Thursday, February 22, 2018

"Every minute a sucker is born?" PT Barnum; are we bikers suckers?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 23, 2018

Image result for pt barnum + every minute a sucker is born

PT Barnum, a master showman and marketer was attributed to have said "Every minute a sucker is born"  But many said he did not actually say it. Showmen, marketers rely on this wit to attract people to their show and wares.  And every one of us seem to be gullible.

History Reference to PT Barnaum

In case of bikers, we are taken for a ride.

After reading the articles exposing that Felt, Merida, Colnago, Scott, Ridley Bianchi, Orbea, Fuji are actually made in Taiwan, China and Asia, I felt cheated by Europeans and Americans suppliers who represented their products to be made in their home country.  95% pala ng bikes made by Giant and Hokada in Taiwan factories. Dapat Taiwan or Giant price

Image result for 95% of bikes are made in Taiwan
                                          Nice but picture label says it is made in Taiwan


Image result for 95% of bikes are made in Taiwan
                                                     Made in UK?


The idea of being made from beginning to end in a particular country or  place was a thing of the past in modern  supply chain manufacturing processes.   This strategy has to be made to be competitive and stay alive in the competition.  High labor costs tax structures have forced many manufacturers to subcontract, offshore, outsource their production.   American Classic buried its head in the sand paid no attention to this trend and shuttered

Learning that high brand bikes and bike frames are really made in Taiwan made me realize that many have been suckered and taken a ride by bike firms I felt outraged and cheated.  .  I feel that they over priced their bikes, exorbitantly high if indeed they are made in Taiwan. May be just 3x their production cost $200 x 3 =  $600.00 would be fair.   Which is how much Lazada charges now for carbon fiber frames.  All they do is  ship the frames to their home country, paint put stickers manuals, put in boxes and ship back to Asia and add how much $1,000+ to the cost.

Lazada catalog - carbon frames


                                                                       26 K lang!  Full carbon frame


                                                                   16 K lang


How about you?

Hindi lang ride eh, natsubibo tayong lahat.  Nagdebate pa tayo ng katakot takot kung fake o hindi made in Taiwan.  Iyon pala halos lahat ng bike natin.  PEKE 95% made in Taiwan.  Lahat Giant made!

The bikestand - WHO MADE MY BIKES

Where was my bicycle made (same content, different post)

Building bikes in Asia

The OEM and bikes and Lazada bikes prices are just the right prices to pay.

The European and American bike suppliers owe us an explanation for the suckering/misrepresentations...

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