Buying from the States?

[Owl]

I get ramdomly pinged with import duties. Its 12.5 gst and 12.5 import duties. Its at customs discretion as to what they apply and when they apply it. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

But all my parts and riding gear, like all my ICONS stuff, comes from the US. Its funny how my ICON Airframe Helmet valued at $310US slipped through tax free but my ICON Armoured Vest valued at $100US actual cost got pinged.

You're just unlucky then Sly, cause that makes no sense. Either that or you're just getting tucked! Here's a quote from Custom's website:
"No revenue collection will be made if the total amount owing on the goods imported is less than $50. This revenue waiver does not apply to alcohol or tobacco products".

I've been hit with GST a couple of times, but never a seperate duty.

[Robert Taylor]

Hey, well done. You must be rapt. Jobs not easy to come by at the moment.

Yes thats exactly right, how many NZ workers have lost their jobs because of offshore internet sales?

[nallac]

Yes thats exactly right, how many NZ workers have lost their jobs because of offshore internet sales?

Or a poor exchange rate coupled with the recession.....

25 happening at my work due to the above reasons..

[Robert Taylor]

Or a poor exchange rate coupled with the recession.....

25 happening at my work due to the above reasons..

The exchange rate should best suit exporters, not importers.

[nallac]

The exchange rate should best suit exporters, not importers.

Yes i fully understand that.
But a low exchange rate does not always help average joe new zealander.
High export prices effect our everyday prices for dairy products, seafood ,wood etc.


Good for some not for all...

[Hailwood]

well my screen ordered from American Sports Bike arrived in less than a week direct to my door....cant buy one here so internet order......Robert what was I meant to do? Go to my dealer and see if he can order one for me via internet and get stung with his markup as well? Sometimes Internet is the only way to get stuff.....

[Quasievil]

I get most of my stuff from newenough.com i bought one item and with the postage it was over the $400 or so dollars it was not to bad the extra but had a chat to customs and they are pretty reasonable and sometimes let a bit of stuff through, but this was quiet a bit over, so i got caught out...bummer but it fitted great, it would have cost me the extra to drive to a city find a bike shop, try to find jackets in the large choice of ...'black' and 'black' get a parking ticket etc etc so it was all still worth it in the end. blah blah.

Not sure why you do that on the basis that nothing on there (after a brief look) seemed very cheap to me.
You could have likely brought from a NZ based seller with the same processes and had the back up for a replacement size if needed.
p.s not having a go at you mate but the gear didnt seem cheap to me to justify the risk.

Im with Robert anyway as a NZr with a huge investment into the NZ biking scene its never nice to think your fellow bikers are going off shore to buy their kit, thats a natural thing, but at the end of the day you make your own decisions, its our job via way of price and quality and service to discourage you eh

[ynot slow]

With you on one point Quasi and that is you buy more than 1 item to get best price and also factor into that the cost of inventory,so you may think the average kiwi gets a raw deal on a one off purchase.

Only difference between so called rip off dealers and public is the dealers get their items from importer(who take a risk on exchange,unless it is a set rate),and how many dealers want 10 pairs of size 36" pants,5 of 34"etc to get decent price per unit.

The guys like Quasi,1 Tonne,Moshin to name a few,is they buy plenty up front and pass the discount on to us,not via a dealer who has to put his margin on to make a living.

And as Quasi says if ya want anything cheapish just ASK,you never know they might have gear to get rid of.You may get a reply saying nothing at the moment.My jacket and pants cost sum total of $225 plus potage,worth over $5-600,but Quasi wanted rid of it,just gotta be in when he anounces specials.

[imdying]

Fair call Robert and I'd live with that. Please understand though, that it's not always about saving a buck, but simply getting something that’s not available here.

What? You mean like service? Or answers to emails? Or even being called back by the person who said I'll ring you in 5 minutes? The yanks definitely have us there.

I'll definitely pay extra to buy locally when I get good service. I was all set to buy a biker styled backpack from overseas (would have been no trouble as I was having other bits sent over), but Quasi made an enthusiastic sale on the Knox backpack, followed through, and I've been happy ever since.

