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Just Cyclelab...or do they all overcharge like this ?


Lounge Lizard

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Yes, sort of and no.

 

QRM (french for Mavic Quality Bearings) bearings are not the the same as normal bearings of the same size. Normal bearings have normal, CN class, internal clearance. Mavic bearings have a slightly looser C3 class clearance that gives them more play. You wouldn't be able to tell the clearance class just by measuring the bearing with calipers, so BMG probably didn't pick this difference up.

 

C3 bearings can, amongst other things, tolerate a higher axial preload than CN bearings. You need to apply a preload on Mavic wheels, so CN bearings may wear quicker than equivalent C3 bearings.

 

There is nothing unique to Mavic about QRM bearings. If you go to BMG and ask for x sized bearings with 2RS seals and C3 internal clearance from a reputable manufacturer they'll give you the same thing. The problem is that C3 bearings in those sizes may not necessarily be stock items, so BMG may have to order them in.

 

I suspect C3 bearings are probably more expensive than CN ones, but they're probably still cheaper from BMG than from Cyclelab (for various reasons already mentioned). Of course, until you have a price from BMG for C3 bearings to do a direct comparison, it's a bit unfair to criticise CL's price.

 

 

 

hoorrraaaayyy

someone is telling it like it is

remember the adage you get what you bay for

 

with bikes NEVER EVER, skimp on bearings anywhere on your bike- what do all those components turn on HUH.

EDMAN hasn't lost his bearings his got 'em

check with johanbornman he knows more than most of us combined and he will tell u the same as me and edman

 

 

just curious of the price on crc

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I somehow doubt you run your own business.

 

Cyclelab proposition is a premium service for a premium clientele in a premium location. Sound like that they met that proposition in your case. They probably do fall short on occasion too. Its difficult when you aim at a high standard. Many people are prepared to pay for that, and probaly pay significantly more than they would elsewhere. They factor in the friendliness, knowledge, service and backup.

 

While BMG probably works out of an industrial area from a warehouse environment and for those that don't mind grease under their nails, its probably great. I doubt the person behind the counter is particularly skilled in client relations like the premium store employee. He probably knows way more about bearings but bugger all about bicylces.

 

There is a massive difference in cost structure.

 

I would bet that CL buys its bearing from the wheel distributor rather than the bearing manufacturer. They probably know that can get the bearing cheaper from BMG. The reason for this is that by reselling the official (and expensive) part, they won't have come backs that it damaged your wheel. It will work, and it is supported by the distributor. Again there is a cost to that, call it an insurance against failure and come back.

 

So at the end of the day, you milked the knowledge of the one and purchased from the other. That's probably why the other stores don't bother with trying to help source the part for you.

 

At the end of the day, CL is the winner for showing they are prepared to go that extra mile for the customer.

 

I don't see how you got this statement? The guy went around to get a quote for bearings (a simple phone call to suppliers would suffice) To CL's credit they were able to source the "correct" bearings but at an exorbetant(sp?) price. There was no milking of any knowledge there.

 

A good/clever bike shop could direct the client to get the bearings at BMG or wherever (or order it in themselves) and then offer to do installation (of course charging the labour fees involved)

This would build up a better client/shop relationship.

 

There are a couple shops here in CT that do that sort of thing and go out of the way to help.

 

Customer SERVICE is the key

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that bearing story is a classic case of consumers not understanding bearings, ont that there is much to understand to begin with. Branded bearings all come just a handful of bearing manufacturers. If it requires a bearing, dont rip yourself off by insisting on 'one that's specially made for your bike', because 99.9999% of the time, it's a standard bearing. Take the bearing with to bearing man or whoever, and go save a bundle. same thing for skateboarders and whoever needs a bearing.

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that bearing story is a classic case of consumers not understanding bearings, ont that there is much to understand to begin with. Branded bearings all come just a handful of bearing manufacturers. If it requires a bearing, dont rip yourself off by insisting on 'one that's specially made for your bike', because 99.9999% of the time, it's a standard bearing. Take the bearing with to bearing man or whoever, and go save a bundle. same thing for skateboarders and whoever needs a bearing.

 

Small bearings for the RC helicopters are the same..... expensive when packed into a branded packet.

 

Extend the life of your bearings and order one of the Greasers below.....

