Warning!

[Monty69]

I was waiting for my mate to write ths thread but i cant wait...
DO NOT buy a motorcycle from, or get any servicing done from MOTORCYCLE IMPORTS DIRECT in christchurch. My mate bought a zxr250 from them about a year ago and has endless issues from day 1. It has been back to MOTORCYCLE IMPORTS atleast 7 times already to get problems sorted (which they have failed to do so), its not so much the mechanical issues, its the complete lack of interest of the bike shop to find the probem. Its always been mighty difficult to start, its exhausts have cracked twice, it never wants to rev past 14-16k rpm, its had to have the rings replaced (when he bought the bike compression must of been zilch, had to take it to kawasaki to find ths out!), when he got the new rings in he asked to have the cam chain replaced aswel... but they "forgot" to put it in. And they put the old oil back in!!! The owner of the shop even has the nerve to lie right to our faces saying "zxrs only rev to 16"... even tho they redline at 19 and are renowned as one of the fastest 250s (My older cbr250 would pull away, happily kissing the redline all day?). Now MOTORCYCLE IMPORTS will not budge and refuse to help at all, trying to just sweap the problem away. On the other hand JUST MOTORCYCLES in brighton are awesome and super helpful! cheers to them

[JMemonic]

Buy your bike from where ever you want, I bought my bike off them but they don't do the servicing, of course if you don't know what you are looking for it can be difficult to pick a problem straight off.

As to the ZXR issues well I would have thought that if the bike did not run properly you would have been asking for money back and more serious questions like consumer guarantees issues etc.

As to you last part yeap have heard great comments about Just motorcycles, never used them as Trevor Pierce have always looked after me well.

[Monty69]

I bought my cbr from them, which was a minter, never had any issues, so i recommened my mate go there:doh:... selling him a dud bike then jst turning away when it gets too difficult, the appauling service he has recieved is not on, swearing and arguing with customers is a no no. The talk of consumer gurantees act or legal action doesnt concern them at all

[Mole_C]

Just call up the consumer affairs or take them to court. There obviously not going to do anything different so get your money back through action instead of talk.

[Monty69]

Yeah ive encouraged that but its up to my mate, hes had enough and will probably cut his losses and pay a competent bike shop to sort it. Heres hoping word of mouth will put them right or out of business, shouldnt be hard when Trevor Peirce Motorcycles is just round the corner from M.I.D and offer far better service, and as i said before, JUST MOTORCYCLES in brighton are top notch:yes:

[Starky307]

Sounds very much like buying from a parallel import shop and not the local dealer/representative.

Why not buy from a reputable dealer and get a bike that will be sold in a condition to reflect their reputation?

Just a question I thought I would ask.

[Monty69]

Yes it is an import shop, but theres no reason an import wont be as good as any other, and to my mate it seemed like the best zxr in town at the time...so he bought it assuming that getting the mechanical warranty would cover any problems that may arise,.... not when the shop isnt willing to carry out their obligations it turns out, but yes, can cross that shop off the list for sure

[Conquiztador]

And I take that when buying a new bike (I assume it was a new one?) you expect a warranty etc.

The way I see it: There are two type of bike buying customers:

1. The one who has no idea. He needs to get the bike from a shop that can fix it and has only good reputation. This will most probably be one of the places that charges a little more for the bike. But that is what he must do as he has no way of fixing it him self.

2. Guys like me who can fix stuff our self. The price of what we buy is normally what makes the deal. When she gives troubles we sort it our self. A night and a few beers and she is as good as new. In my 40+ years with bikes I have yet once to claim any warrant re anything. OK, so the stuff I get is normally old and AIWI, but I have never claimed anything. If I get a dud I blame only my self. This "find someone else to blame my phuckup on" metality is something I don't buy in to. And no, I am not blaming your mate for buying the bike from where he did so.

My recommendations are also only two:
1. Find someone who knows what he is doing, then pay him to sort it. The cost will sting once, but soon be forgotten as the wind while riding tends to fix all my worries.
2. Learn to do it him self. There is a joy in having dirt under the fingernails and be able to be proud of it.

If you were closer I woudl say: Bring her here and we can sort it.

Good Luck.

[Molly]

Just to play devil's advocate, I think it'd be frustrating to run a bike shop (assuming all bike shops would like a good reputation) and be victim to online condemnation such as this. I doubt they'd want to enter into a running online argument so really have no means of defence.

