Ractech and a rotting stench

[Robert Taylor]

Robert for Prime Minister

No, dictator and Id model myself on Augusto Pinochet, thered be a bit of ''cleansing'' happening.
Subsidies for sidecar racers.

[Owl]

Robert for Prime Minister

No, he'd take measures to even the playing field. That'd hardly be fair, right?

[SixPackBack]

It seems this subject come up time and time again, what's the mark up on Beer, Coffee etc, bloody massive.

yea sure $299 for a spring is some good money, but as has been pointed out time and time again, you are paying for the service AND the product, buy from the net, and you only pay for the product.

What is so hard to understand?

It is presumptious of me to say this, but I am pretty confident that road based motorcycle stuff is not the biggest portion of CKT's bottom line, at a guess it would be off road stuff (I may be commenting outside my pay grade here), and just like the tiddly little margins a bike shop has in tyres, we can just be thankful they do it!

I would hazard a guess that by now a good number of KB folk are planning to buy Racetech/Ohlins through the net and potentially save themselves thousands on import duties, and if the need comes up for fine tuning [spring, valving etc] calling CKT for some back-up.
What do you say Robert? will we get full support on product we have bought over the inter-web?

[Fatjim]

I would have agreed with the original thread, but he picked on one of probably a few NZ retailers that do offer great after sales service, on a product that actually needs it.

I've bought plenty of kit from over seas. But only on product where I'm either happy to take the risk of not being able to return it, or one where there is little or no risk of having to.

Soon after Uncle B died I needed to replace my helmet. I wanted a Norick as he did, but in tan. Talked to the local. 3 months and $1300! 3 months!!!!!!!!! I had it ex Japan in 3 days for <$800. 3 days!!!!!!!!! I can't see a single reason why I would have waited the 3 months.

[SS90]

I would hazard a guess that by now a good number of KB folk are planning to buy Racetech/Ohlins through the net and potentially save themselves thousands on import duties, and if the need comes up for fine tuning [spring, valving etc] calling CKT for some back-up.
What do you say Robert? will we get full support on product we have bought over the inter-web?

What a strange statement to make.

You have missed the point entirely.

Why the hell should CKT give any free advise/support to people who have imported their own shocks?

It's akin to bringing your own beer into a pub, (because it's cheaper) then calling the publican a wanker when he your ass out. Totally ignoring the fact that the publican has to pay tax,rent,staff,advertising,music,etc.

[Kickaha]

No, dictator and Id model myself on Augusto Pinochet,

I would have picked Papa Doc my self
.

Subsidies for sidecar racers.

The cheque is in the mail

What do you say Robert? will we get full support on product we have bought over the inter-web?

I thought he'd already said he would work on it but you'd pay full rate for labour?

[Robert Taylor]

I would hazard a guess that by now a good number of KB folk are planning to buy Racetech/Ohlins through the net and potentially save themselves thousands on import duties, and if the need comes up for fine tuning [spring, valving etc] calling CKT for some back-up.
What do you say Robert? will we get full support on product we have bought over the inter-web?

We do not turn anyone away. Those that purchase off us get support, those that dont buy off us get the same level of support but they pay the going rate. That is fair and reasonable.

There has been a lot of emotional claptrap on this thread. As for CKT the reality is we do deals, package deals etc and provide a high level of backup. If a customer is unhappy we dont walk away.

Im also not afraid to walk away from an argument, no matter how unpalatable it may be to the opposing viewpoint. There are always two sides to every story and I have acknowledged that several times through this thread.

I make no aplogy for being concerned about the right for everyone in NZ to be gainfully employed and paid reasonable wages and that it should be above self interest. Yes I have stated that the exchange rate should more favour exporters (who in turn are employers ), which in turn is less favourable for importing, at any level. So be it.

[scumdog]

I'm not here to get into slanging matches with people on a personal level...... And we all thought that Levin, Balclutha and Devonport held the largest combined population of deranged people in this country...

What's with the 'WE ALL thought', paleface?
And have you lived in those places mentioned?
And how come 'well south of jaffaland' is so much better than the places you mentioned?

[pc220]

Well this tread has turned into another shitfest. My take is, If I had the $$$ I would happily pay the extra to gain the services of CKT. Sad fact is I cannot afford this option at this time.I am not willing to try and get a deal out Of Robert that would be more costly (to him)than not not getting my business at all.Therefore I am looking at interwebby options for hopefully a resonable product but without the local backup.I know its a risk but I just cant spend what I dont have.A business like CKT would seem to be a real asset to the motorcyle community and should be supported whenever possible.

[CHOPPA]

I couldnt afford to not get my suspension off CKT, I have only ever purchased 1 new set of suspension from them when i sold that bike RT found a buyer for my old stuff. I brought a new bike with the good gear already installed and in the last 2 years RT and Dennis have revalved and resprung my suspension more times then i can remember! The only time i have ever had to pay for any additional service is when i have had to get a new spec that they are constantly developing into my suspension.

Its probably pointless telling some people of the benefits of using CKT and maybe paying a little extra initially but what i have saved in the form of tyres and servicing costs is far more then the amount id save importing my own.

