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-   -   Are The LOOK Folks Dumb? (https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/798767-look-folks-dumb.html)

Rippin 02-15-12 11:08 AM


Originally Posted by Inertianinja (Post 13854035)
bikeforums logic:
I cannot afford it, therefore it is a waste of money.
I do not want it, therefore anyone who does is dumb.

This!

Plus, if you guys "look" around a bit more there is a Look retailer selling the 25th Anniversary edition frame set for $4750, not for the highly marked up $7500. At $4750 it's price-comparable to the flagship carbon rigs from other manufacturers. Might even be considered a bit of a deal since it also includes the crank, stem, pedals (and seat post).

Personally I don't think there is anything technically different (other than the colorways) between the 25th Anni, the Mondrian and the Premium White/Black/Gold versions.

milkbaby 02-15-12 11:15 AM

I'd rather have the Mondrian one...

dstrong 02-15-12 11:27 AM


Originally Posted by ahsposo (Post 13854239)
Oh, that HURT!

Here, let me buy you an "r".

Or an "s"?

Honestly, I had never noticed that!

Hiro11 02-15-12 11:39 AM


Originally Posted by gsteinb (Post 13854909)
every mfg has bikes in the 10K price point now. it may not be you, but to consider it an anomaly is to express a lack of understanding of the industry.

Please. I get that manufacturers offer $10K bikes... and they sell about seven of them. People do buy them, but they represent a tiny, tiny fraction of overall bike sales (as the article above illustrates). My point is that saying "$7k is not a lot for a bike these days" is patently untrue for the vast, vast majority of buyers out there. I'd venture to say that even the vast majority of serious cyclists would consider a $7K bike "a lot of money". Are we really debating this?

gsteinb 02-15-12 11:44 AM

apparently we are. check the retail price for a carbon 7900 or DI2 bike.

gsteinb 02-15-12 11:47 AM

cannondale supersix evo dura ace

MSRP
$7,700

granted that's a complete bike, but that's at least four levels below their highest end bike

LemondFanForeve 02-15-12 01:24 PM


Originally Posted by ahsposo (Post 13854239)
Oh, that HURT!

Here, let me buy you an "r".

Actually genius, the entire name wouldnt fit in the box, board wouldnt allow it, which is why there is no "r"

Maybe you should invest in a brain, instead of an "r". Infact, next time you want to try to get into a conversation, or a pissing match w/me, let me know ahead of time? That way, I can check my brain @ the door, and we'd be even.

merlinextraligh 02-15-12 01:26 PM


Originally Posted by gsteinb (Post 13854022)
Thank god porsche makes their cars for everyone.

I'm thankful:

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...porsche911.jpg

LemondFanForeve 02-15-12 01:31 PM


Originally Posted by Inertianinja (Post 13854035)
bikeforums logic:
I cannot afford it, therefore it is a waste of money.
I do not want it, therefore anyone who does is dumb.

Never said that anyone who does is dumb, it caters to a niche market, an extremely limited one. If folks can buy it, good for them, theyve given me 2 reasons NOT to buy it.

LemondFanForeve 02-15-12 01:37 PM


Originally Posted by Hiro11 (Post 13855124)
Please. I get that manufacturers offer $10K bikes... and they sell about seven of them. People do buy them, but they represent a tiny, tiny fraction of overall bike sales (as the article above illustrates). My point is that saying "$7k is not a lot for a bike these days" is patently untrue for the vast, vast majority of buyers out there. I'd venture to say that even the vast majority of serious cyclists would consider a $7K bike "a lot of money". Are we really debating this?

Bingo! I mean does LOOK actually think theyll sell out of these? Thats $4.85 million, doubtful. Stupid price point imo, and limited frame sizes, even dumber. Just b/c "every manufacturer has a bike in this range", doesnt mean people are lining up to buy them.

LemondFanForeve 02-15-12 01:42 PM


Originally Posted by gsteinb (Post 13855166)
cannondale supersix evo dura ace

MSRP
$7,700

granted that's a complete bike, but that's at least four levels below their highest end bike

And I know Im not alone when I say that the $7K Super Six probably sells about as many as the LOOK 695 will: not very many.

