Why is the UK such a pain in the butt over selling framesets

Raffles
Raffles Posts: 1,137
edited October 2012 in Road general
Canyon updated their website with the new 2013 product range and there isnt a frameset on it :evil: The company sold out last year of every frameset they produced , so lets do the obvious and STOP making framesets available . I was counting the days for placing my order for a Canyon Roadlite frameset evo and when I contacted canyon germany in dismay as to why they arent for sale i was simply told we are only selling entire bikes now. An email to canyon uk got a similar reply. What the hell is it with the UK and framesets, I mean they dont mind selling you a £3k frameset and thats not a problem. I sent an email to Cannondale UK asking would they sell me a synapse frameset direct and got no reply..............great service there Cannondale. I had a Bianchi dealer try to source a Via Nirone 7 frameset for me also and he couldnt get one either, sure they could supply an Oltre , but I dont have £3k lying around.

You can look at the USA where its easy to pick up any frameset for any model , so why does the UK have to be such a pain in the backside over this issue :evil: :evil: :evil: Ive got all the componentry I need and I dont need to buy a whole new bike.............makes me mad this stupid carry on truly does.
2012 Cannondale CAAD 8 105

Comments

  • plowmar
    plowmar Posts: 1,032
    O.k. correct me if i'm wrong but you've tried to source non U.K. manufacturers framesets, one of which told you they weren't doing them. You didn't say wether you'd contacted Bianchi the other supplier not responding and it is all the U.K.'s fault?

    P.S. if the can be got in the U.S. why not try to source them from there?
  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    Great, a thread about wanting to buy something that isn't available.
  • jibberjim
    jibberjim Posts: 2,810
    Where do you buy Canyon framesets in the US?
    Jibbering Sports Stuff: http://jibbering.com/sports/
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    It's a conspiracy I tells ya! I wonder whose fault this is............ :lol:

    OP - why not buy a bike from a manufacturer that sells framesets only rather than just complete bikes :wink:
    Faster than a tent.......
  • paul_mck
    paul_mck Posts: 1,058
    so canyon germany wont sell you a frame, and its the UKs fault?
  • Omar Little
    Omar Little Posts: 2,010
    does that mean Canyon dont do the discounts anymore for people with a racing license? i think they were only available on frames
  • itsnotarace
    itsnotarace Posts: 518
    Omar Little wrote:
    does that mean Canyon dont do the discounts anymore for people with a racing license? i think they were only available on frames

    Yeah seems that way, I had a good look yesterday and they have removed the page - I did wonder why I didn't see a frameset option :x
  • jay197
    jay197 Posts: 196
    I blame wiggle.... :P
    http://www.tryasaddle.co.uk
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    I kind of get what the OP is saying, very hard to find frames that aren't massively expensive (Talking about Bianchis, Cannondales that sort of thing)
    Road
    MTB
    NEW Cross
    Track/Grass Track/Winter bike
  • tiredofwhiners
    tiredofwhiners Posts: 598
    Companies will sell what they can and make as much profit as they can from each sale. If its worth their while selling just a frameset, then they will do it. If it isn't then they will not. They don't owe anyone a living or give others the right to tell them how to conduct their business.

    They clearly know their market if they sell out of product, so the OP is just one of the 1% who want something different. Thats what you get in a consumer market.

    Like many companies, expanding production during a recession is risky but if they were going to do it, they wouldn't expand for the 1% needs but for the 99%.
  • Coach H
    Coach H Posts: 1,092
    edited October 2012
    Bianchi in particular have not made it easy to get framesets since moving production to the far east and thats before you look at the prices.

    However this is where it can sort of play in your favour.
    It is a bit of a faf but you could buy a full Bianchi, sell the parts (on here or the bay) and you would probably end up with a net cost of what the frameset SHOULD have cost.
    A friend did it and got an Infinito frame for a net £1000ish compared to the £1800 retail.
    Coach H. (Dont ask me for training advice - 'It's not about the bike')
  • mallorcajeff
    mallorcajeff Posts: 1,489
    canyon are great Value when you buy a complete bike, so why not just buy the complete bike then strip all the bits off and sell them brand new, I was going to do this last year when I wanted a new groupset as it was such good VFM but only when you buy the whole bike. do it that way.
  • jezzpalmer
    jezzpalmer Posts: 389
    Canyon's lead times are currently silly, I've a 5 month wait, and I expect that's due to the huge demand for the new bikes and the manufacture times of the framesets. I would have thought that when the backlog for full bike orders has cleared in March (or May for some models) that they may have surplus framesets to sell.
    I think it's perfectly fair to give preference to those spending £3,4,5K over those wanting just a frameset.
    Though I'd probably whinge too if I wanted just a frameset and couldn't get one. :D
  • paul_mck
    paul_mck Posts: 1,058
    mallorcajeff wrote:
    canyon are great Value when you buy a complete bike, so why not just buy the complete bike then strip all the bits off and sell them brand new, I was going to do this last year when I wanted a new groupset as it was such good VFM but only when you buy the whole bike. do it that way.

