Buying from the States?

[Ram Solutions]

The internet has been in just about everybody's home for the last decade. People searching and shopping on the net is commonplace. We are much more in a global community and the world has certainly shrunk. Yet for some reason this has escaped motorcycle parts and accessory retailers in NZ. The handful that do have something up online are practically useless with next to nothing in the way of product listed.

I can well appreciate not wanting to carry a lot of stock for such a small market. Perhaps could they try to have some sort of system setup with distributors and manufacturers (around the world) so stock could get into the hands of customers within a couple of weeks or so.


People are purchasing from overseas because they are finding the products overseas. It is there under their noses for the taking with only the click of a mouse button. It is too easy. Yet on the other hand dealing with the parts salesman behind the counter at the local bike shop with a few crappy pieces of old dusty shit on a shelf in a dark corner is anything but.

Hmm... let me have a go. I'm an importer and retailer similar in practice to how RT and Quasi operate. My personal philosophy has always been that the world does not owe you a living. Perhaps that is a slight philisophical departure to that of RT even though I agree with him concerning national economics. I have always been taught that success in business comes from "giving the customer what they want" and the funny thing is that price is seldom at the top of the list. The biggest factor is... yes, you guessed it,..service! This is what we try to provide to our customers without exception. Each customer will value that service in different ways. If there is a price differential between our price and that from overseas, then that needs to be more than compensated by the quality of service given. What punters are complaining about on this thread is that the perceived level of service provided by some local retailers are not worth the price differential. If that is the case, no more customers, no more business. That's competition!

Our business, like many others, is small. Our buying power is not great, we live at the other end of the earth so transport cost is high. We have a crappy exchange rate and yes, global competition is stacked against us. But as RT says, you guys have the last say because if we can't make a go of it (and that will be MY fault no matter what) then only you can decide what the new options are. Personally, I can't imagine any shop overseas happy to speak to you for half an hour over the phone as I do (at my cost!), or offer to swap parts if they don't fit, or be prepared to replace parts under warranty even though I know full well that it had been abused to hell or worst still, not even purchased through me...! Giving our customers peace of mind - IT's ALL PART OF THE SERVICE..!! Rant over...

[chrispy121]

ok so started this thread then tried to finish it but some peole wont let it die.

I just purchased another bike yesterday from a New Zealand dealer gee I just put a few thousand dollars into the economy!
then set about pricing some options including a steering damper for the r6 only to be told they are out of stock and will take about 1 month to arrive ok 'so I got the price $1200 from a nz dealer and 1 month to arrive.

I can order this from the US it will be here in a week and cost me around $700 oh yes this includes fast freight.

When I asked about the price difference was told it was because of the exchange rate holy crap I have to purchase on the same rate!

Sorry guys tried to support the locals and did this week with my over 12k purchase but to be given excuses like exchange rate and 1 month time lag for the product that sucks.
The dealer even thought about ordering over the web to get it here quicker but then told me I can do the same at least they were honest.

Oh and the dealer in question I do trust and still buy a lot of gear of them because they are honest.

what would you do?

[Robert Taylor]

ok so started this thread then tried to finish it but some peole wont let it die.

I just purchased another bike yesterday from a New Zealand dealer gee I just put a few thousand dollars into the economy!
then set about pricing some options including a steering damper for the r6 only to be told they are out of stock and will take about 1 month to arrive ok 'so I got the price $1200 from a nz dealer and 1 month to arrive.

I can order this from the US it will be here in a week and cost me around $700 oh yes this includes fast freight.

When I asked about the price difference was told it was because of the exchange rate holy crap I have to purchase on the same rate!

Sorry guys tried to support the locals and did this week with my over 12k purchase but to be given excuses like exchange rate and 1 month time lag for the product that sucks.
The dealer even thought about ordering over the web to get it here quicker but then told me I can do the same at least they were honest.

Oh and the dealer in question I do trust and still buy a lot of gear of them because they are honest.

what would you do?

1) Exchange rate

2) Distributors still try and do the decent thing and give dealers a margin. And not handsome by any means

3) US distributors get a significantly better buy price. The higher the buy price the more the end price baloons when you add clearance charges, gst and ( less than handsome ) margins.

4)They operate on very high turnover and very small margins with often no dealer margin. One US distributor in particular is very brazen with his offshore marketing.

5)If you get it in with no gst and clearance charges it proves my point that its not a level playing field

6) We only have a tiny population for gods sake, a fact that people conveniently overlook

7) Because of fact 6 above its understandable that distributors cannot have all of the stock all of the time. What is the size of the NZ market for R6 steering dampers, for example?

