Haldanes is closed

[Madness]

I apologise profusely for having the temerity to have some concern about the plight of the average business in New Zealand and therefore the employment security of people that they employ.

You should be ashamed of yourself, apparently.

[imdying]

It's all good, the market will sort itself out; they always have, and always will... that is just fundamental to how a market works.

Motorcycle dealerships will never disappear completely from NZ, there are simply too many people who don't service their own bikes for any other outcome.

Take Honda. Even farmers buy their ATV parts online these days. Therefore the most likely scenario is that Blue Wing will, eventually, fail to meet sales volumes, lose their NZ franchise, and then all of the motorcycle shops left will be able to buy their parts from overseas without fear of reprisal.

Once the leeches like them who add no value disappear, the dealers will be free to make money again (because they'll be able to buy a solo seat cowl for $163NZD delivered, in a week, and flog it for another $50, rather than our current scenario (which is probably the same actual profit for them, I assume they get $50 discount from Blue Wing's $615NZD price) which is another gob smacked 'could have been a' customer importing it directly from overseas after sniffing some smelling salts.

The whole protectionist racket wankers like Blue Wing was fine once upon a time, but now we don't need them to hold stock of parts.... they're only a week away (or two days if you really want to pay some serious freight).

Had a look at an insurance quote on a damaged Honda??!?!? Without that sort of three times the price rape going on, which the insurance companies of course recoup through your premiums, maybe our premiums could go down too. Graphic example has to be that VFR1200 being written off after getting road tar spots all over it... without Blue Wing fucking us in the arse, that perfectly fine other than cosmetic damage bike, could have been back on the road in a matter of weeks.

[nzspokes]

Had a look at an insurance quote on a damaged Honda??!?!?

My partners one was a quote for 30k on a 5 k bike.

[SMOKEU]

Graphic example has to be that VFR1200 being written off after getting road tar spots all over it... without Blue Wing fucking us in the arse, that perfectly fine other than cosmetic damage bike, could have been back on the road in a matter of weeks.

Was that the one on TM a few months ago where the auctioneer/seller couldn't even find all the supposed damage?

[Hillbilly]

So, after 12 pages of blaming the internet, does anyone have an actaul answer as to why Haldanes closed? Not speculation, but the real reason. I only heard about it today from the Branch Manager of Red Baron in Auckland and was rather surprised. Their web sites (including the used bikes on Autobase) are still in operation and there's no mention of them being closed or in receivership.

[Brian d marge]

I've written off a gold wing 1500 se for fairing scratches
And yes I started back in the day and was busy as a bike mechanic, 1990 and from memory it was the CBR where the service interval shot up to 24k before u even checked the shims
Robert in a niche market with high knowledge requirements, but one small change , for argument sake, let's say spring damper arrangement became obsolete, he would have adapt or close...
Stephen

[gammaguy]

So, after 12 pages of blaming the internet, does anyone have an actaul answer as to why Haldanes closed? Not speculation, but the real reason. I only heard about it today from the Branch Manager of Red Baron in Auckland and was rather surprised. Their web sites (including the used bikes on Autobase) are still in operation and there's no mention of them being closed or in receivership.

Perhaps they closed because there are a million other ways to make money

Perhaps they were sick of motorbikes

Perhaps they were sick of the public

Perhaps they went bankrupt

Those and many other possible scenarios are very common in nz bike shops and I have experienced them personally

Truth is running a motorcycle shop is very far from beer and skittles.the golden age of walk in retail is long gone and will likely never return

Google "blockbuster video"for another example of what happens when a business model becomes outdated

[gammaguy]

I've written off a gold wing 1500 se for fairing scratches
And yes I started back in the day and was busy as a bike mechanic, 1990 and from memory it was the CBR where the service interval shot up to 24k before u even checked the shims
Robert in a niche market with high knowledge requirements, but one small change , for argument sake, let's say spring damper arrangement became obsolete, he would have adapt or close...
Stephen

Where I worked it was the Yamaha FZ750

20 valves and only needed checking at 24000km after the initial service

Ah but its OK they also built the XT250 TL to keep us techs busy.......

