07 zx6r $14995

[Pussy]

Gassit Girl and myself have bought 11 new Suzukis between us since 1999. In most cases the arse has dropped out of the price a bit further down the track, effectively dropping the value of our bikes. I reckon I may go for the tuning fork emblem or the big K next time

[Robert Taylor]

You're right, but I don't think it applies to bike stores. TSS started off a few years back selling some old 250s at 250 prices. Now they're selling brand new Aprilias. I think they're making a fair bit of money

Perceptions can be very misleading. Relative to how very intense it is running a motorcycle franchise the overall percentage return is in fact very poor. But you will only beleive me if you purchase and run such a business. Over the decades that I have been in this game I have seen an ENORMOUS number of dealers come and go, many believing they were going to set the world on fire and do it better than the ''established wan...s''

I wouldnt also be jumping to hasty conclusions why you can purchase motorcycles cheaper in the States. Economies of scale, freight costs and a whole myriad of other reasons will doubtless justify at least some of the difference.

No wish on my part to get into a protracted forum squabble....but my point is its all too easy to draw quick conclusions.

[boomer]

I beg to differ about margins, while some products have good margins many simply do not. Given the cost of even opening ones doors, compliance fees to this, compliance to that etc etc many retailers of many products are very much NOT getting rich. I think there needs to be a reasonable balance. A fair and reasonable return for what you do as long as in turn you do it well. Anyone doing dodgy deals should be jumped on big time. And a fair taxation system that didnt rob middle NZ blind would be great as well.

I think that ordinary everyday New Zealanders have simply become serfs to many and varied political and ''big box'' retailing agendas. We can all find common ground in that statement.

I grossly over generalised.. which i'm usually only guilty of when talking with the ladies. I get pissed i 'spose when i see shops, retailers etc having sales every other month.. you know that annoying biach on TV for one?


I totally agree with your statement.. "A fair and reasonable return for what you do as long as in turn you do it well."

[Robert Taylor]

I grossly over generalised.. which i'm usually only guilty of when talking with the ladies. I get pissed i 'spose when i see shops, retailers etc having sales every other month.. you know that annoying biach on TV for one?


I totally agree with your statement.. "A fair and reasonable return for what you do as long as in turn you do it well."

I think also the ads such as ''massive reductions'' , ''Briscoes 50% off'' etc also colour peoples thinking that all forms of retail enjoy huge margins. On motorcycles the margins have steadily been eroded over the years while at the same time overheads have increased markedly.

I think also the point that Pussy very fairly makes is that on Day 1 you pay a certain price. On day 2 the product is discounted significantly and you have just seen the value in what you purchased eroded heavily. And this actually erodes everyones value, in the end event.

There is merit in the old fashion virtues of price stability, people selling you a product that actually have in depth product knowledge and will back it up fully. Sadly, there are people who will travel to the ends of the earth to save a few pennies without supporting local infrastructure ( if the local infrastructure offers full service )

[Toast]

Perceptions can be very misleading. Relative to how very intense it is running a motorcycle franchise the overall percentage return is in fact very poor. But you will only beleive me if you purchase and run such a business. Over the decades that I have been in this game I have seen an ENORMOUS number of dealers come and go, many believing they were going to set the world on fire and do it better than the ''established wan...s''

I wouldnt also be jumping to hasty conclusions why you can purchase motorcycles cheaper in the States. Economies of scale, freight costs and a whole myriad of other reasons will doubtless justify at least some of the difference.

No wish on my part to get into a protracted forum squabble....but my point is its all too easy to draw quick conclusions.

I agree. I started a part time job for a motorcycle accessories shop. The apparent ROI for the owner from my point of view in the company is feck all. Yet still you get people coming in with the assumption that the makred price is full of fat.

[boomer]

I agree. I started a part time job for a motorcycle accessories shop. The apparent ROI for the owner from my point of view in the company is feck all. Yet still you get people coming in with the assumption that the makred price is full of fat.

in that case they need to move with the times and become operationally efficient

[doc]

Here is a question: Are there any MV Agusta F4 CC's in NZ???

