Small common parts that seem to be way overpriced
03-01-22, 03:09 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Toledo Ohio
Posts: 977
Bikes: 1964 Frejus,1972 Fuji Newest, 1973 Schwinn Super Sport, 1983 Trek 700, 1985 Ironman, 1985 Torpado, 1983 Peugeot UO14, 1989 Miyata 1000LT and others
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 345 Post(s)
Liked 384 Times
in
209 Posts
Small common parts that seem to be way overpriced
As title says, some small parts seem way overpriced to me. Leading off are crank arm dust covers. I guess I didn’t have them in tight enough and lost both nice Shimano ones on my Miyata. Of course even if available, these are perhaps $20 each. Even generic plastic ones are $5. It seems generic metal ones should be $5 considering the universal fit. Brake cable end ferrules also come to mind as they are quite pricey considering the low tech and universal application. Any other rants here?
Likes For sd5782:
03-01-22, 03:22 PM
#3
sucker
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 532
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1461 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,588 Times
in
803 Posts
Originally Posted by the guy who doesn't get it
ShimaNO
Last edited by hazetguy; 03-01-22 at 03:29 PM.
Likes For hazetguy:
03-01-22, 03:48 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 15,752
Mentioned: 404 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3000 Post(s)
Liked 3,848 Times
in
1,695 Posts
Milk and gas and, um, chewing gum!
03-01-22, 03:52 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Highlands Ranch, CO
Posts: 1,221
Bikes: '13 Diamondback Hybrid Commuter, '17 Spec Roubaix Di2, '17 Spec Camber 29'er, '19 CDale Topstone Gravel
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 589 Post(s)
Liked 443 Times
in
260 Posts
Originally Posted by hazetguy
please stop with that, seriously. it's really annoying, and i know i am not the first person to mention this.
Last edited by Riveting; 03-01-22 at 04:10 PM.
Likes For Riveting:
03-01-22, 03:56 PM
#6
Full Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Pioneer Valley
Posts: 357
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 89 Post(s)
Liked 140 Times
in
83 Posts
One time I told someone a presta adapter was $3 (I know they’re often cheaper) and he said “$3?! I could make that! Just need to get a chunk of brass, cut it, thread both ends, put in an o ring….”
I asked him if he’d make me one for $3.
I asked him if he’d make me one for $3.
Likes For bboy314:
Likes For Polaris OBark:
03-01-22, 04:34 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 26,894
Mentioned: 213 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15920 Post(s)
Liked 3,269 Times
in
2,431 Posts
"Vintage" parts are likely one of those things that have limited stock, so prices are all over the ballpark.
One thing that happens is that selling individual items incurs a cost. So, the Presta adapter mentioned above, they should be less than $0.50 each if purchased by the hundred, or by the thousand. But, there is a lot of handling that gets priced in when buying one.
One thing that happens is that selling individual items incurs a cost. So, the Presta adapter mentioned above, they should be less than $0.50 each if purchased by the hundred, or by the thousand. But, there is a lot of handling that gets priced in when buying one.
Likes For TiHabanero:
03-01-22, 04:47 PM
#11
Gone riding
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 11,654
Mentioned: 242 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2206 Post(s)
Liked 3,321 Times
in
1,200 Posts
Small parts prices are high, and they always have been. Small stuff is what always falls off/gets lost, after all. That's why when I hook somebody up with one out of my stash, or I'm hooked up with one by somebody out of theirs, we both know we're doing each other a solid 
Suck it up - and add some blue Loctite while you're at it!
DD
Suck it up - and add some blue Loctite while you're at it!
DD
Likes For Drillium Dude:
03-01-22, 04:51 PM
#12
Gone riding
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 11,654
Mentioned: 242 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2206 Post(s)
Liked 3,321 Times
in
1,200 Posts
Originally Posted by Polaris OBark
The correct term (always used with affection) is Crampy.
DD
Likes For Drillium Dude:
03-01-22, 06:49 PM
#13
Senior Member
Originally Posted by sd5782
As title says, some small parts seem way overpriced to me. Leading off are crank arm dust covers. I guess I didn’t have them in tight enough and lost both nice Shimano ones on my Miyata. Of course even if available, these are perhaps $20 each. Even generic plastic ones are $5. It seems generic metal ones should be $5 considering the universal fit.
Likes For Soody:
Likes For bboy314:
03-01-22, 07:24 PM
#15
Senior Member
Originally Posted by Drillium Dude
Or this slightly modified version of the same:
DD
DD
Been off the bike(s) for a week or so with shoulder surgery . Its going to hurt when I get back to it .
03-01-22, 07:27 PM
#16
2k miles from the midwest
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,762
Bikes: ~'75 Colin Laing, '80s Schwinn SuperSport 650b, ex-Backroads ti project...
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 430 Post(s)
Liked 700 Times
in
342 Posts
I'll never forget the day, several after leaving a shop job, when I realized I no longer had any shift ferrules. I'd brought home 2 quart-sized Ball jars of bench sweepings when I left.
03-01-22, 07:36 PM
#17
Senior Member
Originally Posted by bboy314
Imagine what small parts would cost if people were paid fair wages for manufacturing and transporting them!
03-01-22, 08:14 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 15,752
Mentioned: 404 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3000 Post(s)
Liked 3,848 Times
in
1,695 Posts
One word: Aliexpress.
03-01-22, 08:32 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,274
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 760 Post(s)
Liked 584 Times
in
360 Posts
Originally Posted by sd5782
As title says, some small parts seem way overpriced to me. Leading off are crank arm dust covers. I guess I didn’t have them in tight enough and lost both nice Shimano ones on my Miyata. Of course even if available, these are perhaps $20 each
03-01-22, 08:35 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: So Cal
Posts: 73
Bikes: 2022 Cervelo Caledonia-5 SRAM Rival etap AXS, 2019 Specialized Sirrus Elite Alloy, 1977 Schwinn Super LeTour 12.2, 85 Bianchi Limited Shimano New 600EX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 44 Times
in
23 Posts
Plastic Cygolite Adapter...$16
03-01-22, 08:39 PM
#22
BIKE RIDE
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,393
Bikes: my very own customized GUNNAR CrossHairs
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 358 Post(s)
Liked 168 Times
in
111 Posts
I was thinking of starting a kind of loose-screws sales thread.
I got washers and and spacers and what not that I had to buy in bulk-ish.
I think this kind of goes to the OP.
I got washers and and spacers and what not that I had to buy in bulk-ish.
I think this kind of goes to the OP.
03-01-22, 08:44 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 781
Bikes: You had me at rusty and Italian!!
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 302 Post(s)
Liked 457 Times
in
258 Posts
If it’s old, small and I can’t find it anywhere else I pay the money and don’t look back.
I agree with comments about crank dust caps. They’re ridiculously expensive for something some see as unnecessary. I think they look clean but I’m peculiar. Very peculiar….
I agree with comments about crank dust caps. They’re ridiculously expensive for something some see as unnecessary. I think they look clean but I’m peculiar. Very peculiar….
03-01-22, 08:46 PM
#24
Señor Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 5,809
Bikes: Old school lightweights
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2424 Post(s)
Liked 3,230 Times
in
1,743 Posts
Originally Posted by Soody
crank arm dust caps are totally useless and unnecessary
03-01-22, 08:51 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 15,752
Mentioned: 404 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3000 Post(s)
Liked 3,848 Times
in
1,695 Posts
I'm having trouble picturing where the crank dustcaps go:
Likes For nlerner:
