Ractech and a rotting stench

[steve_t]

No brainer. Aston There's nothing like the feel of something new Haha

[AllanB]

An interesting thread.

No personal problems with Mr T, indeed if my lotto ticket comes in or a rich Auntie dies I will probably give him a call for some goodies. As far as suspension goes in NZ I posted elsewhere only this morning before reading this that I'd like a cheaper alternative than the top line Ohlins that would still be better than replacing a stock unit, but actually supported by a NZ company in the manner RT does.

Why settle for something less?

Unless the above mentioned lotto win or death occurs, I as per many, are not and cannot foresee in the near future the situation where I will have 2 large or more to spend on suspenders. Plus if I am honest I just don't ride that fast to 'need' Superbike grade stuff.

Back to NZ costs - I have and will probably continue to bitch about the cost of aftermarket pipes in NZ.

Quoted at about $1600 for a pair of slip on Yoshi's for my Hornet (that type of $ would be better spent on Ohlins!).

Numerous USA stores for the same thing, shipped to my door within a week - NZ$900-1000

Hell I can get them ex Aussie for under $900.

This part of the market is overpriced in NZ. Period.

As far a business goes in NZ - I am in a company that prints product. Our premium product has been printed offshore for years now as NZ can not even come close in price (the rest of product is all printed locally). We were happy to pay a extra margin to keep printing in NZ but it was not even close. I deal with 2 offshore companies - both appear to be in a pricing war presently and we are getting extremely good prices.
We will not be dropping our wholesale prices to reflect this, consequently retail will not alter.
WHY?
We have been absorbing constant increases in running the business over a number of years to retain good price point RRP's. This time we will benefit from a small glitch.
I make no apologies for this.

I do note that many retailers ignore our RRP as they are entitled to do and set their prices much higher where they think the market will pay. If we drop our wholesale prices they will NOT lower their retail prices to suit.

Also possibly of interest to readers if the GST increases to 15% we have a range of 'economical' product that would be pushed over what we considerable a fair RRP - consequently we will then lower our wholesale on this range to cover the increase to keep the RRP as it is. Other companies will do the same on some products. Hopefully retailers will retain these RRP's on this range.

At the end of the day I purchase bike stuff based on many factors. If the NZ price is only slightly higher, I buy from here, if I believe I need a warranty with the product, I buy locally. Things like the above mentioned pipes I would not hesitate to purchase off shore.

[Headbanger]

There is most likely a correlation between those who grizzle the most and those who least understand business and the minefield that is distribution in a small vulnerable country.

Getting sick of that crap, This thread and every similar thread we have gets vast input from knowledge and experienced people who are more then capable of sizing up the situation and can comprehend the basic concepts of supply and demand and market forces, You stress the point that no one knows anything apart from yourself and then claim you can't tell the real reasons as its commercially sensitive.

Do you believe your talking to a bunch of idiots? OK, You have already stated thats exactly who you believe you are addressing.

Truth be told I hear from multiple people your a champion bloke and an expert at what you do with suspension, and I'm happy to believe that, But your not someone who I would come to for business advice, You seem to have locked yourself in a little bubble.

[Squiggles]

I believe Powercommander also attempt to lock you out from buying offshore...

[dipshit]

6 weeks ex-japan when I can get from the US in less than 10 days? I hope the locals starve!

Exactly, most consumers won't give a fuck about the local. Thinking otherwise is living in a fantasy land.

Or how many people would like to go back to the days of ratepayers subsidising the local Toyota car assembly plant and put back the 50% import tariff on all the BMWs, Audis, Peugeots, Citroens, Fiats, Volvos etc to make them unaffordable and everybody just go back to driving dull boring Toyotas..???

[Robert Taylor]

can i borrow the aston or the ferrari

No, but you canborrow the Lambo and the hot Swedish au pair. I may let you use the hot tub and the fridge.

[Robert Taylor]

Getting sick of that crap, This thread and every similar thread we have gets vast input from knowledge and experienced people who are more then capable of sizing up the situation and can comprehend the basic concepts of supply and demand and market forces, You stress the point that no one knows anything apart from yourself and then claim you can't tell the real reasons as its commercially sensitive.

Do you believe your talking to a bunch of idiots? OK, You have already stated thats exactly who you believe you are addressing.

Truth be told I hear from multiple people your a champion bloke and an expert at what you do with suspension, and I'm happy to believe that, But your not someone who I would come to for business advice, You seem to have locked yourself in a little bubble.

I disagree, there have been many good posts with balanced viewpoints by people that do understand, heck Allan Bs post that immediately preceded yours put forward some very valid and balanced viewpoints.
Unlike the perpetrator of this thread I can actually see the argument from both sides without getting bitter, twisted and downright rude. Even managed to inject a little bit of cynical humour.
Like many distribution businesses the pressure to drop retail margins is immense. But also like I intimated, where do all the employess go that are dispalced by the shift in the market? They cant all work for the Warehouse on subsistence wages or be on the dole.
And then I forgot to mention another hot potato that reflects on business overheads and therefore balance sheets, ACC. Arguably employers for many years have borne a considerable amount of the burden of ACC and in fact have possibly got more reason to grizzle than motorcyclists.....?
When I was an employee back in 85 I had a big motorcycle accident at high speed that but for the grace of my protestant god I survived, coming out miraculously with only a broken wrist. Maybe as you say I am in a bubble.....I was paid at I think 80% of my then salary but in fact I was embarrassed that I was burdening the Government ( ie taxpayer ) I was not so incapacitated that I couldnt be useful so for the time that I was in plaster etc I went regularly to work to do what I could.
There has to be a balance and right now small business in NZ is suffering from not only the prevailing market forces but also a playing field that is anything but level. I have detailed those reasons in many threads previously. I would rather see full employment here than everyone saving a few dollars by buying overseas.

