How can they sell anything??

[nedflanders]

Recently had to buy a TD5 Crank pulley as mine developed an annoying squeek after the tensioner seized, I was shocked at the price that the Australian 'Land Rover' aftermarket parts suppliers were quoting, $1050 :eek: How can this be justified?? Phoned up Paddocks in UK ordered-
Crank pulley
Crank seal
Crank bolt
Vent seals
Rear mudguards
Complete swivel housing kit

All for £600 including delivery and no GST to pay, delivered in 4 days. Also found out that there is no problem sending suspension kits including gas filled shocks so that's next on the list.
So does anyone actually buy from the local suppliers or is it just emergency items only?

[debruiser]

I often price both, but I can't afford to pay extra just to support Locals..... sorry locals suppliers.

[strangy]

I have a select handful of Aust suppliers.

Outside of them its straight to the UK for all the reasons you just posted.

[DeeJay]

Think of it as how would a Pommy in England go for Commodore parts..:p

[Tombie]

Surely they aren't stupid enough to want a Commodore...

[Tombie]

Oops.. Should read more!

[Andrew D]

So does anyone actually buy from the local suppliers or is it just emergency items only?

Not even emergency parts in my case. I drove around for two weeks waiting for a brake light switch from UK. Didn't want to pay $30 when I could pay $10 to have it delivered to my door.

Pretty sad really:rolleyes:

Regards
Andrew

[mike_beecham]

Ah yes.

Same for with a headlight switch for me. I refuse to pay $80+ AUD when l can have it delivered from the UK for less than half that!



Mike

[Mick_Marsh]

Surely they aren't stupid enough to want a Commodore...
They sold the Clubby R8 over there as the Vauxhall Bathurst.
Vauxhall VXR8 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Reads90]

I had a case last week that I phoned a parts supplier in Brisbane on Monday about a throttle cable for my disco.
Not the biggest thing I know but I own a few landys and the parts add up through the year so I still expect so service

Phoned at 10am said will phone back in 5. Phones again at 4.00 as had not heard anything , said would phone me back as he need to get back to me about the part. I Phoned back the next day at 9 and guess what chap busy so fellow colleague said he would phone me , i phoned again at 3 as i not heard and still busy and could not talk.

Called MR and orders bit for me ready to pick up the next day.
Next morning chap from original place phones (3 days after first call ) and says he has details on part for the car. I said don't worry I have got another one as my car is useless with out a throttle cable and I need one ASAP. He then got annoyed with me for wasting his time.

But then MR have me a LHD throttle cable which I question if this is right as it is three time the length of the one it replaces and why the hell would here be a LHD cable in Australia in the first place. But told they all are. Fitted it and due to it being too long now catches and terrible feel to the pedal. Already stuck in the middle of now where with a broken throttle cable and dont what to have it happen again. And this cable feels like it is catching because it is too long for the space it is surprosed to fit

Now have to get it replaced although to be fair MR are looking in to it and the chap I spoke to was as surprised as me as to why I had a LHD drive one

But general Service these day to going to rat s*** same in all retail

[Sprint]

On the other hand...... I had a customer come in the other day wanting parts that shouldve been in the timing kit that he bought from overseas, I wasnt impressed when I found the kit he bought (same manufacturer) cost him $200 including a water pump, where my cost for the timing kit minus water pump as a retailer is $250....

[Reads90]

On the other hand...... I had a customer come in the other day wanting parts that shouldve been in the timing kit that he bought from overseas, I wasnt impressed when I found the kit he bought (same manufacturer) cost him $200 including a water pump, where my cost for the timing kit minus water pump as a retailer is $250....

Although I had a winge I have to admit I like dealing face to face. Even more so when something goes wrong.

[justinc]

This is a difficult subject as everyone has their own opinions.

