International reshippers, youshop etc

[SMOKEU]

Id seriously look at not tarring everyone with the same brush.......................thats an emotive and simplistic statement that places all of the NZ retail industry in the same box. VERY untrue

I've done my research, and on most items NZ retailers are a complete rip off compared to overseas. Some of the things I've bought from overseas cost exponentially more over here than they do in other countries. Why?

We pay up to double the cost here for vehicles compared to the USA, even for similar spec models (yes I know the USA models are LHD and have other differences compared to JDM or NZ models). Electronic goods like computers and components, we pay about 1/3 more here. Bike parts we often pay around double. The wages in NZ are shit, and the cost of living is very high. It's no wonder people want to import stuff from overseas, as few people here have money to burn by paying far more than they need to.

The worst rip off I've encountered was when a NZ Suzuki dealership wanted to charge me $223 for a fuel pump assembly seal, which is a routine servicing part that is small, light and takes up very little shelf space. It cost me $US20 + around $US10 shipping to import it myself. I told Suzuki to get fucked (in a nice way). Certain things are uneconomical to import for private use, such as perishable goods or large/heavy, low value items. For everything else, eBay is my first stop.

Don't even get me started on chain electronic stores like Dick Smith, Noel Leeming etc. The blatant lies they continously spout is beyond unethical, as are the prices.

[The Reibz]

Repco price markups. I lold

[Madness]

I've done my research, and on most items NZ retailers are a complete rip off compared to overseas. Some of the things I've bought from overseas cost exponentially more over here than they do in other countries. Why?

We pay up to double the cost here for vehicles compared to the USA, even for similar spec models (yes I know the USA models are LHD and have other differences compared to JDM or NZ models). Electronic goods like computers and components, we pay about 1/3 more here. Bike parts we often pay around double. The wages in NZ are shit, and the cost of living is very high. It's no wonder people want to import stuff from overseas, as few people here have money to burn by paying far more than they need to.

The worst rip off I've encountered was when a NZ Suzuki dealership wanted to charge me $223 for a fuel pump assembly seal, which is a routine servicing part that is small, light and takes up very little shelf space. It cost me $US20 + around $US10 shipping to import it myself. I told Suzuki to get fucked (in a nice way). Certain things are uneconomical to import for private use, such as perishable goods or large/heavy, low value items. For everything else, eBay is my first stop.

Don't even get me started on chain electronic stores like Dick Smith, Noel Leeming etc. The blatant lies they continously spout is beyond unethical, as are the prices.

http://www.flightcentre.co.nz/cheap/...e=Christchurch

[SMOKEU]

http://www.flightcentre.co.nz/cheap/...e=Christchurch

The tickets would probably be cheaper if purchased overseas.

[R650R]

Oh look it's RT again, here to tell everyone how evil we are for asking for REASONABLE margins on the goods we buy. Excuse me if I don't just tell you to fuck right off.

I hope you said that in a Ronnie Johns Chopper rendition voice, feckin post of the month

Yeah Smokeu got too watch those OEM prices...

[SMOKEU]

Yeah Smokeu got too watch those OEM prices...

Certainly, and what doesn't help is that fuck all parts for my bike are available from any third party sources in NZ, other than shit like filters and generic parts like tyres, levers etc.

[SPman]

Last large item I got was a Yoshi RS3 + header pipe for the FZ1, sent through USPS International Priority: cost $73.15 US. Delivery, California to our Post office....6 days! Was even better cause the $au was $1.10 against the $US!

[Robert Taylor]

I hope you said that in a Ronnie Johns Chopper rendition voice, feckin post of the month

Yeah Smokeu got too watch those OEM prices...

Its kind of sad that when you express an opinion its met with vituperation by someone intolerant of opposing opinions.

[Robert Taylor]

I've done my research, and on most items NZ retailers are a complete rip off compared to overseas. Some of the things I've bought from overseas cost exponentially more over here than they do in other countries. Why?

We pay up to double the cost here for vehicles compared to the USA, even for similar spec models (yes I know the USA models are LHD and have other differences compared to JDM or NZ models). Electronic goods like computers and components, we pay about 1/3 more here. Bike parts we often pay around double. The wages in NZ are shit, and the cost of living is very high. It's no wonder people want to import stuff from overseas, as few people here have money to burn by paying far more than they need to.