. http://www.ronlund.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=heli&Product_Code=GREASER&Category_Code=

 

You fill the alu cup with grease. The white thingy with the o ring on fits into this. Inside it is funnel shaped with a hole at the bottom. Place this in the alu cup. Place the bearing in the funnel. Put the thingy with the white point in the centre of the bearing and push down. Grease will now be forced through the bearing replacing the old dirty grease with new fresh grease. It works well. I recently serviced my RC heli and it runs noriceably smoother and quieter.

 

It can take bearings uo to 25mm outside dia and 15 mm inside diameter.

post-24-025949100 1283001285.jpg

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Are CL not one of the consortium found guilty of milking us?

 

 

Uuuuhmmmm that's stretching it a bit....don't believe anyone has been found guilty yet ..... but maybe I'm wrong .....

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Yes, sort of and no.

 

QRM (french for Mavic Quality Bearings) bearings are not the the same as normal bearings of the same size. Normal bearings have normal, CN class, internal clearance. Mavic bearings have a slightly looser C3 class clearance that gives them more play. You wouldn't be able to tell the clearance class just by measuring the bearing with calipers, so BMG probably didn't pick this difference up.

 

C3 bearings can, amongst other things, tolerate a higher axial preload than CN bearings. You need to apply a preload on Mavic wheels, so CN bearings may wear quicker than equivalent C3 bearings.

 

There is nothing unique to Mavic about QRM bearings. If you go to BMG and ask for x sized bearings with 2RS seals and C3 internal clearance from a reputable manufacturer they'll give you the same thing. The problem is that C3 bearings in those sizes may not necessarily be stock items, so BMG may have to order them in.

 

I suspect C3 bearings are probably more expensive than CN ones, but they're probably still cheaper from BMG than from Cyclelab (for various reasons already mentioned). Of course, until you have a price from BMG for C3 bearings to do a direct comparison, it's a bit unfair to criticise CL's price.

Hell Edman. Now that is a reply I can appreciate. Thanks for all the interesting and relevant info. Rare to find a reply that answers the OP's topic based on sound product knowledge.

 

Do you reckon that if you need to replace a bearing on a bike you can take it to Bearing Man and get a Timken / SKF rather than a "bike branded" bearing? The way I see it they (bike manufacturers) won't invest all their money on R&D if there is already a superior product on the market, manufactured by companies whose sole interest is bearings?

 

 

Thanks again.

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Hell Edman. Now that is a reply I can appreciate. Thanks for all the interesting and relevant info. Rare to find a reply that answers the OP's topic based on sound product knowledge.

 

Do you reckon that if you need to replace a bearing on a bike you can take it to Bearing Man and get a Timken / SKF rather than a "bike branded" bearing? The way I see it they (bike manufacturers) won't invest all their money on R&D if there is already a superior product on the market, manufactured by companies whose sole interest is bearings?

 

 

Thanks again.

 

No what they would do is find a cheap supplier somewhere local with a solid record and just rebrand them and charge 500%

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So in laymens terms, are the bearings from Bearing Man just as good or not.Im sure that the bike companies dont manufacture their own?

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Do you reckon that if you need to replace a bearing on a bike you can take it to Bearing Man and get a Timken / SKF rather than a "bike branded" bearing? The way I see it they (bike manufacturers) won't invest all their money on R&D if there is already a superior product on the market, manufactured by companies whose sole interest is bearings

Absolutely. So long as the size and specification is the same the SKF etc. bearing will do just as well as the OEM bearing. In the case of the Mavics it's not the normal bearing specification, but once you know that it's a C3 clearance you should be able to get SKF equivalents (C3 clearances are usually used on shafts with a large interference fit or where there is significant thermal expansion).

 

Unless you have a very specialist application (nothing on a bike falls into this category), there is no need to go to the effort of designing a bearing from scratch. It's much more efficient to just pick a suitable one from the catalog.

 

So in laymens terms, are the bearings from Bearing Man just as good or not?

Yes, just stay away from the cheap Chinese ones as they tend to be made to lower tolerances with lower grade material and won't last too long.

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No what they would do is find a cheap supplier somewhere local with a solid record and just rebrand them and charge 500%

I'm not sure they even rebrand them. They just stick them in a different packet.

