Motorcycle shop retailers using the Internet as a sales tool for wholesalers

[AllanB]

Sorry Quasi I may be having a 'thick' day - what's the problem - Wholesalers charging too much or dominating the market too much?

And you say a NZ wholesaler will not sell you goods to retail? WTF - you been sniffing around his daughter or something!

As for NZ Internet sites - there are a few goodies springing up - I've used Fastbikegear several times recently - they had the product I wanted in stock NOW and it was on my doorstep the next day. I cannot see a issue with that

Wholesalers have dominated the NZ aftermarket forever - now I'm not in the industry but I presume without them there would be a very small choice of product available.

I agree with Hitcher re self importing too - I ordered some renthal street bars recently - the colour I wanted was not in NZ in the profile I required - could take until Xmas to get here. I had them in hand exactly 7 days later from England and $50 cheaper (including post).

Tell you who is good in Christchurch and I'm happy to promote, is Sportzone - the parts guys know their stuff and are happy to do a bit of research if required and actually contact you with the info and send a txt when the bit arrives.

[scott411]

the simple thing is that business is changing, as it always has, and it always will, if you stay the same you will die

some traditional shops like myself are getting into internet sales using there own name, like me(mr motorcycles), cycletreads, motomail etc, and then some others are creating another brand, Depot 4, motorcyclegear etc, only time will tell which is the better option,

Quasi i think you are right about to many gear brands out there, but do not see an end to it, with the internet now buyers are better informed than they have ever been, and know of all the different types of gear, wholesalers are only trying to sell, and as already put in this thread it is very easy now to get stuff form overseas if they do not have the size/colour or even brand that the dealer does not have or can not get.

will the traditional method of wholesaler/retailer stay? not really sure to be honest, i know that both sides margins are getting squeezed, but if the wholesaler goes then some other features they offer like credit for instance will go with them, and instead of getting stuff overnight dealers will have to stock more, so will require more margin to make it work, or more turnover which will mean less dealers,

The internet has also changed how shops advertise, i know that the magazines are finding it alot harder to get advertising revenue, Fairfax new this that is why they paid so much for trademe, because trademe was taking there revenue source,

i have only owned a shop for less than 10 years, and been workng in the industry for 15, but it is a very different world to deal with now than it was in 2002 when i brought the shop, and i bet in another 10 years it will be very different again,

[imdying]

Wouldn't worry too much Brett, have a look at my post in their thread, they're not even in the same ball park as a dedicated eTailer, not even the same planet... I could probably negotiate the same deal in town for the latest model.

[Quasievil]

WOW, this thread was spawned and now moved to its own.

To clarify

I wouldnt mind being able to offer products to my customers that are distributed by the NZ wholesalers, things like Helmets, Boots for example.
However the NZ wholesalers will not allow me to have an account as "Im not a genuine business" and "dont have a retail shop"

I think this view is antiquated and needs changing

meantime I think its Ironic, that the wholesalers and the retailers are increasing there online Store presence ON MASS.

thats its, no big show here

[ckai]

WOW, this thread was spawned and now moved to its own.

To clarify

I wouldnt mind being able to offer products to my customers that are distributed by the NZ wholesalers, things like Helmets, Boots for example.
However the NZ wholesalers will not allow me to have an account as "Im not a genuine business" and "dont have a retail shop"

I think this view is antiquated and needs changing

meantime I think its Ironic, that the wholesalers and the retailers are increasing there online Store presence ON MASS.

thats its, no big show here

So you're not bitching about markup by wholesalers, nor about retailers? You're just bitching about wholesalers being so stuck in the dark ages they believe an online presence isn't substantial enough to sell their products?

Dicks!! haha

Or do they just not like you? Or...you did sleep with one of their daughters!!!

haha

[Brian d marge]

have to throw my 2 pence into the ring here,

The whole motorcycle model is dying ( dead?) in the water , its now entertainment , and the provision of that entertainment

While I do not know the NZ model , I have a bit to do here in Japan and in England and while the traditional model of bikes repair and the supporting industries gear sales etc do still have relevance ( ie it can generate a profit )
but I suspect the biggest income stream would be providing the customer with support to enjoy the form of entertainment.
Mx , maise paddock day , track day, rides to beauty sports , breakdown, bike loan whatever it takes for the customer to enjoy motorcycles .

I cannot understand business that have a restrictive practices , Apple, windows
sony canon .... just cuts off your nose despite the face .....ie i will never buy an apple product again , nor a sony ...but would definitely by an FFM helmet again ( good product right price and NZ )

In today's climate , proactive customer service is key ...