8) Is the seller providing local infrastructure here in NZ to service that damper when it requires it? Many dampers require special tools so not every joe bloggs can service them. Will there be a no fuss warranty if there is an issue? Will the local distributor be as kindly disposed to any situation like that that may prevail?

9) Most dealers and distributors are honest.

Spare a thought that Bollocks Obama has just made it a lot harder for our primary producers ( agricultural sector ) to get a good price overseas. The jokes collectively on all of us re the free market. Its not a two way street.
Im looking at the bigger picture rather than self interest.
I wont let this lie!
There may come a time when there may have to be no dealer margin with any such goods just so distributors can compete with these US based parasite companies. And then the complaint will be ''I cant get one from my local dealer''
I think you should perhaps go and work in the motorcycle industry for a few months, its an eye opener to many people over the years in how you have to scale many walls on a daily basis to just stay afloat. FACT.

[slydesigns]

I go to the palmy triumph dealer on the weekends as I work 45 hours a week and study at massey and UCol another 40 all up, so the weekends the only time to hit the shops IF I'm lucky.

They are open saturdays and sundays until 5pm, which is brilliant... BUT... when I ask for parts for my D675 I get blank looks.

When I ask fo a tyre, they have no idea on whats good and whats going to get shredded on that bike, what size, what other options are out there.

When I ask for exhaust options i get told the only thing is the Arrow system. Um... 10mins on the net tells me there are 20 different exhaust manufacturers making bolton exhaust systems for the D675. Hmmm ok...

When I ask for tyre irons they laugh and say, their customers don't use them, they bring there tyres in for changing so they stock litmited tools... ok fine...

When I ask for sprocket options, brake pad options etc for manfeild trackdays, they show my the stock parts only and act like they have never SEEN a D675 before. Doesn't matter there are 2 in the workshop and one on the showroom floor... I learnt more about my bike on the net in one night that the offical TRIUMPH dealer sales and parts staff that work the weekends at this shop will EVER seem to know... because they don't care to know. I've even taken in copies of what I've found to try to help them look outside the square for parts for us Triumph Sportbike riders but they weren't interested.

So why would, in this case atleast, a D675 owner WANT to support a shop that doesn't want to support me and the product they sell? I get better service from the MX shops here amd so does the other half! If I shop out of town I have to make a phone call or twelve at toll rates, If I shop on the net its free, I get good answers to questions, I get options on parts, good pricing, a return policy that works as I've used it twice and fast delivery at as quick as 4 days to my door.

My girl walked into the same shop 4 times on 4 different days and got ignored and made a salesman smile and nothing more when she asked to buy a new bike. She ended up having to find some riding gear and turn up with the cash literally IN her hand before they stopped and took her halfway serious! Four times they walked away from her!! She only bought the bike there at all because no one else had what she wanted at the time.

If the local dealer said to me he'd research parts options for me, he'd find out about the D675 even then I'd say "stay buying NZ team", but the reality is, they sell a Sportsbike in a Harley shop and that annoys them. It doesn't belong in their shop and niehter do the type of guy and girl who ride them.

[Sollyboy]

Theres always a lot of excuses why we dont get good prices or service , what really piss me off is we pay more for cheese and butter in this country than the english pay for the same cheese and butter made here and sold there , and of course the dairy co always has some shit excuses and the worst part about that is we need to eat but we dont need flash moto bits

[Robert Taylor]

I go to the palmy triumph dealer on the weekends as I work 45 hours a week and study at massey and UCol another 40 all up, so the weekends the only time to hit the shops IF I'm lucky.

They are open saturdays and sundays until 5pm, which is brilliant... BUT... when I ask for parts for my D675 I get blank looks.

When I ask fo a tyre, they have no idea on whats good and whats going to get shredded on that bike, what size, what other options are out there.

When I ask for exhaust options i get told the only thing is the Arrow system. Um... 10mins on the net tells me there are 20 different exhaust manufacturers making bolton exhaust systems for the D675. Hmmm ok...

When I ask for tyre irons they laugh and say, their customers don't use them, they bring there tyres in for changing so they stock litmited tools... ok fine...

When I ask for sprocket options, brake pad options etc for manfeild trackdays, they show my the stock parts only and act like they have never SEEN a D675 before. Doesn't matter there are 2 in the workshop and one on the showroom floor... I learnt more about my bike on the net in one night that the offical TRIUMPH dealer sales and parts staff that work the weekends at this shop will EVER seem to know... because they don't care to know. I've even taken in copies of what I've found to try to help them look outside the square for parts for us Triumph Sportbike riders but they weren't interested.

