Aftermarket parts shopping?

[Gremlin]

My customers want bling for their bikes, we want to personalise our demo.

What are your suggestions given the above scenario?

If you want to spend the time (with possibly no benefit), I'd be laying my cards on the table with the distributor, giving them the option. If that has zero response, I'd be taking that response plus the rest of the story to the manufacturer, to demonstrate the distributor is useless.

Depending on what you want, you could be in with a shot at becoming the NZ distributor.

We've dealt with useless distributors in NZ before, and even had the option of becoming distributors, but it's usually a lack of time/energy in order to take it up properly...

[Robert Taylor]

Hi Robert, yes I care. Greatly. Like you, I rely on people buying motorcycles and their parts off me. Here's a scenario for you from the other side of the coin that has really pissed me off today.

Yamaha have recently released the new R-15 in New Zealand. Sports commuter, low cost, modern styling, fun to ride. In India, this is THE (affordable) bike to own. The accessories market for them is MASSIVE, one of the major players with the best gear being Daytex, a subsidary of Daytona. The range of gear they supply is simply astounding. I have my parts guys enquire into the sort of stuff that the target market of these machines is going to be interested in. Mufflers, rear sets, wave rotors etc etc.

Now. There are two New Zealand distributors for Daytona. Neither have any of the gear available and no references for the stuff, which is understandable. To get a P&A, we need to supply the part numbers, which Daytona will not supply us because we're not the distributor and they're very reluctant to deal with us round eyes. Ask the distributors if they'll do the investigation, not interested.

So, in order for us to hot up our demo or a customers bike, we have no choice but to buy off a dealer, in India or Malaysia because the distributor simply isn't interested in looking at it. This raises two other points.

We'll get the shit far cheaper than if we COULD buy it from the NZ agent.

The second point, and one that's potentially a real fucker, is both of the NZ agents can get their knickers in a twist and cry "You're parallel importing our shit, we're no longer supplying you our other products."

My customers want bling for their bikes, we want to personalise our demo.

What are your suggestions given the above scenario?

Part of this in fact is that dealers themselves need to commit to stocking much much more product themselves, rather than relying on the distributor as their parts inventory. Were you prepared to order in huge volume?
Many distributors themselves are too spooked to stock too much as they are being murdered by the internet and US companies falling over themselves to liquidate stock at firesale prices, as their economy is in a HUGE mess.
This in turn is not helping our economy, it may surprise many on here that owning a small business in NZ is NOT a license to print money. As many as 75% of small businesses in NZ made a loss last year. Fortunately I was not one of them and made a modest profit, but only by adapting to new and often unpalatable realities and working my butt off. Those businesses employ people.......................
It is clear that our dollar should be significantly weaker and that we should predominantly be an export based economy. While I have always been a tory Im against the open slather that prevails with the market as in the end it does us ALL no good. Take out the personal gain / ''Im alright Jack'' / selfish mentality. The world is in a mess right now because of one over-riding theme that all sectors of society are not exempt from, PERSONAL GREED.

[98tls]

I seem to have this compulsive problem of buying bits and bobs to continue modifying my bike.

And the problem is?Ive been doing the same for the last 10 years.Think yourself lucky least your complulsions late model,mines an old hag from the past.Aftermarket Rims/sprocket etc,undertray/leds carbon plate holder(sad eh),Hayabusa calipers (there crap)5/8th mater,TLR rear caliper,aftermarket rearsets,Carbon hugger,6 bolt clutch,billet pressure plate,see thru clutch cover.aftermarket rear damper,aftermarket steering damper,Carbon screen,billet top triple,aftermarket bar end mirrors,billet mirror block off plates,V2 ride height adjuster,aftermarket gas tank cap,Yosh box (ecu tuner),full Yosh exhaust (not fitted)Carbon front guard,Gsxr forks and radial calipers......theres more but ive got work so away to zzzzz,as i say "whats the problem,enjoy and post up some pics eh.Final word on the subject would be spend some $ on the suspenders,bloke with the post previous to me could help no doubt.

[Cracker]

The basic motorcycle consumables market being tyres, filters,oil is well seviced with good prices in NZ.

The bling/accessory market is so diverse and fluid by nature. The product is generally developed by small companies in tune with the market who have the nause to market on the internet and we are there customers. I suggest NZ companies do the same, innovation rather than warehouseman.

I like a stronger dollar, makes me feel the country has got a bit guts left in it and the shoppings good. Be grateful the Chinese have not copied the Ohlins brand and made it better for half the price (impossible).

