Why are Timbuk2 bike bags so costly?
TBerk
I sound like Scrooge, but I wanted to replace a messenger bag I used
to have and I find them selling (admittedly full retail via the main
web site) for $100-150 dollars.
What the frack?
Now, having been a customer I can attest to the durability and
usefulness, but damn.
Is this just a cast of "if you have to ask you cant afford it?" My
reply would be, "Who makes the comparable product, for less?"
Tberk
Dan M
Price has little to do with value, it has to do with what somebody
will pay. How close to paying did you come? Enough people must be
paying for them to keep the price up. When people quit paying, the
price will drop. With a $100 sewing machine and some scrap fabric, you
could make your own. Not long ago I made a back pack that is just the
right size for climbing harness, water bottle and rack. I did buy $20
shoulder straps at the surplus store. The pack is very functional but
you can go ahead and believe me when I tell you it looks pretty goofy.
You can have it for $150 though.
SMS
It's a designer brand. There are several other high-quality messenger
bags but they're also expensive.
A while back I got a really good Lemond Messenger Bag which was as high
quality as the Timbuk2, and it was $40, but of course it is discontinued.
Suck it up and go to Amazon,
"http://www.amazon.com/Timbuk2-Classic-Messenger-Bag-Black/dp/B002V92YJI".
Ben Pfaff
> I sound like Scrooge, but I wanted to replace a messenger bag I used
> to have and I find them selling (admittedly full retail via the main
> web site) for $100-150 dollars.
Go to a luggage or a bag store. Look around. You will probably
find something you like. I know that I have a nice, generic
messenger bag that I found at one. It was maybe $30.
--
Ben Pfaff
http://benpfaff.org
Mike Jacoubowsky
news:96836633-3c1a-480b...@e34g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
Don't know if it's still the case, but back in the day, the Timbuk2 bags
were actually made in San Francisco, and even in a sweatshop environment,
that's a whole lot more expensive than having them done in China. If they're
still made here, that's worth something to a lot of people. Unfortunately,
not enough people; there's very little reason to manufacture in the US
anymore.
--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA
Robert Neff
The medium size one is on sale at Performance for $70
right now. That's my size. This price has been
fairly consistent for a few years. I think you get
what you pay for. I'm looking for inexpensive,
light weight, small panniers, and I found what looked
like a very good deal from Nashbar, but it was low
quality.
FWIW -- The Performance house brand is not much
cheaper.
-- Robert
bfd
wrote:
> "TBerk" <bayareab...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:96836633-3c1a-480b...@e34g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > I sound like Scrooge, but I wanted to replace a messenger bag I used
> > to have and I find them selling (admittedly full retail via the main
> > web site) for $100-150 dollars.
>
> > What the frack?
>
> > Now, having been a customer I can attest to the durability and
> > usefulness, but damn.
>
> > Is this just a cast of "if you have to ask you cant afford it?" My
> > reply would be, "Who makes the comparable product, for less?"
>
> > Tberk
>
> Don't know if it's still the case, but back in the day, the Timbuk2 bags
> were actually made in San Francisco, and even in a sweatshop environment,
> that's a whole lot more expensive than having them done in China. If they're
> still made here, that's worth something to a lot of people. Unfortunately,
> not enough people; there's very little reason to manufacture in the US
> anymore.
>
custom ones, and prices are up in the $100-250 range. However, to
compete, they also sell a version made in Vietnam. I went to the
boutique store in SF and bought a closeout bag for $40. Made in
Vietnam, you could tell it apart from is more expensive US cousin.
Bottom line - if you want Made in the USA, be prepared to pay. If not,
its going to be made oversea. Good Luck!
Mike Jacoubowsky
"bfd" <bfd...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:136c6426-3db8-4ca0...@g6g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
On Sep 25, 3:32 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <Mi...@ChainReaction.com>
wrote:
> "TBerk" <bayareab...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:96836633-3c1a-480b...@e34g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > I sound like Scrooge, but I wanted to replace a messenger bag I used
> > to have and I find them selling (admittedly full retail via the main
> > web site) for $100-150 dollars.
>
> > What the frack?
>
> > Now, having been a customer I can attest to the durability and
> > usefulness, but damn.
>
> > Is this just a cast of "if you have to ask you cant afford it?" My
> > reply would be, "Who makes the comparable product, for less?"
>
> > Tberk
>
> Don't know if it's still the case, but back in the day, the Timbuk2
> bags
> were actually made in San Francisco, and even in a sweatshop
> environment,
> that's a whole lot more expensive than having them done in China. If
> they're
> still made here, that's worth something to a lot of people.
> Unfortunately,
> not enough people; there's very little reason to manufacture in the US
> anymore.
>
This is true. Timbuk2 still makes some bags in the US, mainly their
custom ones, and prices are up in the $100-250 range. However, to
compete, they also sell a version made in Vietnam. I went to the
boutique store in SF and bought a closeout bag for $40. Made in
Vietnam, you could tell it apart from is more expensive US cousin.
Bottom line - if you want Made in the USA, be prepared to pay. If not,
its going to be made oversea. Good Luck!
----------------
You mention that you could tell the US vs overseas bags apart. How so?
Was there an obvious difference in quality, different design or what?
I'm not arguing, I'm wondering, because this is something I'm curious
about. Bontrager is getting back into the messenger bag biz and I'm
going to have to figure out where they fit in. Thanks!
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
bfd
$100-120 and go up have fancier colors and other items that you can
specify. In contrast, the Vietnam made bags are usually priced at
about $40-50 and choose of colors and options are limited. Good Luck!
Gregory Sutter
You might check out this local bag company who make all their bags in
SF: http://www.rickshawbags.com/
I have a very large prototype bag from them that I like a lot.