So why would, in this case atleast, a D675 owner WANT to support a shop that doesn't want to support me and the product they sell? I get better service from the MX shops here amd so does the other half! If I shop out of town I have to make a phone call or twelve at toll rates, If I shop on the net its free, I get good answers to questions, I get options on parts, good pricing, a return policy that works as I've used it twice and fast delivery at as quick as 4 days to my door.

My girl walked into the same shop 4 times on 4 different days and got ignored and made a salesman smile and nothing more when she asked to buy a new bike. She ended up having to find some riding gear and turn up with the cash literally IN her hand before they stopped and took her halfway serious! Four times they walked away from her!! She only bought the bike there at all because no one else had what she wanted at the time.

If the local dealer said to me he'd research parts options for me, he'd find out about the D675 even then I'd say "stay buying NZ team", but the reality is, they sell a Sportsbike in a Harley shop and that annoys them. It doesn't belong in their shop and niehter do the type of guy and girl who ride them.

Im quite sure there will be dealers like that in the States as well. There were a lot like that in the UK when I lived there as well and also some very good ones, as there are here.

[ynot slow]

Sly you nailed it on the head,I bought jacket,pants,helmet and gloves and had excellent service 3yrs ago from same shop,as you said they were open,and we were in Palmy for weekend.First time I'd been in there very impressed.But not now,mind you staff changes etc.

Since then have gone in numerous times,NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED,even got to the stupid point of actually wanting to try and test ride an ST1999 model,as well as a later one they had,not one friggin guy asked if they could help me.Yet one guy had 2 sales guys falling over him when looking at a Harley $35k worth,thing was on leaving I said to him no wonder your walking strangely,he laughed and said yep trying to get the sales guys tongues outa me arse,he had no intention of buying,and won a bet with his mate,said he bet his mate 2 sales guys would be up his arse,he won.

Turned out he was looking at a bike for his wife,who had just passed her full,was looking for a bike for her,she wasn't acknowledge either,and wanted to spend up to $17500 on a speed triple they had.

Service like that does nothing to endure the cost of expensive parts verses crappy service verses internet and couriers.

[chrispy121]

1) Exchange rate

2) Distributors still try and do the decent thing and give dealers a margin. And not handsome by any means

3) US distributors get a significantly better buy price. The higher the buy price the more the end price baloons when you add clearance charges, gst and ( less than handsome ) margins.

4)They operate on very high turnover and very small margins with often no dealer margin. One US distributor in particular is very brazen with his offshore marketing.

5)If you get it in with no gst and clearance charges it proves my point that its not a level playing field

6) We only have a tiny population for gods sake, a fact that people conveniently overlook

7) Because of fact 6 above its understandable that distributors cannot have all of the stock all of the time. What is the size of the NZ market for R6 steering dampers, for example?

8) Is the seller providing local infrastructure here in NZ to service that damper when it requires it? Many dampers require special tools so not every joe bloggs can service them. Will there be a no fuss warranty if there is an issue? Will the local distributor be as kindly disposed to any situation like that that may prevail?

9) Most dealers and distributors are honest.

Spare a thought that Bollocks Obama has just made it a lot harder for our primary producers ( agricultural sector ) to get a good price overseas. The jokes collectively on all of us re the free market. Its not a two way street.
Im looking at the bigger picture rather than self interest.
I wont let this lie!
There may come a time when there may have to be no dealer margin with any such goods just so distributors can compete with these US based parasite companies. And then the complaint will be ''I cant get one from my local dealer''
I think you should perhaps go and work in the motorcycle industry for a few months, its an eye opener to many people over the years in how you have to scale many walls on a daily basis to just stay afloat. FACT.

good work Robert I was going to get another price and availablilty for an ohlins damper and I have also given the opportunity to people watching this thread to sell me stuff good on the New Zealand dealer that sold me a jacket last week and the bike shop that also sold me a bike

now the dealer took the iniciative did not winge on this thread but looked at it contacted me and gave me a price close enough for him to make money and for me to buy in New Zealand.

The fact you did not pick up on this Robert and maybe offer to sort me out with an ohlins damper surprises me that is what you sell isnt it. maybe you were to busy writing responses in this thread.

And by the way I have worked in the motorcycle industry before
and the it industry where shrinking margins have meant we changed the game and started sell services instead.

