To import bike gear or not?

[Robert Taylor]

Ah the beautiful logic of capitalism - right or wrong is of no concern - the Market will decide. Godbye Mom and Pop operations, hello Big Corporates.
For the size on NZ we can expect maybe two (hopefully for competition sake) centrally located large importers of motorcycle accessories?
Not good, probably inevitable?

Broadly I have to agree with you. I tend to think most capitalists ( small and medium business ) are by and large reasonable people. If we talk the most extreme forms of capitalism eg the oil barons then yes they are a pack of uncaring money grabbing bastards. In the same breath as talking money grabbing bastards we are also talking about quasi communist Governments such as this outgoing one we have here. I.e they are just as bad as the big multi nationals.
There is no balance in what is going on. I support those who actually do something for our local economy.

[Robert Taylor]

And for those of you complaining about the mark up - do you actually know how much it costs to run a business? Perhaps you'd be better off buying your helmet from a guy flogging them off out of his car boot out in the pub carpark.

That reinforces the point I was trying to make. I have seen a good number of people starting up motorcycle shops.....''we are going to make a sh..load of money and do it a lot better than that other guy'' A great many of them fold because they just have no idea of the real and hidden costs.

[ynot slow]

Minimum 100%???

Retail shop I last worked in(less than 2 mths ago)wholesale price(ex gst)multiplied by 2.1.$1000 ex gst w/s was $2100 inc gst.

Benefit with local guys like Quasi and Robert is one damn word,SERVICE.You ask a question on their product they give an answer,if you don't agree with them go elsewhere.The question you ask could take say 30 min of their time($60p/hr)has cost them say $30 or more,multiply that by say 10 customers per week and that is $3-400 in lost income/revenue.It is called product knowledge.

I think the web is great for info,hell I got my leather gear off Brett simply by clicking his website after seeing his sale items,at least if they were bad sizing easy fix,I looked at some closeout gloves in the states,$25 usa but add another $30usa freight and closer to $75nz landed.Priced some alpinestars on same site they were $185usa and $30 freight and on sale in NZ for $275 on trade me from a bike outlet.

[Katman]

Retail shop I last worked in(less than 2 mths ago)wholesale price(ex gst)multiplied by 2.1.$1000 ex gst w/s was $2100 inc gst.

In that case, motorcycle businesses make a considerably lower mark-up than whatever that retail shop you worked in did.

[MadDuck]

And btw, another liquidator walked in yesterday on a major franchised dealer in Auckland. Internet puchases will in no small way be contributing to such.

Its not just bike shops and franchised dealers going 'belly-up' at the moment....but nice little dig in an attempt to strengthen your argument without providing the true facts in relation to this particular business.

[Dodgy]

NZ is a funny old market and I can see it from both sides.

As a 'retailer' we recently tried to purchased some new phones for the NZ market. The conversation with the manufacturer went like this

'We want some of model xyz phones'
'How many you want??'
'Thirty thousand...'
'What, thirty thousand a week?'
'No...., thirty thousand'

click.....

'Hello??'

Our purchase size was not even worth him getting out of bed for...


If I know exactly what I want, and I do not want a relationship with my local dealer, I see no problem at all with buying online and saving some wad. Some retailers add absolutely no value and you, the consumer is typically better informed that the cretin behind the counter. aka Harvey Norman

The flip side is that I have just purchased and received a new power amp costing $15k. Now, I may have been able to strike a better deal online, but I value the long term relationship with the importer and dealer. And and the amp weighs 65kg, I have let them deal with all the dramas of customs and freight.

For me it is a case of the opportunity cost with each transaction. If there is value (either tangible or non tangible), then I am happy to pay more $$

Like with you Robert. I have no doubt that I could get a shiny new shock online cheaper. But you offer so much more than that shiny shock, you offer a service and relationship around that, which is a real value add. And that is worth more to me than say a 15% saving on the upfront cost...

[Quasievil]

This is going around in circles people, the fact is, there ISNT alot of money in the bike business thats a FACT, people buy offshore for a wide range of reasons, that also is a FACT. End of the day those in the business have a justified attitude to those buying of shore, why wouldnt we, and conversly those consumers that cant get what they want in NZ buy offshore.
Not much can be done about it eh?

The underlying fact of the matter is that if motorcycle business had more business they could do more for the local market.........that again is a FACT, and that would be in a range of ways, ie more buying power from higher sales then lower prices, more sponsorship for riders, lots of stuff.

