Also the UK sites can sell OEM parts. The $350 5800 group I bought came without any retail packaging.

Right, but when I bought my groupset from Merlin, they had the option to buy a non-OEM version of the same groupset for about $20 more (although that option is now missing?). That's still way cheaper than you can buy in the US.

Well, I have to update my PBK experience. I realized today that the shoes they sent me are Shimano R171W and I ordered the R171. My order and all confirmations say R171 not R171W. With that said they actually are very comfortable and I think my old pair of R087 where actually tight around the toe box so I probably need the Wide version of Shimano shoes. So works out in the end but still not what I ordered

So their mistake of sending the wide version countered your mistake of ordering the narrow version. Sounds like a win/win. Would you have been happier if you got what you ordered?

I'm happy since it worked out better for me. Just pointing out that they technically screwed up my order. Since their return policy does state that they will reimburse shipping if there was an error in the order on their part, it probably wouldn't be a big deal if I had to return other then time lost.

On another note, I'm so much faster and look so much cooler with my new shoes and pedals!!! (even though my wife did refer to the shoes as "clown shoes")

What blow me away is if you order from the UK their price are so much better than the USA. Is their a conspircy by the U.S. Bicyle Industry to fix prices?

It was mentioned earlier, but I keep forgetting that they actually sell bicycles made by them. So they get OEM pricing on parts. Which means they can easily undercut every U.S. dealer and still make a profit.

It seems to me like there should be a pricing policy in effect. It devalues the brand and hurts your dealer network. I used to work for a motorcycle parts distribution company and we had a person in charge of calling dealers out if they were trying to blow out items they were specifically told could only be marked down X%.

There is more to it than that. LBS in US have to buy direct from Shimano who sets prices, in Europe they go through a sale channel so prices can be more competitive. And also in US, Shimano's agreement with vendors doesn't let them sell OEM parts otherwise maybe places like Bikesdirect would sell OEM build kits. But regardless, parts in retail packaging are much cheaper in UK/europe than US. Of course if you live in the UK or Europe you have to pay VAT which is like 20% so it's a perfect storm that UK sites offering free shipping to US with no added taxes makes things a great deal for us. The shoes I bought cost $199.99 msrp and and I haven't seen any US retailers discount them at all. I paid $67 for the pedals. I have seen the pedals for $67 at Jenson and Nashbar but both charge local 9% sales tax. So with 10% first order discount on PBK I got both for $198 shipped and If I bought locally I would have paid $291. I'd love to support local shops and business, but $100 is not chump change to me

Such actions would likely be illegal in Europe. As it should be for Big Guys to push around the little retailers IMHO. Shimano's price policy in the USA is hurting small businesses, simple as that.

Pricing policies in specialty markets are not unheard of. The ONLY thing not having a pricing policy helps is your wallet. Eventually, the lack of consistent pricing that ensures the health of the manufacturer, the distributor and the independent dealer results in a race to the bottom where corners are cut to keep prices low and competitive. Easiest example: Look at the low quality crap overflowing the shelves at your local walmart. And THEN, even though you may have a few more bucks in your wallet, you end up with a crappy product.

Not to say Shimano is mr. nice guy. Going dealer direct was a grab at all that sweet, sweet margin and the result was an awful deal for local dealers which resulted in a bad customer experience for people needing their Shimano equipped bikes repaired. However, the product is still good.

EDIT: I will agree that the current price policy is hurting the smaller U.S. retailers, but I disagree that it should just be cheap as dirt everywhere to level the playing field.

Funny you should mention Walmart. Last time I was in there it's full of crap bikes with Shimano logos all over them. How's that for "devaluing the brand"? The fact is that Shimanos model is ubiquity, not cachet.

Ordering from ProBikeKit puts the buyer at risk. If you fully account for the US duty fees which can be relatively small and Air City Post fees of over $20 then you won't have a problem. However if its not a good deal with the extra fees and you assume that your package won't get snagged then you may be in for a lot of aggravation. At that point your best recourse is to immediately dispute the charges with your payer typically a credit card. I made the mistake of trying to work with the two companies in asking Air City Post to return the package so that ProBikeKit could refund my purchase but either they won't or they lost the package. Air City Post won't respond to my inquiries. ProBikeKit, even though they are the customer of Air City Post, will not assist. They only say they will refund once they receive the package from Air City Post and they won't consider that the package is lost. Neither of these companies are of any help.

Ordered 2 tires, excuse me tyres. Received them, no problem 8 days later.

I'm glad someone dredged this back up. I meant to add that I did get my 105 crank in the mail. I think it took a week and it was definitely OEM packaging. Just a sealed plastic bag wrapped in bubble wrap. Zero retail packaging or even instructions. Not that I really need them.

Come to think of it, I didn't even make sure that it came with the main retainer bolt. I'll have to take a peek when I get home.

Did they specify retail packaging? I've ordered groupsets from Ribble and Merlin and they were OEM

My one order from PBK that I started this thread for was smooth. Everything was in retail boxes and at my door is in about a week. We're all taking a slight risk ordering from any UK based site but if you buy a lot of stuff like most of us, savings outweigh risk

Can't speak to Probikekit, but I ordered shoes and pedals from ChainReaction a few months ago. Wasn't hit with customs fees and the order came in about 10 days. The shipping was done via Parcel Force, and it sounds like the shipping choice they use might have more to do with it more than the actual company you buy from.

Right. I specified parcel force when I ordered from PBK and had no problem

They sent me a size 46 bar when I ordered a 44. I mounted it up and rode it for a while, it wasn't so bad. Still, it was the wrong size.

I'd sent them a email after receiving the package and they responded with an incoherent email that involved the warehouse (I'm serious, totally incoherent). After a cool down period, I think they ask for a month to sort out your problem, I wrote again and they said they were all out of 44s and couldn't send me a new one. They offered me $5 back on the card. I took it, the bars were $25, now $20.

I'd write them and attach a photo of the shoe size label.

I don't think it specified whether it was OEM packaging or not. I wasn't really complaining, just offering the information to confirm the super low price I got on it.

I did open it to double check the chainring size and arm length. It was all good.

As much as I think the pricing is hurting local shops, I'll probably just order an 11 speed hydraulic disc group from them in a couple of years. It would be lower than the dealer cost+10 price I'd get at my shop, anyway.

I recently had a Merlin order come as expected, but to my surprise a week later received a bill from UPS for customs fees. First time that's ever happened.