The worst rip off I've encountered was when a NZ Suzuki dealership wanted to charge me $223 for a fuel pump assembly seal, which is a routine servicing part that is small, light and takes up very little shelf space. It cost me $US20 + around $US10 shipping to import it myself. I told Suzuki to get fucked (in a nice way). Certain things are uneconomical to import for private use, such as perishable goods or large/heavy, low value items. For everything else, eBay is my first stop.

Don't even get me started on chain electronic stores like Dick Smith, Noel Leeming etc. The blatant lies they continously spout is beyond unethical, as are the prices.

Was that pump a genuine part with genuine quality control or was it a dodgy Chinese made copy?

In fact you havent done enough research. This is a problem in many countries, not only NZ. The situation is even worse in Australia, a country with higher wages but also higher costs that go hand in hand with that. The UK very abundantly has this issue as do a number of EC and non EC countries. South Africa also has this issue.

All the whys and wherefores have been done to death on this accursed forum and I personally am on record many times of seeing BOTH sides of the story. My own business as much as is possible meets the new realities. And ocassionally I myself buy stuff offshore but only after I have checked first if I can support MY OWN COUNTRYMEN at a reasonable buy price. And if I do get charged clearance and gst I accept that without complaining on forums that I have ''been ripped''. If businesses have to pay clearance and gst then so should private purchasers.

But lets look at another reason. Much of this issue is coming out of the US and arguably the US has caused a lot of the worlds current economic woes. Their economy is a basket case and will likely remain so If they dont get a Government that will rein in spending. Domestic consumption is a shadow of what it was. So to make up the shortfall US companies will sell everywhere. Not content with the rack and ruin that has beset many US companies they are happy to ( effectively )destabilise businesses in all other countries that will do business with them. If as occured in the past they had a strong and vibrant domestic economy they would be internally preoccupied with their sales strategies. If as has also happened in the past domestic consumption outstripped supply then they wouldnt want to know about the rest of the world. So anyone that thinks US based companies are ''our friends'' might want to rethink that, they only want our money and dont give a rats arse about how long term it may negatively affect our economy, overall.

I am personally against excessive profits and our banking institutions are a notorious example of same. I am also against speculative income which as a whole does nothing useful and has tied up the money supply. But what I am also against is international companies that sell product for very low digit margins, as little as 3-4% with many of these US companies. They will go to a supplier and ask for a buying discount on 20,000 items and then still sell at stupidly low and ultimately unsustainable margin. If we go to a supplier to negotiate our ''bargaining chip will be 200 units, thats not a bargaining chip.....

Most businesses in NZ are small and would go under in short order if operating on 3-4% margin. Of course to totally add insult to injury the volume of stuff that comes across the border with no clearance charges and gst is just criminal.

We need strong and profitable NZ businesses across the board so that ordinary everyday New Zealanders can be employed. The more we continue to buy offshore as a subsitute the more the distortions are exacerbated. We in part buy offshore because of generally low wages ( and I accept the validity of that argument ) but also this activity contributes in no small way to keeping wage rate suppressed

The most logical corrections would be something that many business people around the world are pushing for, GLOBAL PRICING and border levies and taxes applied across the board.

[Robert Taylor]

Was that pump a genuine part with genuine quality control or was it a dodgy Chinese made copy?

In fact you havent done enough research. This is a problem in many countries, not only NZ. The situation is even worse in Australia, a country with higher wages but also higher costs that go hand in hand with that. The UK very abundantly has this issue as do a number of EC and non EC countries. South Africa also has this issue.

All the whys and wherefores have been done to death on this accursed forum and I personally am on record many times of seeing BOTH sides of the story. My own business as much as is possible meets the new realities. And ocassionally I myself buy stuff offshore but only after I have checked first if I can support MY OWN COUNTRYMEN at a reasonable buy price. And if I do get charged clearance and gst I accept that without complaining on forums that I have ''been ripped''. If businesses have to pay clearance and gst then so should private purchasers.

But lets look at another reason. Much of this issue is coming out of the US and arguably the US has caused a lot of the worlds current economic woes. Their economy is a basket case and will likely remain so If they dont get a Government that will rein in spending. Domestic consumption is a shadow of what it was. So to make up the shortfall US companies will sell everywhere. Not content with the rack and ruin that has beset many US companies they are happy to ( effectively )destabilise businesses in all other countries that will do business with them. If as occured in the past they had a strong and vibrant domestic economy they would be internally preoccupied with their sales strategies. If as has also happened in the past domestic consumption outstripped supply then they wouldnt want to know about the rest of the world. So anyone that thinks US based companies are ''our friends'' might want to rethink that, they only want our money and dont give a rats arse about how long term it may negatively affect our economy, overall.

