.... the most popular road 9s cassette just went up to $43 wholesale. Here's a chance for everyone to weigh in on what they think is a reasonable retail price for a LBS to charge. Let's hear your ideas on the proper profit margin, etc....

It always amazes me that folks who don't have a clue will have an opinion about everything. Folks who have never tried to make a business work will have every answer for those who do.

So let's hear it!

Old Guy who owned a retail business for a while.

Jim

Then it must go for $44 retail! Any higher and the shop owners are clearly dinging us, those greedy fascist pigs!

If I can get it for $40 on the internet, the shop must take a loss to placate my miserly bottom.

$44?!? That's highway robbery! How dare you suggest a bike shop tries to make money off me. Casettes, as well as all other bicycle parts, should be free. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a terrorist. Because as we know, the terrorists hate freedom.

Why not look at a "105" or even a Tiagra" cassette ? Cassette are one of the things that are "fine" to buy online.

.... the most popular road 9s cassette just went up to $43 wholesale. Here's a chance for everyone to weigh in on what they think is a reasonable retail price for a LBS to charge. Let's hear your ideas on the proper profit margin, etc....
There is no "reasonable" price. They have to charge what people are willing to pay. - TF

.... the most popular road 9s cassette just went up to $43 wholesale. Here's a chance for everyone to weigh in on what they think is a reasonable retail price for a LBS to charge. Let's hear your ideas on the proper profit margin, etc....


At least they still make 9-speed! I can't find a new twist tooth cassette anywhere these days...

I happen to be in the market for one of these. Colorado Cyclist has them for $39.95, plus shipping. So I would say that $45 is fair, otherwise I will buy it online.

I sense some hostility in this thread.

Without saying 'cheap' or 'highway robbery' , I'm curious: why did the price of these cassettes go up ? 4-5 years ago you could get them online around $30, now it's more like $40 or up.

Pierre

.... the most popular road 9s cassette just went up to $43 wholesale. Here's a chance for everyone to weigh in on what they think is a reasonable retail price for a LBS to charge. Let's hear your ideas on the proper profit margin, etc....

There's a reason I don't run a bike shop, and that's because I don't want to deal with proper profit margins, etc. The bottom line for me is that when I am spending my own money, I will always seek out the best price and never feel bad about it. An LBS is not a charity, and there isn't much value it can add to a cassette purchase.

Not another thread about the LBS vs. online! But if I can save $10 by shopping online, I'll save it. If it is less than $10 difference, I'll try to buy it from a LBS.

.... the most popular road 9s cassette just went up to $43 wholesale. Here's a chance for everyone to weigh in on what they think is a reasonable retail price for a LBS to charge. Let's hear your ideas on the proper profit margin, etc....

In the business I'm in (not cycling related) we are a manufacturer and also a distributor. On the products we "re-sell" we are happy to get 35% to 40% margins. So if this item costs the LBS $43... I would think the fair market price would be around $70. If they are only going after customers that aren't price sensitive, I would guess they would charge around $107 or a 60% margin.

In the business I'm in list price on items we "re-sell" are around a 60% margin... but again we are happy and lucky to get 35% to 40% due to competition and the internet.

Just my .02 cents worth...

"most popular" - does that mean Dura Ace? I've never paid more than $32 for an Ultegra 9 sp cassette, and probably never will. Any more than that is ridiculous. Then again, I saw LX MTB cranks in Supergo's catalog yesterday for $161. One hundred and sixty one dollars for 105 level crankset! Holy freakin cow! I thought Supergo was cheap. I still wouldn't pay more than $50-60 for a crankset of that level. Maybe 20 more for Ultegra/XT level setup. Up to $100 if the BB is included.

What is this world coming to? We need more components made in China, not just frames...

If you think that's too expensive, don't sell it - or just don't stock it. Explain to your customers that the manufacturer/distributer of it has raised your price to the point where you can't offer it to your customers at a reasonable price. If they still want to buy it from you, order it for them & price it with your normal markup.

$44?!? That's highway robbery! How dare you suggest a bike shop tries to make money off me. Casettes, as well as all other bicycle parts, should be free. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a terrorist. Because as we know, the terrorists hate freedom.
WDYLASM?

-watchit or this'll get bumped to the grinder that is PO

If you think that's too expensive, don't sell it - or just don't stock it. Explain to your customers that the manufacturer/distributer of it has raised your price to the point where you can't offer it to your customers at a reasonable price. If they still want to buy it from you, order it for them & price it with your normal markup.

Thats why I don't bother going to the LBS and just goto Performance Bike and wait
for whatever I want to be on sale ( or do their 90 day price match).