Thought I'd put up a post about my experiences with buying parts for my Sportster.  Seems the best place I've found to get stuff is US ebay.  Even though you pay a premium price for delivery here to AU, I've found the prices so good compared to here.  It usually works out to be at least half or even one third cheaper to get stuff from the US even with delivery included.

I'd be really interested to hear from others in AU to find out if there are any good local deals on parts?

Some of the stuff I've bought off US ebay:

Kuryakyn ISO Grops:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=008&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=180149796925&rd=1

HD Skull fuel cap, derby cover and points cover:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=260145903469
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=260146548674
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=260146549119

Forward controls:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=300128711435

Cycle Shack slip ons:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=140136669653

HD Screamin Eagle Air Cleaner:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=140136608397

 

I have bought a lot of Harley stuff from the U.S. and have found www.mandmcycles.com 

to be the cheapest and their service is 1st class

adventure harly davidson from the us

Just got some prices from discountbiker and M&M and I can not believe how low the prices are. Bring on the postman

I like so many other’s bought most of my Harley stuff of E Bay US. You can buy new stuff for half the price including the postage than you can here. That’s why the local Harley markets can’t compete which shows how much the Government and dealers mark up there prices!! E Bay is good competitions in my eyes.

I live by E bay using paypal as my payment as it is a secure way with at least some guarantees that you can recover your funds if shit hits the fan!!

One day we will use the internet to purchase everything, even new bikes!! There’ll be no need for a dealers showrooms anymore!!

SAVE CASH OR SUPPORT LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS!!!

Now I'm as guilty as the next man when it comes to buying parts from the US on ebay, but I was having a yarn to a local small independant Harley workshop and aftermarket parts provider and what he said got me thinking.

He has the bear the overheads of employing a mechanic, renting/buying a place to run his business out of, pay rates, power etc and he would also like to take some profit home at the end of each week to build his future.

What he is essentialy doing is providing a service in OUR town (where choice is limited due to size). He said that they regularly get customers in who buy the part from the US at half the price that he can sell it for in AUS and want him to fit it, deal with any problems and in some cases try and claim warranty. It makes it hard on small business to deal with this and there is talk amoung some that unless you can provide a recipt showing it was bought in Aust that they will no longe fit the part for you, ie you got it overseas, get them to fit it!!

Don't get me wrong, I'm no left wing socialist and I like to save a doller, but I also like to support the small business of Australia and keep jobs in our towns. So where I can I'm gonna support the local blokes. For the want of a few dollars I hope they keep their shops open and continue to provide mechanical advice and service and somewhere to talk about intended mods.

Greg

 

PS I don't own a small busniss and gain nothing from posting this, I just thought it would be a good disscussion starter and a revelant point.

 

 

Greg,

This is a very good point that you raise. I too beleive that where you can you should support local industries and jobs.

What I really wonder about though is if we the consumers can import the stuff at a 50% saving why can't the businesses who have the ability to buy in bulk do the same. I wouldn't have a problem paying 10 or even 20% more but in some cases we are paying sometimes 60% more. And they can't really argue it's the cost of the exchange rate or shipping because like I said we the consumers can get a better deal even when you add those costs on individual items which is the most expensive way to do it.

There's also another argument to say that they could encourage and increase local sales by being competitive rather than way overpriced. Most people would definately prefer to go to their local dealer and buy parts there and then compared to waiting a week for delivery from overseas, so I think if there prices were better people would prefer to do it. Because problem is that once people get into the habit of ordering from overseas they will continue to do it.

Anyway very good point raised.

The main problem here is overheads,that is what usually drives the prices of things up here,not the cost of the item or the transport cost,it is the overheads the business has to live with,not just the wages and the rent,but utilitiesie.water and electric and the staggering costs of insurance as well as employee super etc.all these things and more have to be taken into account when calculating your costs and retails.Again I am not a business owner,but have managed automotive businesses for 25 years and had to answer to the owners.

 

nobody

I think it's a matter of the retailers here being a bit more progressive as well. I know that most of the places on ebay that I've bought parts from have shopfront stores in the US as well, so no doubt they incur the same costs as what you're talking about. But they seem to be doing well by providing both online sales and traditional storefront sales as well.

I've gotta chime in here. I am a small biz owner, and i hear this stuff all the time. Theres a wee thing called the market, basically when we (Our illustrious leaders) signed us up on free trade and globalization with the sepos. The sepos have a massive market, we have a piss little market. We cannot purchase enough product to play the big game. (As if they would let us anyway) Bottom line is, the sepos get really cranky if we price our products to be competetive with them.... Are you hearing me? In the wonderful world of globalization selling imported sepo owned product back to the uS of A is a no no. Massive shipping costs contribute, not to mention the cost of product to fill them 40' containers. then our government rips the bejesus out of everything, demurage, handling fees etc etc and 10% GST after all that. Warehousing, distribution to retailers etc etc.
Everyone wants to make an earn.. get the picture. The net is a great tool and resource however, if all the taylors no longer have shops, we will all be wearing shit fitting clothes.

