What's up with KMC chains?
03-20-25 | 02:02 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,415
Likes: 1,679
From: San Diego, CA
We have the same site. The $23.80 doesn't come up if you don't add a link. Who pays $20 when they can get it for $5? I suspect they have it backwards: they want $23.80 for the base chain, $5 for additions, but I get all the way to checkout.
I wonder if I'm missing something.
I wonder if I'm missing something.
03-20-25 | 02:41 PM
#27
Facts just confuse people
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 19,374
Likes: 7,078
From: Mississippi
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
A 118-link chain costs $5; a 120-link chain costs $29 - does this make sense? The site also says that you have to choose an even number but allows you to choose an odd number. They look like the same chain to me.
They have an 11-speed chain for $5: https://kmcchain.us/collections/11-s...-custom-length It's 138 links. A 140-link chain costs $75 - does this makes sense to you?
I can't. If I buy 5 shipping drops to $4/each.
It's an easy decision if it's what it appears to be to me. I'd have thought they could afford to get it right. I asked because I wondered if I was missing something.
My decision is how much it costs me, not on what eBay makes. They have to make something to stay in business. They make less on mis-identified stuff. Most of the fakes and knockoffs are honestly advertised; I've bought some and been happy with them. Issuers of travelers' checks made money on people not redeeming them. Gift card issuers count on the same.
They have an 11-speed chain for $5: https://kmcchain.us/collections/11-s...-custom-length It's 138 links. A 140-link chain costs $75 - does this makes sense to you?
I can't. If I buy 5 shipping drops to $4/each.
It's an easy decision if it's what it appears to be to me. I'd have thought they could afford to get it right. I asked because I wondered if I was missing something.
My decision is how much it costs me, not on what eBay makes. They have to make something to stay in business. They make less on mis-identified stuff. Most of the fakes and knockoffs are honestly advertised; I've bought some and been happy with them. Issuers of travelers' checks made money on people not redeeming them. Gift card issuers count on the same.
If you'd only order one then you'd be able to tell us if it turned out to be that they quashed the deal later in the checkout process by increasing the price. Either way, I'm certain they will send you a chain.
Perhaps grumpus is correct and that is a surcharge. But obviously none of us will know for sure if you or another doesn't try.
Last edited by Iride01; 03-20-25 at 02:44 PM.
03-20-25 | 02:49 PM
#28
Clark W. Griswold
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,379
Likes: 6,707
From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
My decision is how much it costs me, not on what eBay makes. They have to make something to stay in business. They make less on mis-identified stuff. Most of the fakes and knockoffs are honestly advertised; I've bought some and been happy with them. Issuers of travelers' checks made money on people not redeeming them. Gift card issuers count on the same.
Stealing is wrong and buying stolen ideas and goods is wrong and they didn't need to rob a KMC truck they just stole their designs and are trying to profit off of them. It is one thing to buy a product from an authorized dealer on sale but just buying knockoffs and fakes to pretend to save a buck is a whole 'nuther and it is not good for anyone except the owner of the factory making those fake products and the people who sell them. The people who make them don't see any of that and you get screwed.
03-21-25 | 10:40 AM
#29
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 785
Likes: 185
I didn't say it had to. I imagine that KMC wants to sell chains, that they won't for long if they misprice or misadvertise. If it makes no sense they damage their own business.
There are even-cheaper chains from makers I don't recognize.
03-21-25 | 11:06 AM
#30
Clark W. Griswold
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,379
Likes: 6,707
From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
I didn't. I stopped by an LBS yesterday. They sell X8s for $20, the same price KMC sells them for on-line. Thus LBS pays less. An eBay vendor could buy a truckload legitimately and sell them more cheaply. Not everything cheap on eBay is a fake. All the chains I've bought there, Shimano and KMC, have been identical with the official stuff and worked as well.
There are even-cheaper chains from makers I don't recognize.
There are even-cheaper chains from makers I don't recognize.
