Some bicycling is really expensive for parts

I was looking at the Mountain Equipment Co-Op site for tires and a cassette for a 700C hybrid that I'm tuning up for a friend. Whilst on the site I saw 26" tire for $240.00 CDN. Vee Tire Co Snowshoe XL Studded 26" Tire https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5047-2...ded-26%22-Tire Btw the tire is made in Thailand.

Then I saw a 12 speed cassette 10 -50 teeth for $611.00 CDN! https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5053-7...Speed-Cassette

What gives with these prices? Car tires are not nearly that expensive and I bet motorcycle tires cost less too.

Baffled by these prices.

Cheers

On Sat, 4 Aug 2018 17:24:35 -0700 (PDT), Sir Ridesalot
wrote:

I was looking at the Mountain Equipment Co-Op site for tires and a cassette for a 700C hybrid that I'm tuning up for a friend. Whilst on the site I saw 26" tire for $240.00 CDN. Vee Tire Co Snowshoe XL Studded 26" Tire https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5047-2...ded-26%22-Tire Btw the tire is made in Thailand.

Then I saw a 12 speed cassette 10 -50 teeth for $611.00 CDN! https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5053-7...Speed-Cassette

What gives with these prices? Car tires are not nearly that expensive and I bet motorcycle tires cost less too.

Baffled by these prices.

Cheers


I suspect that is very much a matter of "you want it, we got it". the
extra cost of making a 12 speed cassette would be the cost of making
two more cassette cogs, assuming a road bike type cassette. Many cogs
appear to be stamped out so once the tooling is paid for it would be a
matter of Stamp, Stamp. Plus, of course the cost of the steel plate
used.

I'm fairly sure that this is true of most bicycle parts and
components.
--

Cheers,

John B.

On 04/08/2018 11:47 PM, John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 4 Aug 2018 17:24:35 -0700 (PDT), Sir Ridesalot
wrote:

I was looking at the Mountain Equipment Co-Op site for tires and a cassette for a 700C hybrid that I'm tuning up for a friend. Whilst on the site I saw 26" tire for $240.00 CDN. Vee Tire Co Snowshoe XL Studded 26" Tire https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5047-2...ded-26%22-Tire Btw the tire is made in Thailand.

Then I saw a 12 speed cassette 10 -50 teeth for $611.00 CDN! https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5053-7...Speed-Cassette

What gives with these prices? Car tires are not nearly that expensive and I bet motorcycle tires cost less too.

Baffled by these prices.

Cheers


I suspect that is very much a matter of "you want it, we got it". the
extra cost of making a 12 speed cassette would be the cost of making
two more cassette cogs, assuming a road bike type cassette. Many cogs
appear to be stamped out so once the tooling is paid for it would be a
matter of Stamp, Stamp. Plus, of course the cost of the steel plate
used.

I'm fairly sure that this is true of most bicycle parts and
components.
--

Cheers,

John B.



2 more than what? 11 speed is pretty standard these days. Anyway, you
can find 12 speed cassettes for a lot less than the one SRA listed. I
don't think it's the extra cog that makes it that expensive.

On Mon, 6 Aug 2018 12:15:08 -0400, Duane
wrote:

On 04/08/2018 11:47 PM, John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 4 Aug 2018 17:24:35 -0700 (PDT), Sir Ridesalot
wrote:

I was looking at the Mountain Equipment Co-Op site for tires and a cassette for a 700C hybrid that I'm tuning up for a friend. Whilst on the site I saw 26" tire for $240.00 CDN. Vee Tire Co Snowshoe XL Studded 26" Tire https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5047-2...ded-26%22-Tire Btw the tire is made in Thailand.

Then I saw a 12 speed cassette 10 -50 teeth for $611.00 CDN! https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5053-7...Speed-Cassette

What gives with these prices? Car tires are not nearly that expensive and I bet motorcycle tires cost less too.