Inertianinja 02-15-12 01:43 PM


Originally Posted by LemondFanForeve (Post 13855644)
Never said that anyone who does is dumb, it caters to a niche market, an extremely limited one. If folks can buy it, good for them, theyve given me 2 reasons NOT to buy it.

what you meant to say in the post was "they're releasing an expensive bike that not many people will be able to buy."
Which is an odd thing to say, since you don't have their sales numbers or, frankly, anything to back up the word "dumb".

What your post really says is similar to the typical bikeforums logic: "this bike is too expensive for me and most people i know, so i can't imagine that people will buy it."

No offense, but this is why companies like LOOK, Apple, Bulgari, Bugatti, Porsche, and Ferrari are not fighting to get you as their Senior Product Manager.

Let me illustrate:

"Are the folks who run FERRARI dumb? reason I ask is, they're about to release a 25th anniversary "Superleggera" to commemorate something. I get all that, but they put a price of $700K on it, and only have it in 2-door. Why even bother making/releasing one, if:

A) there arent many folks with an extra $700K lying around(especially in this economy, what were they thinking? how many people have that kind of dough to spend on a car?)
B) you release it in limited sizes, so that only an even select fewer folks can get one?
I have a question out there for all the FERRARI dealers out there: Are these cars even selling that well? is there that big of a demand for a $700K car? I mean, if they'd have priced it around $25,000-$35,000 I mightve bought one, not for $700 K though. I have a feeling they're going to take a huge loss on these."

ultraman6970 02-15-12 01:47 PM

My forecast is that we will see a few of this units in ebay for a long time just like happens with the la vie claire edition frame. still some moving around.

Dont like the bike, looks asian 100 % I bet somebody makes a stem similar to the one in the picture, put some look dark decals to an asian bike and it could be almost the same.

Can't get it, one la vie claire with a lot of colors, this one in flat black. As for the price, people paid like 10.000 bucks for an armstrong tdf replica a few years ago (ugly bike to me), look will sale a few of this new black bikes for sure tho.

Inertianinja 02-15-12 01:49 PM


Originally Posted by gsteinb (Post 13853894)

I will concede that this bike might not sell very much because the styling looks to be inspired by fixie culture.
white carbon wheels? are the brake pads white too?

Commodus 02-15-12 01:51 PM


Originally Posted by ultraman6970 (Post 13855731)
My forecast is that we will see a few of this units in ebay for a long time just like happens with the la vie claire edition frame. still some moving around.

Dont like the bike, looks asian 100 % I bet somebody makes a stem similar to the one in the picture, put some look dark decals to an asian bike and it could be almost the same.

Can't get it, one la vie claire with a lot of colors, this one in flat black. As for the price, people paid like 10.000 bucks for an armstrong tdf replica a few years ago (ugly bike to me), look will sale a few of this new black bikes for sure tho.

I don't think it's reasonable to criticize the bike for looking 'asian'. I think that's the whole point of those asian frames - they look like expensive bikes at a much lower price.

Commodus 02-15-12 01:52 PM


Originally Posted by LemondFanForeve (Post 13855704)
And I know Im not alone when I say that the $7K Super Six probably sells about as many as the LOOK 695 will: not very many.

You're just burying your head in the sand here. The rationale behind the bike has been explained many times.

ultraman6970 02-15-12 01:54 PM

I dont have anything against asian frame my friend. :) I said looks asian like saying, "dont looks like a look at all"


Originally Posted by Commodus (Post 13855753)
I don't think it's reasonable to criticize the bike for looking 'asian'. I think that's the whole point of those asian frames - they look like expensive bikes at a much lower price.


nhluhr 02-15-12 01:55 PM


Originally Posted by ahsposo (Post 13854239)
Oh, that HURT!

Here, let me buy you an "r".

