Doing business in NZ. Rant ahead. I need to vent!

[Brian d marge]

I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE.........HATE doing business with a New Zealand company ...( not all bad you understand , aka Quasimoto and F1 engineering are two notable exceptions )
but it really is a cant do country.. Nice lady in reception said "she realised I was ringing from overseas" and she would put me through internally ........ 4 pm and everyones gone home ....with no backup support ...ie a number one can ring AFTER 4..... or any soddding assistance
not that I want to spend some money ( only 500 dollars I know its not a multi million dollar order...but still Im sure someone wouldnt mind 500 dollars .....)
Every friggen time you deal with a NZ company ...its trouble , over priced, non communitive, closed at 4, cant be done in a reasonable timeframe ,,,,if they dont forget.......

why do I even bother when one or two clicks on a mouse , all on the internet, delivery time , quotes and shipping all good , a touch expensive sometime but at least they are as good as their word ,,,,lead time plus shipping time and bang on my door , no stress no excuses just done .........


get ya friggen act together this isnt the dark ages ,,,,,,,,,


Stephen

no Im not a cheap arse looking for an impossible bargin.... I dont mind spending a little more if it will get things done or of some mutual benefit ........sod the spelling Im pissed off .........
rant over sorry but i feel much better now

[gijoe1313]

Shogonai da yo! Ah buggerit, to hell with those slackers - couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery.

Stick to your reliable suppliers and give them your hard earnt pingers! Yappari!

[Bender]

Interesting you should say that.

Here's a post I put in the BFTP group just a couple of days ago .... BTW I've been trying for two days to get in touch with a local company that has carb parts. Email, landline, voicemail, mobile phone all ignored....

xxxxxx, what you describe is endemic in New Zealand. It starts with the "85% of companies have fewer than 5 staff." People are too gunshy to take a risk on growth, which usuallty involves taking on staff & other resources. The impediments to this are our crap industrial relations laws, banks that want you to sign over the family jewels as collateral in case you lose some money (what ever happened to shared risk?) and the fact that most young people think the world owes them a living, want to actually work as little as possible, and have been trained by a bunch of Helen Clarke clones in the university to believe they are Gods. And as soon as they have the slightest bit of practical experience on their CVs they are off overseas (and who can blame them for that?) You might get a year or 18 months out of a new employee which makes it hardly worth employing someone.

So businesses try to grow by taking on more work than they can handle and who can blame them when faced with the potential for ritual buggery under the other scenario. Many small businesses have overdrafts and loans secured by a mortgage over the family home.

Our business environment is the corporate version of the French farmers, wracked with inefficiency and dominated by people who really do just want the beemer and bach.

So, to get anything done in this country has become a bloody mission ... to get it done right nearly impossible - and to get it done right plus the way you want it ... a Tui ad.

[SPman]

Of all the trouble I've had with online buying/selling etc, 90% is from NZ. I just don't bother anymore!

[Brian d marge]

In:-) teresじゃいting you sだnhoudld say that.

Here's a post I put in the BFTP group just a couple of days ago .... BTW I've been trying for two days to get in touch with a local company that has carb parts. Email, landline, voicemail, mobile phone all ignored....

xxxxxx, what you describe is endemic in New Zealand. It starts with the "85% of companies have fewer than 5 staff." People are too gunshy to take a risk on growth, which usuallty involves taking on staff & other resources. The impediments to this are our crap industrial relations laws, banks that want you to sign over the family jewels as collateral in case you lose some money (what ever happened to shared risk?) and the fact that most young people think the world owes them a living, want to actually work as little as possible, and have been trained by a bunch of Helen Clarke clones in the university to believe they are Gods. And as soon as they have the slightest bit of practical experience on their CVs they are off overseas (and who can blame them for that?) You might get a year or 18 months out of a new employee which makes it hardly worth employing someone.

So businesses try to grow by taking on more work than they can handle and who can blame them when faced with the potential for ritual buggery under the other scenario. Many small businesses have overdrafts and loans secured by a mortgage over the family home.