Baffled by these prices.

Cheers


I suspect that is very much a matter of "you want it, we got it". the
extra cost of making a 12 speed cassette would be the cost of making
two more cassette cogs, assuming a road bike type cassette. Many cogs
appear to be stamped out so once the tooling is paid for it would be a
matter of Stamp, Stamp. Plus, of course the cost of the steel plate
used.

I'm fairly sure that this is true of most bicycle parts and
components.
--

Cheers,

John B.



2 more than what? 11 speed is pretty standard these days. Anyway, you
can find 12 speed cassettes for a lot less than the one SRA listed. I
don't think it's the extra cog that makes it that expensive.

Well, yes, the hub is slightly longer to allow for the two extra cogs
and their spacer, but this and the added material in the two added
cogs (or one if you wish) are almost immaterial when it comes to
automated manufacturing the difference in cost of, oh say, a ton of
sheet steel to punch cogs from and 1 ton and 2 ounces is how much, do
you reckon?
The software and hardware is no different, with the difference of a
few lines of code. Direct personnel costs are nearly invisible - pick
up 11 cogs? Pick up 12 cogs?

Frankly I can't see any manufacturing costs that would vary
appreciable so what is the justification for the jump in price? A
bigger cardboard box to pack the cassette in?

Or just maybe the Sales Department is aware that there is a whole
population out there who will spend big sums of money to have the
latest "NEW" cassette.
--

Cheers,

John B.

John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Mon, 6 Aug 2018 12:15:08 -0400, Duane
wrote:

On 04/08/2018 11:47 PM, John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 4 Aug 2018 17:24:35 -0700 (PDT), Sir Ridesalot
wrote:

I was looking at the Mountain Equipment Co-Op site for tires and a
cassette for a 700C hybrid that I'm tuning up for a friend. Whilst on
the site I saw 26" tire for $240.00 CDN. Vee Tire Co Snowshoe XL
Studded 26" Tire https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5047-2...ded-26%22-Tire
Btw the tire is made in Thailand.

Then I saw a 12 speed cassette 10 -50 teeth for $611.00 CDN!
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5053-7...Speed-Cassette

What gives with these prices? Car tires are not nearly that expensive
and I bet motorcycle tires cost less too.

Baffled by these prices.

Cheers


I suspect that is very much a matter of "you want it, we got it". the
extra cost of making a 12 speed cassette would be the cost of making
two more cassette cogs, assuming a road bike type cassette. Many cogs
appear to be stamped out so once the tooling is paid for it would be a
matter of Stamp, Stamp. Plus, of course the cost of the steel plate
used.

I'm fairly sure that this is true of most bicycle parts and
components.
--

Cheers,

John B.



2 more than what? 11 speed is pretty standard these days. Anyway, you
can find 12 speed cassettes for a lot less than the one SRA listed. I
don't think it's the extra cog that makes it that expensive.

Well, yes, the hub is slightly longer to allow for the two extra cogs
and their spacer, but this and the added material in the two added
cogs (or one if you wish) are almost immaterial when it comes to
automated manufacturing the difference in cost of, oh say, a ton of
sheet steel to punch cogs from and 1 ton and 2 ounces is how much, do
you reckon?
The software and hardware is no different, with the difference of a
few lines of code. Direct personnel costs are nearly invisible - pick
up 11 cogs? Pick up 12 cogs?

Frankly I can't see any manufacturing costs that would vary
appreciable so what is the justification for the jump in price? A
bigger cardboard box to pack the cassette in?

Or just maybe the Sales Department is aware that there is a whole
population out there who will spend big sums of money to have the
latest "NEW" cassette.
--

Cheers,

John B.


You’re missing the point though. I provided a link for a similar 12 speed
cassette at less than half the price.

