Planet X sales and unclear pricing, does this undermine trust?

Trust? They're a retailer not a wife.

I'd buy something they have if I need it, but in reality they're mostly selling absolute crap that no one else would sell outside of sports direct

Carnac socks, they're ace though lol.

Agree entirely, try ordering a C2W voucher and guessing which price the bike you want will be when you get your voucher through

However, this kind of puts me off, as I used to think Planet X, as a UK company, was  hence quite honest and straight dealing and northerners so you know, plain speaking.

Have you missed the last decade or so worth of threads about Planet X and their dubious pricing?

Not illegal as they are not adverting a before and after price. Its a blanket 20% off.

I was getting emails from them up until Christmas Eve with 50% off, so if that ends then things go back to normal prices...

People still buy things at Planet X?

I’d buy something they have if I need it, but in reality they’re mostly selling absolute crap that no one else would sell outside of sports direct

That's a bit harsh, I've never had a problem with the quality of any of the stuff I've bought from P-X/O-O, and that includes frames, bits, clothing and lids.

However, their pricing model has always been all over the shop. Do I 'trust' the prices? Probably not. I just judge it on whether I'm willing to pay whatever price is currently advertised for the thing in interested in.

Cheap box shifters.

If they've got what I want at the right price, I'll buy it. I've had very mixed experience with their own-brand stuff though, so avoid it now.

Ignore savings reductions etc. Bear in mind previous quality control issues with frames.

Happy to buy lights, tyres, bits of clothing.

Expensive bikes? Nope? Not that I am buying any bikes in the foreseeable future anyway. Can't think why I need more than the 4 I have.

Well maybe an electric bike. Wouldn't buy that from PX though.

Planet X had loads of offers in the run up to Christmas as you saw.

Now they've ended they've got another offer on. Not as generous as previous though.

See any other retailer pretty much. Amazon are incredibly dynamic on their pricing, way more than planet X.

Google were similar in the run up to Christmas. Guess what... Post Christmas deals on phones aren't as good (depending on what you're after and your circumstances).

These days just buy at the price you're happy to pay at a given time for whatever it is you want and understand you're going to win some and lose some - it appears to be the way of modern retail.

The straight talking northerner thing is a handy marketing tool, or was years back when I used them. Marketing was always No1, straight talking a bit further down the line ime.
That said, I had decent enough service from them.

Don't imagine they are your friendly biker buddies, treat it like a purchase from DFS or Curries and you'll be , er, reet.

Ah thanks. I was wondering if I should unsubscribe from their lists but i thought the 20% might be useful one day.  This makes it easier, button pressed.  Less noise in my email is always nice

Whippet frame didn't increase and is £120 off £599 but waiting to the next sale when it's £399 😆

I’ve bought loads from them over the years. Just recently bought the EKAR Planet x Tempest and paid £1900 for it, was down to £2700 over the 12 bikes of Xmas sale and now back to the original price of £2999.
But if looking at buying a bike from Planet X I’d always have a figure in mind as to what I’d want to pay and then watch what happens with sale pricing. It doesn’t erode trust with me, I’ve purchased enough to know that they do regular sales so never pay full price.

The thing with Planet X is that any particular price exists in an instant in time and may go up or down, triple, quadruple or halve at a random point in the past, present or future. Their HQ is sited directly on top of a fault in a quantum time space continuum and prices reflect this.

All you can do is decide whether the item offered at the price in that particular instant is acceptable value for what you're getting and disregard any past or future prices. Think of the actual figures as being the product of a random number generator with little or no apparently relationship to anything else in the universe and you won't go far wrong.

“Newsflash” Planet X are a business and making money is what they do.

Same as all other retailers.

“Newsflash”

Years ago, I was naive to all this, had no idea CRC were in a perpetual state of price reductions.

I was saving up a few bob to buy a Vitus. It was reduced (shocker) by £50 off RRP. I emailed them and asked how long they expected the sale to last as I didn't want to miss out. Reply was pretty standard.... can't really say for sure, pricing is always good though, best order sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.

So I ordered, got bike, then two weeks later they knocked another £150 off the RRP.