Only one debating team here has the power to adjust the situation and it aint the bike shops unfortunetly

Shit I still have a Job and so does Mrs Quasi, if there was good money in QUASiMOTO I wouldnt be bloody working would I.

But thats the enviroment we live in, global, so no point crying about it eh.

[scott411]

Its not just bike shops and franchised dealers going 'belly-up' at the moment....but nice little dig in an attempt to strengthen your argument without providing the true facts in relation to this particular business.

I know who Robert is talking about as well, but i do not think its fair to bring it up online, and i suspect Robert thinks the same,

[Sollyboy]

Thats a simplistic and very ineloquent view, what is also dissappointing is that it tars retailers and importers all with the same brush. That is unfair.

I dont include you as one of the rip offs as the back up you gave me far exceeded the cost of buying locally but your idea of service and cost/benefit ratio far exceeds the usual NZ standard so dont get offend, the only complaint I have about you Robert is you wear your pants too high and it makes you look like a nerd

[Dodgy]

I just think that the consumer is more empowered and has more choice these days (and too easy access to credit!!)

And we are all consumers even bike shop retailers.

In the old days, when I was a teenager, I had little choice. I scrimped and saved and had my heart set on an Arai helmet. Walk into my local Wellington Motorcycles, where the guy behind the counter happily took my money and ordered my helmet. I was quite specific in my size, model and colour scheme

Problem was the cunt thought he was clever and ordered me the lower spec model in the colour I wanted and insisted it was the Quantum. He thought that as a spotty teenager I would simply lump it and accept it. I went and purchased a mag with a full page Arai ad and showed him what we had agreed to and I had ordered. More yelling and finally he told me to come back at the end of the and get a refund.

These days I have a lot more $$$ and that same sad cunt still works there. I buy Suzuki OEM stuff from Turnbulls instead. As a liberated and mature customer, I have never had any more $$ pass over the counter while he is behind it, I buy bikes and accessories elsewhere.

Dont know the point I was trying to make, other than I value and pay more for excellent service. Try to screw me over tho...

[Robert Taylor]

I dont include you as one of the rip offs as the back up you gave me far exceeded the cost of buying locally but your idea of service and cost/benefit ratio far exceeds the usual NZ standard so dont get offend, the only complaint I have about you Robert is you wear your pants too high and it makes you look like a nerd

I am a nerd! My wife and daughters tell me!

[Robert Taylor]

I know who Robert is talking about as well, but i do not think its fair to bring it up online, and i suspect Robert thinks the same,

Exactly, the longer you are in business the more you know the signs. I was edgy only a short while ago about giving the operation concerned credit on a not insubstanial value of goods. My concerns as it turned out were justified, luckily I executed payment by other means.
It is heartening that there are many who have posted on this thread who have a balanced perspective in that they will deal locally if they get excellent service at reasonable prices.
Others have condemned corporate multi national capitalism and that is also fair as these bodies have nothing but self interest and are prepared to ride roughshod over anything no matter how it ravages the living quality of the everyday man in the street. But are those who also scour the world for the cheapest possible prices free from a measure of similiar criticism of putting their own self interest before the common good of their country ? Okay, thats probably a bit harsh but I think about this long and hard, what damage it is doing to this country.
And yes, fair call, a lot of businesses and employees need a real reality check about being motivated, committed and knowledgable of their product. That can be a compounding problem though, if the returns arent there then you can only pay peanuts....

[Pussy]

I am a nerd! My wife and daughters tell me!

Listen to the girls, RT!!

As far as dealing locally goes, for the amount I seem to spend on suspension, I'm buggered if I'm going to take my forks etc to the US (or some other overseas place) to get custom modifying work done on them to my tastes, when it's all available here, with superb back-up.

[Sparky Bills]

These threads always winde me up soo much...

Soo many people THINK they know how this industry works.
Let me tell you... Reading the posts on this thread. Proves that many of you are just repeating what you have heard or read somewhere. And no offence but I only see a few on here who have a clue about whats really going on.

Take from that what you will. Cry me a river even. Boo Hoo and all that other crap.
The industry isnt perfect, but its not exactly terrible either.

Did you know that Shoei helmets cost more in Oz...?
$1250 in Oz for an X-spirit (they call them X Eleven's) $999 here.
OH MY GOD!!! WHAT RIP OFFS!!!

Alpinestars Race Rep Suits.... 2500 Euro....
But sell for $3500 here. You do the math.

[Pussy]

Shoeis are even MORE expensive in Pomgolia, too, relatively speaking