Today is Black Friday, the day retailers are supposed to be in the black for the first time all year. The way things have been going the last few months, I doubt very few retailers are coming close to being in black. Indeed, there are signs that American’s 60 years of rampant consumer consumption may be coming to an end. Still, that has not prevented the “Opening at 5 AM” hysteria that comes each year on this day including stories of the loss of life and limb over buying loads of crap. All this to celebrate the birth of a man who said “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21)
If you haven’t guessed by this series of articles, I’m not exactly a fan of shopping as recreation. Instead, I prefer to celebrate the alternative holiday to Black Friday, Buy Nothing Day. So in the spirit of Buy Nothing Day, I present this week’s nominee for Dumbest Product of the Week to encourage you to buy nothing today, even if it is bicycle related.
The Ferrari CX-70 is a suspension comfort bike sold at ToysRUS for children ages 10 and up for an eye popping $4350. ToysRUS says this bike “is a unique Cruiser style bike that will set any rider apart from the crowd.” If you want to be set apart on your group ride as a complete idiot for buying this, consider it mission accomplished.
Now a review of the specs of this bike aren’t too bad. The internal hub, dynamo lights, roller brakes, and chain cover remind me of many of the features on Dutch bikes I like so much. But $4350? WTF? You can get a great city bike with all these features for less than half the price. The Ferrari brand ain’t that worth it. I don’t care how much I love my kids (as if that were a sign of love. See more thoughts on true signs of love from the gentleman with an upcoming birthday mentioned earlier in this article.)
In a market where it is not uncommon for people to smack down five grand for a carbon racing bike, what’s the big deal about buying a $4300 bike, you ask? First, I would argue that the performance cyclists buying $5000 carbon racers are either racing or living the dream in their head of racing. While it is not my cup of tea, this sort of imitation of pro racing heros is understandable even if not reasonable. I don’t think you are getting any pro style points riding your Ferrari overpriced cruiser (although you may get plenty of Magnum P.I. points.)
Is this the real market for the Ferrari CX-70?
Secondly, if I’m slapping down the equivalent of over a month’s salary down for a bike, I’m sure as hell not getting that bike from a store where seventeen year old high school kids are putting together the bikes with a screw driver and wrench. My local bike shop with years of knowledge and a commitment to not totally ripping me off is getting my hard earned dollars. And rip off it is.
I just don’t have the mustache, mischievous look, or whiny voice to pull this bike off. I guess I’ll just have to stick to emulating a real legend.
Enjoy your weekend, Happy Thanksgiving, and get out and ride your bike.
Read the previous week’s Dumbest Product of the Week.
Related posts:
on Nov 28th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Hi. That is Sick $4,350 Dollars for a Childs Bike,you are Paying all that Money for the Farrari Name and it does not have any Mudguards/Fenders either. I suppose for a Decent Best Quality Dutch City Bike is $2,000 in US that is enough . A Child would soon grow out of this anyway and it would be left there. It is just Snob Value this Farrari Bike. Better to just get a $50-100 Bike for a Young Child, and get them a Decent high Quality Cannondale or Trek when reaching their Teens so that they will have it always into Adult Life.
on Jan 16th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
[...] The Bergmönch is a new German folding, down hill scooter. The Germans are not generally known for their silly products, and I’m hoping that they are not planning on joining the Japanese in offering a New Axis of Stupid Consumerism. No word yet on where the Italians stand on this, but I’m suspicious that they may be joining the Axis on this. [...]
on May 4th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Man, talk about sour grapes! Some of us don’t mind paying a few bucks more for a technologically advanced item, which this is. Mine is just plain fun. If your monthly income is the value of this bike, should you call anyone an “idiot?”