Our business environment is the corporate version of the French farmers, wracked with inefficiency and dominated by people who really do just want the beemer and bach.

So, to get anything done in this country has become a bloody mission ... to get it done right nearly impossible - and to get it done right plus the way you want it ... a Tui ad.書がないじない。。。。本とに段悪いです。

[Usarka]

書がないじない。。。。本とに段悪いです。

That's all greek to me.

[merv]

I'm still waiting for the parts guy at TSS to get back to me about the Yamaha part me and him talked about in March 2010. I didn't hold my breath.

Maybe now White Trash is there, if I want anything again, he might stir them along.

I don't get that slack never ring you back, never email you back attitude. What happened in this country to cause this?

[YellowDog]

The firms you deal with are all individual and tarring all with the same brush is unfair.

BTW: "If my heat pump supplier is reading this: You ignore my emails, you ignore my phone calls, and you don't seem to give a toss about any kind of customer service. I'll be moving home soon and need some more heat pumps"

[Brian d marge]

The firms you deal with are all individual and tarring all with the same brush is unfair.

BTW: "If my heat pump supplier is reading this: You ignore my emails, you ignore my phone calls, and you don't seem to give a toss about any kind of customer service. I'll be moving home soon and need some more heat pumps"

Errr no , I deal with some larger companies as well , what you , I think are trying to say is that it tends to be the smaller companies
Last time I checked F1 engineering was of about ermm 1 in size .. I know what your trying to say , but Ive found it across the board

Stephen

[Brian d marge]

That's all greek to me.
I probably spelt it wrong ........:yes:

Stephen

[tri boy]

Very rarely do I have issues with any NZ business transactions.
Ocassional hiccups in comunication etc, but generally things flow well.

But trying to exchange Indian Rupee via an Indian "govt money dealer" on a week day in Manali....................:facepalm:

[Robert Taylor]

I'm still waiting for the parts guy at TSS to get back to me about the Yamaha part me and him talked about in March 2010. I didn't hold my breath.

Maybe now White Trash is there, if I want anything again, he might stir them along.

I don't get that slack never ring you back, never email you back attitude. What happened in this country to cause this?

Successive Governments buying votes for one, the abolition of compulsory military training, the culture of blame. Need I go on?

[Oscar]

I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE.........HATE doing business with a New Zealand company ...( not all bad you understand , aka Quasimoto and F1 engineering are two notable exceptions )
but it really is a cant do country.. Nice lady in reception said "she realised I was ringing from overseas" and she would put me through internally ........ 4 pm and everyones gone home ....with no backup support ...ie a number one can ring AFTER 4..... or any soddding assistance
not that I want to spend some money ( only 500 dollars I know its not a multi million dollar order...but still Im sure someone wouldnt mind 500 dollars .....)
Every friggen time you deal with a NZ company ...its trouble , over priced, non communitive, closed at 4, cant be done in a reasonable timeframe ,,,,if they dont forget.......

why do I even bother when one or two clicks on a mouse , all on the internet, delivery time , quotes and shipping all good , a touch expensive sometime but at least they are as good as their word ,,,,lead time plus shipping time and bang on my door , no stress no excuses just done .........


get ya friggen act together this isnt the dark ages ,,,,,,,,,


Stephen

no Im not a cheap arse looking for an impossible bargin.... I dont mind spending a little more if it will get things done or of some mutual benefit ........sod the spelling Im pissed off .........
rant over sorry but i feel much better now

What were you buying?
Training on the difference between the comma and the full stop?:whistle:

[Brian d marge]

What were you buying?
Training on the difference between the comma and the full stop?:whistle:

Bent tubing for Mc frames, hence the small order no dot or dashes ( which are actually a secret CIA code designs to be read by my superiors in Washington )

but most of My work is small runs of 10 or so parts depending ...so I do understand if If I'm not given the Royal treatment

Stephen

[Crasherfromwayback]

What were you buying?
Training on the difference between the comma and the full stop?:whistle:

And what time zone was he in? Who the fuck in the industry here in NZ gets to knock off at 4.00pm?