In the end the answer is, as a previous poster said, to learn your way around a toolbox and do the work yourself. I've NEVER had satisfactory service from a dealership (only ever used them when maintaining the warranty was an issue or when I was away from home) and always had to undo their crap, half-arsed work; putting things right myself (twice had bikes returned from service / PDI without transmission oil!).

Nobody will give your bike the attention to detail you can give it yourself. Chalk this one up to experience and get into it yourself. It's actually very satisfying and you'll know it's been done right.

Good luck.

[morayfm]

Have to agree with Starky here. These Parallel Importers really #!@% me off. They coat-tail off the hard-working legitimate Dealers who are prepared to back their product financially and through promotion. If it wasn't for these Dealers Joe Public would not even be inclined to buy the product. Speaking from experience (in another industry) it costs a hell of a lot of money to represent a brand in New Zealand - staff, premises, advertising and promotion, warranty, holding stock and spare parts etc. Then some garage guy comes along with none of these expenses and undercuts the market and not only screws the Legit. Dealer but also the Consumer. Often it's up to us guys to look after the Consumer and carry the cost, just to protect the brand name.

This was another of Labour's brainwaves to allow parallel importing with no protection for the appointed Dealers who do all the hard work. I say boycott all Sellers who are not appointed Dealers.

[imdying]

I'm not sure that these guys a parallel importers in the classic sense, they import second hand goods, like every other vehicle wholesaler in NZ. Morayfm, we should get rid of all vehicle wholesalers?

I think one of their employees (mechanic) is on here, and by all accounts a nice guy... I wonder what his side of the story is? Not that I'd post it here in the kangaroo court though, if I were him.

[prettybillie]

Sounds very much like buying from a parallel import shop and not the local dealer/representative.

Why not buy from a reputable dealer and get a bike that will be sold in a condition to reflect their reputation?



I agree - however in the same respect if the bike's a lemon then any shop may get that lemon.....

[Max Preload]

I'm not sure that these guys a parallel importers in the classic sense, they import second hand goods, like every other vehicle wholesaler in NZ.

Indeed. Parallel importing is a term reserved for new goods, not used, and is a mechanism for by-passing the local 'authorised distributor' who effectively carried a monopoly previously.

[santaclaus]

The first to present their case seems right till another comes along !!

[Max Preload]

The first to present their case seems right till another comes along !!

Get on with it then - discredit the OP.

[Monty69]

we should get rid of all vehicle wholesalers?

I think one of their employees (mechanic) is on here, and by all accounts a nice guy... I wonder what his side of the story is? Not that I'd post it here in the kangaroo court though, if I were him.

I think having importers/wholesalers is fine, it gives us opportunity to get more vehicle than we could normally afford but they just need to back up the vehicles with quality service and support. And ive met the mechanic at M.I.D while taking in my mates zxr in several times, yes hes a very nice guy, who races a zxr himself and who seemed willing to help... unfortunately his boss must be tell him to do otherwise when we leave the shop.

[Starky307]

It is a parallel imported bike as it is not a bike imported for the New Zealand market by the New Zealand distributer, who as mentioned a few posts before has to carry all the overheads of spare parts etc.

A decent bike shop would check the bike over before ever putting it on the floor to sell, as mentioned before it would ruin their reputation.

I'm not taking sides in any way but if you tried to save some money by buying a cheaper import with a warranty from a shop like that who will probably not be supported by importer of the brands they sell then take your lemon and learn to fix it yourself or right a letter to fair go.

I have no sympathy for people who buy from back yard import companies or companies that sell products designed for another country.

[Max Preload]

It is a parallel imported bike as it is not a bike imported for the New Zealand market by the New Zealand distributer

Bullshit. Used motorvehicles have been imported long before the enactment of the Copyright (Removal of Prohibition on Parallel Importing) Amendment Act 1998 which allowed parallel importing.

[Starky307]

Bullshit. Used motorvehicles have been imported long before the enactment of the Copyright (Removal of Prohibition on Parallel Importing) Amendment Act 1998 which allowed parallel importing.

So I'm guessing you are a used car salesman by your reaction to the way I used the term parallel import.
The term was used to describe a vehicle that has been imported by someone other than the person owning the rights to bring new original vehicles into this country.

[Max Preload]

So I'm guessing you are a used car salesman by your reaction to the way I used the term parallel import.
The term was used to describe a vehicle that has been imported by someone other than the person owning the rights to bring new original vehicles into this country.

