Shimano Goes Fishin And Catches Us Bikers As Whoppers!

[mistergomez]

Somebody want to help me figure out why Shimano imposes low costs on their fishing technology but makes niche sports like high end biking pay out their ass on their tiny bike part components.

My latest foray into buying new Dura Ace Shifters, which are bare minimum $250 plus, got me thinking about, what kind of racket you have been pigeonholed into.

If you look at or examine “any” of the Shimano high end fishing reels, which have more screws and wheels in it, and components, and technology, than their bike shifters, most likely, these reels cost about 4 times LESS than one of its high end, road bike, Dura Ace Shifters?

Can you imagine at Wal-Mart if our esteemed Shimano profit mongers decided to make people, who want to buy their fishing equipment, pay what they sell their similar small goods or parts, as recreational technology to, for bikers. No middle class country guy or gal who likes to fish is going to shell out $359 for a new Shimano Fishing Reel.

Nobody would buy it. Therefore, how about $19.95?

However, the American high end bike aficionados will for new Shimano road bike shifters, even though the technology is quite similar to a $19 reel made by Shimano. In fact, the technology might even be a step down!

I’ve taken Shimano fishing reels apart and now I’ve taken Shimano bike shifters apart. There’s obviously some differences here, given that the mechanisms are different, but there ain’t too much, difference. Other than the price. We can cut hairs about the difference but, to me, there ain’t much difference. The metals and springs and wheels used are extremely similar.

And yet one high end Shimano Bike component, a shifter, (make that, two, because you have to have TWO SHIFTERS) ain’t too much different than their reels:

This complicated set of revolving components below and inner wheels and springs costs $19.95:

However, just one of the things below, a left or right shifter, is probably $150 bucks or more, by itself, AND, if you want both, it will cost you nearly $300 bucks:

Do you care?

You probably don’t. That’s what they are counting on. People who fish outnumber you. So bend over.

[Aztec]

Hey, you can always buy Campy then.

You should anyway.

[big_kahuna]

It’s because bass don’t get a trial lawyer and sue when the reel manages to bring 'em into the boat. Bike stuff, on the other hand, can get 'em sued if they malfunction and cause the rider to get injured or otherwise pissed-off. Gotta build in enough money to cover product liability awards, I guess.

Just my theory.

[cerveloguy]

“Hey, you can always buy Campy then.”

Part of the snob factor about owning Campy has always been that they also make parts for NASA and Ferrari while the ShinaNO main sideline is in fishin’ gear.

Do they not also have ultegra and dura-ace model fishin’ reels?

[davet]

Shimano also make golf gear, and yes, you can buy Ultegra golf equipment.

[big_kahuna]

Nothin’ unusual about Japanese products like that. Hell, I’ve got a Yamaha keyboard to go along with my Yamaha Recording Custom drum set, and my nephew rides a Yamaha motorcycle. And look at Honda. They’re only trying to dominate the world in a different way than they did back in '41-'45

Tony

[davet]

That’s a bit different.

Yamaha, like Mitsubishi, Panasonic and Hitachi (for examples) are huge mega companies, making ships electronics, cars, running banks etc.

Shimano is not in the same league as them - Shimano is cycling (primarily), fishing, golf and snowboarding.

[JustJulian]

& there’s me thinking it was because Campagnolo products are precision built, beautifully designed, aesthetically pleasing and can be rebuilt (as least the Ergos are) if they should go wrong, which is very rare.

[Diesel]

You already answered your question…

Retailers control the fishing equipment prices, not the manufacturer.

The opposite is true in cycling.

[Khai]

Shimano is not in the same league as them - Shimano is cycling (primarily), fishing, golf and snowboarding.

The former owner of my old LBS sold his business and went to work for Shimano, in their fishing division. It was his dream job, and last I heard he’s extremely happy there. But you are entirely incorrect in your assertion that Shimano is primarily a cycling company. Their cycling business unit is less than 10% the size of their fishing unit. While I have no idea about their golf, snowboarding, or any other business units, I can tell you that cycling is but a tiny slice of the overall Shimano pie.

