Bikesdirect
03-25-13, 09:28 AM
#101
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03-25-13, 09:36 AM
#102
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I love it when people use the word "should". Based on what? Based on your judgment? Based on your value system? Same goes for all other "experts" who put in their $0.02 in this thread with the word "should".
Last edited by GregTR; 03-25-13 at 09:42 AM.
03-25-13, 09:42 AM
#103
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First of all, READ what I said, "Firms have monopoly POWER", which means that firms can still charge a higher price than the marginal cost of producing the good. Second, before you go around saying what people should go learn, I have a bachelor in Economics and a Masters in Economics, and doing another Masters in International Economics and Business.
And if you want to know how monopolistic competition works, open your economics 101 book and READ it. if you don't have one, here is a cliff notes on it. In monopolistic competition, there are many firms, and differentiation of the products, which allows each firm to charge a mark up on their product.
https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tm...mpetition.html
And if you want to know how monopolistic competition works, open your economics 101 book and READ it. if you don't have one, here is a cliff notes on it. In monopolistic competition, there are many firms, and differentiation of the products, which allows each firm to charge a mark up on their product.
https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tm...mpetition.html
Monopolistic competition is a form of imperfect competition where many competing producers sell products that are differentiated from one another (that is, the products are substitutes, but, with differences such as branding, are not exactly alike). In monopolistic competition firms can behave like monopolies in the short-run, including using market power to generate profit. In the long-run, other firms enter the market and the benefits of differentiation decrease with competition; the market becomes more like perfect competition where firms cannot gain economic profit. However, in reality, if consumer rationality/innovativeness is low and heuristics is preferred, monopolistic competition can fall into natural monopoly, at the complete absence of government intervention.
Last edited by GregTR; 03-25-13 at 09:52 AM.
03-25-13, 09:42 AM
#104
Banned
03-25-13, 10:06 AM
#105
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Thank you! From that link:
If consumers are suckers and they buy into the brand and they're ignorant then sure they will pay through the nose. Then there is BD which is the very disruptive force to break such monopolistic power. Bike manufacturing and production is such a mature business that I don't think there is much of this going on other than what can be fully attributed to consumer irrationality and ignorance. It is much closer to perfect competition than monopoly. The biggest concern would be collusion, price fixing and minimum advertised pricing to protect the retailers, not the monopolistic power.
If consumers are suckers and they buy into the brand and they're ignorant then sure they will pay through the nose. Then there is BD which is the very disruptive force to break such monopolistic power. Bike manufacturing and production is such a mature business that I don't think there is much of this going on other than what can be fully attributed to consumer irrationality and ignorance. It is much closer to perfect competition than monopoly. The biggest concern would be collusion, price fixing and minimum advertised pricing to protect the retailers, not the monopolistic power.
03-25-13, 10:11 AM
#106
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I am no expert, but I would expect something to last longer if I am having to pay more (not upgrades of weight reduction, as those sometimes actually wear out faster.)
03-25-13, 10:22 AM
#107
Let's Ride!
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my experience
I bought a Scott S40 Speedster at my LBS in 2008. I believe now that it is maybe the wrong size for me. I feel like I am reaching too far for the handlebars. It makes my shoulders hurt on longer rides. I bought a Motobecane Fantom CX for commuting because i could add a rack to it. It has the same component except for the shifters as the Scott. I believe it rides better because it fits me better. Bikesdirect answered emails on a Saturday. I got the bike on a Thursday. I was impressed with the customer service. We traded a few emails. I feel like I got more information out of the guy through email than I did with the LBS. 
I was nervous buying online but I think if you know your components and know what you want, BD is a great deal.
**not to get up in the mix with the pro/ con argument of political systems and bike shop issues but I went to the local shop near my work in my biking clothes panniers on and everything last year and I had something that needed a quick adjustment. (If it was my shop i would have put it on the rack and adjusted the shifters or whatever) but they said can you leave it and come back later in the week to get it. I said no I am planning on riding it home. I said I will NEVER GO BACK THERE.
just my $.02
I was nervous buying online but I think if you know your components and know what you want, BD is a great deal. **not to get up in the mix with the pro/ con argument of political systems and bike shop issues but I went to the local shop near my work in my biking clothes panniers on and everything last year and I had something that needed a quick adjustment. (If it was my shop i would have put it on the rack and adjusted the shifters or whatever) but they said can you leave it and come back later in the week to get it. I said no I am planning on riding it home. I said I will NEVER GO BACK THERE.
just my $.02
Last edited by RidingMatthew; 03-25-13 at 12:53 PM. Reason: read through the rest of the thread and wanted to put a few more of my thoughts on it.
03-25-13, 11:44 AM
#108
stringbreaker
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Has anyone ever bought a bicycle from "Bikes Direct" and if so how do you like it? Thought I might get this thread back on track. 
__________________
(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
03-25-13, 11:44 AM
#109
Banned
03-25-13, 11:48 AM
#110
Senior Member
Sometimes good enough is good enough...
03-25-13, 12:03 PM
#111
born again cyclist
03-25-13, 12:17 PM
#112
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https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...essions-review
03-25-13, 12:34 PM
#113
stringbreaker
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I bought a 2010 Windsor Tourist and have used it for the last 3 years to commute to work. Great bike for the money although I changed out few things and had the wheelset trued.