Bad guess - I'm not a salesman of any sort - I don't particularly like people, especially stupid ones.

Since we're playing the guessing game I'll have a guess of my own - your wife left you for an Arthur Daley clone, right? :lol:

[Conquiztador]

Importing of secondhand vehicles has always been going on. By no means a right for someone who has the dealership, as he (before the parallel importing fiasco) has (OK then had...) the right to bring in that particular make by having a exclusive agreement with the manufacturer. Second hand vehicles can be purchased from anywhere, and any make and model is available. Go to Bob Smith in London, buy his Trumphy and bring it in to NZ. Then sell it. Has nothing to do with any dealership.

Re the keeping of parts and selling them: With a common markup of 300% its is a lucrative industry (I know, I used to sell parts in packaging machine industry years ago). For a "licensed importer" to complain that he now needs to keep parts for all the parallel imported vehicles does not ring true, as he suddenly has a bigger market to flog the 300% + markup bits to.

And as any service department in any dealership needs to pay their own way (That is one of the jobs of a Service Department managers, to make sure his department does their part too, if not, he soon find him an ex manager...) to have someone turn up with a vehicle the department knows how to service and they have the parts or can easily get them, and be able to charge properly as they did not sell the thing, is a goldmine!

So sorry, I am not buying in to the "poor dealers" angle here.

[Starky307]

Bad guess - I'm not a salesman of any sort - I don't particularly like people, especially stupid ones.

Since we're playing the guessing game I'll have a guess of my own - your wife left you for an Arthur Daley clone, right? :lol:

Far from correct, but I did have to google Arthur Daley to find out who you were referring too.


Importing of secondhand vehicles has always been going on. By no means a right for someone who has the dealership, as he (before the parallel importing fiasco) has (OK then had...) the right to bring in that particular make by having a exclusive agreement with the manufacturer. Second hand vehicles can be purchased from anywhere, and any make and model is available. Go to Bob Smith in London, buy his Trumphy and bring it in to NZ. Then sell it. Has nothing to do with any dealership.

Re the keeping of parts and selling them: With a common markup of 300% its is a lucrative industry (I know, I used to sell parts in packaging machine industry years ago). For a "licensed importer" to complain that he now needs to keep parts for all the parallel imported vehicles does not ring true, as he suddenly has a bigger market to flog the 300% + markup bits to.

And as any service department in any dealership needs to pay their own way (That is one of the jobs of a Service Department managers, to make sure his department does their part too, if not, he soon find him an ex manager...) to have someone turn up with a vehicle the department knows how to service and they have the parts or can easily get them, and be able to charge properly as they did not sell the thing, is a goldmine!

So sorry, I am not buying in to the "poor dealers" angle here.


I'm not playing the poor dealer story here at all.

My approach was more of a buyer be ware angle and I through in the bit about buying an imported motorcycle (not parallel imported I've been told). This is just as dodgy as a lot of the Japanese imported cars have turned out to be over the years.

My approach is if you know nothing about the item you are buying then by new from a New Zealand dealer.
If you know what you are doing then buy cheap and be prepared to work on it yourself.

The point is that the warranty has not been fulfilled in which case you need to go to court fighting or ring fair go.

[morayfm]

Conquiztador, I guess you and I are poles apart on what constitutes a fair and reasonable Ditributor. I have been a Distributor in New Zealand for over 20 years in a very tough industry. The biggest single factor I put our success down to is looking after our Dealers. This involves more than just holding spare parts and promoting our products and services. It also requires ethics and respect; I consider a 300% mark up on spare parts to be extremely unethical and my Dealers are not that dumb that they wouldn't know they were being ripped off. We put a fair mark-up on all of our products whether they are spare parts or new items - this can be anything from 5 - 40% mark up.

The point I was making in my first post was that many Parallel Importers cause a lot of damage to a lot of brands. Unfortunately it is usually good quality brands too as these are the ones that the local Distributor has spent many years and money on making them what they are. Of course you need to have a good product to start with but unless that product is invested in by way of people, promotion, support, logistics, demonstrations, testing, etc then it will not be supported by the End-User. All of that costs a lot of money and regardless of what you think of Distributors, it is not fair on them for some Back-yard Operator to come along and make no such investment but still be allowed to sell the products at reduced margins and offer no back up - remember that was the point of the original post in this thread. Unfortunately it does happen and much too often.

