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

[burden2]

Like most folks I guess my preference is to buy local but when the differences between local and importing it are huge then the final decider is almost always price. I got a set of highway bars in from the US and saved myself over $200 over the cheapest price I could find here. Last week I ordered a windscreen from a local seller for $104 delivered to my mailbox compared to the dealers price in the US of $US154.95 plus postage and all that jazz. I'm not scared to pay the going rate for what I want but when I can keep that kind of cash in my pocket to spend on other things thats the way I go.

[MSTRS:Me]

True.

But with helmets, boots, pants etc?

I'd rather have the option of saying 'oops, they don't fit' etc.

Hard to do THAT over the internet eh..

Pah! You'll have learned what the right size is from your mistake. Then you sell the 'unwanted gift/prize' on TM for twice what you paid for it, use half to re-order the right size and put the other half in the bank. When you get your second purchase, it is effectively free.
An' ye hae the cheek tae call yersel' a canny Scot...

[Robert Taylor]

That exchange rate applies to both private and commercial imports, doesn't it?

Richard

Yes that part of the playing field is at least level.

[Smiff-ta]

Buying overseas is a great option,

But there is nothing like being able to go and speak to the person who is taking your hard earned money.

Nothing like a warranty
Nothing like being able to discuss options
Nothing like exchanging something thats not a 100% good fit
Nothing like free technical help

Raddy rah ra

[spacemonkey]

I have even joined up with www.shipito.com to get an address in the US of A to have goods sent to from companies that don't sell overseas and also to save a shitload on shipping. They can combine multiple packages into one and send it, I've already saved hundreds in shipping so far.

Fucking hell that's expensive!!!!
I'm in the middle of organising importing some stuff from Germany and for a laugh I fed the same weights and dimensions into that site shipping from Califonia 800kg's, 120 wide, 80cm deep and 1m high and it gave me a couple of prices the cheapest being $4k USD....... Current quote I have in front of me ex Hamburg is circa $600 NZD.
The main difference I think is that site doesn't have an option for sea freight (longer transit but way cheaper).

[Juzz976]

slightly off topic but from suzuki

TL1000R 4 way adjustable Brake lever $ 35 or there abouts
TL1000R 4 way adjustable Clutch Lever $ 143

Now these 2 parts are almost identical apart from being a mirror of each other.

When your side stand sinks into the ground your clutch lever breaks and i would assume they'd sell more of the clutch levers.

Do TL riders low side more turning right or WTF are we getting ripped.

BTW the price difference was comparable across all aftermarket brands

and on the TL-R the brake lever works better as a clutch lever than the clutch lever does but aesthetically the knobs upside down.

[Robert Taylor]

So are you suggesting that when the exchange rate crashes, the NZ price from local dealers (assuming they are still in business) will remain more or less stable?

Just as the dealer prices for parts have plummeted with low inflation and a strong dollar in recent years?

I think theres a danger of too many assuming that everything revolves around $US. For example we purchase our beloved Ohlins product in Swedish krona because the factory is in Sweden and that is their currency. They opted not to go with Euro and that is probably a good thing as they will not be helping to prop up failing economic basket cases like Greece. If the exchange rate against Swedish krona remains stable but at the same time the $US strengthens markedly ( meaning more $NZ are required to purchase $US ) then you will see that the buy price against the Swedish currency remains the same but then increases markedly if you purchase in $US.

Speaking for ourselves we have lowered our prices as overall our kiwi dollar has strenthened against Swedish crowns. We have also cut our margins to very tight levels to compete with the unlevel playing fields out there ( internet sales ) But you have to be careful about deriding dealers and distributors for generally ''failing'' to lower prices due to numerous other factors that have offset that. The cost of operating businesses has increased markedly over the last few years due to many factors including such things as the introduction of 4 weeks paid leave.

[Juzz976]

Back on topic,

I don't believe our local dealers are putting excessive margins on their equipment nor overcharging for labour rates.
Bare minimum they should be putting 20% on top of a large purchase by any one customer.

Sure if you were to go to your dealer and buy a large quantity of gear with substantial value they could offer a discount on their rrp, they can also request a quote from their wholesaler for this package of goods and give you a better deal as the cost of this process is only a portion of the margin applied to the goods.

The big problem (and I'm sure many will disagree) is that many internet retailers do not have list prices or rrp with dealer account discounts or nett buy rates. Wholesalers in most other industries operate this way as its easier to deal with a few large accounts rather than many small ones.

This way the dealer/retailer is the sales person for this wholesaler which reduces the wholesalers costs, promotes the relationship between dealer and wholesaler and reduces goods returned as ordered incorrect.

Another huge influence is with many industries eg plumbing or electrical
these items need to be installed by a qualified person to meet legislation (prescribed electrical work for instance needs to be done by an electrician).