[avgas]

I haven't ordered over the phone since 1996.

Its been either in person, fax, email or www since 1996.
Never looked back really. I have more time to myself since changing.

[Oscar]

And what time zone was he in? Who the fuck in the industry here in NZ gets to knock off at 4.00pm?

I did think that was a bit strange.
I've dealt with a shit load of different industries in NZ and never had that problem.

[avgas]

And what time zone was he in? Who the fuck in the industry here in NZ gets to knock off at 4.00pm?
Too many.......unfortunately.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I did think that was a bit strange.
I've dealt with a shit load of different industries in NZ and never had that problem.

At afternoon tea maybe...but knocked off? Pah!

[Crasherfromwayback]

Too many.......unfortunately.

Not in the industry I'm in.

[merv]

He was talking about tubing and it is funny how come so many blue collar types work 7.30am until 4pm with 30 min lunch. Don't they like their beds in the morning or is it still a throw back to when you had to knock off early to get enough of a swill in before 6pm?

Me, I think early starts suck.

[Brian d marge]

And what time zone was he in? Who the fuck in the industry here in NZ gets to knock off at 4.00pm?

the lazy fucker who I seem to get

and I might . . . . . . . . . . .pausing for effect . . . . . . . . . . . .have thought of the time zone ......and rang at 4 your time

Here come the excuses ........

take a ticket and the best excuse gets a slow hand clap ,,,,,, ( no job because you dont deserve one , )

Stephen

[Brian d marge]

I did think that was a bit strange.
I've dealt with a shit load of different industries in NZ and never had that problem.

New Zealand post freight forwarding for a start , like me to go on?

Stephen

[Brian d marge]

At afternoon tea maybe...but knocked off? Pah!

So you are still at work at five ..or more even ..

Then theres the lack of communication and all the other nightmares one has to deal with .... and last but not by the no means least , get the job done right .......

Stephen

ps we will see , who ever gets back to me first with a half decent email gets the job ... my guess America will give the quote first , and England will be the better bet , and fk me side ways with a large cucumber if NZ reply at all .......

[Brian d marge]

He was talking about tubing and it is funny how come so many blue collar types work 7.30am until 4pm with 30 min lunch. Don't they like their beds in the morning or is it still a throw back to when you had to knock off early to get enough of a swill in before 6pm?

Me, I think early starts suck.

It was to get the cows milked before the tanker arrived ... oh and the argument I heard was that early start , home early ...... also bed early .... sod that

Suns gone down now , night is cool(er) , ..beer is cold and Im just settling in to do some work ......

Stephen

And for once I agree with RT ...bring back Military service ... lazy fkers

[Headbanger]

Its the Kiwi way.

High prices, shit wages, shit service, blame the customers for not supporting them.:facepalm:

[DrunkenMistake]

Its the Kiwi way.

High prices, shit wages, shit service, blame the customers for not supporting them.:facepalm:

I find I have worse experiences with companies in NZ that are Australian Owned.
But I have had better service via Ebay than I have on Trademe, Or even buying from an Online store located in the states than one in NZ.

But its just how it is I guess.

[Deano]

He was talking about tubing and it is funny how come so many blue collar types work 7.30am until 4pm with 30 min lunch. Don't they like their beds in the morning or is it still a throw back to when you had to knock off early to get enough of a swill in before 6pm?

Me, I think early starts suck.

Haha - I'm white collar and those are my standard hours. I have young kids that get me up at 6.30am. Plus I like to get home early and spend time with them.


I'm still waiting for the parts guy at TSS to get back to me about the Yamaha part me and him talked about in March 2010. I didn't hold my breath.

Maybe now White Trash is there, if I want anything again, he might stir them along.

I don't get that slack never ring you back, never email you back attitude. What happened in this country to cause this?