Just to get back to your comment on mark up for Spare Parts - in our warehouse we hold parts for products that are older than 25 years in a lot of cases. That is called supporting a brand and I can assure you that even if we put on the maximum of 40% mark-up, it goes nowhere near the cost of holding those spare parts. There is a lot more to being a Distributor than just having a right to sell a brand in this country. Unfortunately under the 1998 Law anybody can sell anything in New Zealand now and they don't have to take any resposibility for the brand. It is still up to the Distributor to protect that brand. I know of numerous cases of where good brands are now failing in New Zealand because the Distributor can no longer afford to represent them; that is bad news for the End-User.

[imdying]

It is a parallel imported bike as it is not a bike imported for the New Zealand market by the New Zealand distributerNo, that makes it a grey import. It would be parallel imported if it was new and a model sold by the local agents. It's neither.

[xwhatsit]

One more thing -- a ZXR250 these days is a 20 year old bike, which has probably been mercilessly raped every time it's been ridden. It may still be the fastest 4T 250 around, but you can't expect to buy one new and it have the reliability of a new Ninja 250R. A ZXR250 is almost eligible for post-classics, FFS.

[Starky307]

Conquiztador, I guess you and I are poles apart on what constitutes a fair and reasonable Ditributor. I have been a Distributor in New Zealand for over 20 years in a very tough industry. The biggest single factor I put our success down to is looking after our Dealers. This involves more than just holding spare parts and promoting our products and services. It also requires ethics and respect; I consider a 300% mark up on spare parts to be extremely unethical and my Dealers are not that dumb that they wouldn't know they were being ripped off. We put a fair mark-up on all of our products whether they are spare parts or new items - this can be anything from 5 - 40% mark up.

The point I was making in my first post was that many Parallel Importers cause a lot of damage to a lot of brands. Unfortunately it is usually good quality brands too as these are the ones that the local Distributor has spent many years and money on making them what they are. Of course you need to have a good product to start with but unless that product is invested in by way of people, promotion, support, logistics, demonstrations, testing, etc then it will not be supported by the End-User. All of that costs a lot of money and regardless of what you think of Distributors, it is not fair on them for some Back-yard Operator to come along and make no such investment but still be allowed to sell the products at reduced margins and offer no back up - remember that was the point of the original post in this thread. Unfortunately it does happen and much too often.

Just to get back to your comment on mark up for Spare Parts - in our warehouse we hold parts for products that are older than 25 years in a lot of cases. That is called supporting a brand and I can assure you that even if we put on the maximum of 40% mark-up, it goes nowhere near the cost of holding those spare parts. There is a lot more to being a Distributor than just having a right to sell a brand in this country. Unfortunately under the 1998 Law anybody can sell anything in New Zealand now and they don't have to take any resposibility for the brand. It is still up to the Distributor to protect that brand. I know of numerous cases of where good brands are now failing in New Zealand because the Distributor can no longer afford to represent them; that is bad news for the End-User.

Very well said.

I have no time for, nor do I ever feel sorry for people who buy from a shop that has imported a product themselves, even more so if it is second hand.

[imdying]

I have no time for, nor do I ever feel sorry for people who buy from a shop that has imported a product themselves, even more so if it is second hand.Well, to be blunt, you're a muppet then... :rolleyes:

Of course I could be wrong, and I would be willing to retract that comment, assuming you can tell me the name of an official importer of motorcycles into New Zealand, that can supply a new 250cc IL4 race replica, like the lad wants? Hmmm?

[Starky307]

Well, to be blunt, you're a muppet then... :rolleyes:

Of course I could be wrong, and I would be willing to retract that comment, assuming you can tell me the name of an official importer of motorcycles into New Zealand, that can supply a new 250cc IL4 race replica, like the lad wants? Hmmm?

Why am I the muppet? I buy my bikes from reputable dealers and have no troubles with having them repaired if required.

Can you please show me where a new 250cc IL4 race replica bike came into all this?

If you want to call me a muppet than do it about the items I have mentioned and don't try to cloud the water with something off topic.

[imdying]

Why am I the muppet?
That would be the blanket statement that condemns the OPs actions that simply can't be carried out in any other way:

I have no time for, nor do I ever feel sorry for people who buy from a shop that has imported a product themselves, even more so if it is second hand.ZXR250s are all imported, they were never sold new here, they're also all second hand, as they're not sold new in Japan anymore either.