--
Gregory S. Sutter "How do I read this file?"
mailto:gsu...@zer0.org "You uudecode it."
http://zer0.org/~gsutter/ "I I I decode it?"
TBerk
I like the Amazon option, if for no other reason than I like options,
but part of the trouble is I was indeed looking to customize the
colors.
Two things, (make that three) factor into this.
- I have a bag right now, it works, is suffering a little wear and
tear but will last into the foreseeable future.
- I've used 'ballistic' nylon in tech bags for near on thirty years. I
like it.
- Nostalgia, esp for a certain color pattern.
There is 'kool' and then there is paying for kool, I'd hope to be more
in the state of being and less it being a mater of finance.
TBerk
CoastalSeams
> You mention that you could tell the US vs overseas bags apart. How so?
> Was there an obvious difference in quality, different design or what?
> I'm not arguing, I'm wondering, because this is something I'm curious
> about. Bontrager is getting back into the messenger bag biz and I'm
> going to have to figure out where they fit in. Thanks!
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycleswww.ChainReactionBicycles.com
Some features to look for in determining quality & durability ... seam
reinforcement, stress-points reinforcement (where pockets, straps,
etc. meet fabric or other features; the "boxed x's" on most outdoors
gear), are seams double- or triple-stitched? Single-seam stitching is
generally unlikely to be durable; do "handles" wrap around the
bottom?; if not, bag won't support as much weight because the straps
will be the likely point of failure; if straps don't wrap across
bottom, are they "seriously attached" to make up for that? Is the bag
fabric truly durable (e.g., 430 denier or higher; and not the "pack
cloth" that many non-U.S.A.-made bags are made with.) Several private
U.S. companies sell U.S.A.-made high quality packcloth, webbing, etc.
If cotton canvas, the good stuff or too thin? And so on. Not sure how
this will translate in writing, but hope it's helpful. I'm a life-long
outdoors woman (hike/camp/bicycle/etc.) who's been sewing for all but
the first 11 years and I've seen a lot of both high quality gear and
"crummy" stuff touted as quality. I commuted on my bike in a field
camp setting for 8 summers and my really seriously made pack was a
lifesaver for safeguarding everything from groceries to laundry. Check
those seams & attachment points :-)
Paul Hays
You put your finger on why the bag was expensive: you were ordering a
custom bag. Any one-off item is going to be markedly more expensive
than a stock one, right?
I undertand your sticker-shock, though, having just replaced a 12 year
old Timbuk2 bag. Custom color combinations used to be available at a
minimal upcharge, and their current "make your own bag" web app makes
it all too tempting to design your own dream bag.
The new bags have more pockets and "features", that's for sure. Time
will tell if it holds up. The buckle has changed, and possibly not
for the better. I've had the old bag for so long and used it nearly
every day, that it will take me a while to get used to it.
If my new bag lasts as long as my old one, I'll consider it money well
spent.
TBerk
<snip>
> . Check
> those seams & attachment points :-)
Good stuff, Thx!
TBerk
TBerk
I hear ya Paul, and it's not like I don't want the company to prosper-
but (admittedly, rhetorically) How many people bought those 10 & 12
cylinder VW Phaetons?
TBerk
Jym Dyer
>> apart. How so? Was there an obvious difference in quality,
>> different design or what?
> up have fancier colors and other items that you can specify.
> In contrast, the Vietnam made bags are usually priced at about
> $40-50 and choose of colors and options are limited.
=v= Hmm. I remember when they were all made in the U.S., then
went overseas, then partially came back (changes in ownership
and management were mentioned). In addition to the "boutique"
bags, supposedly there are sturdy bags made specifically for
messengers, manufactured in the U.S.
=v= (Or maybe that's all marketing hooey. Once they started
to market products for non-messengers, Timbuk2 has contended
with accusations of inauthenticity, not keepin' it real, etc.)
=v= I won a made-in-the-USA Timbuk2 bag at an SFBC charity
auction. It is a nice bag, though the material is thinner than
on my Zo Bag. After a few years it actually leaks in the rain,
whereas my Zo Bag shows almost no wear after 15 years of use:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jym/5038644690/
It's worth paying more for durability, economically as well as
ecologically.
=v= I haven't tried out Rickshaw or Chrome bags, both made in
San Francisco, though they have a good reputation.
<_Jym_>
SMS
>
You might look at this article:
"http://www.messmedia.org/messenger-bags.html" though some of those
companies are apparently gone (the zobags web site doesn't work anymore).
TBerk
> You might look at this article:
> "http://www.messmedia.org/messenger-bags.html" though some of those
> companies are apparently gone (the zobags web site doesn't work anymore).
I like that link, thank you. Still I started looking at a place in the
Mission and (gulp) $149 for the 'small' bag.
I'm not against buying quality but I'm going to either keep looking or
take sewing back up.
When i started this thread I was aware of the implied cheapskate
attitude I might be perceived as having. Actually, the truth is I
really find little value in buying by the price tag from a place like
Walmart.
I'd like to be able to buy durable, local, and well engineered. But
not feel stupid for the privilege of being one of the chosen few. Can
these guys in the area survive w/ someone like me as the other half of
the equation? (uh oh, rhetorical questions creeping in...)
The true cache, for _me_, would be to be able to reflect back and
remark "this really is a good bag...".
TBerk
in the saddle almost daily...
TBerk
> You might look at this article:
> "http://www.messmedia.org/messenger-bags.html" though some of those
> companies are apparently gone (the zobags web site doesn't work anymore).
Ben Pfaff
> I'm not against buying quality but I'm going to either keep looking or
> take sewing back up.
Have you considered buying used (e.g. craigslist or ebay)?