Supporting local dealers

[JimO]

yea those dealers are cunts having those big buildings full of bikes, helmets, riding gear, boots, storerooms full of widgits that someone may buy one day, staff hanging about so we have someone to talk bullshit to when we have half a hour to fill in, fuckim i say lets hope they all go out of buisness and we can buy everything on ebay

[toycollector10]

Clutch friction discs and 4 springs...One third of the cost quoted by the local dealer, and that's landed cost from David Silver Spares in the U.K.

So that's the side of the fence I'm on boys.

But remember, it can all go horribly wrong when buying online. I have a story to tell (maybe) but I'll see how it all pans out before I comment. I'm on two forums, one U.K. based and one U.S.A. based and there are regular posts about lying, stealing, corrupt bastard eBay sellers...

[Tank]

yea those dealers are cunts having those big buildings full of bikes, helmets, riding gear, boots, storerooms full of widgits that someone may buy one day, staff hanging about so we have someone to talk bullshit to when we have half a hour to fill in, fuckim i say lets hope they all go out of buisness and we can buy everything on ebay

Sigh.... You put forward an argument, although a very simplistic one, poorly structured and crass - But I see where you are going.

The truth of the matter is that most people dont mind paying a fair price from a dealer. Heck - I got a bike, a $500 helmet, jacket, boots, tro all thru dealers and was more than happy paying for the goods - and I was happy with the price / service.

So assuming that the piss isnt been taken by one of the parties - the model works and everyone is happy - its what's called a win-win. I win because I get the goods I want at a fair price. The dealer is happy because they make some $$$ to pay for all the items you mention.

But when the piss is being taken - like almost 1k for a sissybar, that is simply a rebranded item (so no R+D, marketing, tooling etc required by Suzuki) it becomes a lose - lose.

I lose because I dont get to support my local dealer, and have to go buy elsewhere. The dealership loses because they dont get my money. Should they have been making a reasonable markup (say 100%) then I would have paid my $$$ and walked away happy.

Now that I have been looking on cruisercustomising.com I have found other items that I will probably end up buying off them. V+H pipes for example I was always going to buy off a local dealer - but now I can see how I can save $500 having them shipped.

but it goes further - now I have found watch a fantastic amount of savings I have found on this and other sites - Ill keep recommending them to others.

Who ends up being hurt worst in the long run?

Well - I lose the connivence of having the bike shop at the end of the street, but I end up with a nicer bike, and save $$$ for other things - like a riding holiday. I can still buy bikes locally, and have them serviced - so my impact is not that large.

The dealers - well they go broke.

Now - I also want to clarify - This is not a dig at Holshot - I have found them fantastic in every dealing I have had with them - Jamie as I mentioned above is the man and I would happily recommend anyone to buy a bike from there. I actually called Suzuki Head office about this to give them my views on the subject (Being that the pricing is set by them NOT HOLSHOT) - They simply didnt care.

[heyjoe]

Totally agree with Tank's comments. That is the way it is. It is more feasible to buy aftermarket parts ex overseas at that place or similar. Even after conversion, freight costs and any other Govt fees, it still works out a better price by far. There is only one outcome that will be selected.

[Headbanger]

The way I see it, If I had to pay local dealer prices...I simply wouldn't buy anything, so no lose to them when I buy from overseas.

Recently purchased a Mikuni carb, an ignition, and an Andrews cam, all for less then just the carb if purchased locally.

[breakaway]

+1 Agree with tank.

I'll be fucked if I'm going to pay $300 for a screen from a local retailer. I went ebay whoring and found one for $30 landed.

[MaxB]

What I dont get is why dealers will not use other dealers overseas for the routine parts plus say 30% for their trouble?

I get electronics parts like this all the time. The retailer brings stuff in for me, adds a mark up and I pay. For mine I am happy to pay for someone else to do it 'cos the time saved means I can be on another job.

[JMemonic]

I actually called Suzuki Head office about this to give them my views on the subject (Being that the pricing is set by them NOT HOLSHOT) - They simply didnt care.

I think that is the crux of the matter, unfortunately.

Another problem is the local dealer sometimes has to buy items like this off the Australasian agent who adds a mark up over and above the factory price, if foe example a product is made in oh say the USA there is possibly an agent for the Asia-pacific market who the appoints and Australian agent who also has the little market of New Zealand too, at each of these points there is a handling fee or what ever you want to call it, (rip off sounds good), where as the dealer on the net from the USA is either buying direct or from a cheap local agent, less hands it passes through means less mark up, sometimes it not the dealer. Unfortunately this is not always the case.

