Shoei following Arai's lead?

I almost forgot this! The Shoei rep at the motorcycle show said he's discounting his X-Eleven helmet's $659 price by 10%. And I'm like, I just did a search and can find 10 internet companies selling them for $460!!! He told me Shoei will soon be taking Arai's lead in restricting internet sales and dealership markdowns. Dealer's pay $441.00 for the X-Eleven TC5, and Shoei will demand that dealers sell at a maximum of 10% off retail ($590.00). To even out the dealers, making a more fair market. Sounds like greed to me but that's what he was telling me.

Anyone else heard this?

[ConqSoft]

I hope not... Then I'll have to find another brand I guess.

I've been wondering how long it would be before Shoei took this tack....

They are just shooting themselves in the foot. I'd really like to know how much $ Arai has lost due to this. My last helmet was the X11 and I know others have followed suit. If I know my size, and/or willing to pay shipping to send it back to get another one that fits, why I do I need to pay ridiculous prices at the stealer?

Edit: In the last few years, the dealer only business has been brought to its' knees in regards to apparel and parts. For years, they've had their run at charging whatever they want, because you couldn't get the stuff anywhere else. Those days are over and the dealers crying (that is what caused Arai to change their policy, one of the senior reps admitted this, dealers crying because they aren't making as much $) need to wake up. They need to reorg their business and streamline, just like every other company in the wake of inet biznasas. It's a new day

Originally Posted by Baketech

I've been wondering how long it would be before Shoei took this tack....

The sales rep [kinda looked around] and said "get that deal on the internet while you can, that's a good price and it won't be around long". He sounded serious to me. I told him (we talked for about 20 minutes on this - LOL) Arai's respect level went to the toilet as far as the commom buying public was concerned. Many people saw this as a slap in the face regardless of the quality of product. He said, basically if Shoei doesn't do it - the little ma and pa internet shops will own the market stranding dealers with thousands in stock with no chance to sell.

[abtech]

Only one of several reasons I have used AGV for the past several years. Much of the cost of any helmet these days is to offset the product liability insurance cost due to stupid people suing the manufacturers because their 16 year old son put his Hayabusa into a tree at 140 and was killed even though he was wearing a helmet ( ).

I believe the actual production cost of most high end current models is in the neighborhood of 80.00, so pricetags of 600.00+ seem way out of line even considering the R&D and "moving target" Snell certification system. Tell me that most (if not all) of these manufacturers haven't paid off the tooling on a popular model. Arai and Shoei have had several quality issues over the past 10 years (I'm still waiting for the "free replacement" of 2 X-8s that delaminated in the mid '90s and for the "free repair" on my Signet that decided to lose the rubber around the bottom during a race . . .).

Oh well, just bend over

how bout buy from another company? i would NEVER buy a shoei or arai new, ever, its a ****in rip off, anyonet hat truies to convince you it takes 500$ to make a styrofoam and plastic melon should be bitchslapped, it doesnt, **** them greedy assholes, i wear and arai, but i bought it used, just like the 7 other helmets i got, all used

Originally Posted by pip

how bout buy from another company?

Well Pip, that's my next move. I've only bought from Arai and Shoei over the years. When Arai went to the no sales other than dealers stance, I thought that was it for me. That was a shame because Arai fits me best. Arai lost a sale from me, because my next purchase was the Shoei seen in my Gallery around the Christmas tree. Also, the Arai BS about how they want a customer "custom fitted" by the dealer is just that...BS. I bought my last Arai at a motorcycle show last year, and the "trained professional fitter?" who just placed the inner lining BACKWARDS into the shell, and did not know until I said that was wrong...and, when I asked, she said she had had two weeks experience with that job. Thankyou Arai, for allowing this "professional" to fit me for a helmet that I knew my size and could have ordered without "professional" help. She was a good looking fox tho, so I bought the helmet anyway, and one for my son as well. However, my experience proved to me how lame Arai's policy was.