Mine FWIW is that apart from blatant HUGE gouging we should be supporting local industries. It would be remiss of me to advise everyone to purchase everything online and get me to fit it, apart from my business structure that wouldn't cope with this loss of return per job, the fact is that any warranty on any part supplied from an overseas source and not through a distributor/ dealer in this country is non existent. If you were doing the work yourself, then fine it wouldn't be an issue but having fitted in the past customer supplied parts and have them be substandard (and even some OEM/ genuine stuff, too) and then have to inform the customer they will have to pay all over again to have me remove and refit said parts, then it causes a lot of unnecessary grief after the taste of buying cheaper bits with no product support fades quickly to a sour taste. I am not talking headlamps and indicator stalks etc here, these are bigger ticket items like clutches and timing belt kits etc etc that also have a big labour component.

Dealing face to face with the supplier and fitter ensures you are safer after spending the $$ in the first place.

The pricing structures in the UK and even other countries are based on demand for said items. We just don't have the numbers in this country to support huge parts inventories therefore cheaper prices. The freight is also a component, and lead times as well. Imagine would you like $30,000 worth of gear delivered to your door, possibly purchased with $$ you borrowed in the first place, still waiting to get a ROI for 3 months or more, with an ever diminishing profit margin due to E commerce sales? No I didn't think so. So basically we need to support the local suppliers, who have to jump through lots of hoops and risks at times, or they just won't be there to help you when you need them the most.

If everyone stopped thinking of the bottom line ALL the time, and took into account the whole picture we would have far less conflict about subjects such as this.

And yes I do realise that not all suppliers are helping in this regard, either. I still have to shop around at times:(

JC

[Sprint]

Justin, not too sure if the legislation has changed in Tasmania, but up here in Queensland a few workshops are refusing to fit customer supplied parts, especially if they are of dubious quality as recent changes n warranty law have placed the onus of responsibility on whoever fits the parts......


Although I had a winge I have to admit I like dealing face to face. Even more so when something goes wrong.

It was of some amusement to me with this particular guy..... he wasnt impressed that he had to pay extra for parts that shouldve been included....

Wasnt my problem though, if he'd bought the kit off me I wouldve supplied the missing parts for free.....

[1976_michelle]

$750 fuel pump from Bendigo Ex LR dealer, vs $380 bosch part from Melb ebay dealer

$500 MAF from Bendigo Ex LR vs $230 (delivered) Bosch part from UK ebay dealer

Sorry.. but...

[justinc]

$750 fuel pump from Bendigo Ex LR dealer, vs $380 bosch part from Melb ebay dealer

$500 MAF from Bendigo Ex LR vs $230 (delivered) Bosch part from UK ebay dealer

Sorry.. but...

Like I said, shop around but where possible try and buy local. Dealers are always going to be more exxy they HAVE to sell at LR RRP. Case in point a new power steer box from the dealer network is $2800. The same from a LOCAL supplier with LOCAL warranty is Less than $800.

JC

[Chucaro]

I supported the local Hobart Land Rover parts supplier, the prices are good as it is the quality of the parts and on the top of that the money stay in Tasmania :)

[Carnut1100]

I don't have a Landie (yet....) but I've had the same thing with other Euro cars.
Volvo 164 water pump...$800 vs $130. I didn't pay $800....
Peugeot 405 Mi16 rotor button, $100+ and had to be ordered in with a week lead time. £10 posted from UK and here in a week.
New driveshaft for said Peugeot (the most fun but also most expensive and frustrating car I have ever owned....) $700 locally, $400 cheapest mainland price, £100 from UK, got lucky with someone wrecking one who swapped the shaft for a carton....

I get most of my parts locally if they aren't stupid expensive but I simply can't afford to pay the sums demanded for some stuff....

