Mercian on BBC News Derby.

[ferrus]

I consider you Mr Mercian Paul. Doubt many on this site are as familiar with them as you

 

[Ecurie Peril]

Looks like they are moving to Little Eaton which is just down the road from where I live. I wonder if going forward old Mercians will be described as Derby Mercians and new ones Little Eaton?

 

[sjcprojects]

If used bike prices and the oft discussed decline of the bike industry are anything to go buy they have their work cut out.

I was going to say the same myself, but as someone who has never bought a new bike, I’m very far from potential customer material anyway, so I’m probably not well placed to judge. The timing doesn’t feel great, but I guess we’ll see…

 

[pigman]

Respray prices are insane now. Frame and forks in flamboyant or Italian pearl: £325. Fit makers transfers (transfers extra): £100!!!

I remember back in the day , I'd think nothing of having a frame resprayed. Almost as if I was replacing bar tape. It was about £20 then. Even with 40 years of inflation, I don't think that would be over £300 today

Edit ... I never used Mercian, I tended to use the 2 frame builders in Sheffield

 

[ferrus]

To be fair, I suspect Mercian were undercharging in the past. If they've retained the same standard then their resprays are superb quality and a lot more durable than comparatively priced Argos, from what I've heard. Still hard to reconcile the prices though.

 

[Frankenorange]

A hundred quid to apply decals!!!....but they kind of have you by the short and curlies if you want the lacquer over them.

When you factor in prep, primer, prep, final coat, lacquer and drying time in between coats then with todays prices of workshop consumables, electricity, cost of floor space, and a decent sprayers wage then 300-ish quid is pretty good.

I guess the profit is in the decals, but it just looks wrong as a buyer.

 

[Nob]

To be fair, I suspect Mercian were undercharging in the past. If they've retained the same standard then their resprays are superb quality and a lot more durable than comparatively priced Argos, from what I've heard. Still hard to reconcile the prices though.

It used to be the other way around where Mercians had pretty ropey paint jobs in the late 70’s.. I had several paint jobs done by Argos & the quality is excellent especially if you visit & discuss things face to face with Mark & his team - then you get a real sense of the quality on offer & can even speak to the vastly experienced painter…(forgot his name)..just one look at the frames hanging in the shop & there online gallery tells you of the quality & range of work they do…..for me the price is a very attractively positioned when you consider what Argos do for a renovation works…

 

[Ecurie Peril]

It used to be the other way around where Mercians had pretty ropey paint jobs in the late 70’s.. I had several paint jobs done by Argos & the quality is excellent especially if you visit & discuss things face to face with Mark & his team - then you get a real sense of the quality on offer & can even speak to the vastly experienced painter…(forgot his name)..just one look at the frames hanging in the shop & there online gallery tells you of the quality & range of work they do…..for me the price is a very attractively positioned when you consider what Argos do for a renovation works…

I agree. My Mercian, built last year, looks ok generally but if you look closely I wouldn't call it top quality.
With regard to the newco Mercian it would be nice if they could make the new premises visitor friendly in some way, I'm sure it would be good for business if it could be a 'destination' The old/current works involves standing outside behind a chain whilst being dealt with.

 

[ferrus]

I had several paint jobs done by Argos & the quality is excellent especially if you visit & discuss things face to face with Mark & his team - then you get a real sense of the quality on offer & can even speak to the vastly experienced painter…(forgot his name)..just one look at the frames hanging in the shop & there online gallery tells you of the quality & range of work they do…..for me the price is a very attractively positioned when you consider what Argos do for a renovation works…

I wasn't knocking the Argos quality Nob, they clearly do a fantastic job and are really conscientious about their work. But I've been told by a few people that it can chip quite easily so isn't the best for an MTB. This cant be said of the several Mercian's I know from the 90s with apparently very tough paint.

Disappointing to hear of that @Ecurie Peril, seems they let standards slip a little at the end. Still a lovely looking frame, assuming you're referring to your 853 Vigorelli.

 

[LondonClassic]

A hundred quid to apply decals!!!....but they kind of have you by the short and curlies if you want the lacquer over them.

When you factor in prep, primer, prep, final coat, lacquer and drying time in between coats then with todays prices of workshop consumables, electricity, cost of floor space, and a decent sprayers wage then 300-ish quid is pretty good.

I guess the profit is in the decals, but it just looks wrong as a buyer.

For a brief period when Mercian's future was up for grabs, Mercian frame decals cropped up on ebay. I know they are exceptionally strict on even selling them to a Mercian owner for their own DIY work as they're worried about adding fake Mercians to the world. They seem to rigourously police unofficial decals.

I did my own 2K respray last year and I reckoned it took me 20-25 hours all in and materials inc transfers cost me about £130. With that in mind - and that they're not some have a go hero with a shed and the screwfix app - its not great value but is good value. In any language, £100 for some decals is going to land hard, I agree.