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

[ynot slow]

Lets chuck another scenario with the Honda part.$620 here,$210 plus shipping etc,leaves say $300 to still be spent in NZ.Sure a bike shop loses out,but the money saved will be spent back in NZ,maybe at a bar,restaurant,so although the original cost meant the local shop lost a sale,I'm willing to bet it sold filters,plugs etc to make up for it,seems to me most shops need to only stock the basic parts.Why would they want to stock each and every size and colour of a helmet range from Shoei,Arai etc,when the punter can come in try on and buy overseas.Same for clothing.

[Robert Taylor]

Respect to you for adapting your business model to meet the needs of and compete in the modern marketplace. However as I read it you have to take great care when setting your prices so as not to step on the toes of businesses that are unable to operate as efficeintly as you? Not sure why you bother? Darwinism will ensure that you will not be needing to supply them for too much longer.

The way I see it, if you need service then get the items from a local shop (if you use that shop to size up an internet purchase, you really are taking the piss). If you know exactly what you want and you need no further advice then go ahead and get the best possible price.

I hear what you are saying, which effectively is why is the shop clipping the ticket on the way through when most often the customer has done the reserarch and knows exactly what he wants. There are though good shops with good people that make the effort and they deserve a margin, so thats traditionally 2 margins. Its a conundrum and with overseas competition it places the heat on having 2 margins.

[onearmedbandit]

So the $410 that was kept in NZ went into the local money-go-round? Or imdying left it in the bank, or didn't have it in the first place?
Unless imdying spent it, the local economy did not benefit.

I can't speak for him, however I spent more than imdying on this particular order, and I have spent the difference between what I paid and what I would've paid on some tyres for my bike (purchased locally at a shop that was affected by the earthquake), tyres for the car, etc. I didn't need new tyres for the bike, but when I saw how much money I saved I splurged out. Now Pitlane have my $468, not some overseas company. And yes I do realise some of that money went off shore.

I'm sure imdying will be along soon, but I already know the answer regarding his situation. But that's not my business to post about.

[onearmedbandit]

The cost of any article is in the distribution chain.

A pen is manufactured for 10 cents...it goes through several (in some cases, many) points, each one putting their costs on top, before it is available for you, the customer, to purchase at a cost of $2.00.

The manufacturer and the retailer put on their profit margin but most of that extra $1.90 cents is put on by the distributers/warehousers/freight companies, not the manufacturer or the retailer, which is why you can buy cheaper overseas...it passes through less hands.

Japan exporter to American importer to American retailer = $210
Japan exporter to Oz importer (maybe) to NZ Importer to NZ retailer = $620

Sorry, but fuck that.

[Robert Taylor]

I love the irony when self proclaimed right w(h)ingers [read: free marketeers/anti-regulation proponents/social and economic darwinists] start nashing their teeth when it works against them and crying for government regulation/protection. Even more ironic that these same economic realist types start harping on about morality and "putting your countrymen first".

Here's something I purchased online especially for you Robert:

I wouldnt expect you to have read all of my posts over time but Ive been consistent in what I say. Yes , unashamedly my views are largely and unashamedly right wing sympathetic but Id also like to say infused with realism. In slight contradiction to those views yes Im also unashamedly in favour of protecting the wellbeing of ordinary Kiwis. The false prosperity worldwide that we had for a decade or so was fuelled on such things as property speculation and generated massive bank profits and obscene bonuses. There is only so much money in circulation and it would be better put to use in industries that are productive, generate export income and carry people along with it.
We are certainly seeing a great seachange in how the world does business and there will be a lot of casualties yet, many businesses are having to adapt or die.

[scumdog]

I hear what you are saying, which effectively is why is the shop clipping the ticket on the way through when most often the customer has done the reserarch and knows exactly what he wants. There are though good shops with good people that make the effort and they deserve a margin, so thats traditionally 2 margins. Its a conundrum and with overseas competition it places the heat on having 2 margins.

There's also the odd situation where you know what the shop can get for you will probably be more expensive than it might be from overseas - but there's a risk the overseas part may not fit/suit.

In that case the shop wears it and would have to return said item.

Buying it from overseas yourself and it doean't fit ? - you're stuck with it unless you know what the part DOES fit and can sell it.

And if that part happens to be for say an XN85 theres not much chance of you finding a buyer in NZ...

[Bassmatt]

The false prosperity worldwide that we had for a decade or so was fuelled on such things as property speculation and generated massive bank profits and obscene bonuses.

This of course was made possible by Govts to the right of center. How can you say you support the ideology of the right and still care about the man on the street. The two are diametrically opposed.