[justinc]

One more point that I believe is important, some dealer pricing is very good. For example a genuine high quality Td5 Discovery radiator retails at $434.00 (I buy them at $402, but thems the breaks...) so I always use genuine radiators in D2 Td5's. The genuine trans cooler lines for D2 are also very well priced, IIRC they are about $190 for 1, and about $185 for the other...Anyway you get the idea. ALWAYS ring the dealer if you have time, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Some parts prices though....:o:o:o


JC

[justinc]

I don't have a Landie (yet....) but I've had the same thing with other Euro cars.
Volvo 164 water pump...$800 vs $130. I didn't pay $800....
Peugeot 405 Mi16 rotor button, $100+ and had to be ordered in with a week lead time. £10 posted from UK and here in a week.
New driveshaft for said Peugeot (the most fun but also most expensive and frustrating car I have ever owned....) $700 locally, $400 cheapest mainland price, £100 from UK, got lucky with someone wrecking one who swapped the shaft for a carton....

I get most of my parts locally if they aren't stupid expensive but I simply can't afford to pay the sums demanded for some stuff....

...What happened to the 164????:D Great and much underrated vehicle. I would love another 1 series, this time a 164TE with all the connolly leather etc etc.

And yes Peugeot, a great drivers car but very frustating to own. A bit like Alfas...:D

JC

[101RRS]

What gets me are the independents that fit knock-off parts but charge for dealer OEM parts.

[Outback 1]

I have recently been buying parts for the d2 from a local supplier and in several instances he has been quite happy to compete on price :D

[justinc]

What gets me are the independents that fit knock-off parts but charge for dealer OEM parts.

True Garry, I've seen that too.

JC

[87County]

It's not only independents that fit "knock-off" parts & charge dealer retail for them, dealers themselves do it too...:o

[Stacks]

You just need to shop around I got a genuine rad cap from the stealers which was half the price of aftermarket locals and ebay

[Carnut1100]

...What happened to the 164????:D Great and much underrated vehicle. I would love another 1 series, this time a 164TE with all the connolly leather etc etc.

And yes Peugeot, a great drivers car but very frustating to own. A bit like Alfas...:D

JC

Got three of them here...'73 manual E which I will be restoring with the addition of a turbo and modern ECU...'74 auto which I haven't decided what to do with yet (fell into my hands basically...) perhaps one day convert it to 162 or 165.....And a '74 auto wreck for parts.
They share my yard with a really tidy '73 142 twin carb which is getting new exhaust and brakes then it will sail through the SI inspection, there is a '77 245DL which I got for free and is a lovely reliable plugger but one day I want to put a VW 1.9 TDi in it.....similar power to original, more torque, half the fuel use.
There is also a 245 L which is the ultra rare van version, has a wagon body with a flat floor right through to a cargo barrier and no interior handles on the back doors or seat belt mounts etc....
There is a dead 940 which is losing its engine to make a turbo efi conversion to go into my 242 GT....low, loud, and even without a turbo it's surprised a few people!!!
There's a dew others here too like the 360s belong to brother/sister/brother in law...244 halfway through a manual conversion belonging to bil...sister's '81 245 with early round light front on it...244 and 740 wrecks for spares....dad's 245 that had 520k on the clock when it was parked with clutch issues...and little brother's first car a late 245 we are fixing up for him, almost ready for rego!
Guess you can say we've had a good run out of Volvos in the family......all kicked off by the turbocharged 164E Dad had when I was a kid.....

As for Peugeots........my first car was a 403 if 1962 vintage....$200 and rough as guts but reliable and a hoot to join around in....never should have sold it....
604 was lovely but had issues......still miss it though!
404 was a freebie and I haven't fixed the rust and registered it yet but I drove it a long way on permits and a really fun classic...after a year untouched I just primed the fuel pump and put the crank handle in and off it went...I'll get around to her one day...
Got a 403 panel van here...one of two known in the country as they were never sold here. Believed to be ex-South Africa. Full restoration long term project but ultra rare...

