Helmets, as in buying a new one.

[Sanders]

Seems like the on-line prices are the same everywhere. Even the same as Brick and Mortar. Price fixing in place?

[dl]

Ha ha, "Bug Run"

[Ray916MN]

Seems like the on-line prices are the same everywhere. Even the same as Brick and Mortar. Price fixing in place?

As best as I can tell, no one really inventories many helmets, and everyone gets them from the same distributors, so if they don't sell a helmet, they don't get profit, but they also don't have inventory carrying costs driving them to discount heavily to get it to move. Retailers with inventory, don't discount, because they don't want to undermine their in store inventory prices. The sellers with inventory to liquidate are the only folks who seem to discount beyond the norm, and most of them only have a few helmets to move. The place of choice to move a few units of excess inventory seems to be Ebay. I've bought a few helmets over the years off Ebay.

[PKPK]

Another avenue is to look for clear-out deals on older models.  Distributors do not want to carry old stock when a new model comes out.  Yeah, you won't get the bleeding edge material but you can buy a nice graphic lid for half price (or more) on one of these flushes.

[dl]

The Dennis Kirk scratch and dent store in Rush City always seamed to have a large selection and lower prices. But they may or may not have your brand, color, size. Its been a few years since I've been there,

[Sanders]

I have a wierd shaped melon (no comments from the Kolbo gallery) a long oval in XL with all kinds of dents and bumps so when I find one that fits that is my priority and then I'll look for it in solid white.
8 yrs or so back I found a $200 difference between on line and B and M prices on the Arai Signet
Thanks for you help.

           Jeff

[Aprilian]

Sanders, Some brands are price protected, so the online seller can't show their true price.  Those sites usually say, "Call for our best price."

Lloyd, I snapped a sideplate on my Shoei a few weeks ago and brought a replacement sideplate from Midwest Cycle Supply.  Depending on your brand, you may be able to replace the broken part (for example Icon are known for not supplying replacement parts).  Check the online helmet sellers for highest probablity of finding the part.  GL  

[vince]

I know that if Dennis Kirk sells the helmet they have replacement parts in stock.

[allonm]

Bought the new RX-Q from the Helmet shop a couple of weeks ago. It's my third Arai from that place. I tried other brands, but they don't work for me.(Although I still have hard time with taking off and putting back an Arai shield. ) The helmet shop final price was almost $100 less than what is advertised on their web site. Once you check out, they give you the discounted price. Very strange, but it was a good surprise.  I am very happy to have the brow vent again.