[short-circuit]

This of course was made possible by Govts to the right of center. How can you say you support the ideology of the right and still care about the man on the street. The two are diametrically opposed.

Bang on. Many small business owners falsely harbour the delusional belief that the policies of right act in their interests (when in actual fact they only care about large corporates and the finance "industry").

As far as "caring about the average man on the street" he doesn't. Right wingers see people only as consumers and potential consumers.

[Bassmatt]

Not trying to threadjack but this is great...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__tSOHoYgJm...600/reagan.jpg

[Robert Taylor]

This of course was made possible by Govts to the right of center. How can you say you support the ideology of the right and still care about the man on the street. The two are diametrically opposed.

It largely happened on the last Governments watch and if you look at how Gordon Brown screwed up Britain it defies belief. Conservatism and compassion can be bedfellows. But yes I concede that many Governments are too friendly to the biggest business interests

[dipshit]

Virtually all my working life for the last 25 years has been earning overseas money. Farming for the fat lamb trade for 12 years.... then in the export meat industry for some years... then in the mining industry for the last few years. Have perhaps collected a government benefit for a month tops in my life.

As such I do not feel any guilt whatsoever purchasing directly from overseas.

The retail market itself dictates when my money goes.

Recently purchased a lot of HiFi audio equipment. It's nice (almost essential) be able to listen to expensive speakers before forking out on them. Brought from a local HiFi specialist shop.

Have been into photography for some years and acquired a fair amount of photography gear. All purchased from NZ retailers as prices aren't that much different from overseas so may as well support local and have less trouble for warranty claims and such.

Spent money upgrading my bike's suspension recently and spent it with a NZ company (yes, RT) because they offer good service and backup... as suspension is just as much about technical support and setup than it is about the components themselves. A bit more money spent for this actually yields better value for your money I feel.

Still when it comes to purchasing exhausts and other such accessories or parts for my bikes I get better value for money purchasing directly from overseas at less than 1/2 the price. I do not feel any obligation to support my local bike shops and could not care less if half of them went under. No great loss.

At the end of the day the consumers will dictate the market no matter how much the market tries to dictate to the consumers.

[Pussy]

At the end of the day the consumers will dictate the market no matter how much the market tries to dictate to the consumers.

Spot on! Freedom of choice

[MarkH]

Buying it from overseas yourself and it doean't fit ? - you're stuck with it unless you know what the part DOES fit and can sell it.

This is very true and it is one reason that I am happy to pay more to buy something locally - but there is a limit to how much more I am willing to pay. It isn't very common to buy a part for a bike and not have that part fit that bike - I buy a part to fit an AN400 K7 and it IS going to fit. If I am only saving 5% though, I might as well buy locally just in case the part is wrong or broken or whatever. If I am saving 50% or more than it is worth taking the risk, even if the occasional item bought from overseas doesn't fit and can't be sold through Tard Me it is still cheaper than buying locally for over twice the price.

Often it is on the smaller bits that you get raped the hardest. I bought a digital camera locally and buying overseas doesn't save all that much, but when you go to buy a new battery for your camera . . . (I have some after-market batteries that are 4 or 5 years old that still work better then the genuine OEM ones)
The same goes with bikes - try buying a replacement bolt or gasket or whatever small & cheap bit you like. I asked about a replacement bolt that had worked loose and fallen out - I was told by the bike shop that they could get one but it would cost something like twenty bucks and I would be better off buying a similar length bolt with the same thread from a hardware store, which I did. Later when ordering a couple of other things from the US I got a proper Suzuki bolt for US$2.45. It's like walking into Dick Smith Electronics and seeing the $3 - $5 cables on sale for $15 - $20, it seems nuts but they don't want to bother selling an item for $4.50 that cost them $3 even if it is 50% markup because the profit from the sale wont cover the cost of the staff time to sell it - so they whack another $10 on to the price and make good money on the item.

Ever buy stuff from Kathmandu on sale? If they can sell an item to me for 1/3 price on sale then how much do they make when someone buys it at their normal price? Of course only the insane would buy something from Kathmandu at full price anyway.

[Katman]

If you want to crucify the real crooks here look no further than the likes of Suzuki NZ, Triumph NZ and Bluewing Honda.

The rest of us are just trying to survive.

[scumdog]

Ever buy stuff from Kathmandu on sale? If they can sell an item to me for 1/3 price on sale then how much do they make when someone buys it at their normal price? Of course only the insane would buy something from Kathmandu at full price anyway.

Yup, kathmandu usually sells ggod quality products..
But at their "1/2 price sale"? = normal retail price at any other place.