Cycling UK Forum

What does the ‘panel’ think about the pricing policy of manufacturers and retailers?
Do you feel you are being taken for a ride or are you content that you have found a purchasing sweet spot that makes ongoing maintenance an affordable process?
Take these examples as food for thought: a pair of chains, and sets of quick links, one each of 9 and 10 speed. Now you could argue that each of the products represent identical cost outlays when comparing 9 to 10. But why is the price gap between chains so much less than the links? (+8% vs +166%)
Bulk production creates savings but do we believe that there are still more 9 speed bikes out there than 10 speed? Or is it that the more gears you have the more you can afford to spend? Or perhaps it’s down to how new your bike is?
Have you seen, for example, the price difference between 11 and 12 speed cassettes? You pay nearly twice as much for one extra cog.
I could go on, but over to you.

I was accustomed to 9 speed technology on my current and previous steel tourer but since I've taken up recumbent riding I've come to believe that the sweet spot is actually 7-8 speed as the older models that fall into my budget range tend to have this technology. The transmission at this level seems tough and hard wearing, and although I've not had to change much is cheap and easy to fix.

At some point you have to "upgrade" because the stuff you want is no longer made. Chains are ok but good quality 7-9 speed cassettes are getting more difficult. Rear mech compatibility was also broken with 11 speed.

I heard somewhere of an economist who proved that prices ending in 99p were higher. These prices are set for maximum profit and bear only a distant relationship to manufacturing costs. I am automatically suspicious of shops that price this way.

There you are, Wikipedia has a good write-up: Psychological pricing.

plancashire wrote: ↑1 Apr 2024, 7:39pm There you are, Wikipedia has a good write-up: Psychological pricing.

That's long been near standard practice in retail. Strangely, the one area it isn't is dining out and cafes.

I was in Spain in the weeks/months after the Euro had been introduced and the local bar had basically just increased all prices accordingly. They were running a right scam on British tourists (not used to the euro). The local cash machine only gave 20-euro notes but the bar was giving change as though you'd handed over a 10-euro note. Most Brits hadn't cottoned onto this - when I questioned it at the bar he immediately apologised and gave the correct change, caught off guard by the fact I'd challenged him in Spanish. Most Brits - if they even noticed the scam in the first place - couldn't do that and the bar staff would pretend not to have understood.

Sorry, slightly off topic!

rogerzilla wrote: ↑30 Mar 2024, 3:50pm At some point you have to "upgrade" because the stuff you want is no longer made. Chains are ok but good quality 7-9 speed cassettes are getting more difficult. Rear mech compatibility was also broken with 11 speed.

My last upgrade was from 9 speed to Suntour 5 speed, solved the cassette and chain problems.
Now quality 4 speed freewheels are a problem, I've a good stock of Simplex rear mechs, 4s,
but only 1 freewheel.