Originally Posted by
Sy Reene
I recall the stereo and camera industries (maybe it was Crutchfield?) would have a simple "Call for Current Price" option. In today's world, maybe theoretically an online seller could accomplish similar with Livechat functionality?
Possibly ... but I doubt Shimano's lawyers would be fooled for long.
Originally Posted by
kingston
Thanks to those of you who responded to my request for examples. As several of you pointed out, MAP agreements and evolving dealer/distribution networks aren't unique to Shimano. What is unique is the ineptitude with which Shimano is dealing with those two things. I can think of lots of examples of manufacturers that are in the process of modernizing their distribution networks, but I can't think of any examples of manufacturers that are doing it as clumsily as Shimano. Those were the examples I was looking for, an analog to show that what Shimano is doing isn't that bad as some of you seem to claim.
This seems a more rational view (to me … and I am far from rational … reader beware?)
Shimano has not managed its price structure well, and has (possibly) caused a small furor. (Maybe they just didn’t and don’t care, I cannot say.) But the people painting Shimano as an incarnation of Satan are going overboard.
These are people who don’t care when the Chinese market baby formula with industrial waste intentionally added, but when Shimano raises the price on that ultimate necessity—Bike Parts—“Break out the pitchforks and torches!”
I think Shimano didn’t get called on this stuff for a while, and suddenly they are, and cyclists, being passionate, are maybe over-reacting.
If I were in the middle of a build I might think differently myself.