Originally Posted by Maelochs

Of course, production costs, real estate, energy, shipping .... the cost of everything has gone up. The idea that suddenly all these bike companies are making triple-figure profits because cyclists are suckers is pretty much garbage.

Giant made about 10%, according to actual reported figures in the $14k bike thread .... Of course, "reported taxable profit" doesn't mean much, but ten percent profit for a year is pretty small for a business that big. They might be healthy but they aren't raking it in like some people where seem to think.

Again, the difference between talking to customers and business owners is enormous. Some people here think that the whole notion of profit is evil, and that everyone should work for free, not establish a cash fund for emergencies, not invest in expanding the busine3ss, never update the products, tooling, or manufacturing methods .... and should still sell the latest, best-developed, cutting-edge gear .... for less that it cost two years ago.

It is comical until one realizes that they really believe that is how things work.