You are still waiting ? Perhaps the dude just forgot, as people do from time to time. I doubt they are deliberately ignoring you Merv. I don't like it when people don't respond to my e-mail or calls but here's an idea - ring him back ?:shit:

[JohnJumper]

They do say the yanks could learn a bit about our business-lifestyle balance and we could learn a bit from them. Most NZers want enough for a nice car, house and boat which is still a fair ask with our house prices. but yeah once we get that we sort of chill out which isn't all bad imo

[HenryDorsetCase]

Successive Governments buying votes for one, the abolition of compulsory military training, the culture of blame. Need I go on?

Its one of my sincere regrets in life I didnt get to do military training. Really.

[imdying]

Home time :D

[merv]

You are still waiting ? Perhaps the dude just forgot, as people do from time to time. I doubt they are deliberately ignoring you Merv. I don't like it when people don't respond to my e-mail or calls but here's an idea - ring him back ?:shit:

Lol I rang twice, emailed twice and then made my own part in quick time to make up for their lack of interest. One day I might just order a flash looking part off ebay to replace my quickly made one that I needed as soon as.

[Brian d marge]

update.......new Zealand replied quickly ..off sick with heart problems...answer on Friday ( yesterday) .....as off today no answer

England...replied today ..expensive but send money and done,,,,,


this is typical ......

I'll wait till Monday ...... but unless something amazing happens.......England wins

Stephen

[Oscar]

update.......new Zealand replied quickly ..off sick with heart problems...answer on Friday ( yesterday) .....as off today no answer

England...replied today ..expensive but send money and done,,,,,


this is typical ......

I'll wait till Monday ...... but unless something amazing happens.......England wins

Stephen

I think you mean a business in England wins.
I doubt that this single business is representative of English business practices anymore than the one in NZ is representative of business here.

My recent experience of English business was buying BMW parts - Motobins in the UK sucked big time. Their dispatch guy was a complete moron. Eventually I bought them from Boxxerparts in Germany who were slightly cheaper and way more efficient despite having a rudimentary command of English.

[Brian d marge]

I think you mean a business in England ones.
I doubt that this single business is representative of English business practices anymore than the one in NZ is representative of business here.

My recent experience of English business was buying BMW parts - Motobins in the UK sucked big time. Their dispatch guy was a complete moron. Eventually I bought them from Boxxerparts in Germany who were slightly cheaper and way more efficient despite having a rudimentary command of English.

actually this is typical...your right in what you are saying but this tends to be what happens ..to me ...as of Saturday morning the poms have replied the nzers are sick and promised a reply which hasn't happened ...
Monday I will ring nz ...give em a chance ..a
l nice and polite ......and most likely give my money to the poms...
stephen
just posting what happens .....

[Dutchee]

Whereabouts in NZ is this business?

If it's Christchurch/Canterbury, please keep in mind, there are still ongoing issues with the quake from last year/this year. I know we're not hearing much about Japan, and have seen the propaganda photos of getting things back to normal, but I'm sure there are still ongoing issues over there as well (as the quakes continue).

We are dealing with someone down south who manages to get into his work building sometimes, and other times isn't allowed in, due to quake damage.

If it's Auckland, WTH, 7.30am-4pm - suck to be them, most of us work 7am-1pm, with an hour for lunch and get paid millions for it. bwahahaha

Anyway, that was just a thought. And yes, the quakes do seem to be lessening off, but there is still disruption both to businesses and private dwellings.

[Brian d marge]

Whereabouts in NZ is this business?

If it's Christchurch/Canterbury, please keep in mind, there are still ongoing issues with the quake from last year/this year. I know we're not hearing much about Japan, and have seen the propaganda photos of getting things back to normal, but I'm sure there are still ongoing issues over there as well (as the quakes continue).

We are dealing with someone down south who manages to get into his work building sometimes, and other times isn't allowed in, due to quake damage.

