Being from New York I don't know a whole lot about the Australian motorcycle market but from what I've noticed on this forum it seems that it is difficult to get bikes and parts. Is there a lack of dealerships and parts distributors in the country? For instance I noticed karlrockdrain asking about a container to the U.S. and this is not the first I've seen. I'm with US Trans, makers of Haulen Ass, and we see our products being shipped weekly to Australia regardless of shipping cots. Just trying to get a little insight into this.
YEP THATS IT BOUGHT MY VH SHORTSHOTS ON EBAY COST ME $250 +$95 SHIPPING ALL UP COST ME ABOUT $350 SOMEONE AT THE MOMENT IS SELLING THE SAME PIPES FOR AROUND $500 +POSTAGE IN AUST AND IF I BOUGHT THESE PIPES IN A SHOP HERE IT WOULD COST MORE THAN THAT AGAIN EASY CHOICE REALLY ,WHERE WOULD YOU BUY THEM
I was quoted $750AUD for V&H Short Shots and $1300AUD for V&H Big Radius for my Dyna. Consequently, I ordered the BR from the states - $750AUD to my door. From all the crap I have ordered from the states the common theme seems to be buy US = save 50% (roughly).
I wouldn't have any qualms paying more to get shit from the stealer but not double the bloody price!!!
yer its the truth $$$$$$$$
its just a sham we are killing the better HD shops here by doing it
im guilty of it
Wow that explains perfectly why we've seen buyers from AUS not mind the shipping costs at all. Do things usually ship to you in a reasonable time or do you have to deal with long lead times too?
What we forget is that a shop would cost around 100k to set up and put in a bit of stock.
Then you have rent + outgoings to pay.You also need to pull a wage out of it for yourself.
On a guess I would say you need to mark up 75% to make money out of it , and that's what a business is there to do.
We have a similar issue to the buy in USA vs. AUS. The big thing here in the states is buying American made vs Other. We have seen so many jobs leave the country that buying American is a big pride now... however it also comes with higher costs. Alot of the guys say they buy American when they can but if there is a big price differnce they go with the cheaper. From the sounds of it our market is a little more level price wise so there usually good competition between prices. After big price differences, the biggest selling piont is "American Made". Again not the exact same issue but kinda close.
From time to time I hear winging from the dealers about prices, overheads and profits. It makes you wonder though, when you see a dealer with three new sports cars and two new Harleys or he races suked-up nitro burning v-rods in his spare time as an amateur.
$12 for a bottle of Harley-Davidson Primary Fluid when all it is non-friction modified 5w 30 mineral oil. One time I even got quoted $750 for a Kurakyn Hypercharger, what a joke! (The dealers make money on parts)
Just a little thing i have a friend in the states through a diffrent forum and i send him things from here like tim tams, sauces, a didgeridoo and other stuff as he does back to me with HD foot wear, parts ect ect and as long as i put its a gift he doesnt get charged and ive had a order well over 1k and he put the same (gift) and i havent paid any extra costs and my mate that rides a tlr1000 brings in 3 times as me and sells through ebay and other sources and does the same and hasnt copped any other costs.
Maybe hook up with someone in the U S to do the same
Cant hurt in trying
Zonotti Motor are OUTSTANDING
"go figure" (what does that mean?)"
Go Figure: another way of saying I should have known
There are a few reasons that I buy most of my parts from the States. The 1st and most obvious is the cost, the quote for the extras for the Fat Bob I have on order was over $3000.00 and it is all sitting here waiting for the bike owing me about $1400.00 including freight. Now I like dealing with the local dealer and generally he is a good bloke but I don't like him enough to walk in off the street and give him $1600 of my hard earned for being a good bloke and that's how I see it.
The 2nd reason is if it is not in stock then you get the usual 4-6 weeks bullshit, how dumb are they, a few minutes on the net and it is delivered to your door within a week.
The 3rd is customer service, most times I don't even bother going into the dealer now, I ring and if the receptionist tells me that the Service-Parts department is busy and that someone will ring me back i hang up and order it from the States, the local dealer here must pride themselves on the fact that no one ever rings back because that's what they do best. It's a great place to buy a bike but it ends once you ride it away.
I could go on and on about customer service but I am sure that that topic deserves or already has it's own thread.
Streetbob as long as you dont put milk product on the shipping paper work, And ive never been asked
Yea you can send all kinds of stuff. The wifes sister send us a "gift" several times a year. She sends Tim Tams, Chico's, Wagon Wheels, etc. And Streetbob, you send my wife Tim Tams and you will have a friend for life. Even though I paid for the shipping.
Oh and post some pics when you get you rack.
I got mine on 5 min after I got it.
Man I dont know if I dare ask this, what is a Tim Tam? From what I've seen they arn't available in the states?
