Road Bike Prices Rise are brands cashing in on the demand

[Joffey]

We do trade freely with plenty of other countries. The EU is being awkward because we put their noses properly out of joint by leaving, and they don't like it. To an expansionary regime like the EU, having some awkward upstart walk away and cut about 15% off their economic might is a pretty big slap in the face. After 50 years of being able to grow ever larger and ever more controlling and bossy, Brexit has come as a nasty shock to their system. They never seriously believed anyone could or would ever leave, Until we did.
They've got massive internal economic and political problems right across the bloc. The political elite's answer is a false show of "european unity" - which is demonstrably fake because the Germans have just done a dirty vaccine deal despite signing up to the "one EU" procurement shitshow that has now gone very wrong. For all the EU's bluff and bluster, we in the UK have seriously wrongfooted them and shown their monolithic bureaucratic machine to be inflexible and utterly incompetent. That glimpse into their inner workings won't be lost on either their own member states populations or the rest of the world.

You lost me when you starting referring to the "political elite" - I stopped reading then as to avoid any claims of wanting to 'Drain The Swamp'.

No matter how you frame it we have left and it's caused prices to rise, big time. And prices tend not to fall once they have gone up. We are entering a recession and wages won't be going up anytime soon - even if they do not by 10-20%.

Brexit has shafted us. They were told it would but wouldn't listen, the just lapped up the rhetoric and propaganda. And now we all have to pick up the pieces (and pay more money for our bikes).

 

[MntnMan62]

Of course they are cashing in on demand. And why shouldn't they? Most of the time demand is fairly low and margins are razor thin. Let them make a buck while they can. Eventually things will go back to pre-covid and we'll all be telling people to shop at local bike shops to keep them from closing.

 

[Tripster]

Brexit adds 14% due to the country of origin rules, probably more at the top end, which is less price-sensitive, and less at the entry level. There was a good explanation in The Comic two weeks ago. It's called taking back control, I think.

Ok but it would be handy to have a list of things that won't be affected by brexit to keep it walled off ....

You lost me when you starting referring to the "political elite" - I stopped reading then as to avoid any claims of wanting to 'Drain The Swamp'.

No matter how you frame it we have left and it's caused prices to rise, big time. And prices tend not to fall once they have gone up. We are entering a recession and wages won't be going up anytime soon - even if they do not by 10-20%.

Brexit has shafted us. They were told it would but wouldn't listen, the just lapped up the rhetoric and propaganda. And now we all have to pick up the pieces (and pay more money for our bikes).

Oh do go back to the NACA forum with your brexit crap. It really is spoiling every thread now and ruining a good forum

 

[rogerzilla]

https://road.cc/content/feature/brexit-and-uk-bike-industry-279905

An explanation of the 14% tariff. Most likely to affect European brands imported to the UK, given that most components and carbon fibre frames will be sourced from outside the UK or EU. Brexit bonus.

 

[Tripster]

I sized up and ordered some Bont shoes. Had to have Double Wide so not on shelf. Two weeks to manufacture and Fedex delivery from China. Arrived Monday. The standard width shoe was about £130 ish cheapest I could find and I paid £180 for extra wide. They are not a stock item, so I had to pay extra. You want, you need, you pay and they will charge. Business is business.

Edit: I dont need £180 shoes either but all other brands too narrow, 116mm wide flippers, painful feet when cycling. Bont make a wide shoe for normal feet not tiny italian ones. Again they know you want so you have to pay a premium

 

[Tripster]

https://road.cc/content/feature/brexit-and-uk-bike-industry-279905

An explanation of the 14% tariff. Most likely to affect European brands imported to the UK, given that most components and carbon fibre frames will be sourced from outside the UK or EU. Brexit bonus.

So support a british company then and stop moaning on every damn thread.......


Mason Cycles, the Brighton-based brand with Italian-built bikes, says: “We had anticipated and made potential plans for a dip in sales to the EU when there was a possible 14-15% duty applicable to our bicycles - which is a significant price increase for any customer. However, with the recent TCA/Trade Deal we have seen that it is possible to export/import bicycles with 0% duty and tariffs.

