Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

I knew inflation was happening but DAYUM

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

I knew inflation was happening but DAYUM

Old 10-19-21, 07:11 PM
  #1  
smashndash
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,410

Bikes: 2017 Specialized Allez Sprint Comp

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 850 Post(s)
Liked 344 Times in 247 Posts
I knew inflation was happening but DAYUM

https://mygoods.com/wilier-stemma-stem-100-ramato/

1 BILLION USD for this stem.


The actual street price of this stem seems to be around $550 which is a positive STEAL

Wilier's bar-stems seem to be a joke too, at around $1500 for a unit. I'm usually not one to price-shame (glass houses and all) but anyone buying this stuff has gotta be a grade-A chump.

Anyone willing to argue that?

Last edited by BillyD; 10-20-21 at 07:08 AM.
smashndash is offline  
Old 10-19-21, 09:38 PM
  #2  
mstateglfr 
Sunshine
 
mstateglfr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,506

Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo

Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10873 Post(s)
Liked 7,354 Times in 4,125 Posts
Whats also funny is that 90mm and 110mm length stems are *only* $571.
mstateglfr is offline  
Old 10-19-21, 10:42 PM
  #3  
Seattle Forrest
Senior Member
 
Seattle Forrest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,644 Times in 6,053 Posts
If I can get a billion dollar stem for $500, that's such a good deal I can't afford to get just one. Quick, does anybody have the link to go fund me??
Seattle Forrest is offline  
Likes For Seattle Forrest:
Old 10-19-21, 11:44 PM
  #4  
surak
Senior Member
 
surak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,937

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Canyon Inflite AL SLX, Ibis Ripley AF, Priority Continuum Onyx, Santana Vision, Kent Dual-Drive Tandem

Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 857 Post(s)
Liked 723 Times in 434 Posts
Inflation isn't to blame. Clearly we're seeing Big Bike's disc brakes and tubeless tires endgame come to fruition. If only we had listened to those who took a stand against Big Bike...
surak is offline  
Likes For surak:
Old 10-20-21, 02:07 AM
  #5  
Kimmo 
bike whisperer
 
Kimmo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Melbourne, Oz
Posts: 9,533

Bikes: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=152015&p=1404231

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1520 Post(s)
Liked 716 Times in 508 Posts
Sure looks like a nice stem tho
Kimmo is offline  
Likes For Kimmo:
Old 10-20-21, 05:01 AM
  #6  
Hiro11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,608

Bikes: 2022 Specialized Allez Sprint custom build, 2019 Giant Defy Advanced Pro 0, 2018 Seven Mudhoney Pro custom build, 2017 Raleigh Stuntman, various others

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 782 Post(s)
Liked 475 Times in 238 Posts
In all seriousness, pricing is f%^&ing ridiculous right now. There are many examples, but i'll pick just one:

Specialized wants $4,200 for the new Crux Comp:
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/cr...=322104-199962

This is a bike with:
1. Rival 1 mechanical with, get this: a Sunrace cassette... on a $4,200 bike.
2. Cheapo OEM DT-Swiss G540 wheels, worth maybe $300
3. House brand aluminum everything else. (Specialized house brand stuff is good, but still...)

That kind of build was ~$2,700 two years ago. Trek and Cannondale have similarly gone equally insane with their pricing. Even Giant is creeping up steadily. I CAN'T WAIT for this bubble to pop, these brands needs to face a backlash.
Hiro11 is offline  
Old 10-20-21, 06:44 AM
  #7  
johnnyace 
Le savonnier
 
johnnyace's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,706

Bikes: I can count 'em on one hand

Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 729 Post(s)
Liked 597 Times in 269 Posts
Originally Posted by Hiro11
Trek and Cannondale have similarly gone equally insane with their pricing. Even Giant is creeping up steadily. I CAN'T WAIT for this bubble to pop, these brands needs to face a backlash.
Easy. Don't buy their stuff.
johnnyace is offline  
Likes For johnnyace:
Old 10-20-21, 06:58 AM
  #8  
Bald Paul
Senior Member
 
