Ordering a helmet internationally?

[Geeen]

Why don't our importers fly over to aussie, buy gear there and fly back with the gear as carry on luggage? They could sell it for the same prices they are now and get a free trip to aussie. My kevlar jeans and boots cost me over $499 (would be about 400aussie$) alone.

Because if they did that and the Manufacturer found out about it the would most likely loose their right to distribute that product. Much the same reason there are companies like Nordorst cables that will pull their product from a retailer who "poaches" customers from other countries local retailers.
The best way I have heard the NZ market described is the TOTAL sales for iPads in NZ for a YEAR is equivalent to ONE DAYS sales in New York. That doesn't give NZ distributors the same clout as US distributors for example.

[Morcs]

what sort of stupid mark up are NZ dealers making?

Not a lot tbh. By the time a customer screws you for a good price there is actually bugger all, even in a $1000+ helmet.

If you knew the margins of, say Repco, had on all their shit, you would cut the motorcycle industry some slack.

[Morcs]

Because if they did that and the Manufacturer found out about it the would most likely loose their right to distribute that product. Much the same reason there are companies like Nordorst cables that will pull their product from a retailer who "poaches" customers from other countries local retailers.
The best way I have heard the NZ market described is the TOTAL sales for iPads in NZ for a YEAR is equivalent to ONE DAYS sales in New York. That doesn't give NZ distributors the same clout as US distributors for example.

Exactly. In the grand scheme of things for the massive companies, little old new zealand really isnt very important to them at all. Because we will buy lesser bulk quantities, probably dont get the best price breaks either. They wouldnt notice if we disappeared, and all these kiwis need to realise that they live in this little country with a small economy.

[98tls]

Been there, done that. Call it luck if you will but I had the ingrained instinct and just enough road to swerve and accellerate past them.

Also, my wife has me a car on her side of the road overtaking on a tight blind right-hander. Again, the ingrained instinct was present and the verge was used resulting in no accident at all.

Sometimes I wonder why you guys that believe an accident to be inevitable ride at all. Do you get off on the adrenalin?

Bullshit you have,she was riding along on her little GN250 and the guy swerved straight into her,you/me/her or anyone else couldnt have avoided the guy,the serious crash unit concluded she had no time at all to react.Thankfully she was left brain dead and didnt suffer.Who said i believe an accident is inevitable?Ive had a few in my time some my own fault and a couple there was fuck all i could do about but i got lucky, dont be spouting tripe about all accidents being avoidable Sometimes shit happens and ingrained instinct blah blah wont help.

[nzspokes]

Bullshit you have,she was riding along on her little GN250 and the guy swerved straight into her,you/me/her or anyone else couldnt have avoided the guy,the serious crash unit concluded she had no time at all to react.Thankfully she was left brain dead and didnt suffer.Who said i believe an accident is inevitable?Ive had a few in my time some my own fault and a couple there was fuck all i could do about but i got lucky, dont be spouting tripe about all accidents being avoidable Sometimes shit happens and ingrained instinct blah blah wont help.

Agreed. Having had a recent issue myself sometimes its all to fast. And you can end up with nowhere to go.

And good luck with SCU.....

[swbarnett]

Bullshit you have,she was riding along on her little GN250 and the guy swerved straight into her,you/me/her or anyone else couldnt have avoided the guy,the serious crash unit concluded she had no time at all to react.

No, I can't say that my incident was exactly the same. Perhaps the difference is that I had a larger capacity bike and was better able to power away.

Who said i believe an accident is inevitable?

I stand corrected. I can't remember exactly what it was but something you said seemed to imply this. This is the peoblem with the written word. Too open to interpretatiion.

Sometimes shit happens and ingrained instinct blah blah wont help.

Agreed. Unlike katman I don't believe that EVERY accident is avoidable given the circumstances at the time. I was just trying to say (and perhaps not being very clear about it) that it is not inevitable that every rider will suffer a major accident in their riding career.

[pete-blen]

The best way I have heard the NZ market described is the TOTAL sales for iPads in NZ for a YEAR is equivalent to ONE DAYS sales in New York. That doesn't give NZ distributors the same clout as US distributors for example.

I was talking with a BOC gasses rep... He said BOC NZ asked Kobie wire in Japan for a better prise on mig wire as we buy
X tonnage a year... There reply was.. You don't even use a days production from one of our plants....
We are small.. very small..

