Buy from NZ? I tried but come on...

**Robert Taylor** · 5th January 2011, 16:39

Originally Posted by wysper

Thats really hard to say. We try to keep our retail prices in line with what it would cost you to buy the item at retail overseas and freight it into NZ. However, often it is not possible for us.

You have to keep in mind that the whole of NZ is smaller than many cities overseas. Economies of scale really do play a part, as much as people seem not to like to hear. Also NZ importers have next to zero clout with suppliers as we are so small a client to them. So it is all very well to say that we should get tough with our suppliers, but when you consider that a years worth of orders for us might constitute just a monthly order from other of there international clients. So if we complain about the cost of the goods, it is not like they would miss the sales. We might hold our own on a sales per capita basis, but it is a drop in the bucket to global sales.

There are many US companies or companies that their main market is the US that sell more to the US than to the rest of the world combined.

Just some thoughts.

Yes indeed, we have no clout at all for all of your reasons.

**Robert Taylor** · 5th January 2011, 16:41

Originally Posted by Mully Clown

I'll do some research later but does anyone happen to know which bike manufacturers supply directly into NZ?

Youd best differentiate that into mainstraem names with at least some modicum of quality control ( no direct sales nor should there be ) and Chinese made weetbix packet specials.

**rwh** · 5th January 2011, 16:57

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Youd best differentiate that into mainstraem names with at least some modicum of quality control ( no direct sales nor should there be ) and Chinese made weetbix packet specials.

Why no direct sales?

You think there should be at least 2 parties before the end customer for any product?

Richard

**Blackflagged** · 5th January 2011, 18:20

Bringing in Bikes One by One would add a lot to the price. Parts read posts made already. Simply... Customs.. Tax`s.

**Viscount Montgomery** · 5th January 2011, 19:26

Why not just selfishly monopolize sales for your own private business by negotiating a slippery and secretive under-hand deal with the actual overseas manufacturer of the goods, letting the equally slippery evasive overseas manufacturer to then refuse any sale of the said product to the NZ public by agreeing to leave all their sales to a single clutching dealer in NZ??

That way, the overseas company can shut-down all on-line sales to NZ, whilst the single clutching NZ dealer with no competition can charge what they damn well like for the goods, safe in the knowledge that the ordinary NZ'er looking for a realistic price is shit-out-of-luck and has no fucking choice but to pay a inflated ludicrous price straight to the said slippery NZ dealer if they, the NZ buyer, want any fucken chance at all of actually buying the product?

All under the shifty and phony fairytale claim that the over-priced charges will "trickle down" to the rest of the NZ public... Yeah, do it that way, you'd be on a real winner then.. It'll be easy because 90% of NZ motorcyclists are just dim-witted incompetent morons remember..

**Blackflagged** · 5th January 2011, 20:05

Who killed JFK?

**Robert Taylor** · 5th January 2011, 20:10

Originally Posted by rwh

Why no direct sales?

You think there should be at least 2 parties before the end customer for any product?

Richard

Worldwide manufacturers of products ( and Im talking the traditional name manufacturers ) and especially those that require technical service insist on a infrastructure of a sales and parts distribution chain. And technical people at local level that are conversant with the products and will co-ordinate training of dealer technicians, be kept informed of updates and to handle warranty claims etc. Also to provide reports on market circumstances and issues etc.

On the technical side this is exactly what I did when I worked for Yamaha as their National Technical Manager back in the late 80s and exactly what I do now as the Ohlins distributor. We dont just clip the ticket on the way through, theres an enpormous amount of technical correspondence with the factory and that in alliance with other distributors gives the factory neccessary information on market conditions.

Traditional distribution chains are not perfect but its a whole lot better than a wild west / open slather scenario. That is a bridge too far and is an unacceptable drop in quality assurance, or at least the mechanisms to provide some level of quality assurance. Some fail in this respect , some succeed. Im not acting as an aplologist for those distributors / dealers with an abysmal level of backup.

Distributing and looking after motor vehicles is a whole lot different to than for example selling fine crystal.

2 parties can often be one too many but its also dependent on what level of LOCAL service the product requires and this is the big catch 22. People are just as inclined to grizzle if the nearest trained service dealer is 2 to 5 hours away. The trouble is we all want to have our cake and eat it too.....

**Kickaha** · 5th January 2011, 20:14

Originally Posted by Blackflagged

Who killed JFK?

I think Viscount Montgomery did cause he's an angry sounding fucker

**rwh** · 5th January 2011, 20:15

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Worldwide manufacturers of products ( and Im talking the traditional name manufacturers ) and especially those that require technical service insist on a infrastructure of a sales and parts distribution chain. And technical people at local level that are conversant with the products and will co-ordinate training of dealer technicians, be kept informed of updates and to handle warranty claims etc. Also to provide reports on market circumstances and issues etc.