    assumes you have the extra cash required.
  • Raffles
    Raffles Posts: 1,137
    the frameset situation just gets better :

    i was in touch with halfords about the boardman team frameset. the manager said getting a frameset shouldnt be a problem , and as she was a cyclist herself understood all too well the situation where you have all the parts and only want a frameset. after several phonecalls i was told they could get me the team frameset and it would cost me £399.00

    this was fine by me, when i rang them to confirm everything i got speaking to a different guy . just to be sure i said ok then thats the 399 quid for the frame ,forks and stem ? he said no thats for just the frame. i said i was told it was for the frameset, so how much would frame and forks cost then ?

    £599 he said :shock:

    200 quid for forks i said !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! bit of a difference between the £399 i was first told and now £599. Well that killed it and i remain totally dismayed with the hassle involved in getting a frameset in the uk :evil:
    2012 Cannondale CAAD 8 105
  • Coach H
    Coach H Posts: 1,092
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/road-frames/
    http://www.probikekit.com/uk/bikes-fram ... rames.html

    and these are just two of the big 'uns.

    Frames are easy to get. Getting the one you want at the right price can be a bit more problematic
    Coach H. (Dont ask me for training advice - 'It's not about the bike')
  • Raffles
    Raffles Posts: 1,137
    If you have a spare £2.5 - £3.5k its no trouble at all.
    2012 Cannondale CAAD 8 105
  • mallorcajeff
    mallorcajeff Posts: 1,489
    if you dont have the cash for the complete bike (sorry i didnt realise that as pointed out abouve) its not as dear as you migh think to drive to germany and pick one up and can make for a good day out I have done it. (Not to canyon i was buying something else) failing that look for a cheap easyjet flight?
  • Raffles
    Raffles Posts: 1,137
    mallorcajeff wrote:
    if you dont have the cash for the complete bike (sorry i didnt realise that as pointed out abouve) its not as dear as you migh think to drive to germany and pick one up and can make for a good day out I have done it. (Not to canyon i was buying something else) failing that look for a cheap easyjet flight?


    I dont want nor need the complete bike. Im getting so fed up that maybe I should get a megaphone and stand on a soapbox and shout outside bike shops:-

    "I DONT NEED NOR WANT A COMPLETE BIKE.......WHY THE HELL CAN YOU JUST NOT SELL ME THE FRAMESET THAT I WANT..!!!!!!!, IM NOT HANDING OUT OVER £2000 FOR A FRAMESET , THE BIKES IM LOOKING AT COST ABOUT £1000 WHEN FULLY BUILT UP.......SO WHY CANT YOU JUST SELL ME THE DAMNED FRAMESET ? "

    I dont see a problem and manufacturers unwillingness to sell me the framesets id like to buy is frustrating beyond belief :evil:
    2012 Cannondale CAAD 8 105
  • giropaul
    giropaul Posts: 414
    Generally it's all because the bike market has changed in the UK in the last 5 - 10 years.

    The newer cyclists haven't come up with 2nd hand club mates' kit like we did - they buy bikes like they buy cars - badge and "performance" - even want to "test ride". They want complete bikes, and the market reacts. Most manufacturers at the moment are pushing out bikes in the "middle market" (say £1,5000 to £3,500) as fast as they can. Margins are better on complete bikes - hence why would they want to sell frames?

    However, there are still good frames about - Ridley sells frames (and in my view very good ones). Some shops, such as Quest etc also sell frames - and these will often be pretty well the same as you'd get with an Italian makers name on. Shops can also get Deddaccia framesets - the same as a well known retailers "own" brand.
  • mallorcajeff
    mallorcajeff Posts: 1,489
    ahh i see i thought you could still buy just the frame in germany.

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