OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: oldskool on March 07, 2011, 09:08:23 pm
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beenleigh motorcycles is closing down.he has heaps of wheels,hubs,brake parts exhaust parts no plastics but s@#t loads of mechanical stuff nuts bolts and all kinds of little nick nacks for both road and dirt bikes.anyone interested is probably better off to go and have a look as you would probably have a better idea of whats there than can be described.he is located in horizon drive beenleigh or phone 3287 1544.the premises will be taken over by micks moto mechanical repairs for bikes.he also sells accessories,tires and some second hand bikes.hope this helps cheers gary.
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I thought someone had already bought it all.
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old mate next to Kawasaki at Albion is closing as well. Blames the world wide interweb thingummy
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i get micks moto to do my mechanical work he has bought most of the new stock payed some rent and will be moving in there in about a month, or so he was telling me on saturday when i was there
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oops and forgot to ad anything alloy was being gathered up to be sold as scrap
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old mate next to Kawasaki at Albion is closing as well. Blames the world wide interweb thingummy
I was talking to my cousin who has very big autowreckers, his stuff is all inside, cars are broken down and cataloged, he has internet web system linking to other wreckers, and he imports and sources parts/cars off the net, uses information to replace stock. ;).
He never finished high school but he know his business inside and out and made a lot of loot. ;D
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old mate next to Kawasaki at Albion is closing as well. Blames the world wide interweb thingummy
The internet would be more of an opportunity rather than a liability I would have thought - the whole world is your market place for that '63 A100 side cover ;).
I think the reason is that people don't work on and/or repair bikes like they use to - the throw away society.
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Tell me about that MX250. We still can't find a moto mechanic to work on our XS650 up our way-they all say it's way too old. Hope my G.P. doesn't go the same way or we'll be forked.
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Tell me about that MX250. We still can't find a moto mechanic to work on our XS650 up our way-they all say it's way too old. Hope my G.P. doesn't go the same way or we'll be forked.
I was talking to a car yard owner who had been selling Chinese bikes and doing quite well at it but gave it away because he couldn't get a mechanic to assemble and work on the bikes. Go figure :P
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Wreckers only have themselves to blame. The high prices they charged forced people to look elsewhere. They had it too good for too long and it all come to a end. Boo hoo hooo
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I was talking to the bike wrecker guy in Kurrajong rd St Marys, I think it's called Cash & Co, and he told me that the internet was knocking him about big time so he took the old "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" analogy and started selling his stuff on Ebay, Online Trading Post and Gum Tree and reckons business has never been better. The problem with many of the wreckers that have gone belly up is that they didn't keep up with the times.
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My cousin has quite big and very profitable auto wreckers, he is online plus they have internal networks, he sources from other coutries and buys at auction. All his cars are under cover, stripped and sorted, the professional guys will do OK in any environment.
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Sounds to me like if you run a good business (i.e. know what you have and where to find it ) wrecking is a good business to be in.
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I think the reason is that people don't work on and/or repair bikes like they use to - the throw away society.
And the cost of rent in Australia.
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Sounds to me like if you run a good business (i.e. know what you have and where to find it ) wrecking is a good business to be in.
He has new home 50 acres, herd of deer and new Saleen Mustang in the drive so I would say if you put the effort in you can still do well....... ;D,
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Tell me about that MX250. We still can't find a moto mechanic to work on our XS650 up our way-they all say it's way too old. Hope my G.P. doesn't go the same way or we'll be forked.
knoiw a guy down here that can fix it if you get stuck.
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Instead of closing down, they should start a ebay Australia shop. I see more and more tradtional wreckers jump on the online bandwaggon. There are still people who winge and complain about prices of buying and shipping used parts from overseas, so if there was more Australian ebayers selling second hand parts then it would be better for the guys who dont want to buy stuff from overseas. People are also more willing to pay a little higher prices online for the convienience as they dont have to drive to a wreckers or they may not have any wreckers in their area.
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Hmmm, a phone call during business hours (or email) and post to you. Terribly inconvenient. ::)
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the main things that closed beenleigh were high overheads and bad health and not to mention the thieving little c**ts that came in and cleaned out his till a few times last year.cheers gary
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the main things that closed beenleigh were high overheads and bad health and not to mention the thieving little c**ts that came in and cleaned out his till a few times last year.cheers gary
Do it on line and there is no till to clean out. take advantage of the Aussie $, buy from the USA, strip em and sell em on line. Then all you have to do is pick the right bikes.
My Amercian buddy is struggling a bit, the GSXR stuff that was racing out the door seems to have ground to a halt, Metric cruiser stuff is shifting believe it or not. OH and 4 stroke MXer engines ;-)
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location, wasn't one of there strong points either Gary ......
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One of the big problems that wreckers have around this area is huge overheads especially with rent and compliance to council enviro rules.
Compare this to stripping a damaged vehicle in your backyard and putting stuff on evilbay.
See another wrecker closed down in Chullora today, 80 firefighters in attendance.
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yeah not to good location stewart.micks moto from logan home on the service rd near were the logan motorway joins the m1 will be moving there.he already has a fair size customer base so he should be alright.good for me as its only about 3 min drive from my place probably good for him to as i don't know that much about bikes although im learning.cheers gary
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Instead of closing down, they should start a ebay Australia shop.
Putting stuff on e-bay is easier said than done.
Taking a photo of every item, typing up a fair description, constantly checking Paypal or bank accounts for payments, time spent wrapping and posting, answering all manner of questions and then your paying fee’s all the time for stuff that doesn’t sell.
It can work out good for all the common sought after stuff but do you then just junk all the slow moving stuff because no one bids on it when you put it up.
This could be because no one wants it or because the buyer that wants it doesn’t happen to search for it that week.
How many times have I read on here lately that people won’t sell on e-bay because of all the hassles, business’s have the same hassles too.
No doubt it can be made to work but sometimes it can create more expenses and the turnover may not be enough to compensate the administrative time involved
People don’t want to pay much for small items either but it still takes time for some bloke to remove the part from the bike in order to sell it to you.
Don’t know how a lot of businesses manage to survive with some of the overheads they have to pay.
