have gone back up in price at chain reaction. I bought a set 3 weeks ago for 235 and now they are 320.
Wow,saint cranks
- Thread starter daisycutter
- Start date
gas prices upping cost of shipping....and i'm not sure if shimano factories or their supply chain was impacted by the earthquake/tsunami
The XTR Factory was not effected, not sure how much of the line is built there though.
i still see the 83mm at $240 w/ no bash ring
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=27682
the dual chain ring w/ bash is $320
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=27684
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=27682
the dual chain ring w/ bash is $320
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=27684
why are Troy Lee helmets 500???
Because they are always overpriced
I actually heard a rumor that Shimano was going to try and put a stop the the massive exchange rate discount that CRC had. Not sure about that, but I remember for a while CRC sold them cheaper at retail than we could get them from distributors...
It's the same in Australia - CRC is often cheaper than wholesale prices, esp for Shimano stuff. Retarded attitude though - "hey those guys are undercutting us, whatever shall we do? Make our business model more efficient and cut costs to compete?"
"Nah let's just whinge to the manufacturer and force those guys to put their prices up."
A LOT of distributors in Aus do the same thing too, it sucks.
wait, are you saying it's retarded for retail suppliers to complain that CRC gets or can provide such a discount as their parts are below wholesale available to retailers? That sounds pretty unfair to me, especially when you can only buy through approved channels...it puts the small shop out of business, as you can't sell parts for less than you buy them for unless you're retarded and hate being in business. Sounds like a very fair complaint to me, even if it ends up limiting the amount of stuff I can buy from CRC.
anyways...methinks you have the cranks confused. If not, their prices do fluctuate often....check daily and every day the price will be different, generally not by a lot but it's noticeable.
Nah it's not the shops at all (they have no say in wholesale prices for starters!) - it's the distributors here in Aus that aren't capable of bringing stuff in for reasonable prices. Why should I pay $230+ (wholesale) for a Hope ProII rear hub when I can get an entire wheel built (with 823s no less) shipped to my door from CRC for the same money? Or Saint cranks for $250-380 (yes actual price variation) wholesale when they're usually substantially less than that on CRC? Especially in Shimano's case - Shimano Aus are owned by Shimano Japan, they have NO excuse for pricing if they can afford to sell to CRC for whatever they do!
CRC is the new business model, and obviously it's doing EXTREMELY well because everyone else is scared of it. Saying they should be blocked off from selling stuff cheap because it "puts others out of business" is silly - I can't speak for the US but the high end MTB scene in Aus has grown massively since high end stuff (via mail order, primarily through CRC) has become a lot more accessible to the average punter. I would say, counterintuitive though it may be, that high end sales in shops have actually risen in Aus since CRC came along, simply because CRC has contributed to market growth that much.
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Ah, fair enough.
I would only contend that very few mail order outlets can touch CRC's prices. I don't know how they get their phenomenal deals, but if there's something sneaky going on, it would help to level the playing field. I don't know if it's selling in volume, or rebranding OEM parts, or some sort of tax sneakery, but I'm not sure it's fair and balanced competition. If it's simply that they're able to offer better deals because they have a better business model, then it's time to stop bitching and copy the business model!
I would only contend that very few mail order outlets can touch CRC's prices. I don't know how they get their phenomenal deals, but if there's something sneaky going on, it would help to level the playing field. I don't know if it's selling in volume, or rebranding OEM parts, or some sort of tax sneakery, but I'm not sure it's fair and balanced competition. If it's simply that they're able to offer better deals because they have a better business model, then it's time to stop bitching and copy the business model!
if a manufacturer wants to control one retailer/etailer's price, then that mfg has to police every person selling their products to make it fair for everyone. in the world of the internet, thats a daunting task, but certainly doable.
CRC gets their great prices because they are the largest online bike shop in the world. purchasing power buys cheap prices in any market.
CRC gets their great prices because they are the largest online bike shop in the world. purchasing power buys cheap prices in any market.
I can guarantee you it is not this. Likely some other combination of the things you mentioned. I know that the Saint cranks I bought from them were OEM, not aftermarket. My take on it is, enjoy it while you can and certainly take advantage of it, because it is not a sustainable business model and it will not continue as it has the last couple of years.
hate to disagree, but youre wrong. online retailers like them will only strive in the upcoming years b/c of their prices. see my post above
CRC's shimano prices are so low because they are selling OEM / not for resale items (no difference other than pakcaging, but way different price scale, and then just applying their standard margin).
it was cheaper for me to buy from CRC a saint kit than it was from BTI last fall.
it was cheaper for me to buy from CRC a saint kit than it was from BTI last fall.