Been buying a bit of pocket bike stuff recently... generally I expect the Australian guys to deliver bits to me before I get a firm reply on availability from some local places.

[TLDV8]

Who has the right to demand loyalty,first you need to offer a service worthy of the custom.
If you supply that (Cost / Communication / Follow up) you will have no problem having a customer base.
The closed shop/protection of yesteryear is long gone,denial is not just a river in Egypt.

I have more than spent my fair share over the years,never again,the last experience really was the last straw.

[monkeymcbean]

Not sure why you do that on the basis that nothing on there (after a brief look) seemed very cheap to me.
You could have likely brought from a NZ based seller with the same processes and had the back up for a replacement size if needed.
p.s not having a go at you mate but the gear didnt seem cheap to me to justify the risk.

Im with Robert anyway as a NZr with a huge investment into the NZ biking scene its never nice to think your fellow bikers are going off shore to buy their kit, thats a natural thing, but at the end of the day you make your own decisions, its our job via way of price and quality and service to discourage you eh

Yes you are right, it will seem expensive now, I only bought overseas when the US dollar/NZ exchange was .78 and the frieght was cheaper with it, that all happened last year. So im talking in the past tense which i guess makes my post irrelevant and misleading!

[alanzs]

What? You mean like service? Or answers to emails? Or even being called back by the person who said I'll ring you in 5 minutes? The yanks definitely have us there.

I couldn't agree with you more. I buy many parts from a friend who has a shop back in LA. Besides HAVING the part, the price is ALWAYS cheaper when I buy from him. He even throws in assorted screws (If I buy 5, he'll throw in an extra 2, just in case I fuck them up), stickers, etc. and he returns calls and even emails me when there are things he thinks I may like.
Service counts for a lot in my book...

[Robert Taylor]

I couldn't agree with you more. I buy many parts from a friend who has a shop back in LA. Besides HAVING the part, the price is ALWAYS cheaper when I buy from him. He even throws in assorted screws (If I buy 5, he'll throw in an extra 2, just in case I fuck them up), stickers, etc. and he returns calls and even emails me when there are things he thinks I may like.
Service counts for a lot in my book...

Of course, not every dealer is tarred with the same brush. But there is an over-riding theme that its because the goods are cheaper. I can relate to the fact that incomes are not so flash in NZ and not everyone can afford premium quality goods, and indeed not everything is available ''off the shelf here'', nor can it be due to our tiny population.
But the worst examples that blow me away are ( for example ) the guy that bought a helmet offshore because it was cheaper and found it wasnt quite the right fit. And then he goes into his local dealer and asks if he can exchange it. Heck that is so cheeky, and not an isolated instance.
It seems also that everyone wants to have their cake and eat it too. Its alright to have invoices undervalued to evade clearance fees and gst, its also ''alright'' that on that score alone recognised distributors are not operating on a level playing field.
It is indeed now a global market but I think my fears about what its doing to small NZ business and employment are justified.

[Moki]

Have your mate take the labels off, try it on and then send it to you has a gift-but remember to remove the receipt....

[TLDV8]

My local bike shop (Biggest in Darwin and where i bought my then new DR650 for over NZ$10000 ) rang on Friday to say my brake pads had arrived,i said thanks but i had picked them up over a week before and they had around 500 kms on them already.

Speaking of good service from the US.

2007 RMX450 forks.



One gripe i have always had was the blatant mark up on name brand safety gear back home (no different here in Australia)

It was far easier to get a new set of boots from the US and at a fair price.



Just to be fair, i have spent some money locally.

From Victoria - Four HD tyre tubes for $145 AUD, two emails and over a week each time for a reply. (First email sent 20/4/09,maybe they will turn up this week)

From NSW - New hand guards/bark busters and grips - $205 AUD, over a week to get a reply then nothing once i payed,maybe they will turn up this week (over three weeks since ordering)

There is "no" excuse for not answering emails in this day and age.
As a rule, buying from the USA i have been informed when the item has been sent every time (over 100 items alone off Ebay) and given the tracking number so there is no wondering what is going on.
Average reply time from a first inquiry email seems to be under 24 hours even with the time difference.