If it's Auckland, WTH, 7.30am-4pm - suck to be them, most of us work 7am-1pm, with an hour for lunch and get paid millions for it. bwahahaha

Anyway, that was just a thought. And yes, the quakes do seem to be lessening off, but there is still disruption both to businesses and private dwellings.

had forgotten about that...yes Christchurch ...but even so we have had a tsunami and earthquake and my hair has turned green..and we are back to normal..sort of
at the end of the day just tell me ...you won't lose my business probably gain..if the you communicate.

but yes very good point I had forgotten about the ch-ch quake

Stephen

[Brian d marge]

thought I had better update this, the order went to England, conciderably more than expected but no pissing about, pay the money and that's it

didn't hear back from our friends in nz ...earthquake and all

so I assume they don't need my money....

Stephen

[merv]

Lol and on a positive note White Trash passed on my comments on this thread to TSS and then it only took a few more PMs and emails to eventually get a part in my hand yesterday for my WR.

I must be helping them sort out their IT because now they tell me they have done something like rationalised it down to a common email for parts shared across the PCs and hopefully got them focussed on making sure email reply addresses are correct.

Somehow in the last week the the boss was PMing and emailing me OK but then when I never got the reply I needed I chased him up, and then he forwards the reply the parts guy sent, in which he had somehow lost a "dot" in my email addy so I never got it. Then you'd think he'd get a bounce back and he'd correct the addy and send it again.

So we got there. The only down side is the part doesn't look as aesthecially flash as the ones on ebay that I could have bought in any one of a number of colours and the cost was approximately double. Supporting local business though huh and what I needed is only a low cost part so not a big deal, but without it (or my temporary fix in place) I cannot run the engine without it spewing out all its oil.

Here's hoping NZ business does improve and can deal with Stephen at a distance or me locally and we will get happier and spend more money.

[James Deuce]

I'm still waiting for the parts guy at TSS to get back to me about the Yamaha part me and him talked about in March 2010. I didn't hold my breath.

Maybe now White Trash is there, if I want anything again, he might stir them along.

I don't get that slack never ring you back, never email you back attitude. What happened in this country to cause this?

When you ring back a month later to ask what's happening you get ripped a new one because I have to understand that they're busy.

Weird thing is, CKT in New Plymouth can dismantle a bike's suspension in a morning, front and rear, replace bearings, springs, oil and lube steering head and swing arm assemblies and have your bike ready to pick up at lunch time, feeling like a new bike. Maybe Mr Taylor should be running the country after all.

[Brian d marge]

Lol and on a positive note White Trash passed on my comments on this thread to TSS and then it only took a few more PMs and emails to eventually get a part in my hand yesterday for my WR.

I must be helping them sort out their IT because now they tell me they have done something like rationalised it down to a common email for parts shared across the PCs and hopefully got them focussed on making sure email reply addresses are correct.

Somehow in the last week the the boss was PMing and emailing me OK but then when I never got the reply I needed I chased him up, and then he forwards the reply the parts guy sent, in which he had somehow lost a "dot" in my email addy so I never got it. Then you'd think he'd get a bounce back and he'd correct the addy and send it again.

So we got there. The only down side is the part doesn't look as aesthecially flash as the ones on ebay that I could have bought in any one of a number of colours and the cost was approximately double. Supporting local business though huh and what I needed is only a low cost part so not a big deal, but without it (or my temporary fix in place) I cannot run the engine without it spewing out all its oil.

Here's hoping NZ business does improve and can deal with Stephen at a distance or me locally and we will get happier and spend more money.
funny my wife says I need dealt to....I wonder if she means the same ....my money's spent ..and the near future sees only small parts which I will get done locally...
hey ho...
thanks Me RV
Stephen

[merv]

You're right about CKT Jim and service is what wins any customer over.

On that other thread a while back we debated opening hours etc and for me now (and I don't even have an iPad like you Jim) when doing work things I can send or answer an email or text on my phone but if I'm busy doing work stuff like running a seminar or something I can't say to everyone I'm with "hang on fellahs while I ring the bike shop".

The days of using the telephone for everything are way behind us and the shops really do need to get fast on their feet with technology and make it just so easy for us to deal with them, and they shouldn't delete an email from their system until its answered and properly dealt with.