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its a bit annoying to hear people bleat on about what the wreckers are /where charging yep ebay is killing them along with swapmeets too for that matter.you add in wages,super,compo,epa lic,dealers lic/2nd goods lic,rent,inspections by transport department,office of fair trading plus the cost of buying bikes -the insurance companies worked out if you let the public in to buy they get way way more moey for wrecks -dickheads get auction fever so the wreckers cant get stock for the right price.where as you do it it on ebay no over heads,ability get to use mid night spares etc.i have difficulty getting parts now for some of the older bikes road as well as dirt cause the wreckers in qld are all pretty well gone,and you cant always find it on the net especially when its a customers bike and they want it on the road asap-its alright when doing up a bike you can usually wait.dirt bike parts from os arnt usually a problem story changes for road bikes tho.thats a lot of knowledge thats going to disappear soon :(
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Anyone want to have a go here's your chance.....
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/KTM-and-Husky-Wrecking-Business-now-1-2-price-/250781120632?pt=AU_Business_Industrial_Businesses_for_Sale&hash=item3a63b83878
A good deal really IMHO ;). The key to it is cheap storage which probably means semi-rural ;).
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get to use mid night spares etc.
Yeah i wonder on my Harley builds how many mid night spares and insurance jobs I have absorbed off ebay, still that has always been part of the Harley scene. :D
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I have a friend who lives by selling innumerable small items on eBay.
Yes, lives on it. Does fairly well. Has been doing it for oh, 3 years by now.
So much for the people saying it is all too hard.
Luke
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does he do it from home?
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Paying all the tax? If he isn't earning enough to pay much tax then life at the threshold must be better than I recall. If he's making a 'good' living then he must have all the permits to operate a business in a residential zone (not easy to get) and the other licences associated with wrecking and s/h sales. Thats a lot of money going out right there IF you are paying all the required commitments. Its a good life to be able to sit at home running a ,I assume, legitimate business. Ahh, Ebay - never had ebay get me the right part or a refund if there's been a problem. Never had a representative of ebay repair my bike either when a self-diagnosis didn't work.
The anonymity of the internet allows plenty of freedom for abuse (and opportunity)- at least with a local business its possible to deal face to face if there's a problem. People are whinging about others making a living from your hobby by selling you bike parts from a legitimate business, BUT, it seems its OK for your mate to sell on-line and make a good living selling you bike parts from his backyard. If he's getting the bits so cheaply that he can sell at low prices, why doesn't he just give them away? Oh, yeah, there's money to be made. Don't see the backyarder employing staff and mechanics to help with YOUR problems. Ebay is for whims, shops cater for your needs.
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paying all the tax?
You're not ATO I hope :-X
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I have a friend who lives by selling innumerable small items on eBay.
Yes, lives on it. Does fairly well. Has been doing it for oh, 3 years by now.
So much for the people saying it is all too hard.
Luke
Define doing well
Making enough to feed himself
or
Paying off a mortgage, car and feeding a family
And / or leasing a shop / factory
Does he make his money selling motorcycle parts?
Some of the margins for reselling aren’t all that much.
Finding a source of stuff to sell that is sought after and can be acquired for the right price usually means before long someone else has found it too and will be undercutting you.
I knew a guy that lived from buying and selling from the trading post and E-bay, did quite well too.
He never paid tax though, worked from home and hardly ever worked on what he was reselling, just looked for items that were cheap and then talked them up when he was reselling them.
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Ebay reports to the ATO any seller above a certain threshold. The ATO regularly audits power sellers and online aby stores. I spoke at length about to Peter the man behind 'Arc Industry' who sells welder/plasma cutters and such through a website and ebay. He cut his workload down when he was employing 2 people.Peter has been easily contactable and has as much work fixing any brand of welder as he does servicing his own brand. Previously rented a industrial unit when it outgrew his garage. quit his IT job and bought a unit in the same complex.
Myths busted.
Buying things cheap and talking them up for resale can be seen on any episode of the ABC 'Collectors' show, delve into the grubby world of art dealers makes parting out a bike for parts look like the work of a saint.
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Paying all the tax? If he isn't earning enough to pay much tax then life at the threshold must be better than I recall. If he's making a 'good' living then he must have all the permits to operate a business in a residential zone (not easy to get) and the other licences associated with wrecking and s/h sales. Thats a lot of money going out right there IF you are paying all the required commitments. Its a good life to be able to sit at home running a ,I assume, legitimate business. Ahh, Ebay - never had ebay get me the right part or a refund if there's been a problem. Never had a representative of ebay repair my bike either when a self-diagnosis didn't work.
The anonymity of the internet allows plenty of freedom for abuse (and opportunity)- at least with a local business its possible to deal face to face if there's a problem. People are whinging about others making a living from your hobby by selling you bike parts from a legitimate business, BUT, it seems its OK for your mate to sell on-line and make a good living selling you bike parts from his backyard. If he's getting the bits so cheaply that he can sell at low prices, why doesn't he just give them away? Oh, yeah, there's money to be made. Don't see the backyarder employing staff and mechanics to help with YOUR problems. Ebay is for whims, shops cater for your needs.
A better outlook might have it that, bugger, there goes another small business and employer from the local community, one who is keeping the $$$ in Aus, not sending funds overseas to help someone outside the country live and profit from your hobby.
Myth busted Lozza? Your mate still has to provide a tangible service which can't be provided via a keyboard. He has had to buy a commercial outlet to run the service side of his business.Where will customers drop their faulty gear otherwise? Sells welders from there too I'd guess. Good on him for getting off his arse and getting on with doing something.
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just went to beenleigh motorcycles everything is still for sale i was looking for a brake plate for my daughters 88 xr100 didn't find one yet but only had a quick look.did see a 83 rm250 rear brake plate almost new condition,A100 looked brand new plenty of xl-xr 185 and 200 mid 80's brake plates.plenty of rear shocks for old dirt bikes did see one for yz125 k don't know what year they are but it looked to be in real good nick s#*t loads of rear sprockets both new and second hand old rm80 and 50 front brake plates heaps of road bike exhausts a few motors lying around.if you want some old bike stuff take some cash and grab a bargain it all has to go.cheers gary
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Myths busted.
No myths, no doubt it can be made to work.
It’s the switched on guys than run a workshop and are on the net that do well.
But your mate with the welding shop only has to take a photo and write a description for a nozzle or welder once and he can then keep repeating it..
It’s the wrecker that has to do it for every item which increases the amount of labour that goes into every saleable item to the point that we end up with pricing for very rare parts like this…
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330503018878&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
If I could find a decent supply of widgets to sell I would be selling on e-bay too, stuff getting black from pain in the arse jobs everyday.
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It’s the wrecker that has to do it for every item which increases the amount of labour that goes into every saleable item to the point that we end up with pricing for very rare parts like this…
It's called work, taking pictures and tapping on a keyboard still beats digging trenches. A lot of U.S wreckers are listing on ebay and selling worldwide.