Modern Pugs are as you said like an Alfa (sister had one of those...all the stereotypes were bang on!!!! Rusted faster than you could weld, electrical dog's breakfast, but mash the pedal and grin!) and the Mi16 has been more fun to drive than it has any right to be.......but my ownership time split roughly 50/50 driving it or fixing it.......trust me, after that any reliability issues a Landie might hold are going to be a piece of cake!!!!
Unless I get a petrol Freelander that is........

[Bigbjorn]

A Chrysler Hemi 265 is a great and easy transplant into a Volvo 164. More compact and lighter than the Volvo and almost 50% increase in capacity. They use the same auto and you need a Valiant bell housing and converter.

[Carnut1100]

Suppose that would work......and I quite like the Hemi....but I do love the old Redblock too so it's staying!
Also autos I hate....and I reckon a Hemi wouldn't be that easy to match up to the Volvo manual box.....

[Shakey]

One more point that I believe is important, some dealer pricing is very good. For example a genuine high quality Td5 Discovery radiator retails at $434.00 (I buy them at $402, but thems the breaks...) so I always use genuine radiators in D2 Td5's. The genuine trans cooler lines for D2 are also very well priced, IIRC they are about $190 for 1, and about $185 for the other...Anyway you get the idea. ALWAYS ring the dealer if you have time, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Some parts prices though....:o:o:o


JC

Yup agreed. I've just got a set of koni shocks, springs and new exhaust system delivered from the UK for less than the shocks here.

However it was cheaper to buy spring seats from barbagello even though they are being shipped from LR in the UK.

I'm awful though, I tend to spend the money I save on adding extra bits to the order...

[juddy]

How can they sell anything!

With the advent of the Internet and the development of e-commerce, buying your goods from a cheaper source is a fantastic thing.

Over the last 20 or so years many companies have made a very tidy profit from selling UK Land Rover parts in Australia, they would of course have purchased larger stocks, and had a larger cash outlay, and should have obtained good purchases prices.

Comparing UK prices with Australian prices is not a fair comparison, it is relative to the cost of living in each country, for example, cars, houses, food, gas, water beer, wine the list goes on are all cheaper in the UK, wages in the UK are lower also.

But as a Australian business you have no control over where your customers go, and it seems most will shop around and buy overseas, this will not really stop until the exchange rates move then they will be chasing Australian companies for better pricing, and its not going to be, you cant have it both ways.

Its Interesting reading some of these posts, and people say, I never buy here, always get my stuff overseas, if everyone did this, no one would be selling in Australia. and more people will be out of jobs.

Theres also the issue about warranty that Justin mentioned, if a manufacture has a distributor in a overseas country , and you choice to get your parts not from your local supplier, you will have no come back with warranty issues. Land Rover also have this policy.

It also becomes financially restrictive to promote and Invest in new products, when all people will do is buy abroad, if they were to support the brands then more competitive pricing is possible, we will never have the same prices as the UK/US our economies are totally different.

[Shakey]

I brought my ARB battery tray, Traxide kit and Engine Saver from Aus vendors because they were cost effective and not trying to massively hike the price. I'm looking to get tree sliders made by a local fabricator because he's reasonably priced.

I do most of my work on the car so I'm not fussed about the warranty, even if I didn't a lot of the time I could buy several for the same part as the original. Having said that, I did have a faulty top hose I ordered from Paddocks, they shipped a replacement over from the UK free of charge.

[Bigbjorn]

Suppose that would work......and I quite like the Hemi....but I do love the old Redblock too so it's staying!
Also autos I hate....and I reckon a Hemi wouldn't be that easy to match up to the Volvo manual box.....

If you must have a do it yourself trans then Chryslers came with 3 & 4 speed boxes as well as the BW auto. That Volvo six is a bulky heavy unit. The Hemi Six is not. A Hemi in a 164 turns them into rocket ships. Fit a four barrel manifold with quadrajet, CM split exhaust headers, clean up the head, a mild cam, and easy 300 hp with good startability and tractability.

