Importing a new bike?

[duckonin]

Yep there is a need to shop around, last week I did just that one dealer, quoted $500 for front and rear White wall tires fitted inclusive of GST another could not obtain them, and a distributor of tires from Hamilton wanted $330 for front and $390 for the rear plus gst, plus 20 of each had to be purchased to make it worthwhile for them to bring them into the country big difference here..
White walls are the same price as equivelant black tires in the states and other countries..
With the way the dollar is most can get their own in way cheaper than you can buy them here from rip off pricks, there is such a thing as making a dollar in business but do they have to ripp us all off so they can buy another holiday batch with the boat on a mooring at Pauanui or maybe Whangamata, to increase their egos...

[Robert Taylor]

Yep there is a need to shop around, last week I did just that one dealer, quoted $500 for front and rear White wall tires fitted inclusive of GST another could not obtain them, and a distributor of tires from Hamilton wanted $330 for front and $390 for the rear plus gst, plus 20 of each had to be purchased to make it worthwhile for them to bring them into the country big difference here..
White walls are the same price as equivelant black tires in the states and other countries..
With the way the dollar is most can get their own in way cheaper than you can buy them here from rip off pricks, there is such a thing as making a dollar in business but do they have to ripp us all off so they can buy another holiday batch with the boat on a mooring at Pauanui or maybe Whangamata, to increase their egos...

I do rather suspect an ''us and them'' mentality here, not everyone is tarred with the same brush, be they a distributor, dealer or end consumer. Notwithstanding any simplistic arguments and perceptions about distributor margins the other factor that has to be taken into account is that our disposable income has been seriously eroded by the perverse self serving agendas of successive governments. That is exactly why Kiwis are so price conscious.

There needs to be a level playing field in all corners of society and business.

[Tony.OK]

I buy quite a bit from overseas if it works out cheaper than from here,I allow getting pinged by customs as well and am also amazed at how it still works out cheaper to buy from a retailer overseas,our NZ distributors are buying from wholesalers so how much margin are they taking?The retailers here work with a fairly small margin,so I don't blame them for trying to make a living.

I know some ppl keep their prices at a very good level,like Robert Taylor,but also offers excellent service and backup,when it comes to paying a small premium for added service and backup I'd go local every time.
Trouble is,in my opinion,alot of bussinesses haven't cottoned onto this way of bussiness.

Just my 2c

[YellowDog]

"when it comes to paying a small premium for added service and backup I'd go local every time."

I am with you on that one Tony.

I really don't think that the odd set of white wall tyres at a high price is going to fund the exclusive bach :-)

Looking at the high cost of borrowing money, I would imagine that being in business with significant overheads is pretty tough. The American dealer pays around 4% less for his cashflow.

My observation is that the way of the world is High volume with Small margin. NZ seems to be the other way around. May be this is because it has a small population?

I can understand the white wall tyres situation however the higher end motorbike market should not be so expensive as the distribution network just needs to be the appropriate size.

Probably out of my depth here. A very good comment was made earlier about the world getting smaller for us all. I think this is a real issue. I saw a website advertised a local USA delivery service for NZ. You pay $25 a year and for that get a USA delivery address. eBay is nothing like TradeMe as it is geared for buyers and not for sellers. This problem is not going to go away and is likely to get worse.

[Reckless]

I buy quite a bit from overseas if it works out cheaper than from here,I allow getting pinged by customs

Customs level is $400-00 incl freight before you attract GST etc. So $399-00 is free, $401-00 you pay GST on the whole amount not just the extra dollar. Sometimes it is well worth splitting your order and paying for 2 deliveries at $380-00. Like, go onto (in my case) Z power aussy. Buy clutch kit and a few other bits being careful not to exceed $400 incl freight. Then two days later go back on and get seat strap, throttle cables etc. As long as freight doesn't make this silly, you can in most cases save the GST as well.
Sorry Robert the above will probably piss you off even more, but as far as I'm aware there is no "us and them mentality", we really appreciate your position, but the economics and ease of overseas purchase are getting too great not to consider it as an option. You may have to put more pressure on your suppliers to give you better deals. The difference for me is not "haha i got one over the NZ shops" but represents being able to take my kids MX'ing an extra time or two with the savings I made. As said previously, its not like we are getting special deals, we are buying in most cases at full USA retail. The longer your suppliers let this go on and we start having good relationships with overseas suppliers, we then start to get discounts on top of it all as well. A Kawasaki supplier just gave me 4 complete brand new indicators for my Z1R for $50-00 USD (that's not each but for all of them). I only wanted the lenses. I also always take the time to email that I have received the package and thank them for their effort.
I agree with the previous comment, with more and more computer savvy buyers this will only get worse! As we can see! people are starting to buy complete bikes now!

[Tony.OK]

Customs level is $400-00 incl freight before you attract GST etc. So $399-00 is free, $401-00 you pay GST on the whole amount not just the extra dollar.

Oh,I thought it was 150NZD.Thats interesting,internet here I come hahaa.
There is also the case of many products simply not being available in little ole NZ.

[Robert Taylor]

Oh,I thought it was 150NZD.Thats interesting,internet here I come hahaa.
There is also the case of many products simply not being available in little ole NZ.

Everyone on this thread has forwarded valid and in many ways understandable arguments. Irrespective of whos making huge margins, who isnt, the cost of opening ones doors etc how do we protect jobs in NZ?

Because the bigger picture is that this does in a very real way affect job security

[Reckless]

Everyone on this thread has forwarded valid and in many ways understandable arguments. Irrespective of whos making huge margins, who isnt, the cost of opening ones doors etc how do we protect jobs in NZ?

Because the bigger picture is that this does in a very real way affect job security

And I understand and also accept your point on this matter.
It is a bit of a catch 22 and I think I can speak for us all, that we feel more than a little guilty sometimes when we bypass the "buy NZ" thing.
Maybe you should point your suppliers, importers and even the overseas manufacturers at this thread. It is fairlly well balanced, and reflects quite well the feelings of purchasers in this country.
Cheers Rob have a good day!

[zx10ruser]

i have a contact who can ship 4 approx $450usd ($580nzd at current currency) but usually takes a few months if you dont mind waiting. He can pick up within i think 150miles of the ports in LA 4 $150

[PeteJ]

A couple of little points:

1. Compare very carefully the alternative pricings. My newest 3 bikes were cheaper in NZ at retail than overseas, and in the case of the ones sold in the USA were specced differently from (actually, better than) the USA.

2. On shipping cost: our bike shop airfreights bikes in from the USA at not much more than the $1700 you have been quoted. Again, check like with like. Ours are brought in CKD, but they are bloody heavy.

[Robert Taylor]

And I understand and also accept your point on this matter.
It is a bit of a catch 22 and I think I can speak for us all, that we feel more than a little guilty sometimes when we bypass the "buy NZ" thing.
Maybe you should point your suppliers, importers and even the overseas manufacturers at this thread. It is fairlly well balanced, and reflects quite well the feelings of purchasers in this country.
Cheers Rob have a good day!

Just another point I have thought about. Respective authorised distributors spend considerable amounts on advertising and infrastructure. Small time ''parasite'' importers spend very little if anything so effectively they are being subsidised.

There are many points for and against but my point is the issue is not as black and white as many people beleive.

[YellowDog]

Yes, somewhere down the line there will be a happy compromise. I have done a deal I am happy with at an NZ dealer. Whilst I will be paying around $3k more than importing, I would rather pay more for the local service.

Thanks to everyone for their contribution to this thread. It has all been very helpful. Having been about to place an order, I now need to have surgery ion my knee, so I will have to wait a little longer (and so will the dealer).