In this way it is common that a trades person is able to supply and fit parts around the same cost as if you were to only just purchase the parts yourself,
this is due to their purchasing discount.
Of course incorrectly installed equipment on a motorcycle is not potentially dangerous. In this way the industry is fair and safer.

If the industry is regulated and wholesale suppliers make this agreement to support their dealers the dealers prices would eventually decrease as the buying power is returned, turnover by dealers is increased and by proportion overheads decreased and ultimately leading to less increases in future prices.

So everytime you buy something from an internet store your making it cost more for someone who buys the same item locally, then you go to a local store and complain about their prices.
And when you need a motorcycle mechanic you'll also have to have a cry about how much they charge per hour because thats the services they can provide that you computer wont.

[R-Soul]

Economy of scale.

Is it economies of scale there, or lack of competition here?

I suspect that our small market allows maybe one or two major players in - for just about any product. These two players invariably end up basing their prices on each others latest ones, and the prices creep up steadily - faster than other countries where more players means more competition, and keeps prices down. Perhaps sometimes even active collusion...

The net result is that everything - even small things that in other countries cost $5-10, now end up costing $10-20 in NZ. Net result: business owners or importers make the money (which goes offshore, while they keep paying their workers NZ "normal" wages) and the cost of living skyrockets in NZ....

I hate the idea of too much government regulation, but seriously, I wonder if it would be better if the govt. would regulate maximum markups on import costs.

[R-Soul]

dont you just love that one?i had the same thing a while back,a certain BMW dealer told me a part i needed did not exist,even when i quoted them a part nuimber.

A week later I received the part that did not exist,from Australia

and it was cheaper than the NZ dealer quoted me ,before they changed their mind and said it was never available.

its a joke,which is why I have been buying and selling online as a first choice for years now.

What you are describing is CLASSIC "fat cat" syndrome. Refer to my previous post.

If "supporting NZ" means supporting the price gouging of the average consumer, then I for one wont be.
Business is survival of the fittest. You are not helping fat cat companies by making them fatter than they already are.

[R-Soul]

You are forgetting that Harvey Norman don't have staff or overheads, nor fuckwit customers who expect to look at the picture on the TV before deciding whether or not to buy.

Harvey Norman also don't have to pay their staff to answer the phone or spend time with customers who are just timewasters.

Maybe it's just a massive conspiracy and they don't do that for Tv's because the US ones run on a different voltage and wouldn't work here without modification.

Then again maybe the industry is right, and now we the consumer have no choice, there are no Mum & Dad appliance stores left anymore - you are forced to get your Tv from a national chain retailer such as Harvey or Noel, or Bonds etc.

No, floor space and stock costs are similar, as are wage costs.

The difference is that the NZ TV market is larger, supports more players and is therefore more competitive than the bike accessories market. Which means the players (be they importers /retailers) are less likely to collude or price gouge.

[R-Soul]

Agree, however, is there evidence that wholesalers supplying NZ retailers are minting it?

Well the cost of living is through the freaking roof...
And I dont for a second believe that the retailers are as innocent as they pretend to be. I reckon there is a good mix. They protest too much.

[R-Soul]

And I suspect the same is for the American market too...

Yes but in real terms even smaller markets in the US are potentially worth billions (unlike ours) and can support many players that have to stay competitive to survive, or risk being undercut by the many other players.

If the NZ market has two players in it, and its worth $10m a year, that means that a large amount of set up costs would be required to compete for (initially) less than 1m a year, MAYBE building to $3m (assuming equal split) eventually. Where as the payback for a third share of a market of $100m would make the risk more worthwhile.

Now if you are one of two players in NZ markets, and your competitor is making a 100% markup, would you reduce it to a 30% markup 'because its fair' and you dont want to rip off customers? AS IF!

The only way to keep the players honest and support NZ consumers is to FULLY support parallel importation.

[steve_t]

Well the cost of living is through the freaking roof...
And I dont for a second believe that the retailers are as innocent as they pretend to be. I reckon there is a good mix. They protest too much.

LOL. You quoted me asking for evidence and reply with "I don't ... believe..."

[MarkH]

Fucking hell that's expensive!!!!
I'm in the middle of organising importing some stuff from Germany and for a laugh I fed the same weights and dimensions into that site shipping from Califonia 800kg's, 120 wide, 80cm deep and 1m high and it gave me a couple of prices the cheapest being $4k USD....... Current quote I have in front of me ex Hamburg is circa $600 NZD.
The main difference I think is that site doesn't have an option for sea freight (longer transit but way cheaper).

$4K isn't that bad for air freight of such a large and heavy package - but for something that size/weight I would hunt around for someone that could use surface shipping. I'd rather wait a few weeks than pay $4K in shipping.

If you are buying smaller items that only way a few KGs total then using Shipito can be a good option.