--
duane

On Mon, 6 Aug 2018 23:32:46 -0000 (UTC), Duane wrote:

John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Mon, 6 Aug 2018 12:15:08 -0400, Duane
wrote:

On 04/08/2018 11:47 PM, John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 4 Aug 2018 17:24:35 -0700 (PDT), Sir Ridesalot
wrote:

I was looking at the Mountain Equipment Co-Op site for tires and a
cassette for a 700C hybrid that I'm tuning up for a friend. Whilst on
the site I saw 26" tire for $240.00 CDN. Vee Tire Co Snowshoe XL
Studded 26" Tire https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5047-2...ded-26%22-Tire
Btw the tire is made in Thailand.

Then I saw a 12 speed cassette 10 -50 teeth for $611.00 CDN!
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5053-7...Speed-Cassette

What gives with these prices? Car tires are not nearly that expensive
and I bet motorcycle tires cost less too.

Baffled by these prices.

Cheers


I suspect that is very much a matter of "you want it, we got it". the
extra cost of making a 12 speed cassette would be the cost of making
two more cassette cogs, assuming a road bike type cassette. Many cogs
appear to be stamped out so once the tooling is paid for it would be a
matter of Stamp, Stamp. Plus, of course the cost of the steel plate
used.

I'm fairly sure that this is true of most bicycle parts and
components.
--

Cheers,

John B.



2 more than what? 11 speed is pretty standard these days. Anyway, you
can find 12 speed cassettes for a lot less than the one SRA listed. I
don't think it's the extra cog that makes it that expensive.

Well, yes, the hub is slightly longer to allow for the two extra cogs
and their spacer, but this and the added material in the two added
cogs (or one if you wish) are almost immaterial when it comes to
automated manufacturing the difference in cost of, oh say, a ton of
sheet steel to punch cogs from and 1 ton and 2 ounces is how much, do
you reckon?
The software and hardware is no different, with the difference of a
few lines of code. Direct personnel costs are nearly invisible - pick
up 11 cogs? Pick up 12 cogs?

Frankly I can't see any manufacturing costs that would vary
appreciable so what is the justification for the jump in price? A
bigger cardboard box to pack the cassette in?

Or just maybe the Sales Department is aware that there is a whole
population out there who will spend big sums of money to have the
latest "NEW" cassette.
--

Cheers,

John B.


You’re missing the point though. I provided a link for a similar 12 speed
cassette at less than half the price.

The woods are full of sites offering 12 speed cassettes at
substantially lower prices than the O.P. quoted. I see one 11-50, 12
speed, for 56.22 Euros and I had assumed that he was discussing a
specific cassette not 12 speeds in general.

Thus my answer.

--

Cheers,

John B.

On 8/6/2018 3:13 PM, John B. Slocomb wrote:

snip

Frankly I can't see any manufacturing costs that would vary
appreciable so what is the justification for the jump in price? A
bigger cardboard box to pack the cassette in?

1. Manufacturing costs are irrelevant when pricing a product, it's what
the market will bear.

2. They need no justification.

3. When this sort of insane pricing occurs, someone comes in to dirupt
the market. In this case, the disrupter is the Sunrace 11 speed, 11-50
cassette.
https://singletrackworld.com/2018/02/need-more-range-on-your-1x11-drivetrain-we-review-the-enormous-11-50t-mx80-cassette-from-sunrace/.
No one needs a 12 speed cassette, but some people do desire the 50 tooth
rear cog.

On 2018-08-04 17:24, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
I was looking at the Mountain Equipment Co-Op site for tires and a
cassette for a 700C hybrid that I'm tuning up for a friend. Whilst on
the site I saw 26" tire for $240.00 CDN. Vee Tire Co Snowshoe XL
Studded 26" Tire
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5047-2...ded-26%22-Tire
Btw the tire is made in Thailand.


Buy them elsewhere. Fat tires still have that "novelty mark-up".

https://www.amazon.com/XL-Studded-12.../dp/B00M2LME1S

However, I generally do not spend more than $20 for an MTB tire. IME you
often do not get what you pay for with bike stuff.