The trade off of pulling the trigger on CRC stuff versus your distributor is well documented. You may pay an extra $50-100 for some high end something, but it always shows UP!
I've seen plently of people order from CRC and not neccesarily get their parts when they need them. If you're ordering on need, your distributor will come through for you.
But if you're up for customs delays and parcel post shipping, CRC can't be beat.
I've seen plently of people order from CRC and not neccesarily get their parts when they need them. If you're ordering on need, your distributor will come through for you.
But if you're up for customs delays and parcel post shipping, CRC can't be beat.
Actually, you are dead wrong on the pricing structure. It is not down to purchasing power and quantity discounts are not the reason they can sell for the prices they do. It is purchasing product that is slated for OEM (in which case the prices are FAR lower) and selling it as aftermarket product. That will eventually get cut off and duty/import taxes will eventually catch up with them as well. My predictions at least. I could be wrong.
Never had a problem ordering from CRC and receiving items in a timely manner...
I usually buy bikes/frames and big ticket items from my lbs. But for parts and shimano componentry, CRC gets my hard earned dollar.
Haters will hate.
I usually buy bikes/frames and big ticket items from my lbs. But for parts and shimano componentry, CRC gets my hard earned dollar.
Haters will hate.
FYI, It's actually Dogboy's business is to know exactly what CRC is doing. He's not making uninformed comments.
they havent been cut off yet and duty/import taxes are already high now. the mfg's wont cut them off unless they want to lose a significant portion of their business.
so, by his accounts, we should see CRC with higher pricing soon and not as prominent as they are now.
FYI, It's actually Dogboy's business is to know exactly what CRC is doing. He's not making uninformed comments.
I'm very hesitant to order from CRC again, after I got a small unpadded box of parts, total value over $600, shipped overseas. I couldn't believe it when I opened it up- no boxes, no insulation, no padding or packaging. The BB spindle was poking out of the side.
Thankfully it was mostly saint stuff so it was pretty durable, but I can't imagine ordering say, a carbon crank, that way. This was on top of the lack of communication when they wanted personal information before shipping my order, like a bill or something. With all the scams they're involved in, no freaking way.
I currently work for a manufacturer in the automotive industry that sells stuff OE and aftermarket in parallel (which has difficulties the bike industry doesn't get to see because Shimano stuff never gets rebranded by the OE purchaser unlike with cars), and really - who cares whether your product is OE or AM? The simple fact is that the cost for manufacturing and distribution to the end consumer is lower. OE costs are lower, at least in the company I work for, primarily for one reason: volume of sales. We don't sell 5 or 10 of a given product to say Toyota, we sell them maybe 500-1000 at a time, which makes production and shipping efficient. With the aftermarket products (which unlike in the bike industry, are NOT the same as the OE products, they have to be developed separately and after the release of the vehicle in order not to piss the likes of Toyota off), the development time available is shorter, manufacturing runs are done in tens not hundreds or thousands, and they're shipped 2 or 3 at a time (expensive) to vendors around the country. In this case, I understand why the AM products end up selling for about twice as much.
What I don't get is why there is any kind of problem with an online retailer like CRC buying "OEM"? The product is actually the same, all that is changing is packaging (who cares) and order/shipment volume... and maybe margins. I fail to see how that's unsustainable!
I think what a lot of businesses in the bike industry miss out on is the concept of return on investment PER UNIT TIME. Markups are generally pretty high (esp in retail) because a lot of business owners are like "it's not worth our while if we don't make at least 50% on each product". I wouldn't be surprised if CRC are running lower margins to obtain faster sales, higher cashflow and as a result, a high amount of reinvestment in new product. For example, bike shop buys a set of high end cranks for say $200 (incl freight, tax etc), wants to sell them at $300 because otherwise it was a "waste of time". Takes them 6 months to get the crankset to move out the door, so they're making 50% ROI in 6 months, and if they then pocket the profit and reinvest another $200 in the same crankset and take another 6 months to sell those, they've made 100% ROI in 12 months.
However, if someone like CRC buys a set of cranks for $200 all inclusive, but decides they're going to sell them for $230, and they're moving a set a week, then they're making 15% ROI each week which ends up being 780% a year... despite apparently making less margin. They've given themselves a big enough market to allow this to happen by operating globally, and I think until their competitors cotton on, they're going to continue to grow and grow, and for the most part that's very beneficial for consumers.