Now this! I did what you suggested in the quote above, and it looks like I've been screwed again if this indeed happens. Where do I go next? (Suomy I like a lot...but none of them fit me well)

I've got two more years before helmet expiration dates occur. I can only hope that Shoei realizes before my expiration date that this is not a good idea. Of course, I hoped the same about Arai, but it hasn't changed as of the time of this post.

Originally Posted by SuperDave

I just did a search and can find 10 internet companies selling them for $460!!!

How's this for a good price on an X-11 from Helmetshop?

X-11 Graphic $434.99

Anyone know which helmet has more wind noise...the X-11 or the RF1000?

[ND4SPD]

I'm happy with my Arai's, and will keep buying them unless their quality changes for the worse. Do I find them expensive? Absolutely! But I also feel like I'm getting my money's worth, plus other helmets don't fit me all that well.

I'm in agreement will all of you. I have 2 Arai's and I love them. They fit me the best. I have had a Suomy and Shoei, but the Arai seems to provide a better overall fit for me.

If and when I get another lid I will just use Egay, since someone is always selling a top of the line Arai for short change.

If Shoei does that, then I'm switching and never buying another Shoei again. There are lots of excellent helmets out there.

Just the other day I was comparing helmets...and KBC and others use the same materials to build their helmets. Why aren't they charging triple the price?

Greed sucks!!!

I thought It was Illegal to price fix? It was done in the 70's with electronics, you had to have the seller put something else down to buy it below the fixed price. I wish I could remember what this price fixing was called. They made this illegal. Price fixing ect.

mmeacham, I believe it is only price fixing if the entire market sets a price that is unreasonable given their investment. One company deciding to enforce their retail pricing does not equate to price fixing. Lots of companies do this. About 10 years ago I got a killer deal on front suspension for my mountain bike. This place was about $50 or more below the catalog deals, which were already $100 or more below retail. When I went back a few days later to pick up the bike the guy told me Answer had called them and forced them to raise their price to their agreed to minimum or they (Answer) would not allow the dealer to sell any more of their product. It is a very common practice really (why do you think we all have to pay $1000 for an Ohlins shock when you can buy them outside the US for $650 or so).

So is this old news....is the new policy now in effect?

The Helmet Shop is a stocking Shoei Helmet dealer. We offer the best prices on Shoei products. However, Shoei Helmets are not available for purchase on our website. Please allow one of our trained Shoei specialist assist you with your Shoei purchase by clicking on the live help button on the website or call us toll free at 1-800-630-6434. We can help you with any questions you may have about pricing, sizing and availability.

And this one on MAW...

Because our prices are so much lower than the retail stores, Shoei will no longer allow us to list our prices on this website.
We apologize for this inconvenience. To find out a price, you may call us toll free at:

Originally Posted by SuperDave

I almost forgot this! The Shoei rep at the motorcycle show said he's discounting his X-Eleven helmet's $659 price by 10%. And I'm like, I just did a search and can find 10 internet companies selling them for $460!!! He told me Shoei will soon be taking Arai's lead in restricting internet sales and dealership markdowns. Dealer's pay $441.00 for the X-Eleven TC5, and Shoei will demand that dealers sell at a maximum of 10% off retail ($590.00). To even out the dealers, making a more fair market. Sounds like greed to me but that's what he was telling me.

Anyone else heard this?

I'm in the market for another helmet. Ever since Arai stopped selling them online through retailers I have pretty much decided to go with another brand. Sad really cause I like my current Arai alot.

Originally Posted by firebladetoronto

So is this old news....is the new policy now in effect?

The Helmet Shop is a stocking Shoei Helmet dealer. We offer the best prices on Shoei products. However, Shoei Helmets are not available for purchase on our website. Please allow one of our trained Shoei specialist assist you with your Shoei purchase by clicking on the live help button on the website or call us toll free at 1-800-630-6434. We can help you with any questions you may have about pricing, sizing and availability.

They can still sell them online just not show the prices. You email or call and they'll give you the price. kneedraggers has that on some of there Teknic items and other stuff.

[Red Rider]

Some sites just make you request that the prices be emailed to you.