God damit, do believe that a dealer in the Bay area is bringing one in to "little ole Nzed" One of the 10 that have been sold worldwide. They still have 90 in storage at the factory. Even if the Italians with the MV taking the 07 landspeed record at Bonneville last month, us Kiwi's, can improve it. We've given up on the Indians. Have you seen what we can do with a Briggs n Stratton.

[Robert Taylor]

in that case they need to move with the times and become operationally efficient

Sorry boomer your response assumes too much. One of the very biggest frustrations in this day and age is to find suitable staff that are intelligent, have abundant common sense and are highly motivated. Given that the returns are ( most often ) slender so are wage rates. And here in this old colonial outpost our population is still relatively tiny, meaning we cannot truly invoke the meaning of economies of scale.

[boomer]

Sorry boomer your response assumes too much. One of the very biggest frustrations in this day and age is to find suitable staff that are intelligent, have abundant common sense and are highly motivated. Given that the returns are ( most often ) slender so are wage rates. And here in this old colonial outpost our population is still relatively tiny, meaning we cannot truly invoke the meaning of economies of scale.

"Pay peanuts get .... " that being said there are some very motivated and clever people in the industry.. just hard to find and keep i 'spose

I was just stirring the pot Robert; however.. as the saying goes.. many a true word spoken in jest. There will always be ways to find savings and opportunities. As i see it for most bike shops, the middle men aren't helping with costs.. so theres an area to explore as an example.

[ynot slow]

Agree with Robert Taylor about large companies having sales,it wasn't that long ago that Katmandu was prosecuted for false retail pricing on its 50%sale items,most of the time they were less 50%,at sale time they just put different prices on.

In my last job when we had a sale the boss would do similar thing,to go with the nationwide advertising for buying group,some items in brochure would say 50% off,we would mark a couple of items back up say from $375.00(normal margin)to say $475,then for sale reduce to say $235.Happens all the time and not necessarily on sale items,the name of game is to profit from sales to pay staff,so you may get a rep saying buy 10 items from me for $50 instead of $65,you can then sell for $130 and make a few more bucks or sell for $100 and still make profit.The tricky bit is if you can't sell them for whatever reason and then start losing money,each day you have items in stock once paid for is eating into margin,with interest on o/d,wages,power,TAX,etc.Then once you buy the item you find they are being sold in the red shed for example for $75,and either match the price and bottom line erodes,then kck the said rep up arse next time he's back lol.

[slowpoke]

So why are 600's cheaper than thou's in the first place? Or to put it the other way why are thou's more expensive than 600's?

They use virtually the same number and quality of components, same machining fabrication and assembly, the same technology, and are similar in weight. The cost to produce must be virtually identical.

[cowpoos]

So why are 600's cheaper than thou's in the first place? Or to put it the other way why are thou's more expensive than 600's?

They use virtually the same number and quality of components, same machining fabrication and assembly, the same technology, and are similar in weight. The cost to produce must be virtually identical.

stronger components...is the only reason I can think of...like wheels being stronger...and yet still lite...engine internals...but I know where your coming from bro...and its a might fine question to all the motorcycles manifactuers that are always on KB

[Toast]

in that case they need to move with the times and become operationally efficient

Bro I think that everytime I'm keying the same data for the second time that day, when the customers are gone, in to a hopeless legacy inventory system...and that's all I'll say.

[Toast]

Sorry boomer your response assumes too much. One of the very biggest frustrations in this day and age is to find suitable staff that are intelligent, have abundant common sense and are highly motivated. Given that the returns are ( most often ) slender so are wage rates. And here in this old colonial outpost our population is still relatively tiny, meaning we cannot truly invoke the meaning of economies of scale.

Very easy to blame a person's lack of knowledge or intelligence when there's a failure of process, and if you wanna pay low wages you'd better have fool proof processes in proof. What you want is an Ohlins-McDonalds hybrid.

[FkNAmerican]

Im just wondering when the hell we are all gonna see 800's. IMO that would be just about the perfect balance between power and weight. MotoGP is running 800's so Im guessing its only a matter of time before all the big names start offering them up for us mere mortals.

I'll be dreaming of a Zx8R, GSXR800, Ducati "888"???, and YZF R-8 tonight!!