Sometimes product warranties vary OEM vs. retail, and while I'd be fine with OEM, I want to know that before I order. Parts may be missing, previously installed, etc.
There was no damage to my parts, but I was expecting new and got OEM-ish.
There was no damage to my parts, but I was expecting new and got OEM-ish.
theres good stuff here
i dont know how it is in little Britain, but here companies have to let you know they are selling you a OEM product
Firstly and I don't even know why I have to say it, I am not hating on CRC. As stated in my first post, I have personally purchased from them and was satisfied. These are just my observations as someone has worked in the bike business for 28 of my 41 years. OE product in the bike business is cheaper because of volume, forecasting/commitment, and lack of aftermarket packaging. There are also other factors like bike companies that purchase OE product for their bikes assuming responsibility for support and warranty issues. OE purchasing requires a commitment to take the product that aftermarket does not and retailers are not going to make that commitment. I could go on, but suffice it to say there are a lot of subtleties that most folks don't take into account. And yes I understand GMROI and how the tradeoff of selling something for less with a quicker turn can outweigh sitting on product waiting for it to sell at a higher margin.
most german onlineshops are cheaper...
Didn't it reach the US that there is an anti-CRC movement?
Here's the link http://antichainreaction.com/
OE product is not always the same as Aftermarket product in the bike biz
the caveat "buyer beware" (or at least, be informed) must be applied
its not just a case of OE product arriving in poly bags (rather than aftermarket cardboard packaging) but fitment parts may not be included, and features can vary
a good example is brakes and suspension forks
check carefully exactly what fork model you are getting - its not uncommon to find OE forks selling at low prices on-line, but you may get a fork with a steel steerer tube rather than the aluminium alloy tube of the aftermarket model
another example is a solid crown for OE, rather than hollow crown for Aftermarket
or a reduced feature set on the OE fork - simpler compression damper, cheaper rebound damper, no low / high speed, etc.
I've heard of people buy forks on-line in cheap deals but fork arriving with Maxle missing, and then being charged the £45 retail price for the Maxle
or mounting bolts missing for disc brake rotors or calipers, etc. or even the top crown missing from their Boxxer fork!
brakes can arrive with aluminium alloy lever blade rather than carbon fibre blade, or hybrid caliper / lever combinations (specialized have SRAM make alot of OE brakes in this fashion)
as long as you know what you are getting, you can get good deals on-line and price is always key
here in the UK the warranty rests with the retailer, so buying OE is not an issue in that respect
but you would not find Mojo (Fox uk distrib.) to accept your Fox OE fork through a local dealer for warranty work, you would have to ship it back to the on-line retailer you purchased it from, worth figuring additional costs like warranty returns into any purchasing decision
regarding Shimano production? from information in an article I read with the president of Shimano in Japan, its Japan for the high-end groupsets (XTR, Saint, Dura-Ace) and Malaysia for the rest?
the caveat "buyer beware" (or at least, be informed) must be applied
its not just a case of OE product arriving in poly bags (rather than aftermarket cardboard packaging) but fitment parts may not be included, and features can vary
a good example is brakes and suspension forks
check carefully exactly what fork model you are getting - its not uncommon to find OE forks selling at low prices on-line, but you may get a fork with a steel steerer tube rather than the aluminium alloy tube of the aftermarket model
another example is a solid crown for OE, rather than hollow crown for Aftermarket
or a reduced feature set on the OE fork - simpler compression damper, cheaper rebound damper, no low / high speed, etc.
I've heard of people buy forks on-line in cheap deals but fork arriving with Maxle missing, and then being charged the £45 retail price for the Maxle
or mounting bolts missing for disc brake rotors or calipers, etc. or even the top crown missing from their Boxxer fork!
brakes can arrive with aluminium alloy lever blade rather than carbon fibre blade, or hybrid caliper / lever combinations (specialized have SRAM make alot of OE brakes in this fashion)
as long as you know what you are getting, you can get good deals on-line and price is always key
here in the UK the warranty rests with the retailer, so buying OE is not an issue in that respect
but you would not find Mojo (Fox uk distrib.) to accept your Fox OE fork through a local dealer for warranty work, you would have to ship it back to the on-line retailer you purchased it from, worth figuring additional costs like warranty returns into any purchasing decision
regarding Shimano production? from information in an article I read with the president of Shimano in Japan, its Japan for the high-end groupsets (XTR, Saint, Dura-Ace) and Malaysia for the rest?
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83 or 73?
Maybe want. How much?
