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Specialized Possibly Launching Consumer Direct Brand Under "Status" name

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GreenCowman

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Just gonna leave this here...



Sounds like Specialized is bringing back the Status name to launch a consumer direct line of more basic bikes, with a big aim at getting them out to "influencers" for marketing. Definitely trying to take back some of the market from YT/ Commencal/ Canyon. Bike looks a bit disappointing compared to the new stumpy/ Enduro, but no numbers yet so who knows.
 
#2 ·
GreenCowman said:
Just gonna leave this here...



Sounds like Specialized is bringing back the Status name to launch a consumer direct line of more basic bikes, with a big aim at getting them out to "influencers" for marketing. Definitely trying to take back some of the market from YT/ Commencal/ Canyon. Bike looks a bit disappointing compared to the new stumpy/ Enduro, but no numbers yet so who knows.
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Those definitely look like Specialized OEM parts. There is a huge market in DTC and it's only going to get better. Will take a lot to produce a bike as good as YT at the price. Here's to hoping because this sport is way to expensive.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#3 ·
definitely looks like a low-rent specialized bike, no doubt. But why? It can't be *that* cheap, and they are just going to end up cannibalizing their own sales, and pissing off dealers/shops/etc. They already have entry-level bikes down to < $500 price points. Yeah, cutting out the LBS saves maybe 30-40% in margin but what are their support costs going to look like with no LBS as front-line service/support? Most consumers could not be trusted to build a bike correctly, and I've yet to see bikes shipped 100% built (maybe it's possible?)
 
#7 ·
I would agree that this is a DTC brand launch and not the old DH bike. They have gotten bikes into a lot of "influencers" hands on IG. With shop margins at 36% that tells you how much less expensive they can make the bikes.
 
#10 ·
Mudguard said:
At what point can margins be thinned and still make a profit? I deal with a lot of industry that has single figure margins, so that stock has turn over fast.
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If they remove the shop from the equation and drop prices by 30%, their margins go up by 6%. This is why Canyon and YT among others can hit their price points.

PB and Vital are claiming this is a new low end trail bike, but there is no Specialized head badge despite all of the other branding looking ready to go. Will be interesting to see what they do with it.
 
#11 ·
Taking the shop out of the equation, you have to gear up for direct-to-consumer customer service, which isn't free. So margins might get a little better but not as much as just a quick 30% chop off the top.

all the wannabe-so-called "influencer" types are universally douchebags, no question. Stupid/foolish/bizzare that Specialized (who already has a great brand) would mess around with those wankers.

I looked at the YT catalog and didn't find their pricing anything to write home about. By and large they seemed about in line with Specialized on the bikes I saw. There was some slightly lower prices/higher specs, but with that you gave up the service/LBS/warranty from Spesh, so a trade-off at best, no real advantage to YT, and several significant disadvantages. (service? build?). YT also seem overly marketeery/douchey/bro-culture but that's just my hot take based on their website.

If you want a spesh bike at a good price, the leftovers always sell at near-wholesale prices, at the end of the cycle. Often dropping by $1k+ off "retail" price, and often more on the higher-end models.

If they are doing DTC, it makes sense it would be low-end for the chiselers and bottom-feeders (which aligns with so-called "influencers" too), hopefully doesn't erode their shop sales too much.
 
#12 ·
EdSawyer said:
Taking the shop out of the equation, you have to gear up for direct-to-consumer customer service, which isn't free. So margins might get a little better but not as much as just a quick 30% chop off the top.

all the wannabe-so-called "influencer" types are universally douchebags, no question. Stupid/foolish/bizzare that Specialized (who already has a great brand) would mess around with those wankers.

I looked at the YT catalog and didn't find their pricing anything to write home about. By and large they seemed about in line with Specialized on the bikes I saw. There was some slightly lower prices/higher specs, but with that you gave up the service/LBS/warranty from Spesh, so a trade-off at best, no real advantage to YT, and several significant disadvantages. (service? build?). YT also seem overly marketeery/douchey/bro-culture but that's just my hot take based on their website.

If you want a spesh bike at a good price, the leftovers always sell at near-wholesale prices, at the end of the cycle. Often dropping by $1k+ off "retail" price, and often more on the higher-end models.

If they are doing DTC, it makes sense it would be low-end for the chiselers and bottom-feeders (which aligns with so-called "influencers" too), hopefully doesn't erode their shop sales too much.
Click to expand...
As someone who went with YT, I agree that their specs vs price point has gone down. When I bought, I got top of the line everything for $3k, an equivalent bike at the shop would've been $5-6k. I know this because I looked. This year's lineup is not as great, and would probably go for a LBS if I needed a bike right now

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#15 ·
EdSawyer said:
Taking the shop out of the equation, you have to gear up for direct-to-consumer customer service, which isn't free. So margins might get a little better but not as much as just a quick 30% chop off the top.

all the wannabe-so-called "influencer" types are universally douchebags, no question. Stupid/foolish/bizzare that Specialized (who already has a great brand) would mess around with those wankers.

I looked at the YT catalog and didn't find their pricing anything to write home about. By and large they seemed about in line with Specialized on the bikes I saw. There was some slightly lower prices/higher specs, but with that you gave up the service/LBS/warranty from Spesh, so a trade-off at best, no real advantage to YT, and several significant disadvantages. (service? build?). YT also seem overly marketeery/douchey/bro-culture but that's just my hot take based on their website.

If you want a spesh bike at a good price, the leftovers always sell at near-wholesale prices, at the end of the cycle. Often dropping by $1k+ off "retail" price, and often more on the higher-end models.

If they are doing DTC, it makes sense it would be low-end for the chiselers and bottom-feeders (which aligns with so-called "influencers" too), hopefully doesn't erode their shop sales too much.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure about that. Where can you purchase a new 170/170mm mountain bike for $2300? That's close to some alloy frame prices or carbon wheel sets.
 
#18 ·
And where is it?

They already ship lots of bikes directly to the consumer, or to a bike shop. The shop gets a small cut, but nothing like traditional margins.

That is a huuuuuge increase in profit margins for Speshy since the price to consumer remains the same. Actually, as of late it has been going up..... :ROFLMAO:

Where is this direct to consumer at reduced prices stuff?
Like Canyon or YT.
 
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