Bald Paul's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 1,668
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 799 Post(s)
Liked 1,597 Times in 756 Posts
I had one in my cart, then found out they don't offer free shipping. Oh well.
Bald Paul is offline  
Old 10-20-21, 07:01 AM
  #9  
seypat
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,741
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3182 Post(s)
Liked 2,460 Times in 1,489 Posts
It's that way in all products. Read the supply chain issue threads. I have a wholesale/retail business. Products that cost me $15-$20 2 years ago now cost in the $40s. The freight on an individual container at the first of this year was $1500-$2000. Now it's $15,000-$20,000 per container. I had an item that went on backorder in March. When it came in a couple of weeks ago, the price increase was 53% They couldn't even quote a new price until the product got to the dock. Materials costs have went up. Not just an imported product problem either. The USA manufacturer I buy from has had 3 15% and 1 10% price increases since the first of the year. They can't get materials either. It's 1-2 months from the placement of order until it's shipped from them as well.
seypat is offline  
Likes For seypat:
Old 10-20-21, 07:05 AM
  #10  
Hiro11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,608

Bikes: 2022 Specialized Allez Sprint custom build, 2019 Giant Defy Advanced Pro 0, 2018 Seven Mudhoney Pro custom build, 2017 Raleigh Stuntman, various others

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 782 Post(s)
Liked 475 Times in 238 Posts
Originally Posted by johnnyace
Easy. Don't buy their stuff.
Wasn't planning on it, but thanks.
Hiro11 is offline  
Old 10-20-21, 07:21 AM
  #11  
Hiro11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,608

Bikes: 2022 Specialized Allez Sprint custom build, 2019 Giant Defy Advanced Pro 0, 2018 Seven Mudhoney Pro custom build, 2017 Raleigh Stuntman, various others

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 782 Post(s)
Liked 475 Times in 238 Posts
Originally Posted by seypat
It's that way in all products. Read the supply chain issue threads. I have a wholesale/retail business. Products that cost me $15-$20 2 years ago now cost in the $40s. The freight on an individual container at the first of this year was $1500-$2000. Now it's $15,000-$20,000 per container. I had an item that went on backorder in March. When it came in a couple of weeks ago, the price increase was 53% They couldn't even quote a new price until the product got to the dock. Materials costs have went up. Not just an imported product problem either. The USA manufacturer I buy from has had 3 15% and 1 10% price increases since the first of the year. They can't get materials either. It's 1-2 months from the placement of order until it's shipped from them as well.
Yeah, get all that. But a 50%+ increase in 1.5-2 years? Yeah, no.
Hiro11 is offline  
Old 10-20-21, 07:36 AM
  #12  
PeteHski
Senior Member
 
PeteHski's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,020
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4192 Post(s)
Liked 4,616 Times in 2,852 Posts
Originally Posted by smashndash
https://mygoods.com/wilier-stemma-stem-100-ramato/

but anyone buying this stuff has gotta be a grade-A chump.

Anyone willing to argue that?
So if say Jeff Bezos decides to spend "chump" change on a $500 stem does that make him a grade-A chump? Probably not.
But if someone has to take out finance to buy one then yes, they are a grade-A chump.
PeteHski is offline  
Old 10-20-21, 07:45 AM
  #13  
bikecrate
Senior Member
 
bikecrate's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: LF, APMAT
Posts: 2,749
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 623 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 392 Times in 224 Posts
I'm more than happy to pay $1,005,650,901 for a stem, but $1,005,650,901.68 is just too much. Where am I supposed to come up with the extra 68 cents. I'm not made of money.
bikecrate is offline  
Likes For bikecrate:
Old 10-20-21, 08:41 AM
  #14  
mstateglfr 
Sunshine
 
mstateglfr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,506

Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo

Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10873 Post(s)
Liked 7,354 Times in 4,125 Posts
Originally Posted by PeteHski
So if say Jeff Bezos decides to spend "chump" change on a $500 stem does that make him a grade-A chump? Probably not.
But if someone has to take out finance to buy one then yes, they are a grade-A chump.
It would make him a poser. Or better phrased, it would further confirm that.
mstateglfr is offline  
Old 10-20-21, 09:10 AM
  #15  
Rocket-Sauce 
Port
 
