One individual keeps disputing my numbers with the emotive argument that numbers are only used to baffle. I suggest numbers tell the real story and so I have worked through just one example from my spreadsheet to prove it.
For the 2011 FLHTCU UC Electra Glide w/ ABS, Cruise & 103”
In the U.S. $US 23,000.00
In Australia $A 36,995.00 including exchange rate of A$=1.02 US$ is a $US14,734.90 markup. ($36,995 * $1.02 - $23,000 = $US 14,734.90)
In NZ $NZ 36,995.00 including exchange rate of NZ$ = 0.79 US is a $US 6,226.05 markup ($36,995 * .79 - $23,000 = $US 6,226.05)
So, HD Australia can import a bike into NZ for only $US 6,226.05 more than it costs in the States but to import it into Aus costs $US 14,734.90 more than it costs in the States. That's $US 8,508.85 or 29.11% more in Australia than NZ.
Import, shipping, insurance and others costs are almost identical in NZ and Aus.
The price in NZ is great for Kiwis, and good on them, my point is, if HD Aus can do that price in NZ why can't they do a similar price in Aus.
My figures are good, the whole spreadsheet is based on this model and saying HD should be able to get away with this Australian Price Gouging because Kiwis earn less is like saying HD should be able to set its price based on your income. It's utter rubbish.
I am not going to go away and I am not going to explain why I own a Harley and I am not going to stop demanding that I get the best price possible when I buy my next Harley. Show why my figures are wrong and I'll be happy to debate them BUT doing so by claiming HD has some special privilege to set price without competition and based on someone's income won't cut it.
I will say it again mate. You argument was that kiwis get a HD cheaper and that is just bullshit.
Now you are using HD profit margins to try and support your argument. Whatever HD make in profit makes no difference to the cost to the customer. In either country that fatboy is still $30k. So stop the bullshit that the bike is cheaper in NZ and start being clear about what is really pissing you off, and that is HD makes more profit of Aussies than Kiwis. But who gives a fuck. The cost of the bike to the rider is still the same.
You need to admit that you can not buy a HD cheaper in NZ, and that has been your argument all along.
AND if they did things your way, when the dollar was down at .70 that fatty would have been priced above $40k.
Let's get on to why you bought a HD.....
I will tell you why you bought a Harley. Because its a Harley. Plain and simple. Not because they are a better bike. Not because the are cheap to run, because the fucking thing has a HD badge on it. You could have bought a honda, but like so many of us you enjoy the stigma that comes with owning a Harley. You enjoy the legend that is HD. When someone shows you a nice jappa cruiser you say to yourself, yeah it's nice, but its not a Harley. When you are at a BBQ, and someone asks what you ride, you get a little kick out of saying "I ride a Harley". It's ok mate, you can admit it, we all do. " border="0" src="/DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif" />
Ever stopped to wonder why that is? It's because they cost a shitload more than the Honda. Honda is probably a better engineered machine, but you, like me have always dreamed of owning a HD.
NOW... That can't happen when you cheapen the brand to the point where the only difference is build quality and engineering, because if that was all we we were relying on, the jappas would probably win hands down.
It will be a very fucking sad day when someone looks at your bike and says.. Oh... It's just a Harley. They are cheap as chips and every man and his dog rides one. Sort of what you say now when you see a Hyundai I20.
Why else would you spend so much on the fucking thing... Because its a HARLEY and you LOVE the fact that it is a Harley!!!! If it were function alone you would have bought a jappa at half the price.
For those that can't afford a HD... Tough shit. I can't afford a Ferrari, but you don't hear me carrying on. But hey, if you want to take your argument to Ferrari, let me know how you go.
I was in Morgan & Wackers Brissie yesty and the 2011 Fatboys are $25K plus or $26K plus (I forget) but anyhoos that's the cheapest I've seen them. And the Fatty Lows are $1K dearer.
Yeah Baby! That's what I am talking about!!
In fact... I took the badges off my Jappas, but now I am pissed that my Fatty does not have the puter ones!! Mine has the stickers under the clear. GRR!!!
