Why are Park Tools so expensive?

[Samuel D]

I agree with andrew_s’s interpretation above.

I have found Park Tool tools to be pretty good if sometimes overpriced. However, when complaining about price, keep in mind that Park Tool invented many of the bicycle tools on the market. Naturally, it’s cheaper to copy these designs than to come up with your own designs. In this way Park Tool funds the R&D for many other companies.

[Lance Dopestrong]

Which tools did they invent?

[Sweep]

Which tools did they invent?

This?

https://www.parktool.com/product/pizza-tool-pzt-2

[pete75]

Which tools did they invent?

I think most were already invented invented before Park started - just look at the selection in this tool kit. It is extremely high quality.

[Samuel D]

I won’t try to answer the question of which tools Park Tool invented, since it would be easy to pick holes in any of my suggestions. Suffice to say the company has its imitators.

New tools are required all the time as you would find out if you tried building a Pinarello Dogma with that gorgeous Campagnolo toolkit. Park Tool and others come up with these new designs.

As an aside, working with tools like the above on metal bicycles would have been a fun way to make a living. But today’s mechanics are more likely to have to debug Di2 on plastic frames. Boak!

[pete75]

I won’t try to answer the question of which tools Park Tool invented, since it would be easy to pick holes in any of my suggestions. Suffice to say the company has its imitators.

New tools are required all the time as you would find out if you tried building a Pinarello Dogma with that gorgeous Campagnolo toolkit. Park Tool and others come up with these new designs.

As an aside, working with tools like the above on metal bicycles would have been a fun way to make a living. But today’s mechanics are more likely to have to debug Di2 on plastic frames. Boak!

I suspect the number of bikes with Di2 and plastic frames is tiny compared to the number of metal bikes in use ergo an average mechanic is far more likely to come across the latter.

Where new tools are required to work on particular parts it's more often than not the part manufacturers who first produce them. Park tools also imitate tools first designed and made by other manufacturers. Take, for example, that Campag toolkit. Designed and produced well before Park were in existence. Park will be making tools similar to almost all items in the Campag kit.

[mattsccm]

Of course its also the pretty blue colour that adds to the price.
Always amuses me when one particular mate brags about his Park tools when he can buy a better version of the same thing cheaper. Allen keys for example.

[hondated]

Which tools did they invent?

I think most were already invented invented before Park started - just look at the selection in this tool kit. It is extremely high quality.

I think they call that bike porn. Absolutely lovely and would love to own it.

[Samuel D]

How much do these Campagnolo toolkits go for in good, useable condition?

[Brucey]

How much do these Campagnolo toolkits go for in good, useable condition?

BITD they were the thick end of a grand when they stopped doing NR/SR. I harboured dreams of buying one if they ever got to be cheap enough in good used condition. They currently change hands for silly money.

cheers

[Gattonero]

I agree with andrew_s’s interpretation above.

I have found Park Tool tools to be pretty good if sometimes overpriced. However, when complaining about price, keep in mind that Park Tool invented many of the bicycle tools on the market. Naturally, it’s cheaper to copy these designs than to come up with your own designs. In this way Park Tool funds the R&D for many other companies.

You'll be surprised how many Cyclus or Unior tools are better than Park ones, or that Park Tool doesn't even do

[Gattonero]

Which tools did they invent?

I think most were already invented invented before Park started - just look at the selection in this tool kit. It is extremely high quality.

Those were made for shops, not for the final user, most of the items are frame-prep tools so are used to pout together a bike from scratch, or the complete disassembly of the frame or headset.
In a nutshell, the average home mechanic would use it once a year or less. Let alone the cost, justified by the longevity of those cutters (AFAIK, actually made by Silva)

[pete75]

Which tools did they invent?

I think most were already invented invented before Park started - just look at the selection in this tool kit. It is extremely high quality.

Those were made for shops, not for the final user, most of the items are frame-prep tools so are used to pout together a bike from scratch, or the complete disassembly of the frame or headset.
In a nutshell, the average home mechanic would use it once a year or less. Let alone the cost, justified by the longevity of those cutters (AFAIK, actually made by Silva)

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe many Park tools are, by your reasoning, aimed at "shops" as well. They also look very similar to items in that Campag set albeit of someone lesser quality.

[Gattonero]

I think most were already invented invented before Park started - just look at the selection in this tool kit. It is extremely high quality.
...

Those were made for shops, not for the final user, most of the items are frame-prep tools so are used to pout together a bike from scratch, or the complete disassembly of the frame or headset.
In a nutshell, the average home mechanic would use it once a year or less. Let alone the cost, justified by the longevity of those cutters (AFAIK, actually made by Silva)

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe many Park tools are, by your reasoning, aimed at "shops" as well. They also look very similar to items in that Campag set albeit of someone lesser quality.

Park Tool is widely used by many pro mechanics, the quality is not bad at all. I.e. the venerable AWS10 multi allen key seems ubiquitous and I know shops that have had the same ones for many years of daily use.
Their wide distribution channel and marketing, the blue look helps I guess, plus a good website have pushed them very high. Of course, some tools aren't easy to make cost-effective for the home mechanic, bust most will do.