Rocket-Sauce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Boston
Posts: 9,481

Bikes: 2022 Soma Fog Cutter, 2021 Calfee Draqonfly 44, 1984 Peter Mooney, 2017 Soma Stanyan, 1990 Fuji Ace, 1990 Bridgestone RB-1, 1995 Independent Fabrications Track, 2003 Calfee Dragonfly Pro

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 968 Post(s)
Liked 1,785 Times in 1,027 Posts
Originally Posted by bikecrate
I'm more than happy to pay $1,005,650,901 for a stem, but $1,005,650,901.68 is just too much. Where am I supposed to come up with the extra 68 cents. I'm not made of money.
Marginal gains.
Rocket-Sauce is offline  
Old 10-20-21, 10:15 AM
  #16  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 38,963
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18269 Post(s)
Liked 15,185 Times in 7,172 Posts
Originally Posted by seypat
It's that way in all products. Read the supply chain issue threads. I have a wholesale/retail business. Products that cost me $15-$20 2 years ago now cost in the $40s. The freight on an individual container at the first of this year was $1500-$2000. Now it's $15,000-$20,000 per container. I had an item that went on backorder in March. When it came in a couple of weeks ago, the price increase was 53% They couldn't even quote a new price until the product got to the dock. Materials costs have went up. Not just an imported product problem either. The USA manufacturer I buy from has had 3 15% and 1 10% price increases since the first of the year. They can't get materials either. It's 1-2 months from the placement of order until it's shipped from them as well.
I was going to mention container shipping costs. Heard those figures on the news the other morning. My jaw dropped.
indyfabz is offline  
Old 10-20-21, 10:25 AM
  #17  
mstateglfr 
Sunshine
 
mstateglfr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,506

Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo

Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10873 Post(s)
Liked 7,354 Times in 4,125 Posts
The brakes can be tapped a bit on Pacific shipping rates. Dont pump the brakes, but certainly tap em.
It is bad, but like most things that are reported on- news reports at a lag and so there comes a point when whats being reported is both overblown and inaccurate.

Ocean freight rates are still super high. And domestic transportation rates are still high.
But much of the issue with container rates was due to hoarding by manufacturers and speculators.
A lot of freight has been moving for less than what is reported, but it isnt eye catching to report on that. Also, some of the news I have read would attribute rates to the East Coast to the West Coast which makes for inflated numbers.

Last week, 40' containers moved for just over $8000 from Shanghai to multiple West Coast ports. Yes, that is still really expensive. Prior to the pandemic it was around $1500.
Whats being reported now is partly accurate and partly old news that takes time to work its way out of the minds of late adapters who are just hearing about this.
mstateglfr is offline  
Likes For mstateglfr:
Old 10-20-21, 11:13 AM
  #18  
smashndash
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,410

Bikes: 2017 Specialized Allez Sprint Comp

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 850 Post(s)
Liked 344 Times in 247 Posts
Originally Posted by PeteHski
So if say Jeff Bezos decides to spend "chump" change on a $500 stem does that make him a grade-A chump? Probably not.
But if someone has to take out finance to buy one then yes, they are a grade-A chump.
Well you can also be a chump due to opportunity cost. Why is a wilier stem worth so much more than any of their competitors? Even enve, one of the most snobbish brands (at least, they used to be) charges "only" $300 for their stem.

the answer, of course, is that you want your stem to match your bike. But then I'd just ask, why is this wilier bike so much better than its specialized or cervelo competitors? If the answer is something along the lines of "italian heritage", I am comfortable saying that customers of wilier have to be grade-A chumps.

but I am open to better justifications.
smashndash is offline  
Likes For smashndash:
Old 10-20-21, 11:53 AM
  #19  
blacknbluebikes 
Senior Member
 
blacknbluebikes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 1,271

Bikes: two blacks, a blue and a white.

