was saving me from certain disaster) tried to convince me I wanted another spoke length.

OK, so he probably gets plenty of "experts" claiming they want something, only to return to the shop trying to exchange for another size... lucky for me, my exhaustive calcs were right, thus avoiding a humbling and embarrassing return.

Ritch

PS. The same shop is v. expensive for just about everything, but it is convenient to pop in at lunchtime...

quote='hippy'Dej said:

why would anyone willingly pay $299 for a helmet when it can be had for
$200?

I totally agree... BUT.. why should a bike shop guy bother fitting a helmet
if the buyer is just going to order one online anyway?

hippy[/QUOTE]
Yes - let's get into the ol' globalisation debate.

$99 pays for an employees wages for a day. $299 is the RRP in Australia. As recommended by the wholesaler, who does his sums and sees what the market will bear.

The US sales of the 909 might be 300/mth. The Oz sales might be 20/mth. Quantity buy, manufacturer discount, yada yada - face it, we live at the [censored] end of the world with a pitifully small market. We always pay more for everything. But we're not trying to pose like the Yanks and the Euros, or are we?

It doesn't change the fact that if you don't support your local retailer, and buy all your stuff online, you will get patchy warranty support at best, possible order hiccups/mixups, no reciprocal customer loyalty, and pretty soon an emaciated and 'cost-efficient' local presence, with little variety and personality, little time for free gear and brake adjustments - great for when you want to source that hard to find part that Nashbar hasn't heard of, or if your mailorder Merlin loses it's bottom bracket or cracks. A $10000 bike that can't be fixed for the price you want to pay (i.e., none, under warranty) is just like a $200 bike in the same condition, you can't ride them.

Have a think - what does a few dollars less really cost? A decent mechanic at your local shop? Facilities and presence at a local level to get roads improved (indirectly)? Retailers lobbying wholesalers for better deals? Wholesalers lobbying manufacturers? Or are we just a lot of self-interested, self-absorbed consumers of retail leisure?

M "wholistic" H

mfhor said:

M "it's not perfect, but it's the only industry we've got" H

We stop getting ripped off, and we use you more.
Patronising your clientele by thinking they wont notice being ripped off with conversion rates isnt nice.

I'll pay extra for good service and quality but i refuse to subsidise some
fat-cat middleman cos he thinks we're stupid enough to fall for it

Not saying you/your BS you work in do this but it is VERY endemic across most LBS's due to people like Bikesport, et al treating us all like fools

mfhor said:

Yes - let's get into the ol' globalisation debate.
It doesn't change the fact that if you don't support your local retailer, and buy all your stuff online, you will get patchy warranty support at best, possible order hiccups/mixups, no reciprocal customer loyalty, and pretty soon an emaciated and 'cost-efficient' local presence, with little variety and personality, little time for free gear and brake adjustments

I'm really glad I got my $650 HID light via the LBS, managed to break it within a month - the damage was $6 freight and 2 weeks waiting - and I didn't have to think about it.
I used the web to checkout the options, later fluked finding the distributor and put the LBS onto them.

Most LBS's that I have seen in Oz are now dictated to by above-mentioned fat-cat distributors. LBS's have lost a great deal of their independence bcos they basically have to align themselves with distributors/marketers who say 'You take our whole range or nothing'!!!

Consequently you now see most bike shops not as themselves anymore, but your local <insert-brand-name-here>store. Giant, Bianchi, Specialized, etc etc.
Accessories are the same basically the one and only thing distinguishing these stores from each other is margin (which is mainly dictated by the distributor again to 'uphold' a brands values. yeah right... ) and
after-sales-service.

The size of our market argument doesnt cut it. If the distributor can buy a TREK/GIANT/toolbag cheaper (ie 45% cheaper!) than he could a few years back when our dollar was 47USc/Dollar, then not only is he morally obliged to pass on those savings as our dollar's strength increases but HE IS ALSO BREAKING THE LAW. Trades act, ACCC, and the soon to be FTA (believe it or not...).
Its great that the BRTA have setup the cyclingPromotionFund (Big cheer) but please dont flick the ol' convenient-ignorance-switch. Rally together and boycott Distributors who practice this or at very minimum report them.