[Robert Taylor]

Robert, I think your situation is quite different from bike dealerships (particularly around bike parts, rider accessories, etc).

With the area you are in, there is a significant value added by the local retailer (you, in a rather "consultancy" role) who is able to add expertise and customisation to the merchandise (the suspension) that is often needed, resulting in the buyer's satisfaction and correct solution. To add on top of this, I've done price comparisons and found yours to be rather-surprisingly quite comparable to the overseas retailers, making buying overseas only marginally better at best, and not a good sense in most occasions.

With bike parts, where an exact part is desired and the actual problem (with the bike, etc) is known (e.g., buying aftermarket exhaust, rider accessories, etc), it usually comes with a combination of two factors:
1. local dealers very rarely adding insights/values (is it due to the number of casual workers? Lack of expertise? Or vested business interest in certain brand/model?) and/or
2. the price difference being non-sensical (e.g., Sidi Vortice boots NZD450 landed from Germany vs. NZD750+ locally. Admitedly this is likely to be a product of demand volume vs. population, and delivery cost).
Couple these with the ever-growing issues with instore services that are often lacking.

For future's sake, the need to support local industry is beyond question. However, where (on the customer's side) there is a need to balance the spending against the money needed to more pressing needs such as feeding their children / servicing the mortgage / buying fuel / etc, making a decision suddenly seem a lot easier where there is no distinct advantage in buying locally.

Going forward, the question is whether a middle ground can be found by local retailers, where the price difference to fuel the local industry's survival can be made acceptable to the customers by being justifiable through (1) the lack of delivery delay, (2) GST guesswork taken out, and (3) expert help (probably being the easiest factor to fix?).

All very fair points. When I get some time I will lay out figures for clearance charges, its sobering reading.

[Coldrider]

So, after 12 pages of blaming the internet, does anyone have an actaul answer as to why Haldanes closed? Not speculation, but the real reason.

Maybe because a lot of gear is being re-lifed through trademe
Maybe some are never going to be able to afford new motorcyles.
Maybe some are just internet riders anyway.

[PeeJay]

So a logical conclusion to some of your arguments is that there will be no local distributors left and by implication no-one with any expertise to look after the more technical products that are imported.

The logical conclusion is those local distributors who arent making a dollar will close up. Those that do will stay open.
If there is customer demand for local expertise, and the local experts can see themselves making a dollar, then the local experts would likely offer their services until such time they dont make a dollar and decide to do something else.

Clearly you have no idea of the huge investment many of us have not only in stock but also plant, equipment and ongoing training to support fully and properly the products we sell.

The fact you have made this business decision to invest in stock etc is entirely on you. If it doesnt seem like a good idea in todays economic climate well thats the risk you took. You invested because you hoped the investment would enhance your business and you would get a return by an increase in profitability. If the return on your investment is not up to expectation thats the risk you took. If customers dont wish to use your products and services after you spent all this money, thats just too bad. And I have a fair idea of the investment required to set up the infrastructure required to support technical products.

And our pricing is largely competitive and flexible against the overseas resellers,

Again how you price your goods and services is entirely up to you.

who put nothing back into our local economy.

They have a direct bearing on the provision of import services, storage, freight services. All kiwi jobs in NZ.

Manufacturers appoint distributors for each country and expect to have local experts on the ground, who will be kept updated by the manufacturer with training in new technology and the specific ways and equipment to look after their products etc. Unless Im sadly mistaken.

You could be under some sort of illusion. The reason manufacturers do this is to enhance their business profitability in this country. Thats it.

When you are buying offshore you are buying off a distribution chain anyway, not straight off the manufacturer, or very rarely. Sure there has to be parity in pricing and there are many restricting reasons why there isnt in many products ( some justified, some unjustified ) but Id rather buy off a distribution chain that is employing our own countrymen, as much as possible.

Again your choice where you spend your money, but when the overseas retail is less than the NZ trade, and its 5 days instead of 3 weeks, why would you want to support such an obviously inefficient distribution chain?
Supporting it just encourages them to carry on as they are.

I apologise profusely for having the temerity to have some concern about the plight of the average business in New Zealand and therefore the employment security of people that they employ.

