Originally Posted by italiandealer
Hi, I am an Italian dealer. I found this website yesterday. It’s very interesting. I’m just sorry for my bad English…
I think I can help you giving some info from Italy. In my shop I sell Colnago, Scott and other minor Italian brands (Olympia, Viner, etc.). Things are changing in Italy. Before writing about Colnago, I will offer a short report of the other brands:
- Pinarello. Simply disappeared. In the last two years people don’t ask about Pinarello anymore. They are having a good success now with the new carbon F13:4 model. It’s a Chinese frame and fork (easy to understand, poor quality…), probably painted in Italy (with Made in Italy sticker …).
- De Rosa. Same than Pinarello. Their King frame has all the parts made in Taiwan or China from Mizuno. Assembled in Italy.
- Trek. Very few bikes on the market. Price is very competitive, but the design is so poor. Almost impossible to sell a bike like that to an Italian. And here, we don’t have any influence from Lance.
- Specialized. They are selling well. Their Mtb are very popular, and the road bikes are nice.
- Cannondale. They had a great success some years ago, when they were sponsoring Cipollini and Gotti. Today, they sell Mtb well. Road bikes are not so popular.
- Scott. They sell great. Price is good. Quality is poor, most of their extra-light carbon frames have big problems, but they replace them at once.
- Giant. I know they are selling good volumes, both road and Mtb.
Colnago. It’s the brand number 1 here in Italy, and I can’t understand many of the messages posted here. They didn’t move their production to Taiwan. Their C50, Extreme, Cristallo, Dream, Master, etc. are still produced here. They are simply giving a wider offer introducing some models made in Taiwan. In the past you could buy a Giant with 105 for 1.600 Euros, and a Colnago with Veloce (they don’t offer Shimano components on Italian production) for 2.200 Euros. Now, you can buy a Colnago Primavera 105 for the same price than a Giant, Trek or Specialized. Where’s the problem? They all come from the same factory. But more people can afford to ride a Colnago. If the customer doesn’t want a Taiwanese bike, he can choose a Colnago Active. He just has to spend more money. What I appreciate of Colnago is that they have been honest. They said: “That’s from Italy, that’s from Taiwan”. I wouldn’t feel good selling a carbon Pinarello made in China with the “made in Italy” sticker. I tell you more. Last week, the Colnago rep arrived with some samples of Colnago Mtbs. Trust me, they’re really nice and have a good price. They’re obviously made in Taiwan. But all the Mtb are made in Taiwan. So, why not? And I hope they can increase their range of bikes with more Mtb, and hopefully a carbon road bike. I would be really happy, because that day I am not obliged to keep Scott in my shop anymore.
So, finally, I would feel sad if Ernesto moves the production to Taiwan. But that’s not happening. I am happy he’s still there in his office designing nice bikes. Expensive, when made in Italy; with a good price, when made somewhere else.
Ciao everybody
Paolo