I emailed and complained, saying I asked and you told me to "order now to avoid missing out!" Never mentioning that in fact there where further planned reductions imminent. They sent me a £150 voucher to make up for it. Not cash back, but I was happy with that! 👌

“Newsflash” Planet X are a business and making money is what they do.

It's not that though... whilst I've had many good frames and purchases from on-one, im no fan of their dfs/sportsdirect/etc sales tactics. Not all companies go down the route of smoke & mirrors pricing strategy but now they're on that treadmill it's very hard to get off as the brand becomes synonymous with it

The thing with Planet X is that any particular price exists in an instant in time and may go up or down, triple, quadruple or halve at a random point in the past, present or future.

I was looking for a trainer mat last week and it showed up discounted in the search results (on the site) but full price when clicked through to buy.

They have a thread on STW almost constantly on the front age, sometimes two or three, so the marketing works.
It is rare that their prices aren’t very good, but I understand the stress of pressing buy if you don’t know just how low it might go.
I’m happy they exist, and if I was buying a titanium fully built bike, there is no one near, not even close I don’t think to their pricing.

I used to think Planet X, as a UK company, was hence quite honest

Where to start. Where to bloody start.

Only big item I've bought from them was/is a FreeRanger GB.
Very happy with the price & service/comms.
I've had bits & bobs like bottles and cages & happy with those also.

Meh, their prices vary between being roughly on parr to briefly discounted and then back again. That's just what they do now. it's not a matter of "trust" just accept that PX pricing is subject to huge random fluctuations.

I'd never buy anything from PX/OO without comparing it to alternatives from their competition, you can only really judge VFM on that basis IMO. Just ask would I get the equivalent group/brakes/frame/fork from Ribble/CRC/merlin/etc for the same price, if the answer is no give it a swerve and check back in a day or two...

Eventually you'll spot a bargain and be able to capitalise on it, but there's no point developing FOMO over PX/OO nothing they make is that special...

Have the folk complaining lived in some alternative universe for the last few decades?

This happens across ALL retailers selling ALL types of goods.

5plusn8

I used to think Planet X, as a UK company, was hence quite honest and straight dealing

As opposed to those corrupt foreigners?

How do you undermine trust when there wasn’t any in the first place?

Yeah guess I just had an impression based on the marketing etc. Had no idea about the flexible pricing. However, as you say Jam-bo, no trust for others and for me thats new, but seems like its justified.
With CRC etc I am normally looking at Shimano or OE products so its easy to know if its a bargain or not. PX I was considering one of their own bikes and as has been revealed they may not be as good as getting a mainstream brand anyway, so thanks all for the feedback. I think I'll look elsewhere.

You can't put the price up straight away and then put it on sale. It has to be at the raised price for 30 days previously IIRC. With super markets etc they have to have the price higher in a certain percentage of shops for so many days previously. CRC/Ribble have similar dodgy practice because you don't know what the price was before the money off.

Well like you said OP you were looking at a kaffenback but they seem to be doing their kaffenback builds (apex and rival) with mechanical discs which is a shame.

if ~£1k is your ballpark for a full build I'd hunt hard for hydraulic discs, you should be able to score a set. Interestingly hydraulic discs still seem to carry a £200 premium with PX currently (on the London road rival build).

Is there a specific reason the kaffenback takes your fancy? Geometry? Steel? Both can be had elsewhere...

Are you happy to pay the currently advertised price?

Yes - Fill ya boots!
No - wait until it comes on offer.

Its not unique.

Uberbike has perpetual offers.
I'll rarely if ever buy DHB clothing on wiggle at full price
I have a list of stuff I'll need/want soon but it's not urgent and just pick it up in the sales as it comes round.

My problem is more the number of frames/variants/changes and using the same model name on different bikes. Seems like you never really know what you're getting. Find their whole range totally confusing.

Not just px I m afraid, you just have to do your research to see what is really a good deal.

I waited all year for a black Friday Miele deal, prices actually went up at first, assume so they can claim bigger discount. That was Miele direct who I got price matched to a rival supplier.

Spurious pricing must work as it seems loads of retailers do it.

Also a lot of discounted deals are on obsolete stock. Btw I love my new Miele fridge, well worth the price premium.

Buyer beware.