Apology accepted

There has got to be a balance and right now it is clear that many people are being put out of work and / or living standards are actually dropping because this whole vicious cycle is self compounding.

An economy full of inefficiencies, like our outdated motorcyle supply/distribution chains, is one of the main reasons we are having a hard time.
Keeping an inefficient process working to keep "kiwis working" is stupid. My grandfather was a farrier, should we mandate that everyone should have to keep at least one horse so we can employ more farriers?
Not that my grandfather whinged and moaned about the reduced demand for farriers. He became a mechanic. Already had the hammers and an anvil.
If you make these process's more efficient you can free up workers to do something more productive.
The supply chain you want to support wastes time, money, and manpower for the sake of it.
And no matter how you look at it, that is a drain on our economy.

Business comes business goes. Things change and if you see these changes as problems instead of opportunities, I guess your business will be one of the ones that goes.

One last thing, if in the prevailing economic climate your business isnt viable, and doesnt look like it is going to get any better, whatever business you have, get out while the getting outs good. Probably what Chris did.

[Robert Taylor]

The logical conclusion is those local distributors who arent making a dollar will close up. Those that do will stay open.
If there is customer demand for local expertise, and the local experts can see themselves making a dollar, then the local experts would likely offer their services until such time they dont make a dollar and decide to do something else.


The fact you have made this business decision to invest in stock etc is entirely on you. If it doesnt seem like a good idea in todays economic climate well thats the risk you took. You invested because you hoped the investment would enhance your business and you would get a return by an increase in profitability. If the return on your investment is not up to expectation thats the risk you took. If customers dont wish to use your products and services after you spent all this money, thats just too bad. And I have a fair idea of the investment required to set up the infrastructure required to support technical products.

Again how you price your goods and services is entirely up to you.

They have a direct bearing on the provision of import services, storage, freight services. All kiwi jobs in NZ.

You could be under some sort of illusion. The reason manufacturers do this is to enhance their business profitability in this country. Thats it.

Again your choice where you spend your money, but when the overseas retail is less than the NZ trade, and its 5 days instead of 3 weeks, why would you want to support such an obviously inefficient distribution chain?
Supporting it just encourages them to carry on as they are.

Apology accepted


An economy full of inefficiencies, like our outdated motorcyle supply/distribution chains, is one of the main reasons we are having a hard time.
Keeping an inefficient process working to keep "kiwis working" is stupid. My grandfather was a farrier, should we mandate that everyone should have to keep at least one horse so we can employ more farriers?
Not that my grandfather whinged and moaned about the reduced demand for farriers. He became a mechanic. Already had the hammers and an anvil.
If you make these process's more efficient you can free up workers to do something more productive.
The supply chain you want to support wastes time, money, and manpower for the sake of it.
And no matter how you look at it, that is a drain on our economy.

Business comes business goes. Things change and if you see these changes as problems instead of opportunities, I guess your business will be one of the ones that goes.

One last thing, if in the prevailing economic climate your business isnt viable, and doesnt look like it is going to get any better, whatever business you have, get out while the getting outs good. Probably what Chris did.

Again you miss the real point of my ''temerity'' in daring to question. The biggest issue that needs addressing is the inequities that occur in port of entry charges, which many on this forum accept is WRONG. Dont make assumptions about my own business, it is doing okay because we are adaptive to realities. And where there are (as you say) ''inefficiencies'' I agree with many of the observations.

[BoristheBiter]

Again you miss the real point of my ''temerity'' in daring to question. The biggest issue that needs addressing is the inequities that occur in port of entry charges,

+1

most that import via the internet pay no duty or GST so of course it will be cheaper.

I have wondered why the goberment have not changed this loop hole?

[silver_duck]

You're all wrong.....

I had a recent trip to Auckland and got the low down on what killed Haldanes...

Aparently he was taken to the cleaners for not keeping it in his pants....

End of transmission.

[Digitdion]

+1

most that import via the internet pay no duty or GST so of course it will be cheaper.

I have wondered why the goberment have not changed this loop hole?

I have paid plenty in Gst And duty, as have many!