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It’s the wrecker that has to do it for every item which increases the amount of labour that goes into every saleable item to the point that we end up with pricing for very rare parts like this…
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330503018878&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
I think JDK works on the principle of being very high profile, good customer service* and having lots of new-ish stock that's actually worth something/relatively easy to sell. But when they're asking $1200+ for a KDX200 motor in bits ("I think its all there") even though its in need of replated cylinder and rod kit, its hard to imagine them ever selling it...
Honestly, most wreckers are nut jobs, regardless of whether its car or bike. (CanAm370 seems the most sane, by a big margin despite owning a Rokon... ;D )
In particular, the lack of ability to recognise & liquidate dead stock is a common, and significant failing.
*Their customer service is good rather than amazing, in the big picture - but compared to most wreckers, it is amazing.
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Myth busted Lozza? Your mate still has to provide a tangible service which can't be provided via a keyboard. He has had to buy a commercial outlet to run the service side of his business.Where will customers drop their faulty gear otherwise? Sells welders from there too I'd guess. Good on him for getting off his arse and getting on with doing something.
Why is this such a difficult concept to understand?
Peter has been easily contactable and has as much work fixing any brand of welder as he does servicing his own brand. Previously rented a industrial unit when it outgrew his garage. quit his IT job and bought a unit in the same complex.
So a hobby became a job and then took over his life, then branched out diversified a little, found a niche and catered to it, lowered overheads by returning to a solo operation that is much more managable and profitable.Interestingly he said the price matching he is forced to do with sellers from China are only a small percentage of sales the vast bulk is through the website for a much higher price with a 2yr warranty.Go figure.My dear old mum has been in the rag trade for 30 odd years and what Nathan points out is 100% correct, moving dead stock is imperative.
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i got nothing good to say about jdk i have rung numerous times about pe barrell and crank got told they had them they will get them out and call back never did.same thing with front brake setup for my cr.all up rang them 7-10 times roughly between the items i were chasing in the end i gave up on them.as far as im concerned it should be dicks like them going down the gurgurler instead of blokes like stewart from beenleigh who would always call back and go out of his way to find stuff for people.jdk also wanted $1000 for a 94 rm 80 motor when asked if it goes all i could get was its got good compression couldn't even get a straight answer as to the motor starting there just a waste of space but thats just my opinion based on dealings ive had with them.cheers gary
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I find it hard to believe some of JDK's prices. But if they can sell the stuff for what their asking, good luck to them.
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My dear old mum has been in the rag trade for 30 odd years and what Nathan points out is 100% correct, moving dead stock is imperative.
Dear Old Mums right, anything sitting about is costing you 20% a year. I have about 20 Million USD of stock as part of my division and purchase about 4 million a month, we are pretty ruthless, the older it gets the more expensive it gets. OR I will only sell assemblies like turbocharger cartridges, rather than individual parts to get rid of the old shit.
Learn't that from my cousin the auto wrecker, who tends to sell like the front and back sub sections of the car, want a brake plate, well you get to buy the wheel and swing arm with it.
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My dear old mum has been in the rag trade for 30 odd years and what Nathan points out is 100% correct, moving dead stock is imperative.
Which is a unique difference between retail and wreckers.
Wreckers are expected to have that '63 A100 side cover 'sitting around'. Yeah it cost him virtually nothing to acquire but he has paid rental and other costs for 30 years on this little gem. Now after 30 years of storage this little biddy bit of stock is expected to make it's contribution to the 30 year financial burden.
But it's a balancing game, the wrecker wants/needs to get the max, the buyer wants/expects to pay the minimum - then it's a game of cat and mouse, a game of bluff, cunning and patience from both sides.
And there are three wrecker markets; the moderns, the 'keep 'em running commuter clunkers' and the restorations. What does surprise me is the wreckers get these three markets confused. Go to Ebay Oz right now and you'll find wreckers who ask $100 for a well used, 'in need of total resto' '75 CB250 as well as a '80 GSX1100 tank. But I'm sure this is wishful thinking 'trying their luck' approach. The answer is, make them an offer, or wait and be patient.
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It’s the wrecker that has to do it for every item which increases the amount of labour that goes into every saleable item to the point that we end up with pricing for very rare parts like this…
It's called work, taking pictures and tapping on a keyboard still beats digging trenches. A lot of U.S wreckers are listing on ebay and selling worldwide.
Yeah, that was sort of my point.
Its easy work, but still time consuming which adds to the labour costs of parts.
What brings me to comment here is that in one instance I am reading that a wrecker should just jump on e-bay (which assumes they are computer savvy, E-bay Savvy, Paypal savvy, and understand all the computer scams that go on) and somewhere else I’m reading that guys won’t sell on e-bay because of all the drama’s, but business’s are expected to cop all those drama’s.
It sure as hell can work, no argument, but it’s not for everyone.
People don’t like taking Paypal because of the fee’s, but every business that’s ever excepted a credit card has to cope with those same fee’s
Hiring labour here isn’t an easy thing either.
US seems to be able to do a lot of things cheap, they have cheap labour costs as there seems to be a larger gap between the haves and have nots.
Mexican labour gets pipes welded up cheaply, can’t get that here, I am the bloody Mexican.
I don’t think anyone doubts that you can make a living from the net, but it has become so easy that lots of backyard operators can build small business’s that don’t have the overheads of somebody with a shop front.
As a consequence, some good business’s that aren’t computer savvy fall by the wayside.
I work from home myself, I used to rent a factory but the overheads were too high for this industry, it was restructure to cheaper overheads or go do something else.
I guess some wreckers are choosing to do something else.
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I don’t think anyone doubts that you can make a living from the net, but it has become so easy that lots of backyard operators can build small business’s that don’t have the overheads of somebody with a shop front.
Which is the point, that business can be much more competitive if it is free from the overheads of bricks and mortar stores. This creates new business opportunities and creates additional employment. Shop front is unnecessary for a lot of things, I am sure GMC and most bike wreckers, car sales etc etc can do nicely without it.
Shop front is a distraction, like someone said earlier you end up talking to tyre kickers and hagglers, on ebay people are there to buy and haggling takes the buyers time up but not really the sellers.
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Which is a unique difference between retail and wreckers.
Wreckers are expected to have that '63 A100 side cover 'sitting around'. Yeah it cost him virtually nothing to acquire but he has paid rental and other costs for 30 years on this little gem. Now after 30 years of storage this little biddy bit of stock is expected to make it's contribution to the 30 year financial burden.