9/10

Originally Posted by LemondFanForeve (Post 13855613)
Actually genius, the entire name wouldnt fit in the box, board wouldnt allow it, which is why there is no "r"

Maybe you should invest in a brain, instead of an "r". Infact, next time you want to try to get into a conversation, or a pissing match w/me, let me know ahead of time? That way, I can check my brain @ the door, and we'd be even.

2/10

merlinextraligh 02-15-12 01:55 PM


Originally Posted by LemondFanForeve (Post 13852354)
. Why even bother making/releasing one, if:

A) there arent many folks with an extra $7K lying around(especially in this economy, what were they thinking? how many people have that kind of dough to spend on a bike?)

B) you release it in limited sizes, so that only an even select fewer folks can get one?

You're missing a couple of economic concepts here.

First a $7000 bike frame is clearly a luxury good (i.e. a good with high positive income elasticity, or said another a good for which demand rises with income dsproportionatly.)

It may even be a Veblen Good ( i.e. a good where the demand for the good increases with its price. With such goods the high price actually creates demand by creating an aura of luxury, exclusivity, quality.)

Second, limiting production can create scarcity, and scarcity, or perceived scarcity can actually drive demand.

Thus a company trying to sell high priced bike frames can potentially create demand for their product by pricing it high, and limiting production, particularly if they have the cache to pull it off.


And when you consider it leads to very high margins, it's a good strategy if it works.

LemondFanForeve 02-15-12 01:56 PM


Originally Posted by Commodus (Post 13855753)
I don't think it's reasonable to criticize the bike for looking 'asian'. I think that's the whole point of those asian frames - they look like expensive bikes at a much lower price.

Yeah, bUt these LOOK bikes arent priced at "a much lower price". I get what you're sayiny though.

gsteinb 02-15-12 02:01 PM


Originally Posted by LemondFanForeve (Post 13855704)
And I know Im not alone when I say that the $7K Super Six probably sells about as many as the LOOK 695 will: not very many.


I have to say you're pretty out of touch. I have at least 50-75 facebook friends that have bikes that are comparable. (I'm not much up on retail prices). But since they all ride carbon dura ace bikes I'd say it's pretty close. I race weekly in fields full of guys will comparable bikes.

LemondFanForeve 02-15-12 02:02 PM


Originally Posted by merlinextraligh (Post 13855782)
You're missing a couple of economic concepts here.

First a $7000 bike frame is clearly a luxury good (i.e. a good with high positive income elasticity, or said another a good for which demand rises with income dsproportionatly.)

It may even be a Veblen Good ( i.e. a good where the demand for the good increases with its price. With such goods the high price actually creates demand by creating an aura of luxury, exclusivity, quality.)

Second, limiting production can create scarcity, and scarcity, or perceived scarcity can actually drive demand.

Thus a company trying to sell high priced bike frames can potentially create demand for their product by pricing it high, and limiting production, particularly if they have the cache to pull it off.


And when you consider it leads to very high margins, it's a good strategy if it works.


"Limited to 695" is a bit much though, imo. I can understand 100/250,maybe even 500, but 695? Doesnt seem very "limited" to me.

himespau 02-15-12 02:04 PM

Maybe Lemond has become a fixie loving hipster in his old age? Or at least has a fixie pixie he's trying to score with? That's the only reasoning I can come up with for the looks of the bike. Nothing wrong with the price, but if it's going to be in his honor seems like it should be tied in with him somehow.

pgjackson 02-15-12 02:07 PM


Originally Posted by merlinextraligh (Post 13855782)
You're missing a couple of economic concepts here.

Second, limiting production can create scarcity, and scarcity, or perceived scarcity can actually drive demand.Thus a company trying to sell high priced bike frames can potentially create demand for their product by pricing it high, and limiting production, particularly if they have the cache to pull it off.


And when you consider it leads to very high margins, it's a good strategy if it works.

This has been Harley Davidson's business model for years.

Rippin 02-15-12 02:09 PM

I LIKE the more subtle 25th Annivesary colorway. It doesn't screem LOOK in your face, which I am getting very tired of these days. The clearcoat should have been gloss instead of matte though. It would show off the cosmetic weave better.


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