[Ralph1Malph]

I supported the local Hobart Land Rover parts supplier, the prices are good as it is the quality of the parts and on the top of that the money stay in Tasmania :)

What is the currency of Tasmania?:D:D:D:p:p:p:D:D:D guffaw guffaw snicker snicker...




Sorry Chukka, couldn't resist.:twisted:

Ralph

[Tombie]

What is the currency of Tasmania?:D:D:D:p:p:p:D:D:D guffaw guffaw snicker snicker...




Sorry Chukka, couldn't resist.:twisted:

Ralph

Boags :)

[LandyAndy]

This is a difficult subject as everyone has their own opinions.

Mine FWIW is that apart from blatant HUGE gouging we should be supporting local industries. It would be remiss of me to advise everyone to purchase everything online and get me to fit it, apart from my business structure that wouldn't cope with this loss of return per job, the fact is that any warranty on any part supplied from an overseas source and not through a distributor/ dealer in this country is non existent. If you were doing the work yourself, then fine it wouldn't be an issue but having fitted in the past customer supplied parts and have them be substandard (and even some OEM/ genuine stuff, too) and then have to inform the customer they will have to pay all over again to have me remove and refit said parts, then it causes a lot of unnecessary grief after the taste of buying cheaper bits with no product support fades quickly to a sour taste. I am not talking headlamps and indicator stalks etc here, these are bigger ticket items like clutches and timing belt kits etc etc that also have a big labour component.

Dealing face to face with the supplier and fitter ensures you are safer after spending the $$ in the first place.

The pricing structures in the UK and even other countries are based on demand for said items. We just don't have the numbers in this country to support huge parts inventories therefore cheaper prices. The freight is also a component, and lead times as well. Imagine would you like $30,000 worth of gear delivered to your door, possibly purchased with $$ you borrowed in the first place, still waiting to get a ROI for 3 months or more, with an ever diminishing profit margin due to E commerce sales? No I didn't think so. So basically we need to support the local suppliers, who have to jump through lots of hoops and risks at times, or they just won't be there to help you when you need them the most.

If everyone stopped thinking of the bottom line ALL the time, and took into account the whole picture we would have far less conflict about subjects such as this.

And yes I do realise that not all suppliers are helping in this regard, either. I still have to shop around at times:(

JC

I recently sourced my discs and pads from JustinC.Didnt bother with pricing ebay or overseas,just asked JC for the total price for what he reccomends.More than happy to support somebody who goes out of their way to help others out;););););)
Thanks JC:cool::cool::cool::cool:
Andrew

[justinc]

I recently sourced my discs and pads from JustinC.Didnt bother with pricing ebay or overseas,just asked JC for the total price for what he reccomends.More than happy to support somebody who goes out of their way to help others out;););););)
Thanks JC:cool::cool::cool::cool:
Andrew

Hey thanks to YOU Andy, it is customers like you who just want to get on with the job and not quibble about amounts like $18 or thereabouts who make this industry enjoyable to work in. :)

Trusting your supplier however is the key to a good relationship, too. If you Shop around , and then ask them if they can come close to a price you have seen, if not then that is fine go to the original quoter. It isn't that hard, as a sometimes part supplier If I can't sell a part at a margin at all, why should I sell it??? I will then recommend other suppliers that have better pricing from wholesalers who could then sell it at their margin and the customer still gets the part cheaper. I guess the fact is if you enter into a sale with a supplier with your eyes shut and no research then if you feel you get burnt on price then sorry, you perhaps should've got some quotes etc first.

Often, I send lists of parts to a supplier and ask them to quote it all, if they can supply the bits at a good price, then I will go with them, if not then I won't. I AM however 100% more likely to buy from a local importer to support their business, it is very important to do this as they are in the same boat as me, industry wheels and all that.

Sorry for the long spiel it has been long day:)

JC

[Chucaro]

What is the currency of Tasmania?:D:D:D:p:p:p:D:D:D guffaw guffaw snicker snicker...




