Originally Posted by
rubiksoval
Can't you apply this same idea to pretty much anything? I'm sure I could source the parts and materials I need to build a car or a house or a computer or whatever cheaper...
I'm not sure. Of course labor is required building a car or a house. Buying a complete bike with either groupset would have required pretty much identical labor from the bike maker.
More apt might be how a contractor prices things put into a new house build? Eg. bathroom fixture. Is his price differential on the entire house, less, more or same than you'd find if you priced out the 2 choices of bathroom fixture yourself at home depot? I honestly don't know how house industry works and if there's cost itemization of parts etc. that are verifiable.