[Ocean1]

I was talking with a BOC gasses rep... He said BOC NZ asked Kobie wire in Japan for a better prise on mig wire as we buy
X tonnage a year... There reply was.. You don't even use a days production from one of our plants....
We are small.. very small..

This from one of the largest abusers of a monopolistic position in the country.

There's more to that story, too. But having been reamed by BOC for all of my working life I'm simply pleased that they've finally started to get their comeuppance.

Arseholes.

[Robert Taylor]

This from one of the largest abusers of a monopolistic position in the country.

There's more to that story, too. But having been reamed by BOC for all of my working life I'm simply pleased that they've finally started to get their comeuppance.

Arseholes.

Indeed, the arrogance of BOC is breathtaking

[Katman]

Agreed. Unlike katman I don't believe that EVERY accident is avoidable given the circumstances at the time.

Care to point out where I've ever said EVERY accident is avoidable?

There is a distinct difference between 'the vast majority' and 'every'.

[swbarnett]

Care to point out where I've ever said EVERY accident is avoidable?

I think you're right. It would be more accurate to say it was implied unintentionally.

[mossy1200]

original op robo-twigy must have gone overseas to try the helmets on as he has had one post only. His thread lives on though

[TLDV8]

I just remembered this thread and the people who continuously whine about about being hard done by those who do not support local businesses.
As said in this thread before I try to support the motorcycle system here as I did in New Zealand when I can but it makes you wonder some times.
Like the DR650SE I brought new in 2008 for the equivalent of around NZ$10000 from the local dealer (NT Cycles)
I needed a replacement clutch shaft bearing for the DR,you got it AU$57 from MR Cycles in the US,over AU$94 from my local NSW Suzuki dealer + freight.
Of course I did the right thing and will buy it locally after I drive 40 kms there and back to pay a deposit for the pleasure of it.

Yes I still need to buy a replacement for the ($AU$470 to the door from the US in 08) Arai XD3 after I save up some $800 to buy local.
When is a $10 helmet for a $10 head actually a $5 helmet with a major mark up,easy if its not in the USA,every other country.
Even safety can not escape greedy profiteering it seems.

[Robert Taylor]

I just remembered this thread and the people who continuously whine about about being hard done by those who do not support local businesses.
As said in this thread before I try to support the motorcycle system here as I did in New Zealand when I can but it makes you wonder some times.
Like the DR650SE I brought new in 2008 for the equivalent of around NZ$10000 from the local dealer (NT Cycles)
I needed a replacement clutch shaft bearing for the DR,you got it AU$57 from MR Cycles in the US,over AU$94 from my local NSW Suzuki dealer + freight.
Of course I did the right thing and will buy it locally after I drive 40 kms there and back to pay a deposit for the pleasure of it.

Yes I still need to buy a replacement for the ($AU$470 to the door from the US in 08) Arai XD3 after I save up some $800 to buy local.
When is a $10 helmet for a $10 head actually a $5 helmet with a major mark up,easy if its not in the USA,every other country.
Even safety can not escape greedy profiteering it seems.

Oh really?

How can it be fair and equitable that private purchases offshore very often attract no clearance and gst charges? When through normal retail / high street chains gst is ALWAYS collected? Local businesses that employ local people and disperse their ''evil'' profits back into the local economy. Unlike your mates in North Mexico. Its little wonder that Governments both sides of the Tasman and in the UK are looking seriously at righting this wrong. And god only knows that after 6 years of on again off again Kevin Ruddiculous the Aussie economy is in such a mess they need the revenue they have been failing to collect fully via gst

We had in our showroom a line of top shelf helmets, recommended retail 15% over dealer cost, and ( inevitably ) that's before you get hit for a deal . Before you make accusations about ''greedy profiteering'' it would be a good idea to be in command of the facts

Id also like you to be amongst the first to complain on this forum when in the future US sourced product soars in price, as their dollar regains strength

[swbarnett]

How can it be fair and equitable that private purchases offshore very often attract no clearance and gst charges? When through normal retail / high street chains gst is ALWAYS collected?

While I totally agree with this and would not be against it if they do add GST to ALL imports (apart from a general objection to all GST*), the fact remains that even with GST and customs charges often buying from an overseas web site still works out significantly cheaper.





*Any tax over and above income and company tax just increases the administration cost; the only affect is that the true tax level is well hidden.