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so does that mean BETD are also gone?
Well they appear to have a fully functioning website and pretty sure I saw someone from there posting on here the other day regarding mech hangers...
well thats not confusing at all then
Goldtec/BETD dumped off the bike shop function, (hence Kev and Alex running the nor really rather good spokes bike shop)
The engineering bit was merged/sold to KMF Group so will still do bike related stuff, but now have access to bigger shinier toys
Just ordered a Middleburn crank from an alternative supplier. Interesting that the SJS prices seem to be way higher than RRP. And that the SJS claim that the same product 'was' actually double what I've just paid, proves that not only have they massively just hiked up their prices for Middleburn stuff, but they are now also claiming that they have previously sold for even higher! I'm not sure that is even legal (in order to publish a previous price, indicating a current discount, I think the product must have been available for sale at that price, which I'm sure it wasn't)!
I can't prove that SJS are acting illegally. But I do know they will never be receiving another penny of my money.
Interesting that the SJS prices seem to be way higher than RRP. And that the SJS claim that the same product 'was' actually double what I've just paid, proves that not only have they massively just hiked up their prices for Middleburn stuff, but they are now also claiming that they have previously sold for even higher! I'm not sure that is even legal (in order to publish a previous price, indicating a current discount, I think the product must have been available for sale at that price, which I'm sure it wasn't)!
So this is the google cache from Aug 27th
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and this one from 31st
Exactly the same product now at £319.99, 'was £359.99'.
Anyone want to defend that?
I expect a website monkey was ordered to double the price while the boss is away until the boss has had a chance to confirm the situation with Middleburn, and minimise orders until they're clear on what kind of stock levels they've got and can get from the manufacturer's inventory.
The webiste monkey will have dropped a spreadsheet of middleburn products out and just applied a multiple to the numbers before hoiking it back up on to the online shop front system. They certainly wont have meticulously gone through each product and checked line by line just for a holding position. Give it a few days to sort out.
Managing director ordered the price increase. They confirmed this when I emailed them. Still waiting to hear back from them.
That explanation is ridiculous. If I didn't want to sell any of a particular brand whilst I took stock, I'd just show them all out of stock.
Hope they come up with something plausible as I'm looking for a tandem for a RTW. They were on my list.
Just arrived :
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How easy would it be for someone with cnc skills to make some copy Incy spiders:
Who did you use clodhopper??
Does rather look like SJS are being just a little too greedy!
Just asked them about it on their facebook page so I'll see if they say anything.
Those complaining about the price hike - if the Middleburn stuff is so great, why did it take them going out of business for you to decide to buy their stuff?
Those complaining about the price hike - if the Middleburn stuff is so great, why did it take them going out of business for you to decide to buy their stuff?
?
What's wrong with pointing out when you think that someone is profiteering?
I've no love for 29ers but I'd still point out if someone adopted the same stance & would support those who in who in turn felt the same.
My point being I can understand them hiking the prices a little, but doubling them? That's just taking the p1ss.
Or would you rather I kept quiet if & when something you were partial to was doubled in price in similar circumstanes?
I think saying the RRP is higher than it is is not just sharp practice I think it's illegal. Although now that Middleburn is gone maybe SJS reckons RRP is whatever the hell they say it is.
Well, I sort of understand the whinging, but to me it seems a bit like people deciding they suddenly like Queen after Freddie died... why didn't you buy the stuff while Middleburn were still going?
If anyone is really desperate for cranks (RS8), drop me an email. We still have some stock that were destined for bikes but I'm not 100% convinced I want to supply them fitted now that I know we'll have no warranty backup for them.
Oh, and not at SJS prices!
I have 2 Middleburn rs7 cranks with direct mount chainrings so getting hold of the rings in the size I want is going to get harder.
RJC Extreme don't have any 4 bolt spiders in stock.
Bugger. Was building up to go Middleburn.
No who can supply me with an alpine double apart from that pig ugly Sugino thing?
e it seems a bit like people deciding they suddenly like Queen after Freddie died... why didn't you buy the stuff while Middleburn were still going?
A lot of us probably do (2 x RS7s here, uno ring, double on a spider + a set of disc hubs, and some oilers.)
I think, like me, people wanted to potentially stock up on some spare rings, etc. as they won't be making any more.
I think, like me, people wanted to potentially stock up on some spare rings, etc. as they won't be making any more.
and spiders, that seems to be the main issue to longevity of our cranks.
How easy would it be for someone with cnc skills to make some copy Incy spiders:
Very easy especially when you already have the engineering drawings and cad models.....but like middleburn it's probably not worth running a machine for a day to make 5 spiders and 25p profit.
I've already thought about contacting the folks who own middleburn we could make those easily, but its not really worth the time and effort the rings we make now
Are far better
,
Why are people always so surprised that businesses want to make a profit?!