Then I saw a 12 speed cassette 10 -50 teeth for $611.00 CDN!
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5053-7...Speed-Cassette

What gives with these prices? Car tires are not nearly that
expensive and I bet motorcycle tires cost less too.

Baffled by these prices.



It's fashion surcharges. When I was in a bike shop in Placerville and
saw a 50T cassette for the first time my jaw almost dropped when they
told me it's "only" $299. No way. Wait a few years and live with 40T
until they come down in price. When they do I might put one on the road
bike as I get older.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

Joerg wrote:
On 2018-08-04 17:24, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
I was looking at the Mountain Equipment Co-Op site for tires and a
cassette for a 700C hybrid that I'm tuning up for a friend. Whilst on
the site I saw 26" tire for $240.00 CDN. Vee Tire Co Snowshoe XL
Studded 26" Tire
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5047-2...ded-26%22-Tire
Btw the tire is made in Thailand.


Buy them elsewhere. Fat tires still have that "novelty mark-up".

https://www.amazon.com/XL-Studded-12.../dp/B00M2LME1S

However, I generally do not spend more than $20 for an MTB tire. IME you
often do not get what you pay for with bike stuff.


Then I saw a 12 speed cassette 10 -50 teeth for $611.00 CDN!
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5053-7...Speed-Cassette

What gives with these prices? Car tires are not nearly that
expensive and I bet motorcycle tires cost less too.

Baffled by these prices.



It's fashion surcharges. When I was in a bike shop in Placerville and
saw a 50T cassette for the first time my jaw almost dropped when they
told me it's "only" $299. No way. Wait a few years and live with 40T
until they come down in price. When they do I might put one on the road
bike as I get older.


I’ve found for road bikes there isn’t a huge difference in tyres, at least
23-28mm road race. But that MTB or even Gravel bikes more expensive ones do
matter, not so much rolling resistance but grip, ie better designed tread
with better ie softer gripper compound, if you live somewhere dry probably
doesn’t matter as much.

Roger Merriman

On 2018-08-05 08:48, Roger Merriman wrote:
Joerg wrote:
On 2018-08-04 17:24, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
I was looking at the Mountain Equipment Co-Op site for tires and a
cassette for a 700C hybrid that I'm tuning up for a friend. Whilst on
the site I saw 26" tire for $240.00 CDN. Vee Tire Co Snowshoe XL
Studded 26" Tire
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5047-2...ded-26%22-Tire
Btw the tire is made in Thailand.


Buy them elsewhere. Fat tires still have that "novelty mark-up".

https://www.amazon.com/XL-Studded-12.../dp/B00M2LME1S

However, I generally do not spend more than $20 for an MTB tire. IME you
often do not get what you pay for with bike stuff.


Then I saw a 12 speed cassette 10 -50 teeth for $611.00 CDN!
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5053-7...Speed-Cassette

What gives with these prices? Car tires are not nearly that
expensive and I bet motorcycle tires cost less too.

Baffled by these prices.



It's fashion surcharges. When I was in a bike shop in Placerville and
saw a 50T cassette for the first time my jaw almost dropped when they
told me it's "only" $299. No way. Wait a few years and live with 40T
until they come down in price. When they do I might put one on the road
bike as I get older.


I’ve found for road bikes there isn’t a huge difference in tyres, at least
23-28mm road race. But that MTB or even Gravel bikes more expensive ones do
matter, not so much rolling resistance but grip, ie better designed tread
with better ie softer gripper compound, if you live somewhere dry probably
doesn’t matter as much.


In the winter it gets very wet and muddy here but I haven't seen much of
a difference between low cost Asian MTB tires and Western "brand name"
ones. Regarding reliability there is a difference. I found the side
walls on Asian tires to be more sturdy and that is most important to me.
They might be an ounce or two heavier but, oh well.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/