Thread: Landrover to reduce access to parts

You can order parts from the UK and not get charged VAT. Can't see why this wouldn't apply to independent workshops either. But this might also be a case of having someone go after them for anti-competitive practices if it's true...

I have to say that given my recent experience with Land Rover (Australia) and their dealer "network", anyone asking me for a recommendation about buying a new LR these days will get a qualified "don't" from me ... great vehicles if they work, but don't count on any support from the local distributor! If the above is true, this would only enforce that message...

If you buy from the UK most sellers will exclude VAT. In fact you will notice that many UK sites advertise their Export price (excluding VAT).

Any time I've ordered from overseas, even for a $5 part, the sellers have always removed the VAT / GST.

A lot of suppliers use A, B, and C quality parts. A (Genuine), B (Often genuine, but without the Land Rover label. For example a brake part used by Land Rover, but with the manufacturers label on it. and C (a cheaper imitation part).

I can't see how the supply of these parts could be affected by LR policy. What's more, being in NZ, you can get some well priced stuff out of Australia, and the GST exemption should just about pay for the cheaper postage.

When you think about it, the situation is not much different to a multitude of products. The perfume houses went through the same circus recently.

If they have an appointed agent for a product in Australia, any company going to a genuine parts supplier in another country, undermines the local parts network. ( whether we agree with the prices & availability or not )

It won't stop individuals bringing product in, but they are probably trying to discourage commercial quantity importation of genuine product, threatening local franchised dealers.

Yes the big parts dealer in the UK (who supplies the genuine parts)and who sells accessories also and name begins with B told them they have been told to to this after april 1st, you can still get someone in the UK to buy them and onward ship, its more costly after no deduction for VAT as sold in the uk and more complicated to ship etc
Its defenitely aimed at those workshops more than small indiviual persons, warped thinking, The main dealer increased a price for a gasket from $14.00 to over $30.00!!! and more examples of this are expected if they think they have the monopoly!!!
I am sure he small dealers will ignore this for small people such as us

Price fixing is not new and makes a joke of the “fee trade” groups.

Try buying a camera overseas? And getting help locally?

But the worst or is it best!! at this type of practice is the entertainment industry. The creation of “zones” and restricting DVD players to these zones is nothing short of price fixing in my view.

Heard all the arguments about local support and warranty work hence the need to jack up prices in each country etc etc rubbish.

Sasha who were you talking to?

You are right about Motorcorp and their parts policy. They only stock parts for late model vehicles. No series specific parts, for example. I have normally had a policy of not buying parts from the local dealerships because of their incredible markup.

So far as GST is concerned, we are stung with GST on imports over about $180. Even though they may leave VAT exclusive there, they do not land tax free here.

This of course would only affect new parts and there are a gazillion Jap imports of, for example, Discos that are being stripped for parts these days. There are a number of used parts on mine already and it is only 6 years old.

Also, while overseas principals may limit who they will sell to here, we have this thing called parallel importing which means that local sellers cannot restrict what comes in to the country and it is not legal for them to establish monopolistic regimes. Sure, local distributors can have sole agency agreements with their principals but they cannot stop others from buying the same goods and from bringing them in too. If local buyers can source their products on the open market at a decent price and import them, then good on them. Pretty sure you will see this happening. All that's needed is a shell company with a English/European address.

Just got off the phone from Forward Specs in Avondale. They've been in business since at least 1991 and Bill there said they were doing this even then. They go through cycles every now and then to make sure their distributors are playing nice. As it is a lot of series parts are third party these days. He did confirm that (Island-nation-west-of-Europe)Parts won't supply him with LR branded parts but there are plenty of other places where they can be obtained, especially the States and Asia.

Alan

They are certainly putting prices up here. I went to buy an oil light switch the other day $59.00 they used to be about $20.00. I bought an after market one which was identical for $6.99

Originally Posted by malrv1

They are certainly putting prices up here. I went to buy an oil light switch the other day $59.00 they used to be about $20.00. I bought an after market one which was identical for $6.99

Kind of my point really.

Alan