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 440 Post(s)
Liked 836 Times in 405 Posts
Free markets. Gotta love 'em. Would we be happier with a government that controlled prices? No, except when it suits me personally. Car leases - great 'till they're not. Your contract ends and a massive supply shortage forces a very ugly replacement cost. Well, didn't want to be an owner three years ago, now you're wishing to be an owner, sitting it out for another two years with no need to act. In this crazy bond market (my real life) we talk about nothing but interest rates: you might be paying, you might be receiving, sometimes you want to be fixed, sometimes you want to be floating. Either way, wrong is expensive. But it will change - so I can be wrong again.
blacknbluebikes is offline  
Old 10-20-21, 12:32 PM
  #20  
PeteHski
Senior Member
 
PeteHski's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,020
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4192 Post(s)
Liked 4,616 Times in 2,852 Posts
Originally Posted by smashndash
Well you can also be a chump due to opportunity cost. Why is a wilier stem worth so much more than any of their competitors? Even enve, one of the most snobbish brands (at least, they used to be) charges "only" $300 for their stem.

the answer, of course, is that you want your stem to match your bike. But then I'd just ask, why is this wilier bike so much better than its specialized or cervelo competitors? If the answer is something along the lines of "italian heritage", I am comfortable saying that customers of wilier have to be grade-A chumps.

but I am open to better justifications.
You could also be a chump judging what other people buy.
PeteHski is offline  
Likes For PeteHski:
Old 10-20-21, 12:48 PM
  #21  
smashndash
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,410

Bikes: 2017 Specialized Allez Sprint Comp

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 850 Post(s)
Liked 344 Times in 247 Posts
Originally Posted by PeteHski
You could also be a chump judging what other people buy.
The thread is mostly tongue in cheek. Like I said, I'm in a glass house here. I'm a huge chump. But paying $1500 for a bar/stem that doesn't offer anything special seems a bit chumpier somehow. :shrug:

Like is this bar/stem especially stiff, light, aero or whatever? Available in custom sizing? Made in italy? Not that I can tell.
smashndash is offline  
Old 10-20-21, 01:06 PM
  #22  
PeteHski
Senior Member
 
PeteHski's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,020
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4192 Post(s)
Liked 4,616 Times in 2,852 Posts
Originally Posted by smashndash
The thread is mostly tongue in cheek. Like I said, I'm in a glass house here. I'm a huge chump. But paying $1500 for a bar/stem that doesn't offer anything special seems a bit chumpier somehow. :shrug:

Like is this bar/stem especially stiff, light, aero or whatever? Available in custom sizing? Made in italy? Not that I can tell.
Oh I agree. It's nuts. But it's like trying to justify some pointless cosmetic trim option when ordering a new car. I mean you can easily get charged a couple of grand for just a different colour. What you are really paying for here is exclusivity. I wouldn't do it, but if I was a massive Willier fan and was building up my dream super-bike then I might think differently. I certainly wouldn't be fitting some generic cheap bar and stem combo on such a bike.
PeteHski is offline  
Old 10-20-21, 01:55 PM
  #23  
Seattle Forrest
Senior Member
 
Seattle Forrest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,644 Times in 6,053 Posts
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-b...ning-universe/
Seattle Forrest is offline  
Old 10-20-21, 02:21 PM
  #24  
PeteHski
Senior Member
 
PeteHski's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,020
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4192 Post(s)
Liked 4,616 Times in 2,852 Posts
Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest
Ah, I see what you did there. Very clever.
PeteHski is offline  
Old 10-22-21, 12:17 PM
  #25  
ofajen
Cheerfully low end
 
ofajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,959
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 641 Post(s)
Liked 1,034 Times in 659 Posts
Don’t be fooled, that webstore is a front for Dr. Evil, hence the price of one BILLION dollars. The insignificant additional figures, including the 68 cents is just a thinly veiled attempt to hide his presence.

Otto
ofajen is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.