Friday, August 28 2009, 12:00 AM
Bottomless CL Day!
Sick deals back to back all day long.
Of course, it's entirely plausible that the cumulative MSRPs of all the components comprising CL's "Custom" build total $3500 (MSRP) in which case that's a notably unappealing build at that price point and it would appear to be a rather blatant ploy to inflate the MSRP and maximize the seller's margins with little or no concern for providing value for the consumer's dollar.
That's not to say it's not an appealing build spec at a more realistic (lower) price point.
Compare the manufacturer's build spec with CL's build spec and ask yourself how CL might justify their components (fork, wheels, brakes, etc.) against the manufacturer's spec, dollar-for-dollar. Is the motive to offer the consumer a fair shake -an honest bike at an honest price- or is there some other motive in play?
That's why Forkboy called "shenanigans". Whatever the purported MSRP of that build kit you don't have to be a brain scientist to presume that that figure is in no way representative of CL's cost in providing their generous offer.
CL should represent that their "Custom" build is a good deal at the $1,800 price point as an alternative to another (manufacturer's closeout) good deal at the $2400 price point. They're doubtless serving some consumers well by offering a complete bike with a slightly less expensive parts mix. There's a trade-off at those price points and the consumer can decide for themselves where their own priorities lie. Either way- the customer's (probably) getting a similar discount!
CL shouldn't be trying to portray that their giving twice or three times the discount as a marketing gimmick. Sure, retailers employ fuzzy math here and there, but this is a considerable discrepancy. There is nothing wrong with the seller turning an honest profit, but again- they're blatantly inflating the MSRP to suggest we're comparing apples to apples which isn't entirely the case. CL should treat their customers with more respect.
There can be little doubt the bike's worth the $1,750 sticker any more than it was surely worth the former $1,995 asking price. Without checking his math, Forkboy's estimate of $2,400 sounds like a reasonable ballpark figure.
There's little question the bike is offered at a fair price.
The point (as I see it) is that it probably isn't worth the $3,500 msrp tag CL has hung on it, and it's plainly disingenuous of CL to represent that it's being offered here at 43% off msrp ($1995) or 50% off msrp ($1750). As Forkboy stated, CL should accurately represent that they're offering a tidy 18% (or whatever) discount. For the sake of marketing strategy, they'd probably say it more like this:
...we’re not afraid to take it off the back of a truck if our connect gets spooky. We’re talking completes, components, apparel, tools—just name your vice. We slap a primo piece of cycling gear on our site at a scandalous price. We sell it 'til it's gone. You leave feeling like a smooth criminal.
Except that -at best- by "primo" they mean "hard to sell", by "scandalous" they mean "reasonable" and by "smooth criminal" they mean "not a chump".
At worst, they're apparently saying... "Hey buddy! Ovah he-ah! Weez sellin' deez puh-reemo brand-new speakahs outta dis van cuz' we work at da speakah fact-o-ree and deez speakahs nevah got in-ven-tor-eed at da wayahouz! Lookat diz, man! Dey'z brand-new in da box! Two hundred bucks, pal! You wannem or what? How much you gonna give me fa deez tings? Lookit- weez gotta get outta heah, so youz gonna take deez tingz offah my hands or what? Huh? Hundred fifty bucks. Truss me pal, deez iz puh-reemo speakahs heah! Fogettabouddit! Last chance, pal- weez gotta roll!
I suck at math but I know douchebaggery when I see it.
Looks like our cries have been heard.. it's at 1750 now. Is it worth it? I dunno.
Guys, honestly, hardly anyone is going to pay two grand for that Titus Racer X...you've gotta knock the price down further.
Also, I agree with the Blur LT suggestion...
Hey you guys ever going to post one of those Santa Cruz Blur LT on here?
That would rock.