Just been talking to a mate who bought an SS Commodore sedan in 09 for around 45 grand. Same car sold as the G8 Pontiac in the U.S for around 31 grand. Holden, what a bunch of half arsed thieving, price gouging bastards. I reckon we should demand that these bastards stop gouging and pay those Mexican fuckers down south in Victoria the same as the Yanks pay there Mexican fuckers so we get SS Commodores at a 30% cut.
I'm really sick of those Holden bastards paying the average wage to their workers so they can feed their families. Let em starve and buy all their shit from the dump .
I agree with graygo,,,,,,,, Im thinking of by one agian/ or importing agian,,,,,,,, Its just that you guys have had your wallets rapped, you dont want to admit, you paid fare to much and Harley laughs all the way to there shearholers.
We are Getting Ripped off In Australia !!!! and there as common as holdens
There also losing market shear to the second hand market, Look how meny HD on the second hand Market.
This shit is happening with a whole range of products.
My son bent the quad bike on the weekend so I need to replace a few bits and pieces.
A few bits of plastic, some aluminium supports, a radiator, fan, bla bla bla..........$3000 in Australia, $1400 in the US.
And they wont sell it to me cause Can Am have pulled the same shit as Harley.
Ive compared the prices and the minimum is about 80% mark up with one item being nearly 300% mark up.
If someone has a contract at Bombardier, now's the time to tell me.......pleeeeeease!
Chicken says, "And they wont sell it to me cause Can Am have pulled the same shit as Harley."
Damn right, fudking Can Am, fucking Harley, how do they get away with this shit?
Our Government has bent us over for these rapists! Bombardier, Harley, and the rest could not do this unless they were provided 'protection' through Government legislation that ensures we cannot import products ourselves and make these bastards compete.
Gidgee says, "I'm really sick of those Holden bastards paying the average wage to their workers so they can feed their families. Let em starve and buy all their shit from the dump".
And in true loyal fashion our automobile manufactures have granted this wish and have just announced "future Commodores will be built overseas and 350 jobs will go at Fisherman's Bend".
Good one Gidgee, stay loyal to these rapist, they will use you until you too old to be bothered with. Oh, and that just happened!
Wake the fuck up and smell the shit you're being served as roses.
Call your MP and tell him/her this has got to stop!
Why are Aussies being used as a blood bank for these foreign vampires? We're sure as fuck NOT getting appropraite benefit for feeding their greed.
Mongrel,
Yeah, globalisation has screwed many and only delivered profit to the 1%.
I would gladly pay the extra 30% for a bike if the money stayed here in Aus. In fact, I think we should protect trike manufacturers as we have a some Aussie's who do pretty good stuff (camtrikes oztrike panther ) just to name a few (and sincere apologies to those I'm unaware of, you are all due accolades for striving to compete ) but to pay an extra 30% so some foreign corporation can ream me I will not do.
And that is the only price gouging I am talking about. Hell, show me a quality Aussie made bike and I'll gladly pay a premium to help build it into a worldwide marque, and we could do this if we got off our asses.
But paying Harley USA 30% premium for letting them ream me is just never going to be a happy experience, though Mongrel seems to like it.
Over to you old dog.
So the Aussies that work for Harley Australia don't count huh? Talk about narrow minded. Open your eyes mate and see the Forrest and not the trees. Geeesh!!!!
Oh yeah. And let's not forget YOU chose to be reamed.
there ya go.
Ahh Mongrel, I'm surprised you didn't comment on this post . Not a word to deny the shit HD has been spewing.
And when I slammed you on the price details here after you questioned the numbers, you opted to come back with esthetics about why I bought a Harley rather than deal with facts; a pathetic duck-dive considering how vehemently you denied the facts.
Face it, justify the HD bullshit, or respond to the facts with FACTS or accept that your entire argument has been emotional, in FACT, likely about maintaining the price of a single Flame Blue Fatty.
Improving our lot as a group is not compatible with personal profit.
http://www.google.com/search?client=ubuntu&channel=fs&q=dead+horse+emoticon&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
if you right click on them [in my post, not when quoted] and choose "copy image location", the original URL will be on your clipboard.
