FU*K SHIMANO

[wombat]

Tools from Shimano are actually quite reasonably priced in my experience. Putting the word "Park" on a tool however automatically doubles it's retail price, I have proof.

It's not only tools though, have you seen the price of the Park bar stool??? We've got a few, and yeah they're comfy, but you couldn't sell them in a shop for HALF of the COST price, let alone the bloody retail!

It's good to see I'm not alone in my dislike for Shimano though, as for companies which spec SRAM stuff as OE, Merida do it opn some models, as do Norco and Haro, not half as much as they spec Shimano stuff though. As far as product quality goes, I can't really fault Shimano, they make great stuff, it's just their corporate policy that shits me.
I can't say I've had any probs mixing grouppos though, despite their claims of HG/IG incompatibility....