Retail is retail, no different supermarket to car yard. The buying routine may be a little different from the consumer but the principals are the same.
Wreckers would have to learn that even after 30yrs they ain't going to make a killing on the sidecover anyway, far better to shift the stock, get some turn over and what does not sell goes to scrap or gets sold in 1 lot.
Newest stock sells for a best profit margin ;)
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Indeed.
Any business that holds onto stock for 30+ years, in anticipation of it suddenly & significantly increasing in value, doomed to failure.
Apologies for the repetition, but I'd love to hear how these wrecker's actions could be justified as good business snese:
1. How much for the axles out of the Capella, mate?
Ah, gee... It's a good car, I don't want to wreck it.
OK - how much for the whole car?
Ah, gee... its worth a whole lot more as parts, so I wouldn't want to sell it whole.
We later saw the car, completely intact, on its way to the scrapper...
2. Reasonable DT250A at the local bike wrecker, sitting outside, rapidly dying.
How much for the whole lot?
$600, its worth that in parts, easy.
Give you $300 cash, and its gone.
No way! We'll make that from it easily!
OK, fair enough - its your bike.
A fortnight late, the complete bike had been scrapped.
3. Dug through a pile of bike bits that clearly hadn't been touched in years, and found a few little treasures (mostly labeled wrongly, BTW). Took 'em to the counter and asked How Much?
$300.
Jebus! I was thinking more like $100 ~150!
Nah, mate, couldn't let them go for that!
OK, I'll give you $180 cash and you've got a deal.
Look mate, people think we're rich [recites well-worn story about his missus getting sick of eating rabbit that he's shot all the time]
OK, so it's better that you leave these parts sitting on the shelf for another 25 years, than have me give you enough money to shout your missus a meal at the best restraunt in town?
Yeah.
I walked out empty handed, and proceded to buy all of the bits for under $100. At least this guy was good natured about it - that was the price he wanted and he stuck to it (even if it was unrealistic)...
For all the talk of marginal businesses and struggling to pay the bills, it is hard to believe when they turn away customers who are waving cash at them.
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I could add a number of similar anecdotes to Nathans experiences (above so these days I avoid the wrecking yard mind games and go direct to eBay. In most cases wrecking yards aren't worth the effort.
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do you haggle at coles too :D
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YZ125D barrel with rusty bore (and on unknown oversize).
YZ125D head that had looked like the surface of the moon.
Mouldy, torn TS125 manual (mostly grabbed it to rescue it).
Twinshock DT125 head.
If anyone thinks I'm just a tight-arse, and that lot is worth $300, I can tell them were to go and get it...
A lot of businesses forget that if you drop the price to close the sale, you are miles ahead of sticking to your guns and letting the customer walk out. I know all the arguments about high demand items and mark-ups to remain viable and all the rest.
But a sale with (say) 30% mark-up is far better than a non-sale when you demand 60% mark-up.
Its not hard, but a lot of Australian retailers completely forget this.
I bought some pedals for my pushie a couple of years back - SPDs with a retail price of around $190. I was in a bit of a hurry because there was a race on that weekend. The bike shop down the road from work was asking $200.
I offered $185 with the sweetener of cash right now.
"No, I can't do that".
I pushed a bit for them to match everyone else's asking price, and was bluntly told "No, they're $200 and that's that" (as is entirely the store's perogative).
I then drove 15 minutes to another store that had them on the shelf for $185, and they happily took another $10 off when I told them that I was racing that weekend.
No prizes for guessing which shop I always go to first, and which shop I've never set foot in since.
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i bought a brand new 15 tooth front sprocket for my daughters xr100 last saturday its actually excatly the same as a tgb110 china bike.honda slacks creek didn't have one went to a china bike store his was $20 told him i could get one from honda for $12 dollars so he matched the price and he reckons that was $3 under his cost.also bought my 02 kx125 from the same shop he showed me over $2700 in receipts he had spent on the bike he wanted $3000 for the bike it sat there for about 2 and a half months went in waved $2500 in front of him and drove away with it on my ute.cheers gary
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From what I can hear out of Nathans quote , the seller just tried politely to move him on
It doesn't read like that to me at all. It sounds like the seller/s had stuff that they wanted to charge exorbitant amounts for. We're not talking about rare or special parts like the suspension components you mentioned.
A mate of mine spent about 6+ wks recently trying to get some info out of a wrecker as to the availability and cost of a late 70's yz250 engine. After repeated emails and phone calls he was told that this engine (sans electrics/kickstarter/piston) of completely unknown internal condition, which had literally sat on the shelf for 20 yrs, was available for $800 cash. Despite the fact no-one had needed it to date it was apparently worth over $1000 in parts ::)
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Our wreckers are fine they want top dollar fair enough but I am the kind of guy that walks into a shop to buy what I am after not just look for what I might like I go in and buy it.
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I could add a number of similar anecdotes to Nathans experiences (above so these days I avoid the wrecking yard mind games and go direct to eBay. In most cases wrecking yards aren't worth the effort.
Exactly what I do nowdays .....avoid wreckers .
Wreckers had reasonable /realistic pricing a few years ago , first place I would go .
Not any more .
Regards,
Steve
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Actually my home town wrecker is full on VMXer, supports the sport with prize money and always has most of what I need and lets me scavenge in his boxes of stuff for odd length bolts and other things that might fit.
So shop at Baileys Motorcycles in Hawera always been great wreckers and bike shop ;D ;D Actually Hawera also has Action Suzuki run by former Aussie MX champ so we are spoilt for choice, bugger Hawaii take your holidays in Hawera.
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i will haggle over prices with customers on some things,work shop rate is not one of them tho,but when you get someone offering you half of what you want,well it is a bit insulting really.2 wrecker stories
1st a car mechanic where amate of mine would always send him to a wrecker with less than what he was quoted,saying they will take ,dont worry about it boy ,just do what i say,so my mate goes off to the wreckers to get a side window for a pontiac paresienne,fairly rare item at the time.gets to the wreckers wrecker said that will be 80.00,mate says but my boss says you will take 60.00,wrecker then said i have had a gut full that wanker doing this every time he gets parts here,how desparate is he for the window?reply was oh you have the only one in the country,and we told the customer he would have his car back today,even better the wrecker said and with that hammer straight thru the window,here no problem he can have it for free now.