[Nade]

hmmm....I have discovered that a local MC dealer here buys some of his parts NOT from his parent company distributer...but from off the net at markedly cheaper rates....and then still charges the same price as tho the part came from his distributer. Im sure this is technically BAD, especially if the company that he is franchised from found out. Add this to his slack service and out right dangerous practices....like putting a directional front tire on BACKWARDS, that was rated for a no bigger than 600cc bike and fitted it to a 1200 Guzzi, then blaming his apprentice...or supposidly fitting a new air filter to a bike but when checked the filter disintergrated upon being touched...so was knowen not to have been changed....doing seals on front forks in a triumph daytona, and using kawasaki seals, after being told by the customer that he wanted genuine triumph parts even if the kawa ones were the same size.....supposidly shimming the same triumph but upon further inspection by another mechanic found the original fucked shims still in place....and the list goes on...it makes me wonder how people like him manage to stay in business.

[BiK3RChiK]

I think that there is a lot more to it than that.

(all in Kiwi $)

Lets say that the guy selling the part in the US is making 100% profit.

His buy price would be $145.

Assuming that the Kiwi dealer pays double (allowing for less buying power and shipping) he is paying $290 (And I think I am being generous here)

So paying $290 and selling at $965 he is making 332% profit.

With the way $NZ is now compared to $US I thought it was cheaper to import at the mo.... Appears not!

M

[JimO]

Sigh.... You put forward an argument, although a very simplistic one, poorly structured and crass - But I see where you are going.

The truth of the matter is that most people dont mind paying a fair price from a dealer. Heck - I got a bike, a $500 helmet, jacket, boots, tro all thru dealers and was more than happy paying for the goods - and I was happy with the price / service.

So assuming that the piss isnt been taken by one of the parties - the model works and everyone is happy - its what's called a win-win. I win because I get the goods I want at a fair price. The dealer is happy because they make some $$$ to pay for all the items you mention.

But when the piss is being taken - like almost 1k for a sissybar, that is simply a rebranded item (so no R+D, marketing, tooling etc required by Suzuki) it becomes a lose - lose.

I lose because I dont get to support my local dealer, and have to go buy elsewhere. The dealership loses because they dont get my money. Should they have been making a reasonable markup (say 100%) then I would have paid my $$$ and walked away happy.

Now that I have been looking on cruisercustomising.com I have found other items that I will probably end up buying off them. V+H pipes for example I was always going to buy off a local dealer - but now I can see how I can save $500 having them shipped.

but it goes further - now I have found watch a fantastic amount of savings I have found on this and other sites - Ill keep recommending them to others.

Who ends up being hurt worst in the long run?

Well - I lose the connivence of having the bike shop at the end of the street, but I end up with a nicer bike, and save $$$ for other things - like a riding holiday. I can still buy bikes locally, and have them serviced - so my impact is not that large.

The dealers - well they go broke.

Now - I also want to clarify - This is not a dig at Holshot - I have found them fantastic in every dealing I have had with them - Jamie as I mentioned above is the man and I would happily recommend anyone to buy a bike from there. I actually called Suzuki Head office about this to give them my views on the subject (Being that the pricing is set by them NOT HOLSHOT) - They simply didnt care.

i dont give a rats backside where you buy your "sissy bar" just dont complain next time you want something from the local guy and he aint there.........poorly structured and crass......fuck off professor

[koba]

Anything made in NZ I give a fair price premium to, I this thing is tho.
I make stuff like that 'coz its usually such a ripoff.

I have seen tank protecter sticke things for $70is at wellington motorcycles.
Its a farken sticker!

I don't support stealerships much either....

[koba]

i dont give a rats backside where you buy your "sissy bar" just dont complain next time you want something from the local guy and he aint there.........poorly structured and crass......fuck off professor

Someone will be there aslong as there is a market.

Fair comment if somthings made here, but importing stuff at $X and selling it at $Y is hardly valuable, irreplacable skill.

[Okey Dokey]

Not in little old Blenheim! I bet I know who you mean, too, Nade. It does make you wonder how they carry on, doesn't it?

[Tank]

i dont give a rats backside where you buy your "sissy bar" just dont complain next time you want something from the local guy and he aint there.........poorly structured and crass......fuck off professor

The poorly structured bit was tongue in cheek - the crass comment stands ;-)

You are missing the point - I WOULD prefer to use them, but only if they are fair. If they are not fair - then I couldn't give a rats if they are there or not - Id be buying everything from overseas anyway - so the impact is nothing to me.

So a question for you: You drop your bike (hope it dosnt happen btw) - you crack your wing mirror. You go for a WOF, fail because of the mirror and their are none available second hand.

You go to your local dealer and they tell you that you can have a new mirror (that they will bring in for you) - but its $1000 (which is funnily enough the in the ball park of the sissybar).

You have a wife, kids, and the mortgage that goes with it. You have work that needs to be done on the house, the dog needs to go to the vet, and you need to pay $4000 for the dental treatment you have been paying for your youngest.


Would you:

1. Pay the $1000 happily thinking that you got a good price?
2. Pay the $1000 but think you were ripped off?
3. Buy the exact same item overseas for $250 landed and delivered to your door in the same time that the dealer could do it?
4. Pay the $1000 thinking you were ripped off but pay it happily knowing that the extra $750 help support a local dealer

So JimJim - what would it be?