On the technical side this is exactly what I did when I worked for Yamaha as their National Technical Manager back in the late 80s and exactly what I do now as the Ohlins distributor. We dont just clip the ticket on the way through, theres an enpormous amount of technical correspondence with the factory and that in alliance with other distributors gives the factory neccessary information on market conditions.

Traditional distribution chains are not perfect but its a whole lot better than a wild west / open slather scenario. That is a bridge too far and is an unacceptable drop in quality assurance, or at least the mechanisms to provide some level of quality assurance. Some fail in this respect , some succeed. Im not acting as an aplologist for those distributors / dealers with an abysmal level of backup.

Distributing and looking after motor vehicles is a whole lot different to than for example selling fine crystal.

2 parties can often be one too many but its also dependent on what level of LOCAL service the product requires and this is the big catch 22. People are just as inclined to grizzle if the nearest trained service dealer is 2 to 5 hours away. The trouble is we all want to have our cake and eat it too.....

What I meant is, if a manufacturer is bringing in their own bikes, why shouldn't they operate a dealership, complete with full servicing, themselves? Direct sales.

Or is that not what you mean by direct sales?

Richard

**Robert Taylor** · 5th January 2011, 20:21

Originally Posted by Viscount Montgomery

Why not just selfishly monopolize sales for your own private business by negotiating a slippery and secretive under-hand deal with the actual overseas manufacturer of the goods, letting the equally slippery evasive overseas manufacturer to then refuse any sale of the said product to the NZ public by agreeing to leave all their sales to a single clutching dealer in NZ??

That way, the overseas company can shut-down all on-line sales to NZ, whilst the single clutching NZ dealer with no competition can charge what they damn well like for the goods, safe in the knowledge that the ordinary NZ'er looking for a realistic price is shit-out-of-luck and has no fucking choice but to pay a inflated ludicrous price straight to the said slippery NZ dealer if they, the NZ buyer, want any fucken chance at all of actually buying the product?

All under the shifty and phony fairytale claim that the over-priced charges will "trickle down" to the rest of the NZ public... Yeah, do it that way, you'd be on a real winner then.. It'll be easy because 90% of NZ motorcyclists are just dim-witted incompetent morons remember..

I HAVE TO QUESTION ALOUD WHO THE MORONS ARE???? I think the demeanour of your post is self explanatory and you are lumping everything into an us and them scenario.

Speaking for my own business I have adapted to the worldwide circumstances as I wish to keep my doors open. I personally deal with a lot of motorcyclists who are good everyday people that are motivated and intelligent with no attitude issues.

Motorcycle industry people are consumers of everyday products and just as attentive to the market distortions that occur with all sorts of products. I am not averse to buying books as I read prolifically. Ive bought a few via Amazon but will ALWAYS try and source locally first as Id rather support a '' clipping of the ticket'' thatbputs food into the mouths of NZ workers than those overseas. As long as the price differentail is not excessive and supply time is also not protracted I will buy locally. Cant be fairer than that.

**Robert Taylor** · 5th January 2011, 20:23

Originally Posted by rwh

What I meant is, if a manufacturer is bringing in their own bikes, why shouldn't they operate a dealership, complete with full servicing, themselves? Direct sales.

Or is that not what you mean by direct sales?

Richard

So the only dealership is in Auckland and the customer in Invercargill has to go to Auckland for servicing?

**Blackflagged** · 5th January 2011, 20:23

Originally Posted by Kickaha

I think Viscount Montgomery did cause he's an angry sounding fucker

I think a Tinfoil Hat maybe on order!

**XF650** · 5th January 2011, 20:30

Late last year I needed some bike engine parts. Quote from local dealer seemed high so went on-line & got prices from two US web sites for same OEM parts. These were approx 40% cheaper ($ converted). So even allowing for GST, duty & MAF charges etc I was still way better off to import the same parts myself. Basically the difference would pay the labour for the job.
So I put this all in writing & agreed for dealer to forward it to wholesaler, who replied that they would reduce the freight by a small amount if it was shipped by sea instead of air, that's all !!. And there's the rub - no wholesale margin discount even though ziltch inventory costs i.e they wanted to charge full trade price for something they didn't even stock!!

I invited my dealer to import the parts himself but his hands were tied by the franchise agreement. He did however offer a cash discount off his meager margin ex franchise, so in the end I split the order, half through him & half ex US.
While my dealer doesn't blame me for taking advantage of the current exchange rate, I still feel bloody guilty for not supporting him 100%. I understand that everyone in the supply chain needs to make a fair margin to survive (I'm in wholesale sales), but the distributors attitude annoyed me & I wanted to make a point as well as save $.

Surley there must be a way the wholesale distributors can assist their franchise retailers with ways to meet the market? It's obvious their parts business must be suffering, or don't they care?
I know one independant m/bike shop who offers their clients a choice on OEM parts - either ex NZ distributor or direct import. Naturally most opt for the latter - cheaper identical parts for the client and the shop makes a better margin.