2nd bike wrecker,mate of mine bloke rings up for a price on a fuel gs1000 good nick good paint quoted 150.00 pretty good price,gets tank down out of the rack,bloke turns up and says i ll give you 90.00.without batting an eyelid tank gets put under the counter my mate then continues the conversation he was having with some other people there,completely ignoring this wanker who has just made a completely insulting offer ,this bloke is standing saying but i want the tank,but was just left standing there.point is haggling is fine but dont be insulting about or get the shits when your offer is turned down
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do you haggle at coles too :D
No. But equally, I do not GO there anymore.
Crap Retailer: A local Bing Lee, I was up to my armpits with stuff, a baby in a pram, etc. and the guy kept waving me over to a part of the counter where I just wasn't going to get to without a headache. I just suggested he learn about customer satisfaction and departed. NEVER been to a Bing Lee again. That fat dope just lost them tens of thousands in business by that action.
A wrecker is a tight-rope, but the idiocy of some I knew in the past is astounding. eBay makes it simple. Some wreckers still do well.
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I guess if he wanted you to com back , he would have perhaps lowered his price ;)
Giving discount to a friend , a dealer , a sponsored person ,a run out model , YES . But somebody marching in the shop and demanding discount ....... Nathan , we must be living in a different world .
I think so Walter, I really do.
In both my examples, the asking price was above the market price and I was giving them the opportunity to actually make a sale - plenty of previous times, I've been in that situation and simply shut my mouth and walked out... Maybe this makes me a jerk for “demanding a discount”, but its really about me offering to spend my money with them, rather than elsewhere.
Look at it another way:
Imagine you've got some old parts sitting under the bench - let's say that they're old fork seals.
You haven't opened the box in ten years and you really don't know what's in there. Nobody's asked you for them, so you haven't even felt the need to open the box up.
Now, someone walks in and asks for some old fork seals that you know you don't have in stock. You say "there might be some in the box" so you drag it out and let the customer rummage through.
He finds a couple of pairs that he wants. They're seals that you can still easily buy from a number of suppliers and would retail for $30/pair.
Now tell me which is the most sensible option:
A) "Mate, they're old and rare and I've been holding onto them for years - gotta be worth $50 per pair, easy" - and the customer walks out without giving you any money and you have a box of old fork seals sitting under your bench for another ten years. They then get the seals from a local bike shop for $60 for two pairs and have no reason to darken your doorstep again.
B) "Ah look, they're dead stock. Gimme $50 for the two pairs and we're sweet" - and the customer happily takes the $10 discount compared to retail and walks out happy. And you have $50 in the till that you wouldn't otherwise have.
If you chose A), then I'd love to hear an explaination of why it makes more sense.
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More generally, customers can be seperated into three broad groups:
Group #1 is people who have planned the purchase, saved the cash, and are ready to buy. They'll generally shop around for the most suitable product at the best price, but they are usually easy people to sell to;
#2 are people who have suddenly discovered a need for a part - like a dead shock a week before a race meet. They'll be less motivated by price and quality and more motivated by getting it here, soon;
The final group is the one that most Aussie retailers generally ignore: People who see something at a price that they think is good and jump on the 'bargain'.
SuperCheap Auto and Bunnings are good at appealling to the third group of people - they get these people into their stores using loss-leaders (usually resulting in the punter buying other stuff at full mark-up) and they build the perception that they offer good value. The fact that the perception is often incorrect, is irrelevant - particularly if you're a competitor to these chains.
The first group is increasingly flocking to the internet to buy stuff, particularly if local retailers won't even try to price match.
So, I wonder how many businesses can survive on the second group alone? (Especially with quick freight from OS). This thread would suggest that the answer is "not many"...
Unless Aussie retailers recognise this and adapt, then they will find their businesses going backwards. Wreckers are (broadly speaking) the clearest example of a business that has ignored the first and third groups, and they're the clearest example of an industry that is failing, despite consumer demand.
Bike shops are keen to follow, although at least some of them are realising this before its too late.
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Nathan's got my take on this in a nutshell. I've got no qualms with wreckers need to make a quid but in the end I'm in the 'business' of doing up old bikes and being a self funded retiree I don't posess a fluid cash fund. In my world my need to save a quid overrides their need to make a quid so for that reason I rarely bother with the drama of hassling with wreckers or bikes shops any more and go directly to eBay or other online outlets these days.
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But at this stage the bargain hunting keyboard jokeys are a small minority and the majority still prefers good old fashioned service.
You're kidding right Walter? ;D I think you're grossly underestimating the impact eBay's had on our sport. I'd be very surprised (shocked) if the bike shop/wreckers still tops eBay for sourcing our vintage bits.
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Its your right to shop where and when you want . But if the wrecker knows you , he knows where you normally shop too ;)
Anyway , if the wreckers are no longer needed , they will dissapear like the dinosaurs. But at this stage the bargain hunting keyboard jokeys are a small minority and the majority still prefers good old fashioned service.
That's hysterically funny Walter.
The local bike wrecker & Yamaha dealer has been given several thousand of my dollars over a couple of years. Excepting one parts guy who doesn't work there anymore, none of the staff would have a clue what my name is, or anything about me... The boss has only just started recognising me as a regular customer, which is ironic because I only go there under duress nowdays.
"Good old fashioned service" has NEVER been a strong point among wreckers.
CanAm370, the new guy from Pakenham, Roy Dale and Mr Motocross are usually worth the cost of a phone call, but the others are too much hassle - on any given day, they'll be rude, stupid and/or simply over-priced.
Your niche is probably atypical of the industry trends - a look on any of the main-stream dirt bike forums shows that the attitudes shown here are very moderate compared to the majority of riders - and they we're probably less likely to import stuff from OS. The retail business has changed, for better or for worse - those that rise to the challenge will prosper, while those that don't will struggle to survive.
Choice A: Order a tyre from the USA, pay $70 and have it arrive on your doorstep less than a week later.
Choice B: Drive to your local bike shop and pay $125 for the same tyre (assuming it is in stock - and if it isn't, it will probably take more than a week to get it in and you'll probably have to go to the shop to pay a deposit and then back again to pick it up).
That's it in a nutshell - and until the shops realise that they have to compete with the internet, they'll continue to go under at a rapid rate.
In the meantime, its like watching someone repeatedly poke themselves in the eye.
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not a wrecker but mx world at capalaba is gone
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In a nut shell ..... thier stock is taking up space which is costing them rent $$$$ big $ at that.
One particlar wrecker used to charge like a wounded bull and I would never pay his rediculous prices and new it was only a mater of time before they would go belly up. Yes they tried Ebay for about 6 months , but again thier parts were over priced and the rent killed them in the end.
