Having been around the block a time or two. Knowing many of the players, the games, the powers that be. I have to wonder. Why is a company like Shimano purchasing ad space to begin with? They all but own the OE market be it at “WalMart” or “Lightning Larry’s wonder bike Emporium of Lust Bikes”.
Certainly no company wants to hear or read a bad review of their products. Even more so, Dan has taken the more than high road in purchasing the products he evaluates. He also has been more than careful in stating that things are ‘his opinion’, or ‘his impression’.
Shimano, WTC and on and on have long histories of protecting their trademarks and blah blah blah. The only time I have ever seen otherwise was a number of years ago when Specialized took care of The Roubaix Cafe in Canada. I cant think of many other examples.
Having been to a branded expo just today I noticed a few things. There is no longer a solidarity of the sport. Used to be everyone knew everyone. IM contracted with Head Sweats and DeSoto and others, most deals made over a handshake and a training ride. Now, I can buy that brand at Target on a poorly made cotton sock (saw just last night)…and at the expo, not a sock I would want to purchase at the listed price (balega thank you).
So, we are at a point where Ironman does not need to advertise. They know their races will sell out. Races like GFT, HITS and others will have to battle for business…offering the same physical accomplishment for most AG folks with out having the Ringling Brothers there. Just as we are at a point where Shimano does not need to advertise. They just need to put out tech stuff. They still have the majority of their client base thinking they were first with electronic shifting…and they still make threats with their check book if you happen to be honest in a way they dont agree with (if you happen to be a publisher, editor, or forum).
As a point…well, this is the description online for the Ironman socks at Target…um…okay…
As one of the integral components necessary for any successful outdoor adventure, these high-quality Men’s Wigwam Ironman Thunder Pro Quarter Athletic Socks will definitely come in handy as you hit the running paths. The ultimate in both foot protection and comfort, you’ll enjoy the great outdoors even more with a few pairs of these awesome running socks. And while everyone wears socks for different reasons - for both fashion and functionality - there’s some undeniable health benefits to socks that deserve mention. Wearing socks helps prevent any embarrassing foot odor by absorbing excess sweat from your feet. Socks protect your feet from all sorts of diseases like Athlete’s Foot and other bothersome foot fungi. Socks are a great barrier between your feet and the ground; they help guard your precious feet against hard surfaces, harmful foreign objects, and abrasions. And finally, wearing socks provides that valued layer of insulation that’ll keep your feet dry and toasty. And hey, a man committed to staying physically fit - that’s you btw - can never have enough low-cut socks stashed away in his dresser drawer, right? So, what are you waiting for? Your feet will thank you!
VN had every right to publish the article (assuming they did not violate a NDA). Shimano’s b*tch is with whomever VN used as a source. As one who once receive such product info early, if I had ever leaked info early, I would have negatively impacted not only my job, but my company as well.
Dan hit the nail on the head re: Pelkey and Sani…the other name I would add to the list is Joe Lindsey.
You are dead on correct. Truly however, how much with Cycling or Dura Ace alter a stock price for the company on a whole? Market wise, Dura Ace (or any of the stuff “we” use) is minimal at best when looked at in the big picture of things. Walmart, Dicks and other sports store I am certain sell far more Shimano that every LBS selling Dura Ace combined.
Then, there is the “protection” of the LBS and who protects the LBS from “big brother” Sam Walton…
So, people in the industry are supposed to keep their secrets, protect them…lets see someone find some SRAM, Campagnolo or Sampson bits at the WalMart… While it is an entirely different argument, Shimano who has no allegiance should not wonder why people have no real rational allegiance to them - even more so with the media who Shimano owes their profits to thanks to the dogmatic blessings of all things Shimano it seems.
I’m not certain what the mass merchants have to do with this discussion…but the LBS needs to stop thinking WM is the competition. They aren’t…most mass customers would never buy a bike from a LBS. But that is a whole different thread…
As for “protecting” Shimano…that has nothing to do with it. It has to do with protecting your own company’s goods. If I, as a product developer, had leaked info about new componentry to the public, I have instantly devalued my own existing product. Dealers will start looking for price reductions on the “old” DA bikes and often looking for price protection on any bikes currently sitting on their floor.