With planet x you need to keep an eye on their prices and when there's a good deal buy it and then stop looking in case its even cheaper. Its no different to amazons prices, loads of companies do it. You just need to be savy if you want a bargain.

There are some ex display scandals at the moment for £800 with 20% off plus postage. They work out just a bit more than a frame only. £900 version with a slightly better spec.

Ex display Boot zippers at £699 minus 20%.

That's a lot of bike for not a lot of money and hard to beat.

Its cheap kit and sometimes it's really good but the down side is its hit and miss customer service and some of their products are garbage. (my px bib shorts for example.)

There is a boxing sale on at Planet X, with 20% off everything. Coincidentally, all pries have increased by about 20%.

Not all prices have increased by 20% there are some bargains on the site. You might be unlucky as they've sold lots of kaffenbacks and stock is low so prices have gone up. Supply and demand?

Just favourite the page, join the mailing list, have a price in mind you are willing to pay and click on it every day until you see a price your happy to pay. If that's too much hassle either buy it now at the price it's advertised at or look elsewhere. There's plenty of choice out there at the moment.

I'm another in the I look at what it is and buy it if (1) I want or need it and (2) it seems like a decent vfm option against competing products at the time I'm buying.

Anything else is a ticket to madness 🫣

Agree entirely, try ordering a C2W voucher and guessing which price the bike you want will be when you get your voucher through

Contact them. They honoured the price of a discounted bike that I’d ordered a C2W voucher for even after it had returned to full price. I contacted them first and they agreed to hold to the price so long as the same item was still available.

Plenty of Folk buy Planet X stuff, I always see them as a bit bargain basement but never had an issue.
I once had to deal with Dave Hinde !!!

Why would their infinitely variable pricing undermine trust?
On any given day most of their stuff offers VfM; on a different day the price could offer improved or reduced VfM.
What's the problem?

It's wierd:

"I'd by Rapha, it's great value, just wait untill there's a sale"

"I'd never buy Planet X, it's not good value unless there's a sale"

I bought a frame off them a while back in a sale, I know of at least one person on here who spent over a grand for what I got for £440.

Luckily this doesn't reduce my trust because that ship sailed long ago, they've literally stolen from me in the past. So I just treated it like a used frame purchase and assumed no warranty or customer service. If you trust On One/PX, I have a gold brick to sell you.

I don’t think just it’s a trust issue. It’s just very annoying. You have to have an idea of what things normally go for. Personally I’d prefer that each item just had a stable price. But they know they’d sell less like that

I’d buy something they have if I need it, but in reality they’re mostly selling absolute crap that no one else would sell outside of sports direct

I think that’s harsh. Some of those plant x bikes are some of the few affordable routes into the sport. You can buy a bike for grand from them. You’ll need a dropper and a few other bits like tyres and your good to go.

Boxing day sale has ended and the "New Year" Sale has started.... Prices have now gone back down to what they were pre-increase (well the Kaffenback and Whippets have)...

Agree entirely, try ordering a C2W voucher and guessing which price the bike you want will be when you get your voucher through

I tried this, absolute nightmare.
Found the bike I wanted,
Ordered my voucher,
Sent voucher to PX,
Received bike.

God oh god why is everything so hard!

I do see your point though, I was petrified I’d lose the bike (down from £1500 to £850!) but I got lucky, I assume I’m one of the few it actually worked for!

Never had a problem with P-X or On-one in the 15+ years I've been using them. Bough a Free Ranger earlier this year in one of their sales and it turned up on time and has been faultless since...

Their pricing is very random and changes every day, but you just get an idea of what a good price is for something and just buy it when it hits that figure.

does this undermine trust?

Yep

It undermines trust for me. I see them as like Mountain Warehouse - permanent sales, stuff may or may not be good quality/ value, do your homework first.

You could go to, say, Blacks, pay £n for a jacket without knowing all the various brands, and feel like your jacket was worth £n. With PX I'd feel the need to do research to avoid (what I perceive to be a risk of) getting mugged off. Which doesn't instil trust.

In planet x defence I ordered a ribble cgr Sl 105 around September 2021. It was around £2000. The same bike is now £2500. It had already gone up when I paid £2000! Not really sure why it keeps creeping up? Large overheads or they think their brand value is increasing after large amounts of money spent on advertising.

