Pay more, get less

Bar.

We have been told in print lately and have seen on bike manufacturer's and retailer's websites that due to rising costs and unsustainably low margins, 2009 bike prices will be, and are, higher. It's encouraged me and others whose threads I've read to think about 2008 or older models - to be sensible rather than flash perhaps?

Off the top of your heads can you think of any other non-essential (assuming the bulk of bike purchases are leisure related) product that can, almost across the board of manufacturers who have released details so far, add £s onto prices, whilst at the same time lowering the product spec.? Bikes aren't water bills after all.

Yes I'm sure that some manufacturers may have tweaked or redesigned elements of their product line, so that, in some cases, they are better in some regards, but I've thought about this and can't see car manufacturers for example lowering spec. in the same way.
Does anyone else think that this may harm the bike manufacturers in the longer run? Is it good marketing to extend the sales life of product stock or genuine cost driven desperation?

It is no doubt helping to shift 2008 stock, and some people will only be happy with the very latest and bugger the detail, but it's not a good trend is it?

Btw this post may or may not be influenced by the fact that I am still waiting to get a new bike and that I'm dog tired with a headache on top.

baz101

When buying my bike about 6 weeks ago a 2008 Genesis Aether I was told by my local dealer that he thought all 2009 models would be up by 10% but have exactly the same specs/componants. How much of this is down to economy or increase in parts/labour I don't know. I was tempted to wait and see if mine came down but wanted to make the most of the 'summer' and also most of the deals on older models seem to be on-line and I did'nt want to get my first bike that way.

S2driveruk

yep, seems like a little price fixing is going on somehow across the makret place, all bikes I have looked at are more expensive to the tune of 10% from 08 to 09.

Certainly most enquiries i have made about 08 bikes have left me with either no stock or stock in xx-small or xx-l sizes.

Not sure it will damage the industry but does seem a bit odd that kit/features in the main have stood still but the price has hiked.

Bar.

You wonder(well hope) whether one or a few manufacturers, yet to show their hands, will see the actions of the majority as a marketing opportunity and swallow the cost increases to grab a bigger slice of the market.
I might have earmarked Focus for that, but the tie up with Milram and the almost constant stream of good reviews and user reports mean they didn't need to.

Perhaps my gloom has continued into today, but I expect Planet-X, Boardman, Felt et al to all either have no stock or cheaper 08 bikes or to rause prices and freeze or lower spec. for the 09 bikes. Of course the ever-increasing cost of other forms of transport and leisure (football, eating out etc) helps cycling weather it perhaps?

I still think it is odd in a recession that we (bike buyers) are expected to pay more when there are allsorts of other pressures on our £s, $s and Euros. Will one major manufacturer stand out? I had read, probably in C+, that Bianchi were hoping to keep prices competetive. Maybe them?

doktorsteve

maybe you should look at Euro zone pricing in comparison. Hasn't the pound fallen against the Euro and the USD this year?

Donut

I found the same when looking for my cycle to work scheme bike. In the end I decided to go for a 2008 Specialise Allez triple. Not only was the list proce cheaper than the 2009 model but I also got it for £100 less (I think - I paid £450) so all in all I was well chuffed.