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(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
03-25-13, 12:44 PM
#114
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03-25-13, 03:57 PM
#115
DancesWithSUVs
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Would take another one over a Tout Terrain any day.
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C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
03-25-13, 04:04 PM
#116
The Rock Cycle
Last year I bought a white 42cm Motobecane Fantom CXX. I had wanted a Crosscheck and this had what appeared to be the same exact frame as the CC but with a better spec for a better price. When it arrived the fork was damaged (from the factory) and BD was quick to send me a new fork. No problem. The bike rides very nicely. I have it set up for commuting and rides all over town. I'd buy from BD again!
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Gunnar Sport
Specialized Ruby
Salsa Vaya Ti
Novara Randonee x2
Motobecane Fantom CXX
Jamis Dakar XCR
Gunnar Sport
Specialized Ruby
Salsa Vaya Ti
Novara Randonee x2
Motobecane Fantom CXX
Jamis Dakar XCR
03-25-13, 06:58 PM
#117
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Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
03-25-13, 07:22 PM
#118
Banned
I bought two, one I eventually scrapped out, the other I up graded, I still have, but it has been relegated to the occasional family ride.
03-25-13, 07:26 PM
#119
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whatever you are looking for . . .A bike, a doctor, airport, etc.
I posted this earlier . . It was a nice bike, a Kilo TT. It was a KHS Flight 100 that they put different paint and decals on, for 250 less.
A lot of BD stuff is rebranded FUJI, too.
The only issue I had with my Kilo is that it was packed badly and came with a ding in the top tube. My Son bought a Fantom Cross, and it
is a very nice bike. No issues at all. I bought the Schwinn in my sig online too. The pink version could be gotten for half of what the black
version goes for. Other than tires, Bike shops dont have anything I need for what I do, so what other option is there?
03-25-13, 07:31 PM
#120
stringbreaker
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I did when I was in Vermont. When you live in Vermont, you buy a lot of stuff over the internet. You might be 2 or 3 hours away from
whatever you are looking for . . .A bike, a doctor, airport, etc.
I posted this earlier . . It was a nice bike, a Kilo TT. It was a KHS Flight 100 that they put different paint and decals on, for 250 less.
A lot of BD stuff is rebranded FUJI, too.
The only issue I had with my Kilo is that it was packed badly and came with a ding in the top tube. My Son bought a Fantom Cross, and it
is a very nice bike. No issues at all. I bought the Schwinn in my sig online too. The pink version could be gotten for half of what the black
version goes for. Other than tires, Bike shops dont have anything I need for what I do, so what other option is there?
whatever you are looking for . . .A bike, a doctor, airport, etc.
I posted this earlier . . It was a nice bike, a Kilo TT. It was a KHS Flight 100 that they put different paint and decals on, for 250 less.
A lot of BD stuff is rebranded FUJI, too.
The only issue I had with my Kilo is that it was packed badly and came with a ding in the top tube. My Son bought a Fantom Cross, and it
is a very nice bike. No issues at all. I bought the Schwinn in my sig online too. The pink version could be gotten for half of what the black
version goes for. Other than tires, Bike shops dont have anything I need for what I do, so what other option is there?
__________________
(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
03-25-13, 08:49 PM
#121
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I have facilitated several other purchases for friends and done the assembly and tuning for them, and feel that the value was solid. The quality is on par with other manufacturers with similar equipment levels, but 30-50% cheaper.
Since I am now working at a LBS I can get things for myself and my family at cost, and the shop owner extends nice discounts for friends and is creative with customer pricing for many items. FWIW the shop owner has avoided the "big" bike companies (Specialized, Trek, Giant, etc) because he does not like the way they dictate how their dealers have to do business (he used to be a Trek dealer). Now he has a total of 21 different brands of bicycles on the floor, ranging from $300 to $9,000 in just about every genre and all prices are merely suggestions - he regularly works deals with customers and is open to price matching for online deals. His shop is the busiest in town and word has it that it is also the most profitable.
All of that said, I'd still consider BD a viable option.
Last edited by canyoneagle; 03-25-13 at 10:02 PM.
03-26-13, 03:36 PM
#122
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Its funny, its because OF Bikes Direct that I can have a nice thing. I traded an older classic yet too short Trek 520 frameset for my BD Fantom Cross Team Ti frameset and built it up. So I'm happy with my BD bike and its probably the nicest bike I have.
03-26-13, 05:39 PM
#123
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The prices are actually good enough that you can buy one and use it as a "donor bike," especially on sale items. I have done that too.
03-26-13, 05:41 PM
#124
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I'm even thinking about buying a disc ready 130mm rear hub cross bike only for the wheelset and sell off the rest on Craigslist for scraps...
03-26-13, 05:47 PM
#125
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Yeah, those wheels don't seem to be available on the bikeisland site anymore. You could always buy a 130 rear disc hub and have wheels built around that. I'd be curious to see if they'll give up on 130mm hubs for their disc equipped cross bikes and just go with the 135's. It does not seem like the jury's still out on those.