I buy my bikes from reputable dealers and have no troubles with having them repaired if required.Well good for you :rolleyes:




Can you please show me where a new 250cc IL4 race replica bike came into all this?That would be the original post, or did you not read all the thread?
My mate bought a zxr250
The 'new' part was your own addition:
I have no time for, nor do I ever feel sorry for people who buy from a shop that has imported a product themselves, even more so if it is second hand.




If you want to call me a muppet than do it about the items I have mentioned and don't try to cloud the water with something off topic.Ahh, you're the one saying you've no sympathy for the OP, even though what you suggest is impossible for the model of bike he desires... unless of course you know where to buy a brand new ZXR250 from a Kawasaki dealer in NZ (lets be generous here, anywhere in the world will be fine).


You're still a muppet....

[Starky307]

You're still a muppet....

Nowhere does it state that the OP (I'm guessing you mean Original Poster) said his friend required a IL4 250cc replica race bike even if it is what he ended up with.

You have read something and taken it one way as I have also taken it another way.

As I see it
I saw someone who brought a bike that was imported and brought a warranty with it thinking he was covered if he ever had any problems.
It turns out he is now having problems and the shop has not been able to fix his issues so he now has a problem with them. That is why I recommended fixing it himself, going to court or ringing fair go about the issue he has.

I have never made any direct statement about the OP (I'm guessing you still mean Original Poster) but a blanket statement about anyone who buys from an import company who do not own the official rights to import/distribute. In reading that again I guess I have then made a statement about the OP but then I have also brought items before in this manor but live with it if it fails and I do not get the support I require.

I assume they are having problems fixing the bike under their "warranty" because as you have mentioned that model of bike was not designed for this market, hence you would struggle to find parts and service manuals which are all available to authorized dealers for models that were "officially" imported to this country.

Like all things on all forums this has been stretch out of shape. If you would like to continue to debate the ins and outs of the statements made than do so without the name calling, it makes you appear to be less of a debater than I'm guessing you are.

[Monty69]

Um yes theres no need for name calling, its not helping anyone. Lots of good advice and discussions in general tho, cheers

[-easy--rider-]

wait a minuite, there is 2 mc imports direct in chch, are we talking about the one on tuam street? because that guy is a fuck wit but you are right just mc are really good.

[imdying]

Fair enough then mate, just seemed a bit on the nose to rag on a fella for wanting a model that happens to be a grey.

[SS90]

wait a minuite, there is 2 mc imports direct in chch, are we talking about the one on tuam street? because that guy is a fuck wit but you are right just mc are really good.

With-out getting personal, I have to agree, The owner of MID (I won't post his name, that's unfair), really does seem to be missing a few important links in his brain, I have heard a few stories as well.

You must remember that any motorcycle shop (new or imported used) is going to have trouble.....it's just how you are treated in regards to the rectification of the fault that matters, and yes, the owner of the bike seems to be given the rough end of the stick....in very similar fashion to other people I have heard.

Remember, location and a bit of working capital, does not make a bike shop. Experienced, knowledgeable, helpful staff do!

With-out the latter, you just have a shop full of bikes!

[rosie631]

My partner bought a bike off MID and has had no trouble at all with it. Maybe he was just lucky. Rolling Thunder service my bike and I have found them to be excellent. On the other hand I took my daughters scooter to Just MC and had nothing but trouble with them. Maybe should have taken it to a scooter specialist but I know nothing about scooters and bought it thru Just MC so just took it back there.

[SS90]

My partner bought a bike off MID and has had no trouble at all with it. Maybe he was just lucky. Rolling Thunder service my bike and I have found them to be excellent. On the other hand I took my daughters scooter to Just MC and had nothing but trouble with them. Maybe should have taken it to a scooter specialist but I know nothing about scooters and bought it thru Just MC so just took it back there.

That's the point.... He had no problems with the bike, so everything was ok, if he had trouble with the bike (not always the fault of the shop, but certainly their responsibilty none the less), then maybe the experience would be different.

MID have no history with the motorcycle industry, just a few dollars and taken advantage of the deregulation......

I summise that if still trading in 2 years time, he will have a different attitude (by necessity)

Either that or go back to selling Kebabs at the chinese food court in town...........

I'm sorry to hear of a bad experience at Just bikes, I brough and sold a bike through them when they first opened, great bunch of people, loads of experience and an honest love for motorcycling......more than I can say for others in town.

Aye?

[rosie631]

Yes, you are right. Just lucky he has had no problems. Plenty of people happy to take your money to sell you something but as soon as something gos wrong they do not want to know you.