Why spend your money in NZ with this service?

[Pixie]

"This would be a really good business if it wasn't for the customers spoiling my day."

[James Deuce]

Why would they when it can probably be obtained overnight. Surely they can only be expected to outlay so many $$$ for stock?

You flipping optimist!

[marty]

First , its up to the retailer to set the pricing RRP is only that a RRP, 2nd they gave you and ETA 4-6 weeks, what else did you want?

buying overseas is always an option of course, each purchase is another nail in the NZ bike industry coffins, even if the price is better blah blah blah..................sad but true

He wanted a price.

i would have thought a clever importer would have spent 2 minutes onto Ebay, said - 'I should be able to get that for you - it comes from overseas so it will be a week - it's $200 all up' - then promptly ordered it from the ebay source, put a 25% mark up on it, and the buyer wouldn't even know it.

This is one of the ways Torpedo7 have made millions of dollars in a very short time, and many other 'service' businesses are stuck in the dark ages.

[marty]

You can buy Citizen Watches from US retailers and ship them over here for less than the NZ distributor charges jewelery retailers here. Nothing to do with buying power. Those same US retailers will discount heavily for bulk orders. Local Jewelers should buy off them and tell the local distributor to FOAD. Blood sucking unproductive middlemen are responsible for halving the buying power of our dollar.

I bought a really nice Titanium Citizen off ebay.

Researched it online first - US$375 delivered. 'That's not too bad' I thought.

Called umpteen Citizen watch dealers in the Waikato and Auckland. Cheapest price was NZ$1560. Delivery in 6-8 weeks.

Ordered one off ebay, no GST, on my door step in 6 days.

That one got stolen in a burglary - I convinced the insurance (AMI) to get another one - they broke policy and gave me enough $$ to buy another one off the net - the watch seller on ebay felt sorry for me and did free delivery!

Just found another one - not too bad at Amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Eco-Dr.../dp/B0007OER0S

[Quasievil]

He wanted a price.

i would have thought a clever importer would have spent 2 minutes onto Ebay, said - 'I should be able to get that for you - it comes from overseas so it will be a week - it's $200 all up' - then promptly ordered it from the ebay source, put a 25% mark up on it, and the buyer wouldn't even know it.

The wholesale does not sell direct to consumer, he sells it to the retailer who puts his "chosen" margin on to sell to the consumer.
It would be wrong for the wholesaler to advise a consumer the retailers price, and the retailer would not be obligated to honour the price dictated to by the wholesaler.
The Wholesaler can only note a rrp in the market.

Therefore the wholesaler acted correctly.

[MarkH]

Why would they when it can probably be obtained overnight. Surely they can only be expected to outlay so many $$$ for stock?

I agree - the local bike shop can't be expected to stock everything. When I want parts I visit the local bike shop and tell them what I want, they tell be price & availability and we go from there.
BUT
When they tell me it will take 2 or 3 months for a part that is a standard maintenance part (like a drive belt that is supposed to be replaced every 24,000 Kms) then I am not so happy. When I can pay the same or less and have that part within a week then it is just tough luck for the bike shop & the importer.

In fact I have imported several things myself after checking locally to see if I can give my money to someone in NZ.
- Aftermarket Givi Windscreen - I was told that the suppliers were out of stock and they would have more in if I could just wait for 2 1/2 months, I had a new screen in less than a week.
- Workshop manual - unfortunately they are no longer available, my local bike shop just cant get me one, I received a genuine Suzuki workshop manual in about a week from www.repairmanual.com
- Drive belt - Suzuki NZ had just sold one so I could wait about 3 months or I could pay extra for one to be flown out from Japan (about 20% dearer making it about $400), I paid $300 and had a belt within a week.

I also got a Stebel horn very quickly - ordered after 11pm on a Wednesday night and it arrived on Saturday morning, about 2.5 days after ordering from the US.

I have seen some incredible pricing too. There are NZ importers that are obviously enjoying very generous margins. If an item has a retail price here of $570 and I can buy the same item from overseas for $150 including shipping then what should I do? (This is a real instance and I bought it from overseas (you are fuckin' shocked, I know)).

[KiwiGs]

I think the problem with a lot of parts and bike shops, is that they are only interested in the working/selling the latest gear.
I know it costs money to have stock sitting around on a shelf not moving.
So I don’t expect a bike shop to have every part that I need for my 1980 GS1000, but I am getting sick of being told it will be 4-6 weeks out of Japan and will cost 10 x the price that I can get it from the 'states or UK.
Recently I had two dealings with a Dunedin bike shop that have put me of ever using them again...
First I was looking for some shims and a valve cover gasket.
Dunedin Suzuki dealer: $37.50 per shim and $95 for the gasket 4-6 weeks out of Japan
Z1 in the 'states: $5 per shim and $15 for the Gasket and less than a week.
I got all of the parts I needed for the price of one shim and in a quarter of the time.
Second: I was looking for a price for some rear shocks.

Me "Good day my young fellow, could you possibly look up on your computer the price of some rear shocks for my 1980 GS1000ET?"