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Nathan unfortunatley when you generalize on a subject you kinda leave yourself open. The problem with that is that a fair percentage of the members/guests beleive what they read on this forum. (me included) I would hazzard a guess that a few (me included) think that we can get whatever tyre we want deliver'd from the US within one week for seventy dollars. If that is the case where do I line up. You will come back at this with the "I was only using it as an example" and that maybe the case. Problem is Dealers (not wreckers) have no input into recommended retail price on new parts what ever they are and your post kinda taints them all as rip off merchants.
As consumer's I think we often tend to relate the asking price of whatever with OUR income status without having a clue as to the costs involved that the guy stumping up for the shop front has. I think that if more had an idea what it costs to run a business these days they might have second thoughts.
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www.rockymountainatv.com
They regularly do specials and/or buying more than one tyre at a time will minimise the effect of the postage costs. $70/tyre wasn't just pulled from where the sun doesn't shine. ;)
Some of the local places have been doing specials to remain competitive - torpedo7 is/was selling Michelins for ~$70 each, and someone else was doing Pirellis last week for ~$65 each. Sutto's have been making a big fuss about staying competitive with the USA - Sutto himself posts on DBW fairly regularly and it pretty open about the whole deal, and its earning him/his business a ton of credit among the punters.
I've done my time in retail (family business for nine years), so I'm not one of those people who expects businesses to survive on 10% mark-ups....
My local bike shop owner is also very honest and up-front about such things - I see his invoices for virtually all of my special orders. I do not begrudge a single cent of profit he makes from me and he actually provides good customer service, so he has my loyalty. There are plenty of times when I happily pay extra to buy from him - but the times when he can't be competitive on price, he doesn't resent me buying from elsewhere.
He has recognised (and adapted to) the rapidly changing retail environment, unlike so many others...
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i bought a 90\100\16 brand new at my local markets $20 still had the little spikes on the tyre, same tyre brand was on sale on a us web site for $77.55 down from $88.im oldskool in the way i shop if i cant pick up a phone order a part go pick it up i don't wanna know about it.but being one who dosen't restore old bikes or race them things are a bit different for me as i only need bits that will work and not correct for the bike.but anything i need for my 88 xr100 can be ordered through my local honda dealer and have it there within 24 hours except plastics(wich some dick painted black)same as bits for my 89 rm80.the basic honda xr100 ran for so long and from 85 to 2000 pretty much only the colour changed and most bits on the rm are pretty much the same from mid 80's to mid 90's so theres still plenty of parts available for them.cheers gary
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Nathan there you go generalizing again. If Torpedo 7 were/are doing Michelins for $70 and someone else is doing Pirelli's for $65 means diddly butt to me. If they are not the model I want they could be paying me to take them away and they still would'nt be cheap. If on the other hand you are saying they have what I want in Michelin at your quoted prices I will take ten tomorrow.
RE your last paragraph in your last post. If you had quoted that in your post previous to that it would have put a bit of balance in your case.
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Nathan there you go generalizing again. If Torpedo 7 were/are doing Michelins for $70 and someone else is doing Pirelli's for $65 means diddly butt to me. If they are not the model I want they could be paying me to take them away and they still would'nt be cheap. If on the other hand you are saying they have what I want in Michelin at your quoted prices I will take ten tomorrow.
Make your own judgement:
http://www.torpedo7.com.au/torpedo7/categoryindexdisplay.do?org.apache.struts.taglib.html.TOKEN=e6d4ef7e2a8aff6e88f5811090e917ea&formAction=changepage&searchProductCategories=false&searchForAllTerms=false&caseSensitiveSearch=false&searchAsPhrase=false&searchKeywords=false&searchTitle=false&searchRichDescription=false&searchCode=false&searchPrice=false&sortOrder=&searchString=&pageIndex=2&pageSize=24&brandCode=&categoryCode=&subCategoryCode=&minPrice=0.0&maxPrice=2.14748365E9&id=TY&viewStyle=&sizeCode=
I quoted $70 because I'd been looking at the MH3 fronts. The others that are dearer from T7, are also dearer than the $125 retail price that I quoted (at the Canberra bike shops).
RE your last paragraph in your last post. If you had quoted that in your post previous to that it would have put a bit of balance in your case.
All that changed is that I made it clear that I wasn't just speaking out my backside - but it doesn't alter whether I was right or wrong in the first instance... ;)
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Make your own judgement:
http://www.torpedo7.com.au/torpedo7/categoryindexdisplay.do?org.apache.struts.taglib.html.TOKEN=e6d4ef7e2a8aff6e88f5811090e917ea&formAction=changepage&searchProductCategories=false&searchForAllTerms=false&caseSensitiveSearch=false&searchAsPhrase=false&searchKeywords=false&searchTitle=false&searchRichDescription=false&searchCode=false&searchPrice=false&sortOrder=&searchString=&pageIndex=2&pageSize=24&brandCode=&categoryCode=&subCategoryCode=&minPrice=0.0&maxPrice=2.14748365E9&id=TY&viewStyle=&sizeCode=
I only had a quick look but their prices seemed much the same as the shops except for some specials, which would be aimed at getting you in through the 'vurtual' door.
I see bike shops getting bagged a lot for being dearer than overseas, but as I have dipped my toes into a bit of retail I can see the mark up for the shop isn’t that much.
The shop isn’t making the killing on price, someone else down the chain is.
It’s great that you can buy your tyres so cheap, dollars rule, I understand that just as much as anybody, but expecting the shops to come close isn’t fair on them as I would think those prices are way cheaper than what the shop can purchase them for from the local distributors.
Haggling is all well and good but a business isn’t going to thrive by dropping the price to less than cost to get that extra sale.
I think the places that are being competitive are the ones doing their own importing.
A lot of the time what mark up the shop makes is eaten away by transport costs, which is fine on large items but can hurt on small orders.
And how many have wandered into a shop to try on a pair of boots or nylons to check for size and then ordered them from the net?
I know this goes on, as do the shops, so the shops stock less as they can’t sell as much, because they can’t sell as much they stock even less, and so the snowball tumbles.
I don’t profess to know what the answer is but I can see a lot of smaller shops struggling just as your local milkbar can’t compete with the supermarkets.
Strangely a lot of good dealerships are disappearing because they are also getting grief from the manufacturers.
Told the workshop floor must be a certain colour and the small country shops are told to stock road bikes which they know they will have trouble moving. And they have to pay a lease on their stock.
I had 2 local Yamaha stores nearby years ago, now both gone.
I have to travel further now to buy parts, and establish a relationship with a new shop.