I have used More Power Racing and found them to be great... www.morepoweracing.com/index.htm They had the cheapest V&H pricing I could find. Even the PCIII price was better than group buys I had seen.

One pointer... if you are happy to wait a few more days use post over In'tl courier. With courier there is greater chance to be pinged for 10% tax.

Regarding local purchase.... I recently needed a quick buy.... the box had a US$129.95 (~$A150 at the time) tag and that was the price I could buy for on the internet (plus postage) as well.... they charged me $A245 incl GST... That is a 30% markup which if you are in business is acceptable. The problem is that many of our local suppliers buy at the same price we do. The benifit of buying locally should be warranty!!!!

Hey Greg, I understand were your coming from, but if I canbuy a part from the US at nearly half the price and the guy over there is making a profit. Then how much profit is the guy making back here, especially the Aussie dollar is almost dollar for dollar. As someone said before its a global market and people are getting smart, so the dealers/mechanics need to except that there business is now fitting not supplying. But there will always be people who like to feel and touch items and want them now and they'll pay for it.

I agree with the whole global market concept, we are in the 21st century after all. I also like to save money as does everyone but I would also like my kids and their kids to be able to get a job, get advice from a local person and have the ability to get something off the shelf if I want.

I can see what you are saying Robbo, keep the shop open and just fit what the customer brings in, do services for those who don't want to do their own etc, but it is the bling that brings people in off the street. I'm sure we all have been on the dreamers side of the fence for a while where we stood in a shop and looked at all of the stuff we could not afford at the time.

Anyway its free choice. I'm still surfing the net for bargains, as well as getting some stuff local.

Greg your right it is the bling thats the thing, but buying it in sometimes in Aussie sure does sting. That's half me problem me eye's have always been bigger than my pockets, my wish list is that long I'm make a wish list of the wish list LMAO

Well we have been sending a fair amount of parts to your area. Feel free to give us a chance at parts. We are able to get just about any part you need. And we keep our prices in the "good" range. Now what I can tell you about the e-bay and online parts stores is that most of the REAL shops that really have a shop with all of the cost that go along with it , would like these fly by night places to drop of the face of the earth.

I get customers almost every day that buy this items off of the internet then I get the call "how do I install this" They try calling the place they bought it from but as you know they are not there to help you only sell you a part that is a few dollars over cost and some times less than a dollar as they have not over head. They run this out of there home. As well many times if you have a issue with a part you are stuck.

Would you pay more for a part that you can get replaced if needed?? Or would any one be ok that most of the places that run the online only deals are driving many small dealers our of buisness???

Supporting a real dealer is the best, that is just my opinion. So where ever you buy from if the place really has a shop then support them. I am not saying do not try and save money as I save when I can as well. But I know for a fact that many of the companys that build the product hate e-bay and are starting to refuse the part for any warranty claim is bought from e-bay. It has gotten that bad here in the US.

As has just been said, i get customers (I should say non customers) who bought stuff from ebay or hong kong or where ever wanting help setting up or a warranty. Being a business owner i have the pleasure to tell 'em to fuck off.

Well said, its your right to turn them away, especially on the warranty side. That's the risk of buying overseas.

RKC_lover.
I hear ya mate and yeah i understand, let me quantify. One i'm not in the Motorcycle or car game. So the guys who ring me just want to know stuff like i've said. They don't want me to fit, fix, program etc. Just want to know how to. Hey, if they buy from me or at least local then yeah, i bend backwards to help. Warranty is another issue. Buy from me and i will fight the good fight as one would expect. One thing in biz, ya can pick an ebay buyer or a tyre kicker before they open there mouth.

Over our way the guy's at Super Cycles provide a very good service, along with good helpful advice and alittle chit chat as well, you pay alittle extra but you get alot of advice as well.

I feel like i hav2 give my 2 cents here.

I agree with most of the above comments... having just picked up my new bike(thursday) GRINS and the costs that go with it I fully appreciate the desire to save money via direct online purchasing. Now i work in retail sales atm and im well aware that with some of the products i sell that a well informed customer can and sometimes they do buy online at virtually my cost. Now the way i handle this is  to make a judgement on whether or not the particular customer is one of those that  all he/she wants is ongoing free advice/warranty backup OR if like any1, they are trying to save a buck but also be fair and reasonable to the local market. Now what  I have done is this:-- I will freely admit to purchases to save money online..purely for the fact  that i can save $100.00's of dollars off rrp and why wouldnt I?  BUT  I dont expect warrant on these products NOR do I use local dealers for free advice/fitting unless they are fully willing. I fit myself or with the help of friends. Furthermore when i DO have the extra cash i make a point of buying locally  to supprt small business and keep the rapport  with the dealer whom i dont want vanishing. In short I try to keep a balance somewhat in my spending .

I hope this makes sense after a few bourbons on a warm day the mind wanders lol

gav

By the way guys all of you talkn about the WA run later in November----count me in please--

ALSO --- Pat on the back and thnax to the hguys/gals at southwest harley for the great serviice and great attitude.

Whenever possible i will be buying and dealing with Paul and highly recommend them all. having purchased a bike from Supercycles in the apst i also recommend them.

GAV