At the time I was looking at px bikes which were around £1799 mark RRP not taking into account random 20% discounts etc. The same bikes are still £1799!

Now if I was going to buy a new bike I doubt I'd pay £700 more for the ribble or even more for a px bike in the sale. That's a lot of money for upgrades.

I will say that ribble customer service was excellent once the bike arrived after a long delay.

Px don't have fancy show rooms to pay for, they stack em high, sell em cheap and customer service is hit and miss. My on one scandal is my favourite bike and it was £150 for a frame but it did arrive in a box too small for an XL frame and the mech hanger was poking out the box which it must have left the shop like that.

Doing the research and you then buy should instill trust though - you've done research and happy with the price and you are aware of quality. So why would that not instill trust?

Doing the research and you then buy should instill trust though – you’ve done research and happy with the price and you are aware of quality. So why would that not instill trust?

Ummmm.....because you have to do the research before you buy?

You don't do that before you buy already? That sounds odd to me...surely you do research to make sure what you are buying is what you want, no?

I’d buy something they have if I need it, but in reality they’re mostly selling absolute crap that no one else would sell outside of sports direct

I think that’s harsh.

It's just wrong.

They make some really good value bikes across road, gravel and MTB... if you can successfully negotiate the ever-changing prices and not accidentally spend £800 on a Scandal frame.

They also offer very decent, cheap clothing and kit (e.g. bibs, gloves, etc.)

As you said, they are great for newcomers to cycling or the budget conscious. It's just ironic that newbies may find the confusing pricing and the over-dense product range offputting.

Price changes are rife in some retailers. Curry's are a prime example. If you look at a price tracker site for a Currys fridge, washing machine, oven etc you'll see they change their prices weekly. An oven I bought had been at 37 different prices over the past 12 months. They do it so they can tempt you with "Was £599, now £499" but they don't tell you it was also at £425, £450, £475 etc

Ummmm…..because you have to do the research before you buy?

I normally do that with anything I buy online over about £20. Internet pricing varies enormously between retailers etc for the same item....

It’s just wrong.

They make some really good value bikes across road, gravel and MTB…

+1

I own quite a few of their bikes and they're very decent bikes for the money.

I've given up looking on planet x after a couple of disappointing orders, I don't know how they keep afloat with such limited stock on offer, a quick browse through their components is just depressing.
At one point their p&p was something like £7 and adding a couple of cheap rims to the basket skyrocketed that postage so I swiftly ended that after a few expletives at the screen.
Edit. Just had a quick look, SLX chainset £79.99 was £499.99 apparently 😂

I wouldn't buy from Planet X again if it came delivered with a second free bike...

In the past i have had a Scandal frame where the headtube was oval...

A second Scandal frame where the whole back end was wonky

A third frame where the paint fell off in big flakes when you looked at it funny..

I then had a Reverb seatpost that was faulty from the start, sent it back recorded and despite them signing for it, they denied ever receiving it. I sent proof of the fact they signed for 3 times, 6 months it went on and me having to threaten court proceedings, before refund came.. then a member of staff found me on Facebook and thought it would be funny to drunkenly send me abusive messages, i contacted PX and there response "he's on sick leave, not our concern", despite admitting he is still a member of staff!

Spoke to an ex-employee of theirs who said they once sold a load of Giro dodgy helmets, the actual UK importer kept getting these helmets returned to them, and then could not find how they'd entered UK and these "seconds" had entered UK market, traced them back to PX and them having circumvented the UK importer to flog factory second helmets direct from Italy..

Same as any deal really, you buy something at a price that you are happy with. This has no bearing on your purchase if the price then changes up or down.

Planet X prices have been erratic for as long as I can remember. But I've always been happy with my purchases.

My Hello Dave's dropper post developed a fault after about 9 months of use. Planet X were a delight to deal with and sent me a new post.

I've maybe been lucky over the years as I've never made a bad purchase from Planet X. This includes 4 bikes and many other components.

I can sympathise with others who have been sent faulty products which have then not been resolved as they should have been. Although in Planet X's defence, they have been trading for a pretty long time so are bound to have made mistakes over the years.

They're a budget brand 🤷‍♂️