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here is a thought, Mavic, Shimano and any wheel manufacturer over prices ridiculously simple things. ever thought that a front derailer should be R600 or how a cable can be R15. when you go to a hard ware we find these items for cheap, but being cyclist we want cyclist products and so we want the item packaged in a cycling branded package even if it is the same thing. of course the bearing is cheaper they are industrial and dont have mavic on it, the lady at cycle lab looked for an over priced product from a over priced reseller. Who is to blame the stupid importers who rip everyone off. Probike, JJ, just toys and the rest of them. thats why we all go on international websites and cringe that we could be buying our bikes at a much cheaper price. but because the suppliers monopolies the market and hold our warrenties infront of us as commodities we pay the extra 30% on bikes and spares. who is to blame, we are for putting up with it.

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To respond to an earlier post about "you obviously have not run your own business" or some such drivel, I have not run my own business either. However, I do insist that any business makes a profit - I need you to still be around to honour warranty claims and sell me more stuff.

 

What I do have an objection to is making a killing off every sale that you make. So, when someone over charges you, please let me know and similarly when you get a good deal also pass that on.

 

I may not run my own business, but it is MY money and I will spend it where I feel I get the best value for it.

 

So you spend time in the evenings trying to make a success of your business. Good for you. These are the same people who say that teachers, nurses and other civil servants should stop whining about their pay and get other jobs. Right back at ya sunshine!

 

Running a business is all about risk and reward. No one is forced to start up a company. However, not having the necessary equipment to manufacture my own bearings / toaster / curling tongs I am forced to purchase such items from people who do run their own businesses. I will support the company that suits my needs without any remorse for the hours you put in or the risk you have taken.

 

Amen.

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Gasping Im with you, Running your own business does not equate to having carte blanche to do as you please in the market.

 

Running your own business the owner should focus on customer service, satisfaction and providng a value for money product while still making a "decent / Realistic" profit"

 

Take CL in this case its obvious they put a 300% markup on some products, yes it might just be bearings in this case, but if they do it on one they will do it one others. So what motivation would i have to purchase from them?

 

Frankly none.

 

Customer service PASS

Customoer satsifaction FAIL

Customer Value FAIL

 

So no matter how pretty and professional their shops look, or how hot the girl is that help you, I now have no motivation to pop my head in there.

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When running a business you need to consider your market, how much you are gonna sell and your overheads.

 

So if you are only gonna sell 2 bearings a month and have to keep stock etc. you are gonna charge more. Then if you are selling to a Yuppie market that wants to buy from you because of whatever.... you can charege even more.

 

You can get the same pair of jeans from the corner market, Mr Price, Edgars or the bespoke jean store in the upmarket mall. (Well prolly not the corner market) and the prices will vary significantly.

 

Low volume high image = Very High Price

 

Low price = No Image and must have high volume.

 

So if you are catering for a niche market your prices HAVE to be Higher. And ppl do buy otherwise the shop would not survive.

 

Don't falme them for servicing a particular market because it exists.

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Take CL in this case its obvious they put a 300% markup on some products, yes it might just be bearings in this case, but if they do it on one they will do it one others. So what motivation would i have to purchase from them?

 

Frankly none.

 

Customer service PASS

Customoer satsifaction FAIL

Customer Value FAIL

 

So no matter how pretty and professional their shops look, or how hot the girl is that help you, I now have no motivation to pop my head in there.

 

Yes but you are not thier market then consider this:

 

Customer service PASS for you and the normal customer

Customoer satsifaction FAIL for you but for the customer that wants to say look at this nice box it came in and who sold it to me. He cycles and knows bikes etc etc. it will be a pass.

Customer Value FAIL for you and pass for the customer that wants a "Brand Specific" part.

 

You are not gonna see a Ferari, Bently, Rolls driver going down to the corner spare shop to get his spark plugs, are you now, even if they are the same and cost R 1500.00 less each.

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is the bearings we talk about the same ones that we find on www.chainreactioncycles.com ..... http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=40969 ....... that sells for ZAR 162.39 ....... no wonder the cartel is so scared of cyclists importing their own stuff.

 

A classic case of the cartel shooting themselves in their own foot..... or should it be feet ........... because there are so many holes in them already!!!!!!!

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