The business intellect of kiwis

[Finn]

Very rarely do I encounter a good experience when purchasing products in NZ. In fact, it's been so long that I can't remember the last time I was actually satisfied.

I really wonder what goes on in the heads of business owners in NZ. Words like "distribution", "service" and "excellence" are virtually non existent in the commerce vocabulary of businesses in NZ.

Having just spent a ton of money fixing my house (sponge) because of the number 8 mentality of kiwi's, I planned to move back in this Friday. Ah, not so fast...

1) My carpet provider told me 6 weeks to make my carpet, I gave them 9. They ring me to tell me it won't be ready, that they ran out of yarn. How can you run out of yarn in friggen NZ?

2) Decided to make a few changes to the bathrooms. Big mistake. Basins and mixers arrive 4 weeks early (see I thought I was being smart) but find out they don't work together. Order different taps. Oh sorry, not in stock. That will be 6 - 100 weeks. No one knows... or cares. I asked them to look up distribution in the dictionary.

3) Unrelated to the house but I was out on Sat to buy a couple of mountain bikes. Oh these are our new 09 models... cool I thought. Not so fast. They only ordered one of each size. I wanted two. This scenario was repeated across 5 bikes shops. No one had stock. IT'S FUCKEN CHRISTMAS!!!

The list goes on and on but you get the drift.

Wake up NZ. Morons.

[vifferman]

I can understand your frustration, Finn.
Pathetic, innit?
This is what I was getting at, with respect to motorcycle shops. There seems to generally be a complete lack of understanding about how to treat customers and potential customers. You'd think they'd understand that even though we have expensive toys, it doesn't mean we don't care about getting value for money.
It DOES mean we're more than prepared to take said money elsewhere.

[Finn]

It DOES mean we're more than prepared to take said money elsewhere.

Yeah like when I told the Harley dealer I wanted a Night Rod Special and got "You'll be lucky". I was actually. I got one from the US less $8k and only waited a few weeks.

This is what I'm talking about. vifferman is right.

[vtec]

The explanation is simple really, and its a worldwide problem, and it's all to do with the economy and inflation etc.

You may have noticed that for a long time houses have been increasing at a greater rate than average wages. This is because the housing market is actually a speculative bubble. This has increased demand and the worth of building materials and trade labour substantially, to the point now that you'd be lucky to get a 'leccy or plumber for $70/hr.

It's also the fact that the baby boomer generation stopped training anyone to do the trades which has decreased the supply of the tradesmen and further inflated labour rates and building costs. If you'll accept $70/hr for labour then you'll accept higher rates for materials too.

And when a company or person is making more than enough money, they lose a certain amount of motivation and care less and less about customers, wealth breeds laziness and contempt.

Now here's the good news, society has realised that we need tradesmen and you have to train them they aren't going to train themselves for a profession that they would have to self start in. So they are hiring apprentices and cadets again.

Also, the world is starting to realise that office workers are mostly unproductive bureaucrats and it's not as glamorous or well paid as all our female teachers led us to believe.

Don't worry, the solution is in sight. With the onrushing depression, and possible complete restructuring of wealth and the financial sector, more people will be pushed into doing productive jobs like trades, manufacturing and farming etc. Which will bring down these costs and also increase COMPETITION which is currently lacking. Who know's if your money is going to be worth anything in 2 years time though.

[Finn]

The explanation is simple really, and its a worldwide problem, and it's all to do with the economy and inflation etc.

You may have noticed that for a long time houses have been increasing at a greater rate than average wages. This is because the housing market is actually a speculative bubble. This has increased demand and the worth of building materials and trade labour substantially, to the point now that you'd be lucky to get a 'leccy or plumber for $70/hr.

It's also the fact that the baby boomer generation stopped training anyone to do the trades which has decreased the supply of the tradesmen and further inflated labour rates and building costs. If you'll accept $70/hr for labour then you'll accept higher rates for materials too.

Now here's the good news, society has realised that we need tradesmen and you have to train them they aren't going to train themselves for a profession that they would have to self start in. So they are hiring apprentices and cadets again.

Also, the world is starting to realise that office workers are mostly unproductive bureaucrats and it's not as glamorous or well paid as all our female teachers led us to believe.

Don't worry, the solution is in sight. With the onrushing depression, and possible complete restructuring of wealth and the financial sector, more people will be pushed into doing productive jobs like trades, manufacturing and farming etc. Which will bring down these costs and also increase COMPETITION which is currently lacking. Who know's if your money is going to be worth anything in 2 years time though.

I'll contemplate your response while I'm shaving using toilet water. My gripe isn't about the cost of product / services in NZ, just the poor quality of both. Then if you decide to purchase quality (i.e. not made in NZ) then the importer very rarely has stock.

[Usarka]

Count yourself lucky most pushbike shops don't even stock super XS sizes.......

[ManDownUnder]

"You'll be lucky". I was actually. I got one from the US less $8k and only waited a few weeks.

Stop thinking for yourself - you types don't fit in around here. Fucken tall poppies...

