rant about Oz prices

ksl

My recent experience with buying bike components.

Wanted to change my road handlebars to some Ritchey Biomax Pro bars (shallower drop than my current ones). Also needed a new stem. Contacted the distributors (who were very helpful) - the 40cm bars aren't stocked, but could be ordered, takes approx 6 weeks, rrp AUS$189. The stem I want costs AUS$199 (Ritchey WCS).

Try the net, order the bars AND stem, plus air express postage, for AUS$216. Arrives in 2 weeks, as promised.

Hmmm... buy locally for $388 and wait 6 weeks, or order from the net for $216 and delivered in 2 weeks.

I really do try to support my local shop, but when there is such a ridiculous difference (for a relatively simple part that I don't need a shop's advice for, and can fit myself), it's a no brainer. Who sets these prices? Why is there such a differential?

BTW, I used glorycycles.com - they were very helpful, and answered a few questions via email before I ordered.

531Aussie

yeah, prices here are an absolute fkn joke, and bar & stem prices particularly piss me off (but not as much as the price of bike clothes and tyres) because they are not moving parts; just cheap, small chunks of aluminium!!

in about 1992, I bought some Cinelli bars for 50 bucks, and a Cinelli stem for 60 bucks, and I barely noticed bar & stem prices until a few years ago when I needed to upgrade to A-head. Well, I was shocked to see alu stems and bars over 200 bucks each!!!! Barely justifiable!!

I rountinely skimp on non-moving parts such as stems, bars and seat posts, often buying 'BBB', unless I get a super deal on a 'name' brand. By the time we put bar tape, a speedo (a "computer" is what I'm looking at right now), heart rate monitor and lights on the bars, who can see or give a shit what brand they are?

geoffs

The main problem is that the volumes that aus importers sell are small. So they are trying to make a viable business by charging large margins. This used to work before Ebay and the internet. I have been buying all my major purchases for the last 13yrs from overseas. Even if I want to buy some things locally the importer wont bring them in, such as Conti Gatorskins 700x28. The reply was "how many pallet loads"! So they wonder why I buy from OS! The wonderful Mavic importer will only sell rims by the pair.
I buy small items and Velicity rims locally but thats it.
I am building up a new Titanium road frame with bits from Ebay so I should save a bundle when I am buying Chris King, Dura ace and FSA for less that half the local price. Tough choice.


Cheers