Yes I can get bits posted but that add’s to the cost compared to dropping into the local shop.
And the few times I have tried to buy from those large overseas places they have scared me with huge freight costs.
They reply that to order with my credit card anyway and they will adjust the freight cost later,
No thanks
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Rocky mountain atv will ship 3 tyres for $70 and the tyres are cheap. 7 day shipping. Torpedo7 has some great deals that will almost work out cheaper as they ship from oz. I bought two alloy bike stands with tool trays and oil buckets for $100 and $9 shipping. Quality stuff.
I agree with Nathan on moving dead stock but the flipside to that is that sooner or later everything sells. Providing you can afford to wait twenty years.
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because they are also getting grief from the manufacturers.
Told the workshop floor must be a certain colour and the small country shops are told to stock road bikes which they know they will have trouble moving. And they have to pay a lease on their stock.
We were told the exact same thing by our local Kawa shop !! :(
cheers A&S
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yep we bike shops are all theiving bastards 8)look at the profit i make for example on a pair of michelin
my buying price m12 90/90-21 $72.69 plus 10% gst$7.26 total 79.95 retail price107.95
m12 rear 120/90-18 $82.12,10%%8.21 total $98.54 retail $121.95 toal f&r tyres $229.90
woo hoo profit of 51.41
whoops i forgot freight $9.50,bugger we are now down to $41.91 f#*k yeh i m make a killing off all these gullible people who walk thru the door
bugger forgot to mention we have to fit the tyres for that price to ???
f@#k it there goes buying a couple of ccm ;D
what a lot of people dont take in is volume,we dont have it here ie australia brings in 4 containers of michelin tyres, the usa would bring in 100 for an example.i go hunting occasionaly out west,yes i can buy all my gear/supplies/fuel in brisbane and save my self money but i choose to spend the money in the closest country town i hunting at-gives money to a town in the bush who need it more than the city,hardware could go to bunnings but i would rather give it to the little bloke around the corner i figger it makes the world go round a bit more fairly,cause remember when all the little shopa are gone,the big mega palaces are going to ream you big time wth no lube ;D
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Actually my home town wrecker is full on VMXer, supports the sport with prize money and always has most of what I need and lets me scavenge in his boxes of stuff for odd length bolts and other things that might fit.
So shop at Baileys Motorcycles in Hawera always been great wreckers and bike shop ;D ;D Actually Hawera also has Action Suzuki run by former Aussie MX champ so we are spoilt for choice, bugger Hawaii take your holidays in Hawera.
Bloody Hell PRIZE MONEY IN VMX :o :o :o where do i sign ??? Shit if ther paying prize money at VMX meetings maybe i could afford to shop at one of our rip off wreckers ;)
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Walter why do you keep pulling your post ??? People quote you so there saved for posterity anyway :-\
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Yeah your right on the volume. Getting old model tyres is a hard thing. Example, Avon only brings maybe a dozen or less of a particular model tyre and quite often i have bought all of what they have had left or they specially import some in. Some times they say 'we have 4 of that model tyre comming' so then then i will say put my name on all 4. There are certain tyres that they bring in in so little numbers like 19 and 16 inch road bike tyres in old patterns. There is stacks of options made by manufacturers but the Australian importers dont bring them in or only bring in a couple at a time.
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bargain hunting key pad jokey should have got it by now .
Walter, you talk as if the bargain hunting keypad jockeys are doing something offensive or wrong. As we discussed on the phone......we're the smart ones Walt. I paid $22.50 for a complete NOS MX360 piston kit today. You find a bike shop that'll match that and they'll get some of my business..
I don't think you quite get it mate. I think I speak for most folks on a budget when I repeat.....my need to save a quid far overrides the wreckers/ bike shops need to make a quid . If a business can't compete with what I pay on eBay that's not my fault or my problem. There are some local businesses that I support, especially for my Maico parts but frankly, everything else I get comes from the USA.
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Not at all Walter, why should I pay top dollar for an item ( local in Oz ) when I can buy it in USA and have it posted here at half the price. My name is Willy Hunt not Silly c--t
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i don't know were yous find all these bargains on ebay and other places as you can see by my typing im not puter savvy that maybe my problem.but stuff ive needed ive allways found cheaper in aus at local stores.87 cr piston kit from serco,rebuild gasket kit for the same bike bk performance parts for my 72 sl100 at bk performance.maybe i dont know were to look but usually the price of stuff im looking for is on par with what i can buy for locally then add postage compared to petrol id use its usually cheaper for me to go for a short drive and bring the part home.got my xr100 brake plate from the wrecker this thread is about this morning $30 wich i dont think is a bad price considering new from honda is $90.even clutch kit for my 02 kx125 my mechanic could order and have delivered to his shop cheaper than i could find on the net.cheers gary
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It takes skill, knowing what search terms and key words to use and searching from different ebay sites. If you just go to the Australian one and click 'worldwide' it will not show everything world wide at all. I also find it far easier to find anything on the internet if i do a image search than a website search on Google or Yahoo etc. Then click on the photo and see where it takes you. It can also be a lot quicker too.
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hey stewart when it comes to searching for stuff on computers i think i might be that silly fellow you mentioned :o.cheers gary
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Bought this parts bike recently ...Wonder what the wreckers would have wanted?
Only missing the airfilter cage & a few minor bits
Regards ,
Steve
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190503445717&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
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I've been following this one for a while and thought I'd give my two bobs worth.
Wreckers:
definatley a dying breed, I haven't been to one for a couple of years now, for me OHS killed them, I would spend half of my Saturday morning wondering around the back of Australian dirt bike wreckers in Slacks creek looking for bits, not finding what I wanted but still leaving with half a ute load of crap I didn't. Once they stopped allowing you through to do your own search, all the fun went out of it.
I never begrudged them the price they charged, being in business myself I realise it's not what you think it's worth, but what it cost them to provide that part to you.
Online shopping:
I haven't found it to be the bargain heaven that some people have, especially O.S. shopping, more the convenience of finding everything you need from the comfort of your lounge chair. Sure there are bargains to be had, but I think they have always been there, the internet just makes them accessible.
I am currently shopping for '89 cr 500 bits'n'peices and there certainly isn't the massive difference in prices between U.S. and Aussie ebay, but moreover, a clutch/waterpump cover from U.S. ebay is only $30 cheaper(shipping included) than my local Honda dealer.
I will always try and support my local small business/dealer whenever possible. Just 'cause.