I am personally against excessive profits and our banking institutions are a notorious example of same. I am also against speculative income which as a whole does nothing useful and has tied up the money supply. But what I am also against is international companies that sell product for very low digit margins, as little as 3-4% with many of these US companies. They will go to a supplier and ask for a buying discount on 20,000 items and then still sell at stupidly low and ultimately unsustainable margin. If we go to a supplier to negotiate our ''bargaining chip will be 200 units, thats not a bargaining chip.....

Most businesses in NZ are small and would go under in short order if operating on 3-4% margin. Of course to totally add insult to injury the volume of stuff that comes across the border with no clearance charges and gst is just criminal.

We need strong and profitable NZ businesses across the board so that ordinary everyday New Zealanders can be employed. The more we continue to buy offshore as a subsitute the more the distortions are exacerbated. We in part buy offshore because of generally low wages ( and I accept the validity of that argument ) but also this activity contributes in no small way to keeping wage rate suppressed

The most logical corrections would be something that many business people around the world are pushing for, GLOBAL PRICING and border levies and taxes applied across the board.

If we dont have strong business where is most of the taxation base going to come from to fund the social services that so many expect as of right? And where is the employment going to come from?

HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THOSE ISSUES?

[SMOKEU]

Was that pump a genuine part with genuine quality control or was it a dodgy Chinese made copy?

In fact you havent done enough research. This is a problem in many countries, not only NZ. The situation is even worse in Australia, a country with higher wages but also higher costs that go hand in hand with that. The UK very abundantly has this issue as do a number of EC and non EC countries. South Africa also has this issue.

All the whys and wherefores have been done to death on this accursed forum and I personally am on record many times of seeing BOTH sides of the story. My own business as much as is possible meets the new realities. And ocassionally I myself buy stuff offshore but only after I have checked first if I can support MY OWN COUNTRYMEN at a reasonable buy price. And if I do get charged clearance and gst I accept that without complaining on forums that I have ''been ripped''. If businesses have to pay clearance and gst then so should private purchasers.

But lets look at another reason. Much of this issue is coming out of the US and arguably the US has caused a lot of the worlds current economic woes. Their economy is a basket case and will likely remain so If they dont get a Government that will rein in spending. Domestic consumption is a shadow of what it was. So to make up the shortfall US companies will sell everywhere. Not content with the rack and ruin that has beset many US companies they are happy to ( effectively )destabilise businesses in all other countries that will do business with them. If as occured in the past they had a strong and vibrant domestic economy they would be internally preoccupied with their sales strategies. If as has also happened in the past domestic consumption outstripped supply then they wouldnt want to know about the rest of the world. So anyone that thinks US based companies are ''our friends'' might want to rethink that, they only want our money and dont give a rats arse about how long term it may negatively affect our economy, overall.

I am personally against excessive profits and our banking institutions are a notorious example of same. I am also against speculative income which as a whole does nothing useful and has tied up the money supply. But what I am also against is international companies that sell product for very low digit margins, as little as 3-4% with many of these US companies. They will go to a supplier and ask for a buying discount on 20,000 items and then still sell at stupidly low and ultimately unsustainable margin. If we go to a supplier to negotiate our ''bargaining chip will be 200 units, thats not a bargaining chip.....

Most businesses in NZ are small and would go under in short order if operating on 3-4% margin. Of course to totally add insult to injury the volume of stuff that comes across the border with no clearance charges and gst is just criminal.

We need strong and profitable NZ businesses across the board so that ordinary everyday New Zealanders can be employed. The more we continue to buy offshore as a subsitute the more the distortions are exacerbated. We in part buy offshore because of generally low wages ( and I accept the validity of that argument ) but also this activity contributes in no small way to keeping wage rate suppressed

The most logical correction would be something that many business people around the world are pushing for, GLOBAL PRICING.

I wasn't after a fuel pump, it was a rubber seal. The same sort of material that fuel hoses are made from. I didn't buy an OEM one in the end, I had it custom made by a guy who does that sort of thing. It's been about a year and hasn't leaked during that time.

Getting charged tax on your imports isn't the worst thing, what's worse is when customs steals your shit and then sends a bullshit letter in the mail to justify the theft (they had no legal grounds to do so, the fucking thieving cunts). But that's a risk that has to be taken.

