USA Shimano online sales. .

[MyM3Coupe]

For folks in the USA, if you are looking at buying a Shimano group at big discount better do it soon. Shimano is going full price fixing as Sidi and SCAM have already done.

https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industr ... B_phRpOmf0

[TobinHatesYou]

I'm 50/50 on this because the US bike industry is becoming increasingly manufacturer centric at the expense of everyone else. They are simply taking money away from bike shops, killing many of them and stifling growth because of it.

[flying]

I'm 50/50 on this because the US bike industry is becoming increasingly manufacturer centric at the expense of everyone else. They are simply taking money away from bike shops, killing many of them and stifling growth because of it.

IMO

I dont see price fixing & being unfair to Big online outlets as a way to be more "fair" to bike shops.

1- None help other businesses in life to be profitable by controlling sale price/customer base...If you want a min suggested retail (MSR) that is a different thing

2- None told anyone to open a Bike Shop.... if your not smart enough to be profitable on skill & trade then perhaps an LBS was a poor choice.

Bike shops main attraction is as always to help those that need help
They sell help in the form of bicycle repair, helping newbies select etc. There are also many one time buyers buying bikes for kids at Xmas etc.

If they want to compete with big box outlets on the sale of parts (Shimano in this case) then
they need to buy at that level that affords the ability of big online sellers to sell at reduced prices

Many big box outlets may even have dealer discount. So a small bike shop is just as able to buy from them
...that is ...if their claim is customers are buying cheaper than their own dealer direct cost

Lastly that previous problem if true.... needs addressing at Shimano's level not by being unfair to Big online retailers
& controlling who they may sell to. These bigger online retailers have invested in large inventories themselves

[TobinHatesYou]

This isn’t about buying in volume. It’s about currency exchange rates and regional price differences. It’s also not about hurting big commerce platforms...US online shops like Amazon and Backcountry are obviously not affected by shipping restrictions. Come on now.

[flying]

This isn’t about buying in volume. It’s about currency exchange rates and regional price differences. It’s also not about hurting big commerce platforms...US online shops like Amazon and Backcountry are obviously not affected by shipping restrictions. Come on now.

Well then for sure as I said they (The North American Bike Dealers) need to take it up with Shimano to adjust their pricing....Not have Shimano restrict/tell others who they may or may not sell to.

[TobinHatesYou]

Or maybe the cost of doing business in the US is higher and the prices are a reflection of that. I’d rather large corporations create a fair policy themselves than leave it to governments (customs/import duties, trade tariffs, etc.)

Small businesses have no leverage... even if they are part of a bigger org like the NBDA.

[bm0p700f]

The problem for Shimano being let's face it on line only is the internet won't fix your bike. Cut the lbs out if the trade and they have to charge more than the customer will wear for labour. The internet won't fix your bid. Price fixing won't work but global companies can control the supply by telling bike companies there own kit is not for resale for they don't get to buy Shimano. Barcoding parts and monitoring what reaches customers is how this could be managed. Then aftermarket parts go through the official distributor. Any caught bike brand caught selling own kit can't buy shimano. If all the drivetrain manufacturers to this then the playing field is levelled. Bike shops are being killed off and this will harm sales in the long run. Because I can't sell Shimano at a profit I have no interest in promoting the brand. Also or other ducts are now being made that sell well on the web. This is going to lead to all sorts of compromised designs as internet retailers sell what gets good customer reviews and what gets good reviews is not always a sound design.

[F45]

I'll find a way around it.

[bm0p700f]

You may but it will harm brands like Shimano unless they become online only give up on distributors and start a home mechanic program to educate customers. That however costs money. Not everyone knows what they are doing. Many don't want yo.

[robertbb]

Mobile bicycle mechanics are where it's at. The only reason to have had a shop was to sell bikes, parts or clothing/accessories.

Unless you're a "certified" Trek, Giant, Specialized etc. dealer... subsidised in part by the manufacturer.

[mattr]

Shimano is going full price fixing as Sidi and SCAM have already done.

It's not price fixing, which is illegal. Very illegal.

[MyM3Coupe]

Shimano is going full price fixing as Sidi and SCAM have already done.

It's not price fixing, which is illegal. Very illegal.

Asking the United States customers to subsidize the world is just wrong.

[Noctiluxx]

I find it ironic companies that go abroad for cheaper labor rate don't want consumers to do the same.

[bremerradkurier]

Will this mean Ribble won't sell Shimano to US customers like they won't sell SRAM to US customers?

[F45]

You may but it will harm brands like Shimano unless they become online only give up on distributors and start a home mechanic program to educate customers. That however costs money. Not everyone knows what they are doing. Many don't want yo.

Two things, Shimano's how-to videos accessible only by mechanics are very easy to follow so they'd just have to make those accessible, and also it's not Shimano's problem if people can't follow directions. "If you can't figure this stuff out, go to your Shimano authorized LBS and pay them to fix it". easy