Coleman Suzuki - Rip off of the month

[cowpoos]

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you must spread rep around...blah blah blah blah... boomer again.

[hospitalfood]

I get pissed off with colemans. there is something about them that makes me go elsewhere, and its not just the price.

[The Stranger:Me]

And you wonder why the prices are high?
Remember if you do that, there will be no backup from any shops for you.
Its people like you who are ruining this industry.
I garrantee, you will be the first to complain when shops stop bringing curtain items in.
Why buy a car in NZ? They are soo much cheaper in Japan!

How much backup can you give someone for a light bulb?

[limbimtimwim]

And you wonder why the prices are high?
Remember if you do that, there will be no backup from any shops for you.
Its people like you who are ruining this industry.
I garrantee, you will be the first to complain when shops stop bringing curtain items in.
Why buy a car in NZ? They are soo much cheaper in Japan!

The computer industry went through the same in the 90's. Margins went from 100% to not a hell of a lot. And at the same time prices on the kit went through the floor. A basic keyboard used to cost over $100. Now a basic one is $30. The changes like that destroyed businesses like my old man's. In the space of just a handful of years he went from raking in the money (Huge house, a yacht and a house in the Sounds) to not a hell of a lot (Small house, no yacht, useless section).

But it means for you, you get considerable choice in your purchases and you get an absolute truckload for your money.

So in a similar fashion; I'd expect the traditional motorcycle retailer to nearly disappear. The only way a traditional motorcycle shop will survive is if it does something that a website or a shop on razor thin margins staffed by goofy teenagers can't. I offer no suggestions on what that is.

Like a modern computer, a modern motorcycle will become a commodity item. If it breaks, throw it away and get a new one. Same with the gear; you won't fix those pants, you'll just chuck 'em out and get this years colours because that is less hassle and you'll look cooler.

I'm not saying this is a good thing, I'm just asking you to not look so surprised when you notice in a few years it all looks quite a lot different. Websites killing accessory sales is probably only the start.

[tri boy]

Like a modern computer, a modern motorcycle will become a commodity item. If it breaks, throw it away and get a new one. Same with the gear; you won't fix those pants, you'll just chuck 'em out and get this years colours because that is less hassle and you'll look cooler.

The car industry is heading that way fast. New gearboxes on certain Subaru's/Mitzi's are sealed items.
Thats right folks, if it needs a bearing, tuff shit, throw the box away because it just isn't worth repairing.
And as for people buying Jap 4x4's for their Towing ability
Its a brand new set of rules out there now.

[Sparky Bills]

How much backup can you give someone for a light bulb?

When did i mention a bulb?
I quoted the dude buying a helmet over the net didnt I?

[The Stranger:Me]

When did i mention a bulb?
I quoted the dude buying a helmet over the net didnt I?

Sorry, my bad, I thought for a minute there that you were referring to the principal in general with comments like.

Remember if you do that, there will be no backup from any shops for you.
Its people like you who are ruining this industry.
I garrantee, you will be the first to complain when shops stop bringing curtain items in.
Why buy a car in NZ? They are soo much cheaper in Japan!

However, my experience so far is that backup on a helmet is not too dissimilar to that required on a light bulb.

[Storm]

The problem is, everyone has a story about how they/their mates got ripped off so hard their arse bled for weeks, and is only too keen to shove one up a dealer.
At the end of the day, if a dealer is doing ok by their customers, they'll be right. And vice versa of course

[Kittyhawk]

The reason why parts are expensive is because there are few stores and they have the monolopy...

Its very similar to music shops...

[bucket boy]

you get pissed of ive been getting some parts in for a binned zx14 i brought stealership priced all of parts so far out of ball park eg the silly little air duct plastic there not even 1 foot square $450 ebay oem $22 in wrapper and it was like this for every part so good job when they have no customers days are over ripping customers of like theyve done for years

[kro]

The fine line between profit, and profiteering. A business has to be making around 30% margin to grow.
If for arguments sake, the bulb is $12.00 from the importer, then it should retail for around 17-20 in a store that wants to be both competitive, but not undermine its margin. $50.00 for a bulb, and an aftermarket one at that, is excessive.

I see this constantly in my industry, our main competitor will quote a price to a customer, who then comes and tries us instead, and we are heaps cheaper on our bog standard book rate, which we can sharpen up again, and our competition lose a sale, and often a regular customer.

[boomer]

Sorry, my bad, I thought for a minute there that you were referring to the principal in general with comments like.

Remember if you do that, there will be no backup from any shops for you.
Its people like you who are ruining this industry.
I garrantee, you will be the first to complain when shops stop bringing curtain items in.
Why buy a car in NZ? They are soo much cheaper in Japan!

However, my experience so far is that backup on a helmet is not too dissimilar to that required on a light bulb.

bwahahhahahahahah ... owned!

[James Deuce]

At the end of the day, limited customer base retail outlets like motorcycle shops and musical instrument shops rely on relationships built over years.

Some salespeople understand that and are prepared put years into being friendly with people to get a small sale, because often that small sale translates into business worth a few thousand dollars a year. In some cases I've bought nothing, but a friendly attitude and a bit of respect may swing a sale their direction come new bike time. I've bought bikes from salesmen in bike shops who would have no idea if I'd ever seen the inside of their shop. Others I have somehow ended up buying a can of Red Bull for the salesman whenever I visit the shop.

There's a large group of newbies emerging into the market at the moment and they need to know that you can got to Repco and buy an H4 bulb for less than $20, or an oil filter for less than the OEM part rrp of $120. Dealers need to understand that 250% markups over some other outlet's retail price will get them sprung, mostly thanks to communities like this.

[kevfromcoro]

Yeah it pisses us off allright...these guys just seem to charge what they like..
You should see the prices of outboard motor parts
Anything with marine written on it is way over the top...

[James Deuce]

Yep

Stealerships know how to charge alright.

Sad thing is everytime they quote a ridculous price people tend to get resourceful and shop around.

It aint hard to find better prices on the net, eg Ebay, Trademe etc.

My local Suzuki dealership quoted $599 for a Nolan helmet I am about to purchase.

I can order it on the net and have it delivered for around $350.

Just another sale they wont make.

I get a big enough discount from my crack, err, motorcycle dealer to make shopping overseas not worthwhile. A crack dealer, err, motorcycle dealer relationship goes two ways, if you want to put the effort in.