Cant help seein the writing on the wall as many LBS's in Mebourne spring up faster than cafes. Its about time 'the industry' did something about this.

Whilst Im rabbiting on about 'the industry' why is it the October bikeshow is the only major exhibition that you have to pay entry to? For the privelege of having people SELLING things to me? Its ludicrous. That's why i will never go again. Its a joke.

PS I have a Limar 105 which I love (altho would love the option of not having to wear one at all. Oh, oh a helmet debate. run away.............)

flyingdutch said:

Most LBS's that I have seen in Oz are now dictated to by above-mentioned fat-cat distributors. LBS's have lost a great deal of their independence bcos they basically have to align themselves with distributors/marketers who say 'You take our whole range or nothing'!!!

Agreed. Also the distributor only brings in a selection. I had to import the perfect mirrors for my pre-Shimano brake levers, suggested by the LBS when they were regenerating my tourer - bar end levers ruled out bar end mirrors.

Current peeve - why are (almost)all the winter jerseys Red or Blue? Blue's my fave but neither are high vis. Yellow scores bonus points on the road for being seen as trying to be seen.

aeek said:

flyingdutch said:

Most LBS's that I have seen in Oz are now dictated to by above-mentioned
fat-cat distributors. LBS's have lost a great deal of their independence
bcos they basically have to align themselves with distributors/marketers
who say 'You take our whole range or nothing'!!!

Agreed. Also the distributor only brings in a selection. I had to
import the perfect mirrors for my pre-Shimano brake levers, suggested
by the LBS when they were regenerating my tourer - bar end levers ruled
out bar end mirrors.

Current peeve - why are (almost)all the winter jerseys Red or Blue?
Blue's my fave but neither are high vis. Yellow scores bonus points on
the road for being seen as trying to be seen.

--
aeek

Buying locally doesn't have to be expensive .
We have a selection of sizes in long sleeve shirts which are bright yellow &
red (design Orbitel) or Red white blue (design Vinicryl) quality imported
sublimated product from Suarez brand (currently being used by the Santiago
Botero & co. at the Olympics) with long zipper & 3 pockets $79 plus 5$
freight .
http://members.iinet.net.au/~ideal/Suarez.html
Plus buying locally you won't need to incur the 25% duty which is already
paid.

Steve @ IDEAL

[email hidden said:

"]Buying locally doesn't have to be expensive...
Steve @ IDEAL

can you open up in Melbourne? 😉

hippy said:

Quoted message said:

Dej wrote:
why would anyone willingly pay $299 for a helmet when it can be had
for $200?

I totally agree... BUT.. why should a bike shop guy bother fitting a
helmet
if the buyer is just going to order one online anyway?

hippy

You tell him you are 'just looking' as I was when I was tossing up btwn a
Limar and Met style (they didn't sell MET at the store I was at). I then
proceeded to purchase my cold weather gear, so both him and I were happy.

GPL

flyingdutch said:

Cant help seein the writing on the wall as many LBS's in Mebourne spring up faster than cafes. Its about time 'the industry' did something about this.

Whilst Im rabbiting on about 'the industry' why is it the October bikeshow is the only major exhibition that you have to pay entry to? For the privelege of having people SELLING things to me? Its ludicrous. That's why i will never go again. Its a joke.

PS I have a Limar 105 which I love (altho would love the option of not having to wear one at all. Oh, oh a helmet debate. run away.............)

Yawn. Someone had the temerity to mention h_lm_ts. So, you want something positive to occur in the longterm?

Unfortunately, attempting to create some form of dialogue/change usually involves being in contact with [censored] you dislike. An personal observation of cycling - lots of fascinating, passionate individuals who love their activity. But very tribal and prone to inane bickering. Sometimes for decades.
As for the bicycle industry, Australia is a miniscule market. Imported bike components have to be sold at the cost they were shipped in, and not current market price. [censored] isn't it?

