Originally Posted by operator
P.S. MEC is clearing its inventory of park tool stuff and they won't be carrying them anymore. So if you fancy of them, nows the time to get em. They're going to replace all their park stuff with Filzer (ugh?).
The reason for this is that MEC violates Park Tool's retailer policy. It retails them at wholesale prices, which pisses off everyone else who has to mark them up considerably. There was a big fight about it in some industry rags, which is also why MEC won't ship them out-of-country. As much as I love MEC, its pricing structures are very aggressive and I'm amazed more companies haven't pulled their products (quite a few have, though). When I was last there in December, there were few Park Tools left (like cone wrenches and chain whips) but nothing especially useful.
If anyone's looking for a cheap set of tools, the
Nashbar fold-up kit is pretty good as it can be had for ~$70 on sale +coupon.
PS - Shiznaz: your display was written up as, amongst other things, "terrifyingly beautiful" as one UofT's major newspapers this week.