I was floored to find out my LBS is charging $8 for a cheap aluminum water bottle cage. Am I being unreasonable, or is this a ridiculous price?
Doesn’t seem that out of line. If you were to order from performance or nashbar and pay for shipping, you’d be past that anyway.
just write the check.
I was floored to find out my LBS is charging $8 for a cheap aluminum water bottle cage. Am I being unreasonable, or is this a ridiculous price?
I think it’s a little high…like twice what it should be. But it really depends on the brand.
Personally - I buy cheap cages from REI:
huh?
anyway, i think it’s a bit steep. I could see $6. also, these cages are cheap aluminum, nothing special. I don’t mind paying extra at the LBS, but that was just too much for me.
It sucks, but in the end it’s only $8. Of course I’d rather pay $6 too, but it’s not really worth the time to look for one that’s a few bucks cheaper, or the gas to drive to that other store to get it.
Yeah, but i have to get 3 of them, so it compounds. Plus, the alternative is just to wait (it’s not urgent) and get them online next time I place an order.
ANyway, maybe I’m just cheap, but I couldn’t stomach that.
thanks
This post is not directed at you, but inspired by your original post. You know, everything has a price. And typically there is a reason for that price. This is’nt a business where people are making massive amounts of money really quickly. Personally, I think we have become obsessed by price. I see it all the time - people driving all over the place to save a few dollars. It’s costing them more in gas, time and aggravation, but they HAVE to get the lowest price. I suspect this is why Wal-Mart has been such a huge success - they always seem to have the lowest price on everything - but there will be long term and in some cases as yet undetermined costs to be born by getting that insane low price at Wal-Mart or where-ever. This obsession with price has driven many small and independant shops in many businesses, including the bike and sporting goods businesses to the brink and in many cases out of business.
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If the same cage is available for $2 somewhere else, maybe the price is too high. Chances are that the price is perfectly reasonable.
As long as my LBS gives me advice, gives my bike a free once over before every big event, puts on rides that encourage newcomer participation, and do their best to offer personal service, I will gladly and almost always buy everything I need there, even if it means paying a few extra dollars on some of the low end items. There are many places where the LBS have not survived and I do what I can to support them (within reason of course).
Yeah, but i have to get 3 of them, so it compounds. Plus, the alternative is just to wait (it’s not urgent) and get them online next time I place an order.
I agree with Fleck. People have become obsessed with price, even if it’s only to save a buck or two, as in this situation. This is a perfect case where somebody has an opportunity to support a local bike shop. Sure, it might cost $6 more, but it’s only $6, and it helps a small shop stay in business so that they’re there next time you need some work done.
I know it adds up. You need three of them, so you’re going to save $6 by buying online. Wouldn’t you rather see that $6 go to a small local business rather than a big online bike shop?
I’m as thrifty as the next guy, but at some point you’ve got to say “it’s worth me spending a bit more to support a local bike shop.” Generally, bike shops are owned by people who love the sport and hope they can make a measly living running a shop. It’s not like owning a bike shop is a recipe to print money. Dude - give a local guy the $6 you’ll save by ordering online, and keep the bike shop alive.
There are many places where the LBS have not survived and I do what I can to support them (within reason of course).
Exactly. And if you really want to save that $2, then don’t go out to the bars. You think that bottle cage is marked up, what about bars? I mean, why pay $5 for a beer at a bar when you can buy a 6-pack for $6 and drink at home?
Drinks at a bar - now that’s markup.
“Drinks at a bar - now that’s markup”
Great point. You know, it’s funny how people think nothing of throwing money at somethings, that have HUGE margins and then get their shorts completely in a knot about things and businesses that run on very, very thin margins - the bike business for example. I see/hear no mutinys here or in front of Starbucks about what a rip-off a 5$ latte is, when in fact it really is a HUGE ripoff or in Starbucks case a brilliant business model. I can have that same latte in the comfort of my own kitchen, for much less than a dollar!Same with drinks at a bar as you pointed out or any number of other products or services that have huge markups.
Back when I was a young lad, I worked at McDonald’s, and I was even promoted to the grand position of manager throughout my university days. Hey - it payed for tuition. Anyway, seeing the margins was a real eye opener. Back then, the profit on pop was about 1600%. That means that a pop that they sold for $1.28 actually only cost them $0.08, including the cost of the cup.
McDonald’s continues to make huge profits, while bike shops struggle. Think about that next time you think that water bottle cage is overpriced by $2. Skip the drive through, and treat yourself to that bottle cage.
This post is not directed at you, but inspired by your original post. You know, everything has a price. And typically there is a reason for that price. This is’nt a business where people are making massive amounts of money really quickly. Personally, I think we have become obsessed by price. I see it all the time - people driving all over the place to save a few dollars. It’s costing them more in gas, time and aggravation, but they HAVE to get the lowest price. I suspect this is why Wal-Mart has been such a huge success - they always seem to have the lowest price on everything - but there will be long term and in some cases as yet undetermined costs to be born by getting that insane low price at Wal-Mart or where-ever. This obsession with price has driven many small and independant shops in many businesses, including the bike and sporting goods businesses to the brink and in many cases out of business.
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That’s how capitalism works.
Back when I was a young lass…
You were a young lass once???
Oops - I mean lad…Young lad. Always have been, always will be.
“That’s how capitalism works.”
I get that, but I wonder where it’s going to end. The OP is complaining about the 8$ cage. Next year, prices will drop and people will be complaining about the 7$. The year after that prices drop again and people are complaining about the 6$ cages. The next year, they are saying what a rip off the 5$ cages are . . . and so on. Where does it end. At some point we’ll reach zero!!
“That’s how capitalism works.”
I get that, but I wonder where it’s going to end. The OP is complaining about the 8$ cage. Next year, prices will drop and people will be complaining about the 7$. The year after that prices drop again and people are complaining about the 6$ cages. The next year, they are saying what a rip off the 5$ cages are . . . and so on. Where does it end. At some point we’ll reach zero!!
(I’ll do my best Coggan impression:)
No, that’s not how capitalism works.