Turbo trainer prices

londoncommuter
londoncommuter Posts: 1,550
in Road general
OK, I get that people panicked when lockdown first came thinking that it could become a full lockdown and they rushed out and bought turbos. They sold out everywhere and were selling used on eBay for more than RRP. Why are prices now still so ludicrously high?

At this time of year they normally go for nothing with basic but decent Tacx Boosters etc fetching maybe £30. No chance now.

Is it that as shops all sold out and everyone who had spare ones flogged them for a huge profit ages ago there are none hitting the used market? Must be a supply issue as surely demand has dropped back to normal sane levels?

I just want one to use as slightly more useful version of a workstand to set the gears on a new bike but am not paying these crazy amounts.

How long until they all get sold again when people realise they're never going to use them? Next summer?

Comments

  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,491
    Winter is coming, as is a second wave.
    Don't hold your breath.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • londoncommuter
    londoncommuter Posts: 1,550
    pblakeney said:

    Winter is coming, as is a second wave.
    Don't hold your breath.

    Do you think people are that forward looking? In a normal year, I wouldn't expect prices to go up until the weather started to turn.

    I bought a new Tacx Vortex from Wiggle's online store last year for £80, changed my mind as I realised I'd never use it and was really pleased when someone bought it for £120. Could have sold it now and bought a penthouse in the south of France. Darn.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    I'm glad I held my nerve and didn't splash a lot of cash on an overpriced turbo setup in March, when I felt like taking the plunge.
    Even in the case of a second lockdown, we will still be able to cycle, so I don't need one :)
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,491
    edited August 2020
    londoncommuter said:


    Do you think people are that forward looking? In a normal year, I wouldn't expect prices to go up until the weather started to turn.

    I made the decision not to consider booking flights until January at the earliest.
    That decision was made in March. October is only 2 months away so yes, I'd think people are looking that far forward.
    Yes, I'll be cycling outdoors through the winter given the chance but I'll be on the turbo tomorrow according to the forecast and the odds increase all the way through February.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • StillGoing
    StillGoing Posts: 5,211
    More people had to spend time supervising kids when schools shut for all but essential workers and even some of them couldn't get a place in school for their kids. More companies closed giving people time at home. More caught the ease and bug of virtual and training programs. 30/60 minutes hard work on a turbo instead of fighting traffic, potholes etc outdoors.
    I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.
  • londoncommuter
    londoncommuter Posts: 1,550
    StillGoing said:

    More people had to spend time supervising kids when schools shut for all but essential workers and even some of them couldn't get a place in school for their kids. More companies closed giving people time at home. More caught the ease and bug of virtual and training programs. 30/60 minutes hard work on a turbo instead of fighting traffic, potholes etc outdoors.

    Not disputing that at all but why are price still crazy now?
  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    Supply and demand. It's that simple. There is still huge demand for turbo trainers all across Europe. Whilst stock is now available it is not because of falling sales It's because of increased production. Until there is less demand the only sales you will find are on old stock or turbos which for whatever reason aren't as popular with buyers.
  • thistle_
    thistle_ Posts: 7,218
    londoncommuter said:

    StillGoing said:

    More people had to spend time supervising kids when schools shut for all but essential workers and even some of them couldn't get a place in school for their kids. More companies closed giving people time at home. More caught the ease and bug of virtual and training programs. 30/60 minutes hard work on a turbo instead of fighting traffic, potholes etc outdoors.

    Not disputing that at all but why are price still crazy now?
    Everywhere went out of stock, so possibly some sellers paid a premium to get hold of some and they're trying to recoup the cost - but nobody's buying at the higher prices?

  • londoncommuter
    londoncommuter Posts: 1,550
    thistle_(mbnw) said:

    londoncommuter said:

    StillGoing said:

    More people had to spend time supervising kids when schools shut for all but essential workers and even some of them couldn't get a place in school for their kids. More companies closed giving people time at home. More caught the ease and bug of virtual and training programs. 30/60 minutes hard work on a turbo instead of fighting traffic, potholes etc outdoors.

    Not disputing that at all but why are price still crazy now?
    Everywhere went out of stock, so possibly some sellers paid a premium to get hold of some and they're trying to recoup the cost - but nobody's buying at the higher prices?