[marioc]

Yep so true,its also a country full of whingers

[vifferman]

Then if you decide to purchase quality (i.e. not made in NZ) then the importer very rarely has stock.

You meant "not made in China".
We've rapidly become buyers of "consumer shit" (consumer electronics, cheap crappy tools, cheap crappy clothes, etc etc) most of which is made in China.

[Blackbird]

Sorry about your predicament Finn but maybe it's more of a problem in the main centres as I'd have to disagree with you based on my own experience of the last 3 or 4 years since we prepared to live in Coromandel full time. I can't speak highly enough of local tradespeople - they've always delivered in full and on time. I've always tried to be very clear about what I wanted and also paid up promptly - no probs at all in getting them when I want them. Likewise with the kitchen, curtain, carpet and bathroom people in Thames and Hamilton but I did my homework on them first. They've always got my repeat business. In fact, the owner of Home Plus in Thames dropped in on Sunday to measure up for some more insect screens and they will be here this week.

Out of city rates are fantastic too. We've just had a fair chunk of our reasonably large section cleared of scruffy bush, landscaped, replanted with decent natives and mulched all over for $1500 by the local garden centre!

The grass isn't necessarily greener elsewhere either - certainly isn't in the UK. I know it is diverting slightly but the sentiment is relevant. I saw an article in the London Times last week by Ben Ainslie, the British Olympic yachting champ who sailed with Team NZ in the last campaign. This is what he had to say: "Yes, finances are a huge issue in everybody's life, but it's not everything – especially when you go to countries like Australia and New Zealand and see how powerful sport is there, and what a positive effect it has on the national psyche and on people's lives from a young age, as they go through to adulthood, making them more competitive. To me, they are much healthier nations for it, not just physically but mentally too." Ainslie maintains that there is still a lack of competitive instinct in Britain. "I think we're generally too happy to be second best," he insists. "Somehow it's cool to be not really interested in winning, whereas in Australia and New Zealand everybody absolutely wants to be the best.

"You definitely see that over there. When they get into later life and have a career, they carry the focus they have from doing sport as a youngster into business. Getting up at five in the morning and working like maniacs. Then they get out in the evening and have a good time. I think we need to have a bit more of that attitude in the UK rather than everybody wandering off and watching Sky TV or getting on their PlayStation, and moaning and whingeing about everything."

There are always exceptions to the rule, but it's occasionally interesting to see how others see us.

[vtec]

I'll contemplate your response while I'm shaving using toilet water. My gripe isn't about the cost of product / services in NZ, just the poor quality of both. Then if you decide to purchase quality (i.e. not made in NZ) then the importer very rarely has stock.

Sorry I added this to my post later:
"And when a company or person is making more than enough money and lacks suitable competition, they lose a certain amount of motivation and care less and less about customers, wealth breeds laziness and contempt."

[Badjelly]

Yep so true, it's also a country full of whingers.

Please tell me the irony is deliberate!

[ManDownUnder]

You meant "not made in China".
We've rapidly become buyers of "consumer shit" (consumer electronics, cheap crappy tools, cheap crappy clothes, etc etc) most of which is made in China.

And to compliment that on the services side - India.

"El-lo? Welcum to Telekom Niu Zee-lan help desk... how may I be helping you?"

[CookMySock]

Stop thinking for yourself - you types don't fit in around here. Fucken tall poppies...

Zacly. If ya don't like it, then go buy it elsewhere and quit ya whining.

If you want a package with everything in the same box,then go buy one. You will pay double the price, but you get one or the other - NOT BOTH.

I've been in retail for 20 years, and I tried fucken hard but I STILL get some moaning bitch every week who wants this for free, or fucken that for free, or wants to crunch some three-for-one deal into a fucken FIVE-for-one deal! I do not think so.

Consumers need to understand something: If you want retailers to suck your cock, then you have to PAY THEM A LOT MORE THAN RETAIL PRICE. If you don't like it, then go to the back of the queue. NEXT! We have more to do looking after people who PAY WELL, than those who want everything for nothing. We are here to MAKE MONEY, not kiss your ass.

Steve

[nodrog:Me]

Zacly. If ya don't like it, then go buy it elsewhere and quit ya whining.

If you want a package with everything in the same box,then go buy one. You will pay double the price, but you get one or the other - NOT BOTH.

I've been in retail for 20 years, and I tried fucken hard but I STILL get some moaning bitch every week who wants this for free, or fucken that for free, or wants to crunch some three-for-one deal into a fucken FIVE-for-one deal! I do not think so.

Consumers need to understand something: If you want retailers to suck your cock, then you have to PAY THEM A LOT MORE THAN RETAIL PRICE. If you don't like it, then go to the back of the queue. NEXT! We have more to do looking after people who PAY WELL, than those who want everything for nothing. We are here to MAKE MONEY, not kiss your ass.

Steve

hes not fucken complaining about the fucken price, hes complaining about lack of stock and customer service (ie somebody actually being able to fucken tell him when his shit will arrive)