[Robert Taylor]

good work Robert I was going to get another price and availablilty for an ohlins damper and I have also given the opportunity to people watching this thread to sell me stuff good on the New Zealand dealer that sold me a jacket last week and the bike shop that also sold me a bike

now the dealer took the iniciative did not winge on this thread but looked at it contacted me and gave me a price close enough for him to make money and for me to buy in New Zealand.

The fact you did not pick up on this Robert and maybe offer to sort me out with an ohlins damper surprises me that is what you sell isnt it. maybe you were to busy writing responses in this thread.

And by the way I have worked in the motorcycle industry before
and the it industry where shrinking margins have meant we changed the game and started sell services instead.

If Im whinging that it is not a level playing field because so much private import stuff comes in without accruing clearance charges and gst then I am guilty as charged!

The way I read it youd already made your mind up anyway.

So lets turn it round, what percentage margin would you expect a distributor to make and what for a dealer?

Is this a game of ''dutch auctions'' and local backup and warranty is of no consequence?

I think I make a fair point that in many cases the accepted etiquette of two margins ( Distributor and then dealer ) is seriously under threat from the effect of the net and the free market.

[SS90]

I have worked in the motorcycle industry for 15 years (the last 3 in Europe), I can ASSURE you that the profit margins are a fraction of the margins in NZ...... BUT, (here's the kicker) the TURNOVER is quadruple of NZ.

Just think of how many Dollars a NZ wholesaler has in stock (stock is one of the biggest killers of a business)

In Europe, it's the other way round..... very little (other than everyday consumable items) are held in stock, and a surprisingly large amount of stock must be ordered .

In all seriousness, (in my opinion) MOST NZ distributors (ok, not all) have a VERY good inventory (all things considered).....and yea, granted, they are more expensive....they MUST see a return on their investment, or they will be better off shutting their doors tomorrow.

One of the funiest experiences was about 10 years ago when my bosses accountant sent a business analyst in to improve the business profits.... one of his recomendations was "laying staff"........ and not much else.

Remember, the majority of NZ motorcycle shops are owned by enthuisists.... because in reality, despite peoples misconceptions, motorcycle shops return far less than other businesses that cost less to set up and have lower overheads............ Most accountants advise other ventures.....worth thinking about aye!

[Naki Rat]

Interesting thread and my 2c for what it's worth:

Bike - bought through Trade Me from a 'very motivated' seller.
Helmet, boots - researched online, bought in local store after negotiating between two local suppliers.
Leathers, thermals, T shirts, books on techniques - Trade Me
Sliderz jeans, gloves x2 - Quasi
Bike maintenance - Independant local mechanic
Clothing, CDs, work equipment - Ebay

My point is that I appreciate the value of my hard earned dollars and will make the decision to spend them to best advantage, whether that be lowest price or best value for money considering all factors including having had a pleasant business experience with someone I consider is a credit to their 'trade'. I also see the value in employing the services of a professional when it's warranted, be it as a tradesmen or a customer savvy salesperson.

Competition from the internet is now a fact of life and in order to survive any locally based business has to establish their own point of difference as has always been the case for any successful enterprise. The obvious advantage a face to face business can shine on is specialized customer focussed service, because they're always going to struggle on price alone. It seems this aspect is sadly lacking in many businesses and so I and many other will continue to vote with our feet. If the item is going to cost more it can only be justified by added value and that may be just great service!

Incidentally it should come as no surprise that this situation isn't restricted to bike gear. Just look at the carnage in the CD stores and the change in customer focus of clever book shops!

[ynot slow]

Incidentally it should come as no surprise that this situation isn't restricted to bike gear. Just look at the carnage in the CD stores and the change in customer focus of clever book shops!

Not only bike shops with problems with low margins,several years ago travel agents were told by the airlines the comission they recieve would be cut from 10% to 5%,no questions,just was done deal.In the States the idea floated was those wishing to travel should make appointments with their agents much like accountants,lawyers etc,then buy the travel online,all the kiwi,aussie agents said yeah right.So overnight their turnovers dropped by half,then the comission was dropped entirely.So much when I flew to Queenstown my ticket from Palmy to Chch was cheaper than his,as mine was internet his was dealer/agent.So imagine if all bike shops were told by suppliers you can tell people of our services,but get nothing for the product knowledge you pass to customer via sales.

[cs363]

ahhh but i got a fantastic deal on it all from a south american pygmy adventure clothing supplier i found on the net, must pass the address on to dennis.

It wasn't this place was it? http://www.gnomeclothes.com/