“As we have our frames made in Italy and several other Italian/EU made parts are used on our bicycles, they fall within 'Rules on Origin' regulations and we're able to export with these preferential rates (0%).”

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

If there's a logistical problem with shipping containers all being in the wrong places that suggests the West overreacted to the virus by shutting everything down, so minimal west-to-east traffic flowed - whilst China maintained a higher level of economic activity. That's got nothing specific to do with Brexit either, for those who want to conflate all pricing and supply friction issues arising during the virus outbreak with the decision to leave the EU.
Some will be genuine logistics problems, some will be pro-EU politically-motivated obstruction, some will be simple economic opportunism where a business believes it can get away with price-ramping using the virus and/or Brexit as a convenient cover to deflect any accusations of profiteering.

Ultimately we can all choose to keep our money in our pockets if we don't like the price or delivery timescales on offer. Most of us already have at least one bike, and often own multiple bikes. Therefore we don't really need to buy any new bikes at all!. It's just a want, not a necessity. Any bike will get you around, it doesn't have to be a 2021 model.
The issue really is a form of addictive behaviour in some people where they get twitchy if they are unable to keep buying shiny new stuff on a regular basis. The rational response to the current situation is just to sit it out and wait until normality returns, which might not be until 2022. The people getting all worked up remind me of addicts desperate for a fix who don't want to go cold turkey. The price of comsumerist satisfaction has gone up and the supply gone down, and they don't like it. Just an imaginary first world problem.

 

[shnjmsn]

What has gone wrong why all the empty containers elsewhere?

This should go some way to explaining...........

https://www.hillebrand.com/media/pu...-the-containers-the-global-shortage-explained

Back to bikes............ I'm now focussed on a 2022 Roubaix but not a clue when they will arrive and how much they will be ! Guess a case of see how the year goes and maybe try to get a deposit down somewhere at some point with somebody during this year and hope I see it at some point next year !

 

[Lovacott]

Every product on the market is priced by the customer buying.

^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Although the qualifying words "non-essential" should be inserted into that statement. The economic drivers of things like food are somewhat different.

 

[Tripster]

https://road.cc/content/feature/brexit-and-uk-bike-industry-279905

An explanation of the 14% tariff. Most likely to affect European brands imported to the UK, given that most components and carbon fibre frames will be sourced from outside the UK or EU. Brexit bonus.

Good god it never ends

 

[PaulSB]

Criticism of those who want/need a new bike is to my mind unfounded and unfair. There are two groups here, "want" and "need."

Fairly obviously the "want" group is made up of those who simply desire a new bike. Seems reasonable and much of our economy, rightly or wrongly, is driven by want. It doesn't colour an individual, it's merely how he/she chooses to use their disposable income.

With my most recent purchase I was most definitely in the "need." I recognize most bikes can be adapted to fulfill most functions but this really is a compromise which doesn't suit many of us. January 2020 I had to write off my tourer/winter bike. I continued winter riding on an 11 year old Dolan frame cobbled together with bits rescued from the tourer. I used this through the current winter till mid December. Postponing a replacement till autumn 2020.

My summer bike was very expensive. It should be good for at least another 4/5 years meaning I will get 10 years out of it. I'm not prepared to ride it through winter.

My little group have plans for gravel riding and touring this year plus I needed a replacement winter bike. The new bike I purchased will cover winter/gravel/touring and I needed a bike which helps me to enjoy more doing these things.

There will be folk who need to commute, shop etc. who need to buy bikes most suited to these riding styles.

 

[Eziemnaik]

Weak sterling clearly contributing too.

Global shortage of stock, global high demand, I don‘t think UK prices will crash and used prices will stay strong too especially if we have decent spring and summer weather and continued lock downs.

Are Canyon even shopping to the UK now, and if they are, presumably with the extra customs fees on top?

Same thing happening across the Europe

 

[vickster]

Same thing happening across the Europe

Not sure what you are referring to, but yes I said global shortage and demand...

 

[Eziemnaik]

To the fact that weak Sterling has little to do with price increases as the USD is weak as well. Despite € being fairly strong prices in Spain and Germany seem to keep up with UK