...so it got me thinking
 

...as i was buying my new lid at the show. If they can do 'show prices' then why on earth cant they be sold for that price all the time? Blatent profiteering(sp?)

My Arai was £100 cheaper than list. They alsways are, but why not in the shops? Are they still making a profit?

What model Arai did you get Viney ?

Often at this time of year items (especially lids & leathers) are chepaer because the new styles / colours etc will be out in a couple of months or so.

Isnt the MCN show a bit like the January sales, getting rid of some old stock?

But its like it at all bike shows!

Astro R thank you Mr Wheel :D

Nice 8) my lids getting a bit tired so I have been thinking of an Arai as a replacement I tried a couple on but I havent got he spare cash at the moment. I know that Liz is thinking about a new lid to.

Wandered what you think of the Arai ? compared to my Shoei XR900

Re: ...so it got me thinking
 

Known in business terms as a Loss Leader you see Viney.

Like the stuff they have outside shops that seem too cheap to be true. they hook you and get you into their shop. Then they hope their "upselling" skills will sell you some other items at normal retail prices and recoup some of the profit they loose on the first item.

Probably something like this, normal markup on item = 30%
loss leader markup = 10%

so yes, still making a very nominal profit but if they dont upsell you other stuff they really do loose out. So make sure you try and haggle a discount for the other items you buy too ;)

I've got an Arai Astro J, which is a bit broken so I got a Shoei XR1000.

The Arai is more comfortable, but the Shoei has better vents, the visor and mechanism feel more solid and the pinlock system is excellent. Over all I think the Shoei is better, but I do miss the comfort of the Arai.

It could be as simple as volume of sales... If you make £10 off a lid, but you sell 50 in a day, that's fine. But if you make £10 of a lid but you sell one a week, you're going out of business.

Had my astro-j for 2 1/2 years now. had a quantum f before that. both of them are the best fit and by far the most comfortable. got a pinlock on my visor too, and i have too say i have had no problems with it at all. great helmet, wont ever buy anything else unless its a flip up, then u i'd prolly go for a roof.