Maybe this should broaden your perspective of what the bicycle industry is attempting to do,
"The Cycling Promotion Fund is a Bicycle Industries Australia Ltd. initiative established in 1999 to help the bicycle industry take collective action to increase bicycle use. "
cyclingpromotion.comcyclingpromotion.comOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Yawn. Someone had the temerity to mention h_lm_ts. So, you want >something positive to occur in the longterm?

WTF? Like I said, i wear one. cos I have to and cos I have dependents who need me to get home in one piece. I aint going any deeper cos we'll be ere all century as you mention'd...

Quoted message said:

As for the bicycle industry, Australia is a miniscule market. Imported bike >components have to be sold at the cost they were shipped in, and not >current market price. [censored] isn't it?

Quoted message said:

Maybe this should broaden your perspective of what the bicycle industry >is attempting to do, "The Cycling Promotion Fund is a Bicycle Industries >Australia Ltd. initiative established in 1999 to help the bicycle industry >take collective action to increase bicycle use. " http://>www.cyclingpromotion.com

I agree cfsmtb. that's why I mentioned it along with a BIG CHEER. I think your missing my angle, or Im not tapping it out clearly. Im having a go at the middle-persons' who havent reduced the price of things despite them buying them cheaper due to the rise in our dollar. NOT THE RETAILER.
Many are now marking items up 60-70% rather than the historical 50%.
Reference. ex-bianchi-Giant national sales manager of 5 years.
Not a theory. fact.

Online shopping is a factor in modern society which everyone needs to come to terms with ,for better or worse. Maybe LBS's will morph more into service centres or something totally different over time. Maybe the shrinkwrapped bike arrives and you take it to the LBS to assemble/service etc. LBS's rarely make much on bike sales from what many proprietors have told me. 'All' the margins are in the accessories and service. Who knows? Markets are a funny thing. After all, 'We' bought John Howard...

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

[...]

Quoted message said:

The size of our market argument doesnt cut it.

It is a factor, just that's it's overstated. For starters, not all
distributors carry all models of whatever because the market doesn't justify
it. I found this out when I was looking at tyres not so long ago.
Continental are one of the few to carry the full range in Australia. For
example, Panaracer don't (ie. the local Panaracer distributor hasn't brought
the Pasela TourGuard into Oz for over two years despite its being argubly
the premier tyre in its class), and there are others I know of (Schwalbe
don't; Vredestein don't; Michelin don't; Avocet don't even have an
Australian distributor). You can be sure the same goes for everything else
in the bike world.

[...]

Quoted message said:

Whilst Im rabbiting on about 'the industry' why is it the October
bikeshow is the only major exhibition that you have to pay entry to?

That's not true. You have to pay for entry to the Motor Show, the Home
Show, etc.

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<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

[...]

Quoted message said:

Buying locally doesn't have to be expensive .
We have a selection of sizes in long sleeve shirts which are bright
yellow & red (design Orbitel) or Red white blue (design Vinicryl)
quality imported sublimated product from Suarez brand (currently
being used by the Santiago Botero & co. at the Olympics) with long
zipper & 3 pockets $79 plus 5$ freight .
http://members.iinet.net.au/~ideal/Suarez.html
Plus buying locally you won't need to incur the 25% duty which is
already paid.

I'd like to see individual images of each product. And do any of your
jerseys come without the advertising? One thing I'll say about Netti, you
wear it without feeling like an unpaid billboard. I particularly like their
Tempest jersey.
http://www.bikes.com.au/html/s13_shopping/view_product.asp?id=689&nav_cat_id=142&nav_top_id=Shop3&ds=19%2F08%2F2004+10%3A26%3A42+PM
(Oh, and since Netti has stopped producing their winter gear expect some
sales in the near future).

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