To import bike gear or not?

[P38]

So its alright then to make a convenience of the local retailers, trying on their gear knowing full well that you are not going to buy off them? Thats a pretty rotten thing to do.

Is it pretty rotten to test ride two bikes from different local dealerships, knowing full well your only gonna buy from one of them?

Cant see the difference really after all we are in a global market place.

Just wait till the local guys feel the full force of the double whammy of free trade with China and parallel importing.

I bought a helmet and some multi media gear for it recently from the states via the web... saved over $400 even after I paid the priority shipping and GST.

Three out of four local guys did not follow up on my enquires dispite them saying they would.
One did follow up... unfortunately they did so three weeks after my Helmet arrived from the States and they were $400 dearer.

and I wasted my saturday morning doing the rounds of their shops.

Sharpen up or Ship off I say.

[Robert Taylor]

Is it pretty rotten to test ride two bikes from different local dealerships, knowing full well your only gonna buy from one of them?

Cant see the difference really after all we are in a global market place.

Just wait till the local guys feel the full force of the double whammy of free trade with China and parallel importing.

I bought a helmet and some multi media gear for it recently from the states via the web... saved over $400 even after I paid the priority shipping and GST.

Three out of four local guys did not follow up on my enquires dispite them saying they would.
One did follow up... unfortunately they did so three weeks after my Helmet arrived from the States and they were $400 dearer.

and I wasted my saturday morning doing the rounds of their shops.

Sharpen up or Ship off I say.

Some of us are committed patriots to our country and to local business employing our own folk. How about someone doing the maths how this is affecting NZ business and employment. We cant all be civil servants and other forms of state beneficiaries.
Its not a level playing field.

[awayatc]

Some of us are committed patriots to our country and to local business employing our own folk. How about someone doing the maths how this is affecting NZ business and employment. We cant all be civil servants and other forms of state beneficiaries.
Its not a level playing field.

That is a great sentiment, one I wish The NZ government (just to name one )would have taken to heart......
The other day All blacks playing Ireland....All blacks in German Adidas gear, and Irish in CCC gear......(just to name one example)
Something wrong with this world...... I didn't start this Cheap outscoring shit, and it sucks I agree...
But If nobody else can look after me, I better do it myself, so I buy where I get best value for my money.
Sorry, can't afford not to...

[Robert Taylor]

That is a great sentiment, one I wish The NZ government (just to name one )would have taken to heart......
The other day All blacks playing Ireland....All blacks in German Adidas gear, and Irish in CCC gear......(just to name one example)
Something wrong with this world...... I didn't start this Cheap outscoring shit, and it sucks I agree...
But If nobody else can look after me, I better do it myself, so I buy where I get best value for my money.
Sorry, can't afford not to...

Absolutely, and I do hear where you are coming from re affordability. Our living standards have in real terms dropped and we need armed insurrection to reposition the goalposts so we are actually looking after our own.
I think too many give no thought whatsoever where all this nonsense is leading to.

[svr]

Some of us are committed patriots to our country and to local business employing our own folk. How about someone doing the maths how this is affecting NZ business and employment. We cant all be civil servants and other forms of state beneficiaries.
Its not a level playing field.

The thing is this:
If you receive quality, courteous, extertise and after market service you are happy to pay the extra (e.g. RT for suspension, the guys here at Darryl August for bikes and parts). They give you `free' advice and the type of service that saves you in the long run
On the other hand if you get shit service from some 22 yr old spikey haired mxer / motarder know it all (but knows nuthin) who is also talking down to you you think: `fuckit, why spend a premium for this?'
So it works both ways. While NZ customer service still has some work to do, the best thing you can do is support the best local retailers.

[Qkchk:Me]

Also if youre still confused get a experienced (not a pretend experienced rider which KB is full of) and get them to go with you to Motomail or something to look at helmets.

What are you trying to say Quasi?

[blossomsowner]

i would be very cagey about importing as there are the already stated risks of sizing and quality to worry about. Also even if the actual size is ok it may not be comfortable or quite what you wanted for some reason.

i have noted a change in my preferences lately and excellent service is now really important to me. i hate the slack service so often found in local retailers these days. Find someone who gives good service........good products and good price.......there are still some out there. I'm sure quasi will volunteer.

[Quasievil]

i would be very cagey about importing as there are the already stated risks of sizing and quality to worry about. Also even if the actual size is ok it may not be comfortable or quite what you wanted for some reason.

i have noted a change in my preferences lately and excellent service is now really important to me. i hate the slack service so often found in local retailers these days. Find someone who gives good service........good products and good price.......there are still some out there. I'm sure quasi will volunteer.

(quasi) Puts hand up really high and promises to be a good retailer !

[CHOPPA]

I will import stuff i cant get locally, some stuff i have made some impulse decisions on ebay have all been wrong fit and i have had to re sell it. Sometimes it cost a little extra to buy locally but you gotta support the shops, as far as the arai thing about diff fits i got a rx7 corsair off trade me and ive had several and i thought it was mint but i just got a nz new one a couple of weeks back and they are totally diff they are both medium but the nz version is much tighter and actually has a smaller shell size!!

Go see speed-tech.co.nz and ask them to price you up an arai

[wildcat_lgf]

If the parts you want are that much cheaper buy a couple of them in different sizes...then flick the one you don't want. Simple.

I find its not often worth the effort for 1 individual item, but for a few items it might be worth it (plus you don't have to pay freight)...or you could keep the other helmet/part/whatever as a spare.

[twotyred]

It's your money, if you are certain of your size and have the chance of a mate bringing it back for cheaper than the same product here go for it.

[Robert Taylor]

It's your money, if you are certain of your size and have the chance of a mate bringing it back for cheaper than the same product here go for it.

And if it doesnt fit dont have the unbelievable cheek of going into your local bike shop and asking to exchange. This actually does happen, you cannot have your cake and eat it too.

[Swoop]

If it is something that has to fit your body/phisique You are better off purchasing locally. As said before, if something dosen't fit properly, you have a major problem.
If it is a bog-standard XYZ part from a bike, get prices from anywhere. The local stealerships should have the advantage of "buying in bulk" and being competitive with the shipping prices Vs your single item shipping.

[gunrunner]

A friend of mine swears by eBay...and it's usually not that hard to figure out the right size...especially if it's a brand you can try on locally.

I know it probably hurts the local retailers...but the prices can't be ignored, especially when the exchange rate is good.

I would be a little cautious though...there's a lot of clothing available on the internet that looks 100% guenuine, but is an unlicensed chinese knockoff.

If the prices seem to good to be true...they probably are...and you don't want second rate stitching impacting on your safety... do ya!

I think we have been paying to much for to long , yes it hurts the local trade but then again most of them import it in from overseas anyway and make the profit , do ya homework on the sizes and you will save shitloads

[WildDuck]

Helmets are all imported anyway so sizing will be same as overseas and doesn't hurt local manufacturers.
Just make sure he takes it out of the packaging so he doesn't pay duty bringing it back.