You would have to be mad not to buy from the USA at the moment

[DesmoJohnny]

When a local supplier offers the goods for a reasonable price, I'll happily purchase from them.

Absoluetly right. I had to get some stuff the the bike recently. I could get everything from a main Ducati dealer in the UK, shipped to my door in less time and nearly $300 cheaper than quoted here !

Fair enough if I was buying parts here that the local dealers had purchased way back at a weaker dollar - but they had to order everything from Aus/Italy anyway - you wonder why people buy o/seas

[Sanx]

If I had the coin to buy some Ohlins gear (which I really want) then I would get it locally for one sole reason: I want backup and support on it.

On the other hand, the rear seat cowl for my Blade which arrived today from Honda Powersports of Crofton is not really an item which requires support. All up including delivery, it was NZ$220, or thereabouts. Compare that with $550; the price that my local Honda dealer quoted me (before apologising and going on about how Blue Wing Honda seems to think customer-raping is a hobby).

[orangeback]

>> You would have to be mad not to buy from the USA at the moment<<

Or you happen to believe in supporting local business.

im with moto girl with this one , as after living in the UK for a couple of years and seeing whats avalible over there, why should you have wait and fuck around at your local dealer , having them try to talk you into some thing they have in stock rather than what you've asked for , and when they do get it they sting you freight as well, I use to work in the MC trade about 9years ago and know it a verry hard one to make money due to being seasional and the NZ population , but theres always going to be people that wont take the risk of buying overseas and want to see before you buy,
What i find is that i couldnt go out and even buy a deacent set o brand name gloves localy (christchurch ) you only got the option on buying some Indian made no name shit .
If the bike shops are prepared to sell you the latest Rockship like Any of the (R ) range bikes. your more than likely want to look like Robocop to go with it , this is add on sales (just like, WOULD YOU LIKE FRIES WITH THAT ) SLOGAN. wake up there some real money to be made , if they are not to greedy , there's to many people with there hand in the pie , taking there 30% cut.
This i why i buy over seas
eg i pay retail for my alpinestar boots from the states
Tech 3 boots $159 USD
freight $40 USD
all up $199 USD
$199 USD = $252 NZD
Tech 3 Boot in NZ cost $399 plus freight if thay dont have them in stock (and thats 8 time out of 10)

[MotoGirl]

eg i pay retail for my alpinestar boots from the states
Tech 3 boots $159 USD
freight $40 USD
all up $199 USD
$199 USD = $252 NZD
Tech 3 Boot in NZ cost $399 plus freight if thay dont have them in stock (and that 8 time out of 10)

This is precisely why I get my stuff from the US too. I wear a size XS helmet and when I crashed my VTR, I needed a new helmet quickly so I could get back on a bike.

I went to my local (Shoei) bike shop and looked at what they had in stock. Typically there was only one in size XS and it was plain black

I'd seen a pretty Suomy race replica so asked them how much to land it and was told $1,000 and it'd take three months. I thought "bugger that!" so ordered it online, only paid $500 and it was here in five days. Go the USA!

[imdying]

If there's GST to pay, customs will let you know soon enough (i.e. you'll need to pay it before you pick up the parcel). If the value of the GST owing is less than $50 (i.e. the part and freight is worth less than $400NZD), they don't bother collecting it. Over that amount, they usually do, although things go through without hassles at times. If you're getting over the $400 mark, you would be wise to budget for it.

What's the story with GST on second things like forks though, that I don't know?

I check this out with customs.

As always, motorcycle parts incur no duty, the do however incur GST as I've described above, and yes, second hand parts also incur GST charges.

[Beemer]

I just bought one of my text books through Amazon and even with the air mail postage it was cheaper than buying it in NZ! Crazy!

[vamr]

Or you happen to believe in supporting local business.
[/B]

Bargain > premium.

[sunhuntin]

yep... its great! im searching for stuff for my collection which cant be bought here [ive looked] and the one ive just bought off ebay came in at less than $90NZD... i know it would sell on trademe for about $150-200NZD.

[vifferman]

As always, motorcycle parts incur no duty, the do however incur GST as I've described above, and yes, second hand parts also incur GST charges.

I haven't bought very much over the Interdweeb (although I have a stack of stuff sitting in Cairo, Noo Yahk at the moment), but I've never had to pay GST.

