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Shifter upgrade, price discrepancy

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Old 03-15-18, 09:45 AM
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Shifter upgrade, price discrepancy

Hi... thinking about replacing my twist shifters with levers, 17 year old mtb 21 speed converted somewhat to a hybrid.
On Ebay I can get a set of Shimano ST-EF51 shifters for about $20 bucks. The same set on Amazon is $120, both in Canadian dollars. What gives? They look identical the best I can see. Surely something is up.
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Old 03-15-18, 10:45 AM
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Nothings up, it will be a pricing algorithm, just buy the cheapest.
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Old 03-15-18, 12:59 PM
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ST-EF51 for $120?! Normally you'd find those in the $20-40 USD range.

Glancing at amazon.ca, those expensive shifters are being offered by third-party sellers. I've got no idea why they're pricing them so high.
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Old 03-15-18, 02:02 PM
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...as already stated in # 2, automated pricing algorithms on Amazon often result in weird price spikes on certain items.
When it first started showing up in the used book world, it was very entertaining.
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Old 03-15-18, 03:48 PM
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OK, you live in St John's. Make sure that any price you pay for a shifter includes ALL costs, shipping GST, duties, whatever. As a non Newfoundland Canadian myself I am used to dealing with various extra charges levied by sellers outside our country, I can only imagine what extras are charged by sellers from away. Find out what it will cost delivered to your door
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Old 03-15-18, 04:52 PM
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Originally Posted by pedalmybike
Hi... thinking about replacing my twist shifters with levers, 17 year old mtb 21 speed converted somewhat to a hybrid.
On Ebay I can get a set of Shimano ST-EF51 shifters for about $20 bucks. The same set on Amazon is $120, both in Canadian dollars. What gives? They look identical the best I can see. Surely something is up.
Do you have V brakes or Canti's?
If Canti's, make sure you get the "4 finger" version which works with both.
The "2 finger" version is V brake only.
The 4 finger will have a 4 in the suffix vs 2.
Not all vendors list the suffix.
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Last edited by Bill Kapaun; 03-15-18 at 04:55 PM.
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Old 03-15-18, 05:04 PM
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Thanks

Hey guys... thanks for all the replies. I went ahead and ordered the set on ebay. Got the proper version for v-brakes and made sure of the delivery prices and such. I've ordered hundreds of items on ebay, mostly electronic parts and components and never had a problem with import fees and such unless it comes from the US. Free trade is a joke. I never buy American because of these uncertain fees and stuff.
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Old 03-15-18, 05:10 PM
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Dang, I would have said go for the ST EF-65, a bit nicer to use set for not much more money...
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Old 03-15-18, 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Trevtassie
Dang, I would have said go for the ST EF-65, a bit nicer to use set for not much more money...
IF the OP was using 9 speed, I'd agree. I had 51's that were stripped from my (returned) stolen bike and replaced them with 65's and it DID shift better.
7 speed should be less critical.
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