    That does make sense. Looking at ebay sold prices though, for my example of Tacx Boosters, there are still people paying over £100 for them in August! Not even like they're the "next purchase" by someone who got hooked after buying a basic trainer when lockdown started as these are old and dumb so to speak. Lot of other sales at a normal £35 though so maybe some sense is creeping back in at least on the buyers side of things if not the sellers expectations.

    Roll on the post-lockdown bargain bikes people start to offload......
  • thistle_
    thistle_ Posts: 7,218
    Might also be people took up cycling during lockdown and found they can't ride up hills, Boris has told everyone they are obese and people think a turbo will solve all their problems.
    Gyms are still closed around here, still no news on if/when the local one is reopening.
  • N0bodyOfTheGoat
    N0bodyOfTheGoat Posts: 6,065
    edited August 2020
    Many turbo trainers have been out of stock since the approach of lockdown, Halfords still have no Tacx 2240 showing in stock, or many others.

    https://www.decathlon.co.uk/aleno-smart-elastogel-turbo-trainer-id_8398214.html looks to be Zwift compatible and showing in stock, no idea how it compares to the 2240 as a budget model.

    But if thinking about Zwift races do check what the rules are on Zwiftpower to be included in the ranked results ("Zpower" was not allowed in many races last time I looked, this is where power is estimated from basic turbo being used without a power meter).

    I've not used my Direto much in the last two months, but having direct drive; slope emulation; integrated power meter has made them so much more interactive and tolerable to use in an app such as Zwift or RGT compared to ~15 years ago.
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,717
    I can tell you that treadmills were a steal a month or so ago. I think the trouble with turbos is that they can be folded away and shoved in a cupboard much more easily than many other impulse fitness buys...

    (can you tell I'm hoping to snap up a bargin soon too? :( )
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,444
    londoncommuter said:

    thistle_(mbnw) said:

    londoncommuter said:

    StillGoing said:

    More people had to spend time supervising kids when schools shut for all but essential workers and even some of them couldn't get a place in school for their kids. More companies closed giving people time at home. More caught the ease and bug of virtual and training programs. 30/60 minutes hard work on a turbo instead of fighting traffic, potholes etc outdoors.

    Not disputing that at all but why are price still crazy now?
    Everywhere went out of stock, so possibly some sellers paid a premium to get hold of some and they're trying to recoup the cost - but nobody's buying at the higher prices?

    That does make sense. Looking at ebay sold prices though, for my example of Tacx Boosters, there are still people paying over £100 for them in August! Not even like they're the "next purchase" by someone who got hooked after buying a basic trainer when lockdown started as these are old and dumb so to speak. Lot of other sales at a normal £35 though so maybe some sense is creeping back in at least on the buyers side of things if not the sellers expectations.

    Roll on the post-lockdown bargain bikes people start to offload......
    I think people are also conscious of possible future lockdowns.

    I reckon there's also a network or tipping point effect, if half the riders you know have got turbos and are riding together on Zwift etc in bad weather then it's more likely you'll want to join in...
  • homers_double
    homers_double Posts: 8,331
    Zwift tours crashed repeatedly at the start of lockdown, luckily by the way of helping a mate out I got a smart trainer for next to nothing before lockdown so my wife took over my standard one.

    Supply and demand always drives prices and I still think demand is there as the weather has taken a turn for the worse.
    Advocate of disc brakes.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,611
    homers_double said:

    Zwift tours crashed repeatedly at the start of lockdown, luckily by the way of helping a mate out I got a smart trainer for next to nothing before lockdown so my wife took over my standard one.

    Supply and demand always drives prices and I still think demand is there as the weather has taken a turn for the worse.

    Not sure the first part of your first sentence is true. Zwift 'crashes' are very, very rarely the fault of Zwift, they are usually down to the user's hardware and internet connection not being good enough to cope.
  • Defblade
    Defblade Posts: 142
    Although I went back to biking a few weeks before the lockdown, it was only during it that I discovered my old turbo was fubared... and that every half decent turbo in the UK had been sold already! And then I discovered the old PC in the garage would run Zwift, so not only a new trainer required, but a smart one. After chasing down rumours for weeks, I eventually gave up and bought an H3 from bike24 in Germany... £130 cheaper than the UK price, too.
    Just as well I did, otherwise I think I'd still be waiting to get one!
    So well worth checking out the Europe-based sites, I feel.

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