[Robert Taylor]

Well this tread has turned into another shitfest. My take is, If I had the $$$ I would happily pay the extra to gain the services of CKT. Sad fact is I cannot afford this option at this time.I am not willing to try and get a deal out Of Robert that would be more costly (to him)than not not getting my business at all.Therefore I am looking at interwebby options for hopefully a resonable product but without the local backup.I know its a risk but I just cant spend what I dont have.A business like CKT would seem to be a real asset to the motorcyle community and should be supported whenever possible.

I will send you a price quote once I have sussed out spring dimensions etc.

[retro asian]

Buying stuff out of the US is not always as great as it first looks... unless you are over there and can carry stuff back in your suitcase.
Freight out of the US is very expensive, and there is GST and also clearance to pay if you are bringing in something of high value.

That said, you can still save money on getting certain parts in yourself.
I'm saving for a full suspension upgrade, and I'm going to go to CKT. If I'm paying an extra 10% to get a better job done, then that's money well spent IMO.

[SixPackBack]

What a strange statement to make.

You have missed the point entirely.

Why the hell should CKT give any free advise/support to people who have imported their own shocks?

It's akin to bringing your own beer into a pub, (because it's cheaper) then calling the publican a wanker when he your ass out. Totally ignoring the fact that the publican has to pay tax,rent,staff,advertising,music,etc.

Whats strange about it?..........The way I see it you have a win-win situation. The punter gets to purchase product at a far cheaper rate by circumventing import duty [hopefully], and CKT gets to charge full labour rate on any follow up tuning work. If everyone was following the same path inventory could be reduced

If Racetech/Ohlins gave CKT the level of discount large American distributors gain much of the arguing would be circumvented. This line of reasoning has been halted in this thread, Robert seems unwilling to discuss further citing 'commercial sensitivity' [post #40]. If this is correct [and as previously stated] a degree of blame goes back onto Racetech/Ohlins for prostituting the local market [aka CKT]; consequently neither the NZ biking public, nor CKT should be getting to misty eyed about Racetech/Ohlins. They are ripping the NZ public off and letting CKT take all the blame.

[SS90]

Whats strange about it?..........The way I see it you have a win-win situation. The punter gets to purchase product at a far cheaper rate by circumventing import duty [hopefully], and CKT gets to charge full labour rate on any follow up tuning work. If everyone was following the same path inventory could be reduced

If Racetech/Ohlins gave CKT the level of discount large American distributors gain much of the arguing would be circumvented. This line of reasoning has been halted in this thread, Robert seems unwilling to discuss further citing 'commercial sensitivity' [post #40]. If this is correct [and as previously stated] a degree of blame goes back onto Racetech/Ohlins for prostituting the local market [aka CKT]; consequently neither the NZ biking public, nor CKT should be getting to misty eyed about Racetech/Ohlins. They are ripping the NZ public off and letting CKT take all the blame.

O.K, I see your point.

Just to play devils advocate (not just being argumentitive) the "down side" of the reduced stock inventory is, just that, a reduced stock inventory.

No longer will there be good levels of stock, that means the customer does not have to wait for it to be ordered, and can have their suspension back quickly, instead, they will have to be back ordered (or, alternatively the customer orders the (wrong) part from overseas (etc).

But, the end price will be the same (or even more) than now.

Instead of paying a (some would say premium) price for a "full service" concept, the team at CKT will just become a shock workshop, where you bring your shock (that you got from the web) to him, and you PAY them to work out what springs (you have to order), and the oil etc..... Normally this service is included (not free, included, that is the difference) in the price when you buy from CKT (well, that's how I see it)

If this scenario played out in reality, I am sure that you will pay substantually more for your suspension than if you simply purchased it from them in the first place!

To me, it is a "complete Öhlins service" (my keyboard has umlouts ;-)), opposed to "selling suspension"

Again, that is my perception.

[Robert Taylor]

Whats strange about it?..........The way I see it you have a win-win situation. The punter gets to purchase product at a far cheaper rate by circumventing import duty [hopefully], and CKT gets to charge full labour rate on any follow up tuning work. If everyone was following the same path inventory could be reduced

If Racetech/Ohlins gave CKT the level of discount large American distributors gain much of the arguing would be circumvented. This line of reasoning has been halted in this thread, Robert seems unwilling to discuss further citing 'commercial sensitivity' [post #40]. If this is correct [and as previously stated] a degree of blame goes back onto Racetech/Ohlins for prostituting the local market [aka CKT]; consequently neither the NZ biking public, nor CKT should be getting to misty eyed about Racetech/Ohlins. They are ripping the NZ public off and letting CKT take all the blame.

Thats part of my point, why should a private buyer get away without paying clearance fees and then gst on everything, compared to a business with a huge investment that pays full commercial rates and acc levies, this and that etc? Thats part of the equation of it not being a level playing field. And then theres the fraudulent underwriting of invoices, quite brazenly bragged about on this forum at times. This is one area of taxation that the Government is missing out on big time.
With respect to some of your last sentences yes there are grains of reality, and this is typical of a lot of goods.