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pretty much what i recon evo half the fun was walking around through all the old crap.speaking of crap just got back from a swap meat at beenleigh showground saw a mid seventies yz250 pretty tidy the fella said he races it number was 333 $3500 and a rm125 in pieces but all there around 87 mod complete motor turns freely low compression rest of bike in pieces good frame forks only had very minor rust between triple clamps all plastics there not to bad $180 or make an offer they will be there till about lunchtime.cheers gary
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sorry anyone interested let me know before lunchtime and i can go and grab there ph number.cheers gary
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My 2 cents.......like firko,i am here to support myself firstly.
I will then support anyone that is the cheapest i can find.....the key is homework....prices here and the rest of the world.
When i work it out,they get my money.
I've supported my local Suzuki or any Suzi shop that has/can get the part i want thats within a few bucks of O/Seas prices inc delivery.
My mates have starting getting tyres or is that tires from Rocky mountain in the US at approx $70.00
Here ? ? $125.00 + ..........which would you buy? ::)
As for the shops /owners crying about aussie support,my question is
WHERE ARE YOU BUYING YOUR STUFF FROM? ;)hmmm wouldn't be o/seas would it?
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yes i do buy os -when i need to, if i cant get the parts here apart from the bikes i import which is a different situation
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yes i do buy os -when i need to, if i cant get the parts here apart from the bikes i import which is a different situation
Different in what way ?
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I'm with Evo,92 XR400 valve train in my SL350 racemotor,try working that one out off on/line shopping,sat morning ratting through my local wreckers engine room,(BMW1100rs valves were a failure in my MV :(),their metal scrap bins an eyeopener too,such a waste,best avoided if the sympathetic hoarder "disease" in you is strong ;D,they are necessary,so support them when you can,we do need them,remember how much was lost at Newie when taken for scrap, Mick De will vouch for that one! :P
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yes i do buy os -when i need to, if i cant get the parts here apart from the bikes i import which is a different situation
Different in what way ?
you cant go and order a new kx250 A3 from your local dealer ;D
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Fair call :D
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As for the shops /owners crying about aussie support,my question is
WHERE ARE YOU BUYING YOUR STUFF FROM? ;)hmmm wouldn't be o/seas would it?
It’s not about where the shops source their merchandise from as yes, a lot of it comes from O/S.
The problem is that US retailers have the jump on every retailer here.
We have importers here that bring in containers of products that supply to the shops.
What makes it hard for the shops is the fact that anyone can buy a retail price in the US that is cheaper than the wholesale price for the shops here.
I have seen Yamaha parts in the US that are ¼ of the price of here but it would cost the same to send a container of parts to here as it would the US.
They use their buying power to source their product at a good price and then in turn allow any warehouse to sell this product.
Ever notice how there are warehouse companies in the states that discount parts from the ‘big 4’ but there aren’t any here. It’s because the ‘big 4’ have the monopoly here and don’t allow non-shops to resell parts.
Level playing field my arse.
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Is it still a big arse......Brad wants to know? ;D
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Why do retail outlets not source there stuff online from the manufacturer and by-pass the wholesaler/importer and ship direct to the customer?
One thing that has not been discussed is the very annoying habit of dealers have of consolidating orders and expecting customers to wait until they put their order in.That gives someone the ideal motivation to buy online. The dealer could just as easy take their details, contact the customer and get the go ahead and the dealer could by the item online.but they don't offer that kind of service. Granted there are probably a host of issues with franchise agreements etc etc. Ballards is a very successful model for retailers have yet to hear any bad reports and offer exceptional customer service.
Motorcycle wreckers never joined hands like the car wreckers have and networked to find parts for customers.
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Why do retail outlets not source there stuff online from the manufacturer and by-pass the wholesaler/importer and ship direct to the customer?
Often it because ‘name’ brands appoint a wholesaler to distribute their stuff and so don’t allow smaller dealers to jump in.
Try dealing with Mikuni, Fox, Oneal, Dunlop etc. and let me know how you get on.
One thing that has not been discussed is the very annoying habit of dealers have of consolidating orders and expecting customers to wait until they put their order in.
Freight costs, I do this myself.
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There's little doubt that Aussie importers/wholesalers are a big part of the reason why Aussie retailers can't be competitive with OS retailers.
When your local retailer says that he can't buy an item for the price you can buy it from the USA, he's probably telling you the truth*.
*When anyone says that they can't buy the item for less than another local retailer sells it for, then they're either lying or a moron. Their worst case scenario is to buy from the other retailer... ::)
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I understand it is for freight costs, but dealers do expect a customer to wait until it fits their schedule.They do not offer to have it posted in a bag from the warehouse.As I said this gives people ample motivation to buy online and have it shipped out. The days of bullshitting about the difficulties of international airfreight are dead.
All the clothing brands will be made in a factory in China,find the factory then provided you buy the miniumum order your in.Unit price will be very low indeed. Isn't hard just takes persistance, Steve at the Twostrokeshop does this every day of the week. Has gone up the chain all the way to major component manufacturers. Ask him if you don't believe me ;D
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There's little doubt that Aussie importers/wholesalers are a big part of the reason why Aussie retailers can't be competitive with OS retailers.
When your local retailer says that he can't buy an item for the price you can buy it from the USA, he's probably telling you the truth*.
Dead right, I used to retail some M/C acessories I needed a pair of fox pants. $180 wholesale $280 retail. I went to BTO and got the same pants, jersey, gloves two pairs of socks and some goggle lenses for $180 landed when we were in the 70cent bracket.
I don't envy anyone trying to make a living out of a motorcycle shop. The mark up is lousy and that's before the internet even gets into it.
The family car had a slightly weeping radiator from a soft spot in a couple of tubes. I went to get it fixed. "Nah mate not worth fixing $770 for a recore has to get sent to S.A. take about a week". Okay a week is about 10-12 days. It's the family car and can't be off the road, so 2 weeks car hire on top. Let's say $1,200 minimum.
Get on the net, new radiator $250 inc shipping to my door in 4 days. I know I should support my local radiator bloke, but I saved two mortage payments.
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Why do retail outlets not source there stuff online from the manufacturer and by-pass the wholesaler/importer and ship direct to the customer?
Sometimes we can do that sometime not. More often that not manufacturers or overseas wholesalers will not sell direct to a retail shop overseas, because they will say you have to go via the authorised importer or wholesaler here. They also will not sell a small order to a retail shop and only want to sell a carton or crates worth to the importer/wholesaler. Most of the stuff i get from overseas is because no on in australia imports it or its NLA here. First stiop is always the importers/wholesalers here.