I do agree with many of the things you've said, but it all comes down to one thing: Goods are often (but not always) extremely overpriced in NZ, and I (like most other people), simply cannot afford to pay exorbitant fees to support the local con men (retailers). It's a vicious cycle. Another thing is that I often can't even find what I want in NZ due to the small range of available products, so buying overseas is the only option in some cases.

[R650R]

Its kind of sad that when you express an opinion its met with vituperation by someone intolerant of opposing opinions.

Funny aye think thats what the guy I quoted originally was trying to say to you in not so many words...

If we dont have strong business where is most of the taxation base going to come from to fund the social services that so many expect as of right? And where is the employment going to come from?

HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THOSE ISSUES?

Lots of people care but know that its out of our control and a little online shopping isn't going to stem the tide. The bigger handicap to our economy will be the ever increasing regulation from socialist/green driven agendas and the worldwide conjob of carbon taxes, hopefully we might have the balls top follow the aussies who've just realised that without mining and coal their economy is toast and the long travel distances would wipe out small towns under carbon taxes.
Its pretty clear we are moving to a worldwide police state, the revenue will come from fines for breaching various climate/emmision/recycling laws. The jobs will be working as one of the brownshirts snooping on your neighbours to report them for these 'crimes'

Back to topic...

Getting charged tax on your imports isn't the worst thing, what's worse is when customs steals your shit and then sends a bullshit letter in the mail to justify the theft (they had no legal grounds to do so, the fucking thieving cunts). But that's a risk that has to be taken.

What FMOTM is when they do that, its too hard to ring or email and they only seem to go to the mailbox to post stuff once or twice a week going by date on letter when I had GST on some stuff once...

[Erelyes]

Its kind of sad that when you express an opinion its met with vituperation by someone intolerant of opposing opinions.

If you're going to use words like 'vituperation' then perhaps using apostrophes as well wouldn't go a miss


On topic, don't get me wrong RT I have nothing wrong with supporting local value-adders. For example persons such as yourself who have expertise, services etc that are worth something.

What grinds my gears is importing a box of sox and sticking 100% on the top with the justification 'buy local'.

Y'know, the whole 'Buy NZ Made' argument and stuff.

[Robert Taylor]

Funny aye think thats what the guy I quoted originally was trying to say to you in not so many words...



Lots of people care but know that its out of our control and a little online shopping isn't going to stem the tide. The bigger handicap to our economy will be the ever increasing regulation from socialist/green driven agendas and the worldwide conjob of carbon taxes, hopefully we might have the balls top follow the aussies who've just realised that without mining and coal their economy is toast and the long travel distances would wipe out small towns under carbon taxes.
Its pretty clear we are moving to a worldwide police state, the revenue will come from fines for breaching various climate/emmision/recycling laws. The jobs will be working as one of the brownshirts snooping on your neighbours to report them for these 'crimes'

Back to topic...



What FMOTM is when they do that, its too hard to ring or email and they only seem to go to the mailbox to post stuff once or twice a week going by date on letter when I had GST on some stuff once...

Im totally with you on the destructive affects of socialist agendas and the reality that global warming is a cyclical event largely not created by mankind. The Aussie economy has in part been wrecked by 6 years of such agendas.

My argument overall is that we need balance ( not protection in the old sense but balance )

[Robert Taylor]

I wasn't after a fuel pump, it was a rubber seal. The same sort of material that fuel hoses are made from. I didn't buy an OEM one in the end, I had it custom made by a guy who does that sort of thing. It's been about a year and hasn't leaked during that time.

Getting charged tax on your imports isn't the worst thing, what's worse is when customs steals your shit and then sends a bullshit letter in the mail to justify the theft (they had no legal grounds to do so, the fucking thieving cunts). But that's a risk that has to be taken.

I do agree with many of the things you've said, but it all comes down to one thing: Goods are often (but not always) extremely overpriced in NZ, and I (like most other people), simply cannot afford to pay exorbitant fees to support the local con men (retailers). It's a vicious cycle. Another thing is that I often can't even find what I want in NZ due to the small range of available products, so buying overseas is the only option in some cases.

It probably would have helped to have clarified that reality a little better. It would also have helped if the local dealer had recognised / acknowledged that maybe there was another way where a repair like you have mentioned could have been done locally at affordable cost.

We get letters from Customs as well for one offs and accept that as just a part of business.