patentcad

I ordered a new D.A. 7800 crank set (no BB) from PBK today. $232 shipped. My LBS says its cost is like $400.

What's UP with that boys?

Scorer75

it's the mirrors.

cydewaze

Maybe that have one of those things like on Star Trek, where they just say, "One Dura-Ace 7800 crankset, 172.5mm" and it just materializes out of thin air, so their cost is $0.

BananaTugger

They have had about 40 of them lying around since 2006.

What they don't have is people in the "shop" working on rigs.

Flatballer

They get parts that are supposed to be included at wholesale for new bike builds from manufacturers, and then sell it for a small profit. They also do a ton of volume. Same idea as wholesale computer places that sell unboxed processors and software that's "for inclusion with a new PC ONLY".

At least this is what I've heard of their business plan.

gfrance

and, no tax, no shipping charge. how DO they do it.

slimvela

don't ask, just enjoy like the rest of us.

tekhna

I dunno, but I wish they had campy centaur shifters in stock. And Keo cleats evar.

patentcad

Hey, my LBS will have to install that crank set and simply wait for me to buy the new $6K racing bicycle from them in January to make $ off of me. Actually, I bought another Joe Blow Pro floor pump from them on Saturday (best floor pump ever). They're always selling me something.

Industrial

I wonder about this too. My LBS quoted me $80 for an ultegra cassette, $70 for an ultegra derailiuer and $280 for an ultegra compact crank. All these prices are like 2x what PBK sells them for...shipped with no tax...

mrbubbles

Little late to the game, I've been shopping at PBK since I've heard about it, it's a nice swift kick in the gonads to the ****ty Canadian distributors (Dura Ace crankset cost like $700 for Canadians).

Just wait til it arrives in 5 days for you.

dgasmd

I don't know how they do it, and quite frankly I really don't care either. I hate to pay more than I have to for anything, I can't stand the one bike shop in town that claims/thinks to know what they are doing because they can sell ultra overpriced bikes to the local old rich people that don't know what to do with money. The other 2 shops sell beach cruisers and kiddy bikes. In other words, I have no LBS loyalty. Keep it coming PBK. I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bwunger

Wait, they have free shipping too? I thought I read on their site that they charged 12£ flat rate for international orders. I didn't order my new tires there cause I thought with that shipping it would be cheaper to pick them up locally.

Psimet2001 

Welcome to the internet pcad....

BTW - they do it because they get OEM pricing and parts. Sometimes that means your parts come in a bag without instructions....no problem for me or most, but some people get squeeky about it.

Psimet2001 

Free shipping to the US. Let's be specific about that.

adam

+1 - I can't imagine buying any component from a Canadian shop these days - the numbers are crazy. For the $400 or so you'll save buying from PBK, you might be able to find a return flight to England to thank PBK for their pricing.

Jynx

They saw you coming and know you will spend that much

In all honesty LBS's can not compete with internet pricing. I don't mind paying more at a LBS but when it's over $200 on one part that's pretty bad. Same goes for any part of a groupset, tires, wheels, ect... It's always hundreds cheaper online.

Booger

Same as most other internet operations, high volume purchasing and lower overhead costs. Although, the higher volumes thing may be a stretch as of late. They can't sell what they don't have. I'm really hoping they can get it together and start keeping things in stock again.

patentcad

I bought pedals from PBK last year. You can't beat their prices if they have what you need.

botto 

they sell opebn corsas for a buck, or two, over a LBS's costs, so that's not such a big surprise pcaddy.

intence

Don't most LBS's buy their stuff from QBP? I was under the impression that PBK placed large enough orders to buy from Shimano directly. Cutting out the middlemen probably also adds to the savings.

BananaTugger

botto making grammar errors? Pcad discovering the internet? Bills are 2-0?

Maybe the Large Hadron Collider really is the end of the world.

botto 

you should learn the learn the difference between a typo and grammatical mistake.

Jynx

You could have saved an additional 5% if you used

Coupon Code: USARBR

Call them up and let them know!

Psimet2001 

That works for all shops on the same playing field....but does not apply when you are talking about different categories of distribution...in this case - OEM. PBK gets manufacturer's pricing that is normally extend to bicycle "manufacturers" or assemblers - not retailers.

Example...ask your local what the best price (cost) they can get for various Michelin tires is....odds are their best price is still above what PBK is retailing for.

This kind of activity could actually be perceived as illegal in the US if these guys were actually competing in the same markets (under the Ronbinson Act IIRC - could be totally wrong).

Only recourse for an LBS compteting is:
1. Pressure the manufacturer to revoke the OEM discount structure form PBK - unlikely. Different country, different market (supposedly), and they have a much higher volume than any local here in the US. Not to mention all US are receiving the same basic discount structure - adjusted for volume discounts as you mention depending on manufacturere-distributor, etc.

2. Embrace it and hope that most never check online or are like pcad and can't figure out how to put anything on a bike together. Sell service. Offer products/services that places like pbk are not offering. Differentiate themselves - find a way to make themselves more valuable to their customer apart form being a source of components. Possibly even ordering the components from pbk for their customers.....that will start to piss off their loacl reps who will no longer get paid for the sales in their territory.....