It is their sole purpose, unless they are a social enterprise.
Terrible shame about middleburn, but I don't blame SJS for hiking prices - they have always been the place to get weird stuff usually at a high price - they are just defending their niche. You wither high sell at high volume low price (Chainreaction model) or low volume high price (SJS) - for the latter to work you stock stuff that nobody does or can.
Currently, there's no fixed retail price for anything. Following the lack of availability we thought we'd increase our potential margin on the stock we currently own to redress the incredibly slim margin we've enjoyed for the past few years, sorry regards robin thorn (Director )
Here's the response I got via the facebook page.
For some reason I feel like I should be angry about this but I'm not really. If CRC pulled something similar I would be boycotting and whatnot but with SJS it doesn't feel quite so cynical.
I've used SJS many times in the past and will in the future. I'm just torn now about whether to stock up on UNO rings or not.
I'm also not sure if I want to use Middleburn for a vintage road frame I was planning on building up with modern parts but I can't think of an alternative that would look quite as nice.
frood - MemberWhen I called sjs this morning they didn't know middleburn had gone :/
Oh, and thanks for that frood 😉
Those complaining about the price hike - if the Middleburn stuff is so great, why did it take them going out of business for you to decide to buy their stuff?
I bought some new cranks 2 days before the news broke about them going bust - now I'm worried about getting spare rings/a spider 😥
Currently, there's no fixed retail price for anything. Following the lack of availability we thought we'd increase our potential margin on the stock we currently own to redress the incredibly slim margin we've enjoyed for the past few years, sorry regards robin thorn (Director )
Interesting one.
Still, doubling the price?
That's not going to sit well with a a fair few folks regardless of the reason!
My cable oilers arrived. £5.99 as bought before the profiteering. £11.99 now..
"Well, I sort of understand the whinging, but to me it seems a bit like people deciding they suddenly like Queen after Freddie died... why didn't you buy the stuff while Middleburn were still going?"
In my case, it's purely coincidental that I was planning to buy a crankset at this time, for a proposed new bike build. I've actually been meaning to buy some Middleburn cranks for ages, just not got around to it. I was, like others, browsing SJS' website just last week, before the prices were hiked up.
"I expect a website monkey was ordered to double the price while the boss is away until the boss has had a chance to confirm the situation with Middleburn, and minimise orders until they're clear on what kind of stock levels they've got and can get from the manufacturer's inventory.The webiste monkey will have dropped a spreadsheet of middleburn products out and just applied a multiple to the numbers before hoiking it back up on to the online shop front system. They certainly wont have meticulously gone through each product and checked line by line just for a holding position. Give it a few days to sort out."
We now this not to be the case. SJS themselves have apparently admitted that they are cashing in on the anticipated sudden rush to buy new MB products.
They can, legally, charge whatever they like. And customers can choose to shop wherever they like. What they can't do, is claim an item was previously sold at a particular price, when it wasn't, in order to suggest a 'discount'. Not sure exactly what piece of legislation it falls under, but I do know that various companies have been penalised for doing this. There really is no excuse for this.
DezB Well, I sort of understand the whinging, but to me it seems a bit like people deciding they suddenly like Queen after Freddie died... why didn't you buy the stuff while Middleburn were still going?"
I think the thread is talking about replacements for existing gear, chain rings etc, that are specific to the gear they all ready have and in the future how can replacements be obtained.
Gents I'd like to put some posts right but Taz has stated some facts. BETD Goldtec is still going and very well too. We have moved premises and have some new backers (KMF) and we have access to some incredible CNC machines. We are still producing mech hangers, hubs, suspension linkages and many many more parts. I should have answered earlier but work load meant I missed the posts. Anyone who needs any help regarding parts please please contact us and we will be only too pleased to help. We will also be at the NEC show so come along and say hello to us.
What they can't do, is claim an item was previously sold at a particular price, when it wasn't, in order to suggest a 'discount'.
But this might well be an automatic mistake - they might well have just done a simple "increase all Middleburn by 100%" or whatever, that will have put everything up including the base price of the things they're discounting.
[quote=clodhopper ] What they can't do, is claim an item was previously sold at a particular price, when it wasn't, in order to suggest a 'discount'. Not sure exactly what piece of legislation it falls under, but I do know that various companies have been penalised for doing this. There really is no excuse for this.
Don't tell On One/Planet X - that's their very business model
They have a legal duty not to display anything that is misleading, and to rectify any 'mistakes' immediately they are spotted. [s]They've had adequate time in which to do so. [/s] It appears they have now done this. Took a while though. 😉
"Don't tell On One/Planet X - that's their very business model"
I won't ever be buying anything from that company either. For different reasons though. 😆