[FROSTY:Me]

Im in a similar situation to CKT in that everything I sell is imported from overseas.
Reality is anybody could do what I do and save themselves not just $100 but more likely $1000-$2000
And some people do just that.
But the question I ask is a line from an old clint eastwood movie--"Dya feel lucky punk? well dooya?"
Theres a bit more risk involved in buying/iomporting a car than a spring for sure.
But if the spring gets lost in transit. If its the wrong weight. if the exchange rate takes a dive youll end up outa pocket either a bit or a lot.
So I guess its a question of deciding the risk level you are comfortable with.

As much as VM suggests that it isn't the case there is value to having a "man on the ground" Again what value you place on that ability to make a phone call for advice is up to you.

[Robert Taylor]

Exactly, most consumers won't give a fuck about the local. Thinking otherwise is living in a fantasy land.

Or how many people would like to go back to the days of ratepayers subsidising the local Toyota car assembly plant and put back the 50% import tariff on all the BMWs, Audis, Peugeots, Citroens, Fiats, Volvos etc to make them unaffordable and everybody just go back to driving dull boring Toyotas..???

Yes those days were just as ridiculous but as I have said elsewhere there has got to be a balance. Much as I hate to say it back in the 72-75 Labour Government the then commerce minister Warren Freer proposed a MRP ( maximum retail price ) It didnt get off the ground and would have been a minefield but it had merit....
The sooner our exchange rate weakens significantly against green backs and other currencies the better, exports do more for the health of our economy.

[BMWST?]

Well said, just think about how much capital CKT has to outlay to have the springs in stock......trust me, when a bank looks at your books, as a bike shop, quite often they piss themselves, the margins are shit, the risks are high, and the turnover low, by in large, it is a service.

If they have it in stock, and have a big margin, accept it, on the other hand, if they have to order it, and still put 150% on it, that is a different story.........

jesus guys think about it.It costs real dollars to run a retail business...real big dollars.The price a shop sells something for has to cover the runnings costs of said business.Fact of life.Its not rocket science.If you thinks its so easy open a shop yourself and sell your parts to be competitive withthe mail order warehouses.How will you pay your staff,rent.telephone and power?Its costs thousands every month before you even stock the shelves and open the doors .

[Headbanger]

Unlike the perpetrator of this thread I can actually see the argument from both sides without getting bitter, twisted and downright rude.

So, he has a style of delivery that means he can't see both sides of the issue?

Everyone knows it costs to run a business, everyone knows that few retailers are getting rich, everyone knows that buying overseas means no comeback ,and the after-sale service* may suffer, But thanks to the globalized market and the ease of finding information we can look up a price,weigh up all the factors and come to the correct conclusion, Someone in the supply line has jacked up the price over and above a reasonable amount.

The end result is the local agent suffers as customers spread the word and take thier money elsewhere, This is market forces at work, It will only gain momentum in the future and if a brand cares about the market they will adjust their prices to suit, if not they will just keep prices high and cream any mug who buys without question or research.

*I've got to say though that local outlets do themselves few favours, I've had immediate and informed responses from overseas outlets that would shame the crap that comes from many NZ outlets, if you get a response at all.

[scracha]

The sorta guy that buys your IT or electronic stuff from the cheapest supplier on pricespy, cries when the supplier doesn't deliver on service (they can't...not with their 3% markup) but then still expect expert advice and support from your local IT or electronics guy(s) for next to nothing.

Bit like people whining about callcentres "full of bloody punjabs"......whaddya expect?? You get what you pay for.

[Robert Taylor]

So, he has a style of delivery that means he can't see both sides of the issue?

Everyone knows it costs to run a business, everyone knows that few retailers are getting rich, everyone knows that buying overseas means no comeback ,and the after-sale service* may suffer, But thanks to the globalized market and the ease of finding information we can look up a price,weigh up all the factors and come to the correct conclusion, Someone in the supply line has jacked up the price over and above a reasonable amount.

The end result is the local agent suffers as customers spread the word and take thier money elsewhere, This is market forces at work, It will only gain momentum in the future and if a brand cares about the market they will adjust their prices to suit, if not they will just keep prices high and cream any mug who buys without question or research.

*I've got to say though that local outlets do themselves few favours, I've had immediate and informed responses from overseas outlets that would shame the crap that comes from many NZ outlets, if you get a response at all.

No, he just doesnt want to hear both sides of the story, its all black and white. Easy to pick up from his rude demeanour. And if you think that every outlet in NZ is creaming it you are sadly mistaken. Is every sales outlet in NZ tarred with the same brush? I think not.

[Headbanger]

No, he just doesnt want to hear both sides of the story, its all black and white. Easy to pick up from his rude demeanour. And if you think that every outlet in NZ is creaming it you are sadly mistaken. Is every sales outlet in NZ tarred with the same brush? I think not.

He doesn't need to hear it, its not rocket science or a mystery, and in his case he was dealing with a local distributor so much of it doesn't apply.

And try not to tell me what I think, real world examples have been put forward numerous times, and usually worst case scenarios are used to illustrate the point.

[Robert Taylor]

he doesn't need to hear it, its not rocket science or a mystery, and in his case he was dealing with a local distributor so much of it doesn't apply.

And try not to tell me what i think, real world examples have been put forward numerous times, and usually worst case scenarios are used to illustrate the point.

why dont you start a business importing motorcycle accessory parts? You clearly have all the answers and will be able to put all those dirty filthy thieving capitalists out of business and be able to pay top rates for motivated and highly informed staff........