#!markdown
I know you didn't mean $950. And we could pretty quickly just point our finger
at distributors and call them an unnecessary step in the retail chain.
However, it's the distributors who are (theoretically) stocking parts which
enable retailers to keep inventory under control while also having access to
the massive variety of spare parts needed to service road and mountain bikes
(and touring, city, cross, kids', etc) but still struggle to keep pricing
under control. I say theoretically because we're hearing from all over (not
just NA) that shops aren't able to order the parts that we know still exist -
9 and 10 spd consumables for example but also air spring tokens for shocks, or
service parts for modern stuff are also in short supply. So, we still need
them even if they don't always nail it. So we're back to the same conversation
about the bike retail model being outdated & broken.
But back to your point about frames: that's a tough one because not as many
people want to buy frames as completes. Buying a frame and building it up
isn't unusual for readers of this site and other serious riders, but that's a
small slice of the overall market as far as the big brands are concerned.
Eliminate those special case buyers, and you're left with a customer who looks
for a frame on sale, has it shipped, then takes it to their shop and tries to
drape other budget parts on it. Most shops should embrace that, but I'm
guessing there aren't many buyers going through the trouble - especially right
now with things changing. The flip side is the 'dentist' who doesn't care
about cost - but that buyer can just buy it off the shelf and replace what
they don't want on the spot. So, as a manufacturer past a certain size,
there's limited incentive to offer frames to the consumer. Trek started
offering the Remedy as a frame, but only because they knew some riders were
building them in a way that would involve an inventory risk they weren't
prepared to take on. Rocky saw the same need but rolled out 'BC edition' and
'Rally edition' bikes, but they're a much smaller company and chasing those
sales has more relative value to them.
Commencal and YT set up regional offices with warehouses and sell direct.
Commencal sells (some) frames, but they also have their own component line,
and you can buy off-brand parts through them as well. YT has kept it simple
and just sells complete bikes direct. I can't hazard a guess as to Canyon's
intentions, however offering frames only is detrimental to the advantages
these companies with a direct sales model can offer in terms of savings, so
I'd bet they'll offer completes only.
And yeah, it'll be different in 5 years. Definitely agree with you there.
Oct. 13, 2016, 11:36 a.m. - Pete Roggeman
#!markdown I know you didn't mean $950. And we could pretty quickly just point our finger at distributors and call them an unnecessary step in the retail chain. However, it's the distributors who are (theoretically) stocking parts which enable retailers to keep inventory under control while also having access to the massive variety of spare parts needed to service road and mountain bikes (and touring, city, cross, kids', etc) but still struggle to keep pricing under control. I say theoretically because we're hearing from all over (not just NA) that shops aren't able to order the parts that we know still exist - 9 and 10 spd consumables for example but also air spring tokens for shocks, or service parts for modern stuff are also in short supply. So, we still need them even if they don't always nail it. So we're back to the same conversation about the bike retail model being outdated & broken. But back to your point about frames: that's a tough one because not as many people want to buy frames as completes. Buying a frame and building it up isn't unusual for readers of this site and other serious riders, but that's a small slice of the overall market as far as the big brands are concerned. Eliminate those special case buyers, and you're left with a customer who looks for a frame on sale, has it shipped, then takes it to their shop and tries to drape other budget parts on it. Most shops should embrace that, but I'm guessing there aren't many buyers going through the trouble - especially right now with things changing. The flip side is the 'dentist' who doesn't care about cost - but that buyer can just buy it off the shelf and replace what they don't want on the spot. So, as a manufacturer past a certain size, there's limited incentive to offer frames to the consumer. Trek started offering the Remedy as a frame, but only because they knew some riders were building them in a way that would involve an inventory risk they weren't prepared to take on. Rocky saw the same need but rolled out 'BC edition' and 'Rally edition' bikes, but they're a much smaller company and chasing those sales has more relative value to them. Commencal and YT set up regional offices with warehouses and sell direct. Commencal sells (some) frames, but they also have their own component line, and you can buy off-brand parts through them as well. YT has kept it simple and just sells complete bikes direct. I can't hazard a guess as to Canyon's intentions, however offering frames only is detrimental to the advantages these companies with a direct sales model can offer in terms of savings, so I'd bet they'll offer completes only. And yeah, it'll be different in 5 years. Definitely agree with you there.