I try to support Haldanes, Drury Tyres, Dave Cole, Robert Taylor CRT because they are good bastards who do the best.

[Owl]

I seem to have this compulsive problem of buying bits and bobs to continue modifying my bike.

No, you only have a problem when you run out of things to modify on your bike and you start buying bits and bobs for a bike you don't even own.

[Grant`]

No, you only have a problem when you run out of things to modify on your bike and you start buying bits and bobs for a bike you don't even own.

Yes well chances of that are slim to nil thank god.

[imdying]

Part of this in fact is that dealers themselves need to commit to stocking much much more product themselves, rather than relying on the distributor as their parts inventory. Were you prepared to order in huge volume?

If that's the case, then either the dealer or the distributor is now superfluous.

[Swoop]

OK, as a slight variation to this theme...

What about "official" brand dealers who refuse to support or stock equipment for bikes that are over X years old?

They are out there, and although they have the badge on their building, they will not play ball with the bike owner of an older machine.

Overseas sourcing is the only option in many cases.

[Shaun]

I am a little confused as to what is write and what is wrong with the Internet shopping. Whilst I understand points made by Robert and others RE the NZ Industry/wholesalers etc ( Many have helped me heaps) I also understand some wanting to spend less because they can!

Now if the purchase is made via Internet, then the money has gone off shore, so NO gain to the NZ Economy at all??? O YES there is, now if the part was gunna cost you $500 here and $300 there, that Now means you the buyers are left with another $200 that you could spend here in NZ Putting back into the economy here.

The Retailers them selves are to blaim for most lost sales, as we are in YEAR 2011 and the internet shopping options here in NZ for motorcycle related product is crap crap crap!!!!

I could set myself up as an agent for a USA parts supplier tomorrow, and do all via Credit cards on line, and the parts would be at your house in around 5 days, and you would have a NZ Agent person to chase if any drama with product, this would Take more Capital than I have to play with though, so why has NO SHOP done this yet?



Maybe a SHOP OWNER/MANAGER will read this, and offer me a job, I am sick of working for myself, so I sacked my arse yesterday

[Motig]

Well my internet buying hasn't gone past NZ's shores yet but after looking at Ebay and overseas sellers stock and prices I can see that it wont be long till I buy off shore. Unfortunately the mark up on NZ stuff compared to the price overseas including shipping is a no brainer. Sorry just need more bang for my buck.

[Banditbandit]

I seem to have this compulsive problem of buying bits and bobs to continue modifying my bike.

I have been shopping on E-Bay and also European websites for differing things for my bike almost to an excessive extent. Normally at least 1-2 new things each week as of late.

Do other people have this problem or is it just a woman thing and that is possibly what I am turning into?

It's dangerous to look at accessories on the net .. There's a whole list of stuff I WANT .. but I've managed to restain myself ... apart from stuff to keep bikes on the road the only thing I indulged in was a flyscreen from Skidmarks in England for my naked 650 Bandit ... (I don't know about reducing wind .. but it certainly catches flies ...)

But it's a huge temptation .. Yeah ...

[SVboy]

To the OP--Feed your addiction!! NZ/Overseas-whatever works!

[ukusa]

Now if the purchase is made via Internet, then the money has gone off shore, so NO gain to the NZ Economy at all??? O YES there is, now if the part was gunna cost you $500 here and $300 there, that Now means you the buyers are left with another $200 that you could spend here in NZ Putting back into the economy here.

so yeah, the change might get spent here, or then again because I saved so much, I might get an extra piece of bling to the value of that $200 at the same time, so 2 for the price of one.
Last year I had some footpegs sent over (amongst some other bits n pieces) that were the wrong ones (the website had the wrong picture), so the bike shop in Florida got me to send them back, they refunded me the freight cost for this, and then offered me 10% off my next purchase because of their mistake.
So I ended up adding an extra couple of items in with the correct footpegs & got it all here with no freight cost.
The reality is (for me anyway), if the part is $500 here & $300 there, I will buy the $300 there. If restrictions were put in place to stop me from buying bling overseas, the reality is that I probably wouldn't buy the bling at all.

[Grant`]

To the OP--Feed your addiction!! NZ/Overseas-whatever works!

Please don't tell me your work at the Problem Gambling line?

[Robert Taylor]

OK, as a slight variation to this theme...

What about "official" brand dealers who refuse to support or stock equipment for bikes that are over X years old?

They are out there, and although they have the badge on their building, they will not play ball with the bike owner of an older machine.

Overseas sourcing is the only option in many cases.

Fair comment, customers with older bikes are still customers!