I usually buy most stuff locally if I can (especially clothes, boots, gloves, etc., so I can be sure it fits), but some things are nigh on impossible to obtain here, or ridiculously expensive. Example: APE Race Products - I bought some CCTs a few years back; they were US$49.95 each, and the only agent here quoted me $150 each for them, just for the privilege of placing the order and waiting four times as long. In the end, I got them plus a TPS (nearly $400 here, and 4 weeks ex-Japan) from a guy in the UK for a total of ~$300, in a week, delivered to my door.

I dunno about other brands, but almost invariably Honda parts are a case of, "Sorry - they're not in stock. They'll be 3 or 4 weeks, ex-Japan; you'll have to pay up front before we can order them." The worst example were cush rubbers for my rear hub - they were "at least 3 months, indent, as there's not even any in Japan. When there are enough orders, they'll make some." After nearly 6 months of patiently waiting, I discovered they hadn't even ordered them, despite my deposit !
So, I cancelled the order, and got them from Service Honda or AZ Motosports, less than a third of the price, ex-stock, less than a week.

I won't buy any Honda parts locally now, unless they're heavy items like chains. If BlueWing Honda and their dealers can't be bothered stocking common items like brake caliper seals, why should I give them my custom? Fukkem.

[shafty]

yep... its great! im searching for stuff for my collection which cant be bought here [ive looked] and the one ive just bought off ebay came in at less than $90NZD... i know it would sell on trademe for about $150-200NZD.

What do you collect?

[imdying]

I dunno about other brands, but almost invariably Honda parts are a case of, "Sorry - they're not in stock. They'll be 3 or 4 weeks, ex-Japan; you'll have to pay up front before we can order them." The worst example were cush rubbers for my rear hub - they were "at least 3 months, indent, as there's not even any in Japan. When there are enough orders, they'll make some." After nearly 6 months of patiently waiting, I discovered they hadn't even ordered them, despite my deposit !
So, I cancelled the order, and got them from Service Honda or AZ Motosports, less than a third of the price, ex-stock, less than a week.

I won't buy any Honda parts locally now, unless they're heavy items like chains. If BlueWing Honda and their dealers can't be bothered stocking common items like brake caliper seals, why should I give them my custom? Fukkem.

That is disgusting. As Casbolts is the only Honda dealer in Christchurch (and Ducati), they're totally off my radar. Fortunately, Graheme can't live forever... there's a blade in my future hopefully.

[geoffm]

BMW parts must be some of the worst. Suzuki seem to charge the same around the world, at least for RG gearbox parts...
BMW on the other hand seem to like ripping the NZ customer. I can land parts from Siebenrock in Germany for 2/3 the cost and in less than 3 weeks. BMW NZ never has stock, order from Germany and it takes 3 weeks.
A fork staunchion - $NZ900 in NZ, $350 from Germany when I priced them before. THat is genuine parts, brand new. A mirror assembly was 2/3 the cost in Germany, but unfortunately I had to have one NOW for a WoF, so had to pay the NZ premium.
With parts fiches online these days at placed like bikebandit.com (for jappas) and realoem.com (BMW) and in my archives, you can get the part numbers and exploded diagram easy enough, which makes ordering from overseas easy.
I will pay a small premium for NZ support, but when there is no support, no in stock parts and a longer wait, then why bother? Of course, when the local parts guy suggests getting stuff from Motobins in the UK because that is what he does, that is a sign that the local importers are ripping everyone off...
Geoff
Geoff

[MotoGirl]

Of course, when the local parts guy suggests getting stuff from Motobins in the UK because that is what he does, that is a sign that the local importers are ripping everyone off...

It's interesting you say that. When I was looking at replacement gear, the girl at the local bike shop suggested I look at importing it because it's so expensive here. Mind you, she was a pom and used to getting things for a reasonable price!

[Brian d marge]

One thing to bear in mind is that NZ imports from many countrys , as a few have found out , yes Honda /kawasaki make a xyz , but if its not a Jap made one there wont be spares here for them
So unless you are SURE xyz from a abc bike fits yours ( experienced storeperson worth wieght in gold here) then buying spares can be a bit fraught ,,,

Though older bike and places such as David Silver spares ,,should know what goes where !

Postage is also another thing ,,,I bought a graphics kit ,,50 us dollars ,,,postage ..2kg something like that ...50 us OUCH ,,,,

Stephen

[Waylander]

>> You would have to be mad not to buy from the USA at the moment<<

Or you happen to believe in supporting local business.

With Motogirl on this one mate.

Having a rebuilt stator for my bike shipped to me for $150 to my door. A New one is close to $500 and a used one from a wrecker would have run me $250
Hell man, the new fork springs and exhaust I want I can get for nearly half what the local suppliers are gonna charge me.