IMHO

stephen

[scott411]

..but would definitely by an FFM helmet again ( good product right price and NZ )

FFM's are made in China like everything else now, they closed down there Waihi factory for motorcycle helmets,

[gammaguy]

Its so interesting to me that all the motorcycle shop retailers are utilizing the internet as a sales tool for Wholesaler imported brands.
Wholesalers supporting such ventures in a significant way is two faced as as they wont support allow established internet sellers their product lines, based on what exactly we dont have a full on retail presence, is that it ? and errr why?

You think a NZ Wholesaler will supply me boots or Helmets or whatever........nah !!
It will be and is the demise of the retail and wholesale structure as guys like me start to consider parallel importing.

NZ is so Backward.

But good luck with your site

like you said,NZ is so backward.

anyone with half a brain can(and does)import from overseas where prices and selection are better than NZ.The logical step from there is to retail to NZ market at a better margin than the wholesalers are offering their long suffering dealers.Unless they start looking after their dealers and stop being so dam greedy,they will all fade away while smart dealers will simply source products from overseas for themselves,cutting out the fat cat importers in the process.

Its the way of the future,and in this global market unless you are innovative and informed,you will be swept aside by those that are.

[nodrog:Me]

Really. OK here I go

Alpinestar, Spidi, Dianese, Shift, Rjays, Dririder, Tecknic, joe Rocket, Revit, Truimph, Harley Davidson,Neo, Macna, Draggin, Axo,AGV, Berik, RST, motowear , magello, GP star, Leoshi, Spool, BMW, SPYKE, OXford, Nortech, Motoline, Ixion, M2R, Orina ,

There is 31 brands available in Hamilton right now for example.

There are 4 odd bike shops.

Who is saturating the market?

Cool! who stocks Aplinestars leather suits in Hamilton? I have been dying to try a couple out, but alas I could not find anybody in Tauranga who stocks them.

Fanny

[Henk]

I find it ironic that you are complaining that the importers won't supply you.
By importing your gear directly you are in direct competition with them, changing business models or not.
I'm sure there is nothing wrong with the stuff you sell, in fact from what I have seen it seems OK, however I have never bought any and probably never will because your main marketing strategy in the past seems to have been to describe all your competitors gear as overpriced rubbish and I know others who feel the same way. If this approach has been enough to turn me off I wouldn't be suprised if it has had some impact on your possible relationship with the wholesalers when you call them up to ask for an account.

[Quasievil]

I find it ironic that you are complaining that the importers won't supply you.
By importing your gear directly you are in direct competition with them, changing business models or not.
I'm sure there is nothing wrong with the stuff you sell, in fact from what I have seen it seems OK, however I have never bought any and probably never will because your main marketing strategy in the past seems to have been to describe all your competitors gear as overpriced rubbish and I know others who feel the same way. If this approach has been enough to turn me off I wouldn't be suprised if it has had some impact on your possible relationship with the wholesalers when you call them up to ask for an account.

Not sure if you can read or not But I said this actually

To clarify

I wouldnt mind being able to offer products to my customers that are distributed by the NZ wholesalers, things like Helmets, Boots for example.
However the NZ wholesalers will not allow me to have an account as "Im not a genuine business" and "dont have a retail shop"

I think this view is antiquated and needs changing

meantime I think its Ironic, that the wholesalers and the retailers are increasing there online Store presence ON MASS.

thats its, no big show here

Im not sure where you got the rest of your assumptions from?

[gammaguy]

Not sure if you can read or not But I said this actually

To clarify

I wouldnt mind being able to offer products to my customers that are distributed by the NZ wholesalers, things like Helmets, Boots for example.
However the NZ wholesalers will not allow me to have an account as "Im not a genuine business" and "dont have a retail shop"

I think this view is antiquated and needs changing

meantime I think its Ironic, that the wholesalers and the retailers are increasing there online Store presence ON MASS.

thats its, no big show here

Im not sure where you got the rest of your assumptions from?

you said it yourself....you sell online ,THEY sell online.

They see you as competition,not as a client.So, treat them as competition and not suppliers.

sorted

[Quasievil]

Cool! who stocks Aplinestars leather suits in Hamilton? I have been dying to try a couple out, but alas I could not find anybody in Tauranga who stocks them.

Fanny

Boyds and Hamilton Honda Stock Alpinestar suits, good crews at both should be able to help you out

[imdying]

I think this view is antiquated and needs changing

Wiki suggest that mail order business have been in operation since 1744, so you might be right...

/edit: Actually, they are changing, they're just choosing to exclude you from it. Anti competitive? A little... parallel importing is legal here though, you can't be the only one in your position too

[nodrog:Me]

Boyds and Hamilton Honda Stock Alpinestar suits, good crews at both should be able to help you out

Thankyou Mr Quasievil

Fanny