CRC - why prices so low on forks?

[AndreZA]

Not really' date=' its business some bike shops rips you of while other are trying to survive.The higher volumes you push the lower your markup can be.Imagine the client base of CRC compaerd to your LBSMost people blame the suppliers, and the fact of the matter is they also have overheads that needs to be covered.I think there is a chance that one day everything is going to backfire. . . and not in the goodway

 

[/quote']

 

 

 

In the one UK mag they've got a double page spread ad with the operation on the one page. They've got a warehouse with goods stacked 2 stories high. Quite a few operators processing orders. A few wheel builders and so on. So they also have huge overheads, but the volume is so high that it make up for all of it.

[AndreZA]

Please post url link for CRC

 

 

 

before your question gets absorbed in the mayhem.

 

 

 

www.chainreactioncycles.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Christopher Brunsdon]

Williams, Somerset West - 0218510919

 

At least with his fork prices you know what the best local deal will be. On my new fork (yet to be paid ) he is R50 cheaper than CRC. OK, its a R2K fork but even if he where a R100 more I would still buy from him.

 

But lets say he was R1K more, then CRC will win.

 

[Matchstix]

William Is one of the nicest(and most bling) guys around.

Awesome dude.

 

[Oertel]

I just bought a new fox for, slx crank, X0 Rear der and X0 gripshifts from my LBS. Taking vat in consideration it worked me out cheaper than CRC. And I got it installed and a complete service for free. Everytime I buy something big I check CRC prices. And 90% of the time local shops could match the price. So I dont know what the fuss is about.

[Christopher Brunsdon]

 

William Is one of the nicest(and most bling) guys around.

Awesome dude.

 

 

Yup, the dude has saved me a fortune with his wonderful advice. Will rather let me walk out the door than sell me crap. He knows I'm on a budget now and has never tried to undersell me junk. His mech, Ben, is also a great knowledge pool. Gave me some awesome advice on Oak Valley - relating to "The Bridge"

 

Well buying from one of the other LBSs recently also has made me want to support him even more.

 

[Minion]

 

So I dont know what the fuss is about.

Try buying Italian road bike parts locally . CRC's vast stock and inventory management system also weigh heavily in their favour. They have significantly more stuff in stock than the LBS and I know that if I order an in stock item I'll have it within a week. Many times if I order an out-of-stock item from my LBS, someone (them or the distributor, I don't know which) will keep on saying: "It'll be here by next week" until it finally arrives four weeks after the time I actually had a need for it.

 

[xak1]

Bought a SID through CRC last year.  Had something wrong with the damper.  Send it to local agents through my LBS (I have a good relationship and buy most stuff from him, except when there is a real big difference in price).  The fork was repaired under warranty.  Big companies can not affrod to not support their product internationally, as we live in a global village now.

[Christopher Brunsdon]

I love the whole grey import issue across the retail range (incl NCR). Rotten excuse to keep prices up.

 

But sometimes it can backfire. My Dads into his audio and was in the market for some speakers. UK price was R5K ex, local price at HiFi corp R1800 !!! They are made in the UK too.

 

My Dad contacted the company only to find out that HiFi had become the SA distributors.  Turned out that HiFi had gone from grey to legit without changing their prices. Local agents had to throw in the towel due to HiFi.