[frogonawire]

"Hey, you can always buy Campy then. "

yes, and that’s quite a bargain, too

[tri-espana]

When you got a market full of dumbass fanatics who’ll pay ‘whatever’ then why not charge accordingly.
Says the dumbass who just ordered new campy 10spd at about a months salary.

Just imagine what prices will be like when the US Peso gets even weaker against the yen and every other currency… ebay 2005 - Cervelo P3 with DA 10 spd $20,000US peso!!

Tullio Campagnolo invented the modern dual lever cork screw, now thats class!

http://www.campagnolo.com/thumbs/BIG.jpg

[norton]

Actually, Shimano does make and sell extremely expensive, high end reels. Try $400.00 for a spinning reel, or $800.00 for a two speed big game lever drag reel. Fantastic stuff.

[Kevin_in_MD]

I find these threads very funny.

For every bike person saying I ride campy because shimano a fishing reel company, there’s a fisherman saying he uses abu garcia because shimano is a bicycle company.

The fisherman then points to the shift lever on the mountain bike in sports authority and says, how come shimano can make bike shifters for 13.99 a pair (http://www.bikepartsusa.com/product_info.phtml?p=01-129925) when a decent baitcast reel costs $110.

In reality a decent set of (tiagra) sti shifters cost around $120. And a decent baitcast reel costs the same. At the same time top of the line shifters $400+ as do the the top of the line baitcast reels. You can check the reel prices at www.basspro.com in case you were actually asking a question rather than spouting off.

A spinning reel of the type you posted is actually a very elegant but simple design once you look inside. However that does not mean that A 14 year old who cracked it open can get it back together.

[cerveloguy]

“& there’s me thinking it”

Well…that too.

[Monk]

4 times LESS
Sorry I can’t contribute to this thread. I am still trying to wrap my mind around the math.

[ezrahallam]

We talked about something similar with the entry fees Triathlons. It is supply vs. demand. When people stop paying $1700 for a component group the price will come down. Until then…

[skip]

As others have pointed out, there is plenty of high end fishing equipment out there, but to whatever degree the value is skewed in favor of the reels you need to remember that there are probably 100 or more fishing enthusiasts for every serious cyclist/triathlete that exists in the USA. Hundreds of thousands of fishing licenses are sold annually, never mind the places you don’t need a license to fish. With a market of that size, there’s going to be much more competition. That means lower prices. There are dozens of companies making fishing equipment, and about 2 1/2 making shifting components for bikes.

[fredly]

Post: Shimano is not in the same league as them - Shimano is cycling (primarily), fishing, golf and snowboarding.

The former owner of my old LBS sold his business and went to work for Shimano, in their fishing division. It was his dream job, and last I heard he’s extremely happy there. But you are entirely incorrect in your assertion that Shimano is primarily a cycling company. Their cycling business unit is less than 10% the size of their fishing unit. While I have no idea about their golf, snowboarding, or any other business units, I can tell you that cycling is but a tiny slice of the overall Shimano pie.

This is a really common misconception. The latest figures that I have on hand, from the Shimano annual financial report, show a sales balance nearly 3 to 1 in favor of the cycling division over the fishing division.

Below is a link to the 2003 Shimano annual report, in PDF format.
http://corporate.shimano.com/publish/content/corporate/en/shimanocorporatesiteen/financial_information/annual_report.MainContentPar.0009.File.tmp/Annual%20Report%202003%20final.pdf

[Helitech]

Shimano Tiagra 50

$990 on sale for $600

4 Ball bearings Forged aluminum frame and spool 2-speed gearing Exclusive Hydrothermal Lever Drag System Graphite drag washers 3.1/1.3 gear ratio Line capacity: 850 yds. 50 lb. test

This is the 50 model , they go up to a 180 , Yeah cheap.