prices only going up
No worries and did not take it as a dig just was not understanding what you meant. The reality is 95% or more of people that want a bike cannot get one in store. If they are lucky like you then all good.
There really is no incentive to the customer at this point from what I can tell and is all marketing. It is all about Specialized having 25% of the stock online and taking those profits which the lbs gets away from them.
It is getting insane…the new pricing on some Specialzied bikes on the DTC option are already noted above.
But it is crazy on the used market too…check out this 2016 Allez Sprint at The Pro’s Closet. Almost $4K for an alloy frame, mechanical shifting and rim brakes…and it is 5 years old!!!
I am in revenue management for hotels and as long as the market keeps buying it pricing will keep going up. I sold my Trek emonda alr4 last year to pros closet for $400 less than I purchased it for and used it for 4 years. Pros closet is making bank and honestly a super easy way to sell your bike at a fair price.
I contacted them over the summer re: my 2017 Crux frame…they offered me $500. Screw that…I just sold it on eBay in 30 minutes this week for $1050.
That was my experience too!
Couldn’t believe that they were willing to pay me 4800$ for a well used 2018 Yeti SB5.5 XO1 build.
Meanwhile same bike could be had for same or less on PinkBike. But sure enough, they were able to flip it for just over 6000$.
Just cannot believe that there are buyers out there willing to pay so much, for a thoroughly used mountainbike with a generation old geometry
Back to the thread, my Epic Evo expert shipped yesterday and will be getting it next week at my lbs. Looking forward to going by and chilling with the staff there as they are great.
Putting on a power mirror saddle and also got some xtr pedals to pair with sworks recon that are the grey/black color way that will match nicely. First time owning a mtb so very excited.
Nice! I just finished putting on 3M protective thread & waxed the chain las night! First ride today! Should feel like cheating compared to my other 35 lbf coil shocked rig 
There’s absolutely no reason you CANT use this saddle, but honestly, you probably don’t NEED to if money matters. On the mtb you’re out of the saddle or shifting positions almost constantly.
Sounds like an awesome bike and what an amazing mtb for your first one! Have a blast.
nice, my lbs will help me setup and make sure the setup is correct based on my riding style and weight. That alone for me is worth the $50
Dayum, son…go big or go home!!!
Pics are mandatory, ya know. 
I have 2 of them from when I ordered before at the 15% off in anticipation of getting an Epic evo to pair with my Tarmac so it will be going on there. I get it might not be necessary but for me it will be nice to have it there.
Yeah baby. I am a buy once, cry once person. I did ask my Specialized friend that is the owner if the Pro was worth the extra $2,400 and he said no so went for the expert.
I did the same with my 2020 SL6 comp di2. I knew going in the wheels were going to be crap and instead of the pro I bought the comp and then bought Enve 5.6 to pair with it. Looks slick with the black matte camo-ish color way and love riding it.
In used to manage a bike shop back in the day, and our average margin on complete bikes was 35%. Specialized spending an extra 15 minutes per direct to consumer bike would hardly cut into that at all.
BOCO is the only way to live
I’ve got the same bike. I upgraded the bars and got the Aerofly II. I also have bontrager aelous wheels on it too I really like it
Very nice and I really have enjoyed my Tarmac for sure. Besides the Enve 5.6, the only other upgrade I have done is getting a power mirror over the last month.
If a bicycle manufacturer goes direct, and they don’t have any bikes, does it make a sound (or a difference)?
Good point but I think for them and many others it is about the long term play.
I went to my local Spesh dealer yesterday for the first time in a few weeks. Their shop was PACKED full of bikes. I quickly noticed that there were only one or two bikes from the other brands they sell and 99% of the inventory was Specialized. I sat down to chat with the owner (I’ve know him 10+ years) and he told me that they were no longer independently owned and would be exclusively Spesh now. My hope is that this means he will now ALWAYS have a shop full of bikes. Obviously, that’s not good for other local Specialized dealers (I live in a large city), but I guess we’re now seeing Specialized making the same moves Trek made with LBS’s.