THAT is why product guys shouldn’t talk about new stuff before companies are ready to make announcements. It has nothing to do with protecting Shimano or anyone else.
So, again…why do they advertise at all?
Because when you’re the market leader, if you’re smart, you defend that position - you keep advertising and you keep improving your product so that you stay market leader with the stronger profits that come from that.
Whether its smart to threaten journalists is different - that can damage your brand, as it is in this case.
But they have nothing to lose. They own the market. They own it with threats in many cases (if you stock a bike with SRAM we are going to…). Far more so in the road arena than the MTN.
To think that a stock price is going to alter due to someone writing an article? This is Shimano and bike parts, not telling people that the Ford Explorer is going to kill their kids. Then, with the market…like someone is going to beat them to market with a product in the market they own? Shimano very rarely, if ever “invents” anything, or makes some huge technical advance. What they do is produce at a good margin, own the market by either brute force or buy out (Suntour)…
The thought that they are being held up as the “bad guy” is all well and good, I seriously doubt that a single person has thought “well they are mean, I am going to buy Red because of that…I will show em”.
They know they rule the day. If you ask me…why do they advertise in the current market? Because it is a tool (to threaten), as we have seen with this little kerfuffle.
And as for the LBS. Most everything you see in an LBS on a store is with protection of margins. Clothing to foods. The more I saw Cliff bars in the line at the Publix, the less I saw of them in the LBS. It used to be an LBS would have to compete against Nashbar. Now, we see protection from companies like Cervelo and MANY others who say “LBS Only” and thus you can not purchase a frame online…So, how long before the market leader decides that it does not need the LBS (Trek sorta has after all with the Tire Rack-esqe model)…so, Shimano (and others) could simply use the worlds best supply side distribution chain…kill Quality, SBS and others…and use WalMart…why not? The parts are already SKU’ed…
THAT is why product guys shouldn’t talk about new stuff before companies are ready to make announcements. It has nothing to do with protecting Shimano or anyone else.
Seems to me that if this was all NDA stuff…and the NDA’s were upheld…Shimano needs to start looking into their own closet eh? This was not like it was “spy photos” of unbranded NFR stuff at a race. Even the theory of the PM integration. To me, that fall in the “no shit” category of things.
I do love the Shimano ad’s that say “First pedal shoe technology combination…blah blah” (or what ever the exact verbiage is). That was actually Time, and from there TBT and Carnac…but hey, who remembers that?
Having been to a branded expo just today I noticed a few things. There is no longer a solidarity of the sport. Used to be everyone knew everyone. IM contracted with Head Sweats and DeSoto and others, most deals made over a handshake and a training ride. Now, I can buy that brand at Target on a poorly made cotton sock (saw just last night)…and at the expo, not a sock I would want to purchase at the listed price (balega thank you).
25 years ago you could buy an IM branded Huffy mountain bike at Target…
But they have nothing to lose. They own the market. They own it with threats in many cases (if you stock a bike with SRAM we are going to…). Far more so in the road arena than the MTN.
To think that a stock price is going to alter due to someone writing an article? This is Shimano and bike parts, not telling people that the Ford Explorer is going to kill their kids. Then, with the market…like someone is going to beat them to market with a product in the market they own? Shimano very rarely, if ever “invents” anything, or makes some huge technical advance. What they do is produce at a good margin, own the market by either brute force or buy out (Suntour)…
The thought that they are being held up as the “bad guy” is all well and good, I seriously doubt that a single person has thought “well they are mean, I am going to buy Red because of that…I will show em”.
They know they rule the day. If you ask me…why do they advertise in the current market? Because it is a tool (to threaten), as we have seen with this little kerfuffle.
And as for the LBS. Most everything you see in an LBS on a store is with protection of margins. Clothing to foods. The more I saw Cliff bars in the line at the Publix, the less I saw of them in the LBS. It used to be an LBS would have to compete against Nashbar. Now, we see protection from companies like Cervelo and MANY others who say “LBS Only” and thus you can not purchase a frame online…So, how long before the market leader decides that it does not need the LBS (Trek sorta has after all with the Tire Rack-esqe model)…so, Shimano (and others) could simply use the worlds best supply side distribution chain…kill Quality, SBS and others…and use WalMart…why not? The parts are already SKU’ed…
I’m sorry, but you really don’t understand how the bike industry works…