Him "Suzuki didn’t make a GS1000 are you it is not a GS1200SS?"

Me: "Suzuki did make a GS1000, I know this because there is one sitting in my fucking garage".....*turns and walks out*

Now I know that bike shops need to make a profit, but surely the bike shops overseas are making a profit?
I would love to support local shops, but I am yet to find one that doesn’t charge like a wounded bull and treat me like some sort of nutter 'cause I have a 1980 bike......

[flyingcrocodile46]

Heh!

A nameless Suzuki dealer just quoted me 15 to 20 days delivery from Japan for two centre stand bolts for my 84 GSX1100. They are run of the mill stainless steel M8 1.25 pitch 50mm bolts. $17 each (shipping is not combined)

They obviously couldn't give a toss about customer service. It's all about the margin. I will buy the bolts for a couple of bucks at a hardware store.

There is no question that NZ bike dealers need a good solid kick up the arse. The managers should be ashamed.

[jellywrestler]

Heh!

A nameless Suzuki dealer just quoted me 15 to 20 days delivery from Japan for two centre stand bolts for my 84 GSX1100. They are run of the mill stainless steel M8 1.25 pitch 50mm bolts. $17 each (shipping is not combined)

They obviously couldn't give a toss about customer service. It's all about the margin. I will buy the bolts for a couple of bucks at a hardware store.

There is no question that NZ bike dealers need a good solid kick up the arse. The managers should be ashamed.

Why the hell couldn't you go to the hardware store????, these guys are ordering off a parts fiche that wouldn't tell them length thread length etc thats what you get for genuine parts!!

[marty]

The wholesale does not sell direct to consumer, he sells it to the retailer who puts his "chosen" margin on to sell to the consumer.
It would be wrong for the wholesaler to advise a consumer the retailers price, and the retailer would not be obligated to honour the price dictated to by the wholesaler.
The Wholesaler can only note a rrp in the market.

Therefore the wholesaler acted correctly.

they said 'We can if, ordered through your local dealer, order it in for you approx eta 4-6 weeks' suggesting to me that were essentially dealing directly with the customer, laundering through the dealer.

No wonder there's parallel importing, with substantially undercut (actually realistic) pricing.

[jellywrestler]

Spider what about dna filters made in italy just like k+n and cheaper and the quality is good and can be reoiled.

DNA doesn't that stand for National Associations of Dyslexics?? DNA don't show any for GS1000 on my search also its a hotrod thing you know I wanted a particular shape and dimensions and K & N website sorted me.

Seems this thread on KB has got a reply from W Whites to me personally too.
According to their trail on this they sent me another email, which they copied to me, (so its not like cheques in the mail...) It was just four minutes after my last one but it doesn't appear on my inbox, nor deleted items can't answer that one.?????
They couldn't tell me the price, "ask your dealer" so if I'd received that I would've been all happy.
As for the filters, a set turned up on trade me yesterday, a quick call and a buy now price sorted and they're on their way

[vifferman]

Think about how much custom a biker shop owner could expect to have in NZ. Its never financially possible to stock one of everything in the hope that someone one day will come in and buy it from you.

On the other hand, you'd expect them to at least stock common items, wouldn't you, like brake caliper seals, fairing fasteners, etc? But some of them (Blue Wing Honda, f'rinstance) seem to stock practically nothing. The percentage of times they have had stuff in stock, versus the percentage when it's "Sorry - that'll be 3-4 weeks, ex-Japan, please pay up front" has been VERY low.
Then there was the time I paid up front, was told it was indent stock and could take up to 6 months, but was happy(ish) to wait patiently, as it was non-urgent. Rang back after 7 months only to find the order hadn't been placed!
Got the same item in a week, ex-USA, for just over 25% of the price.

[JMemonic]

There is merit in both sides of the argument.

Some agents importers are simply greedy, no doubt about it, the ones who are umm realistic have to face sometimes the Oceania agents and their delays, greed etc. Six week delays are unrealistic in the day and age except in the case of larger parts (ie the size of a full frame), aircraft travel the Tasman everyday and that's where in general next level up for NZ dealers is, their population is the greater and many items should be available there.

There certainly are some mistakes made by retail dealers, not knowing a blot is a particular size is not a big deal if you have looked at a parts book before you would understand this but to have a request sitting on a desk for a week before actioning it is bs, and unacceptable.

[marty]

I work in an industry where substantial/heavy/oversize items are shipped daily.

From Kansas for example, 2 days. Sure - you pay for it - but 2 days none the less.

A weekly order to our main supplier in America has items that are in their stock on our front door in 7 days.

The only thing worth buying from most bike shops is stuff they have in stock, at sale time.

[Quasievil]

they said 'We can if, ordered through your local dealer, order it in for you approx eta 4-6 weeks' suggesting to me that were essentially dealing directly with the customer, laundering through the dealer.

No wonder there's parallel importing, with substantially undercut (actually realistic) pricing.

Yeah possibly, it wouldnt be the normal tho, but anything is possible