Marten- Actually the wholesale cost of like tubed but different length presta valves is not different by much. Now the longer PV tubes were more initially expensive (at the wholesale level) a while ago. But what things cost at retail levels is often about economics of scale at the manufacturing stage, managing inventory cost and the competition throughout the supply chain.
Short valved tubes are becoming what the longer valved ones were just a few years ago. Fewer are sold so fewer are made, they are another item on the shelf taking up space from the more frequently sold long valves and as they are not "in the buzz" no competition exists for their sales (badly done phrase. Meant that no shops advertise short valves). In fact the LBS can avoid more hassles with only selling the long valved tubes, you'd be impressed how many riders don't know what type of valve they need (length, or even presta VS Schrader). As a 48mm presta valve length will fit, maybe, 97% of the public needs that is what has become the default size. All the deals, stocking incentives and expectations are focused on the long PV these days.
In time the short valve tubes will cost more then the long ones. But you know that.
> Ben Sanford wrote:
>> Does anyone still make 700C inter tubes with short valve stems? It seems
>> that shops only want to stock tubes with the very long threaded
>> valve stems that are necessary for deep section aero rims.
>
>
>
> std presta's are 40mm (just over 1.5") and cheap. Which could be why the
> shop doesn't stock them ;)
>
>
> --
> mvg
>
> Marten Gerritsen
> Kiel Windeweer
> Netherlands
> _______________________________________________
Andrew R Stewart
Rochester, NY