Lets go Brandon
No ... it doesn't. But it wont stop them believing the average biker wanting bit's for their pride and joy ... are deliberately shafting THEM by buying online.
It is my belief ... the actual meaning of the word "Service" was lost in translation many years ago. Don't count on it's return to popular use anytime soon. In fact ... if you find/have a place that DOES give good service ... post about it in these forums. A thread of it's own maybe ...
When life throws you a curve ... Lean into it ...
Neither would I. A few years ago when personal computers were not commonplace ... we had no choice. They are now and there is a choice.
Will this force parts departments to become a thing of the past soon ???
Exactly. Another reason Parts departments will be a thing of the past. Neither the business OR the punter will be able to afford to keep or use it.
Most prefer to try a helmet on BEFORE buying it. I have seen posts on here about buying one online and it not fitted properly. The same issue can be found with some clothing too. Those that choose this method of purchase ... be it on their own head.
When life throws you a curve ... Lean into it ...
There is only speed if it's in stock.
It seams a reality now .... if you intend to do an engine rebuild ... or replace major parts on a vehicle ... you buy the parts online before you start. It's often refered to as good planning.
In essence ... we are the cause of the systems demise and issues. Buy local or it will cost more ... take longer ... and/or we lose it entirely.
Be it on our own heads ...
When life throws you a curve ... Lean into it ...
I heard straight from the mouth of someone who used to be part of the family owned Suzuki NZ (before it was acquired by Suzuki Japan), that on some of the higher ticket price parts, Suzuki put up to 300% mark-up on them.
I try to support the NZ motorcycle industry as much as I can too (it makes sense for me to do so) but even I have bought items from overseas that would have been considerably dearer if purchased here.
Just to share a little light in a darkish thread.
After my Ducati was knocked over in the carpark at work a few years ago I was keen to get it back on the road. The last holdup was a replacement handlebar. There would be a delay for the Ducati part. I asked the shop to order the appropriate Renthal bar. I was in the shop after work so it was closing time but they put a call through to the agent. The woman there explained that they were closing but she would stay behind and get one packed so it would go on the courier that night.
I was grateful because that meant the following day I got my bike back. Service 'above and beyond' is unusual but it does exist.
There is a grey blur, and a green blur. I try to stay on the grey one. - Joey Dunlop
Globally, Arai helmets are a big player. They sponsor racers, and they make good kit. I have one (which I ended up buying from Straya because you guessed it you cant get the full range here). Literally no one stocks any Arai helmets here (Chch). I have seen them on the shelf at Motomail I think but that is the only place that has them.
One place said "tell me what you want and I can try and order it for you" "try". Hell with that.
I thought elections were decided by angry posts on social media. - F5 Dave
Huh? We're the cause of an importer charging excessive amounts for airfreight? The cause of dealers charging 3 times the price of a product? If I'm missing something please shed some light.
I worked at a Honda dealer years ago, people that walked in off the street we didn't know who wanted bearings got sold the Honda stock. People the other staff knew got the bearing number and sent down to SKC (I think it was) to buy the exact same bearing for 1/3 the price. This was in 1996/7.
My contact at the dealership for this particular part I'm after fully understood I'm not trying to 'shaft them' by buying online. He said for $600 less it made no sense for me to buy it from them even though I want to support them. His words.
Which sucks, because I like dealing with them.
Very true. I've worked in car sales for years and every client that walked onto my yard gets acknowledged within 3-4mins. Even if I was on a phone call or dealing with another client eye contact was made along a simple sign of acknowledgement.
I bought my first Arai from Hamilton Motorcycle Centre, they are not currently advertising Arai. One of the shops in New Plymouth did stock them but these days they are big on HJC. The other one I have was on 'sale' in the USA, @ about half NZ price.
The New Plymouth shop that had them sold one to Sensei, a former KBer. One of the side pods broke, he took it back and was told there was no warranty. He phoned the importer and IIRC the part arrived promptly, and free of charge.
There is a grey blur, and a green blur. I try to stay on the grey one. - Joey Dunlop
I was pleasantly surprised buying parts when I had my yamaha(s), it was near enough the same price to buy through the local dealer ex aussie in a couple of days as it was to buy from overseas, hence they continued to get my business.
Parts for my euro cars all come from overseas, as in general the local OEM parts people are thieving bastards, then again so are Toyota and Honda dealers.
I tried to get a spare key for my merc while I was in the US as they cost US$150 there, as opposed to $800 from the chch dealer, but they aren't allowed to code keys for cars outside their country presumably to prevent people doing exactly what I was trying to do and sidestep the local dealer.
We have had the same situation at work buying gear, where we can't buy direct and have to go through the local agent, who in turn buys from someone else, who buys from someone else, who buys from someone else....so something that would cost you $200 direct from the manufacturer ends up costing $1000+ by the time it turns up at the office. We also now have a couple of 'agents' overseas who are quite happy to take delivery of things purchased directly, and then send them on to NZ.
Riding cheap crappy old bikes badly since 1987
Tagorama maps: Transalpers map first 100 tags..................Map of tags 101-200......................Latest map, tag # 201-->
That's crazy. I've bought a couple Arai helmets in Japan on trips there and once at my local Arai agent in ChCh they noticed a broken pod. I said I knew of it but as I had bought it overseas I'd pay for it myself. Nope, was told it was part of being an Arai agent, it didn't matter where you bought it from they'd sort it.
....maybe that's why less businesses are carrying Arai now....?
If everybody had to buy vehicle parts from a licensed dealer ... I'm pretty sure the prices would come down at most dealerships. Those that didn't would charge more to pay their (other) bills. If the need for an import license was required again ... the prices may not be as they used to be ... but there would be more dealerships about. Competition does wonders for the average punter in regards to prices charged. At present it's a "Take it or leave it" ... BUT ... You STILL have that option. Support the firms that support you. Make NO apology about it ... if that wont/can't happen either.
A business that supported those that supported them. As it should/could be.
Of course they understand ... they cannot say otherwise. They have bills to pay too. But ... If THEY buy their parts from the SAME outfit's that sell cheaper ... would THEY sell them cheaper than current high prices ... or do they (are they) buying cheap and selling at the inflated prices ???
Are the dealers locked into buying ex Japan ... ???
When life throws you a curve ... Lean into it ...
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