Sorry Chukka, couldn't resist.:twisted:

Ralph

It is Ok Ralph :D, but I cannot understand what I have write wrong (my bloody spanglish)
What I try to said is that by purchasing locally my money help a Tasmanian small business instead of sending the money OS :)

[Ralph1Malph]

It is Ok Ralph :D, but I cannot understand what I have write wrong (my bloody spanglish)
What I try to said is that by purchasing locally my money help a Tasmanian small business instead of sending the money OS :)

No spanglish at all!;) I was making reference to us mainlanders love of taking the mickey out of Tassie! I was infering that Tassie is another country and has it's own currency!
As suggested in a previous post, it could be boags, or it could be wood chips, or it could be seashells :D:D:p:p.

Cheers
Ralph

[justinc]

No spanglish at all!;) I was making reference to us mainlanders love of taking the mickey out of Tassie! I was infering that Tassie is another country and has it's own currency!
As suggested in a previous post, it could be boags, or it could be wood chips, or it could be seashells :D:D:p:p.

Cheers
Ralph

Hey don't worry Ralph, it happens!

My dear and now departed grandmother asked me at the airport when she arrived in Launceston if she needed to go to a currency exchange....:D:D:D

JC

[LandyAndy]

Hey JC.
First real drive with the new brakes last friday,up to the city.First couple of applications in the city I almost thought there was a problem.VERY doughy under foot:(:(:(:(:(.
HOWEVER,300km later,its the best pedal I have ever felt in the D2,and them 3 amigoes are gone:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::coo l:
CHEERS
Andrew

[Chucaro]

No spanglish at all!;) I was making reference to us mainlanders love of taking the mickey out of Tassie! I was infering that Tassie is another country and has it's own currency!
As suggested in a previous post, it could be boags, or it could be wood chips, or it could be seashells :D:D:p:p.

Cheers
Ralph

Mate, we are doing better than that :D

Tasmania's booming whisky industry is receiving high praise from the world's premier whisky critic, Jim Murray. (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-06/tas-whiskey-given-high-praise/4802850)

http://www.larkdistillery.com.au/images/products/thumbs/distillers-selction-700-thumb.png

[newhue]

it's such a difficult thing and I don't know what legacy my kids will have from my behaviour. One one hand we have have it now, made in china pricing side to life. On the other we have Australia housing, rents, wages, health, and insurance costs and so on. So naturally we tend to look for more ways to make the dollars in the pocket go further. But as Justin has mentioned people generally look at the bottom line instead of a holistic picture.

In my work 'house painting" I sell trust before anything. Trust me, trust product, then price is the order it goes, but people see price, price, price before they even touch on trust.
It's almost embarrassing when you give a price and the client just about has a heart attack in front of you. They fail to consider your skills, labour time, knowledge, and products you supply. Instead see me as an over pricing gouger, and forget about the products I supply completely.
It's very hard with the "cheap side to life" to get them to see cheap pricing is generally bad value for money. You could pay double and get 10 to 15 years, call back, and a piece of mind. Or you pay the cheap and get 2 to 3 years if that, and nothing. Believe me they are out there and I have no idea how the make a living or meet any industry or Gov requirements.

Australians perhaps should consider more no matter what market they are in, we don't have 22 million customers, we have 10 maybe 12 or 13 million scattered all over the place. Kids and the elderly don't buy Landy parts or get there house painted. And the ones who are working like top payment for their skills, but like to pay little for others generally. I am one, and would love to buy everything Aus. But unfortunately have been there done that and though proud, felt very stupid that I was not cashing in on china as well. Now I try a balancing act the leans a bit to Australia. Like I said, not sure what our kids will do or thank me for, but's its all a bit beyond me and the family sometimes.

[Andrew D]

Like I said, not sure what our kids will do or thank me for, but's its all a bit beyond me and the family sometimes.

I shop around globally and with regards to my children I see them as commodities to the world.

If there is work in Australia, then work in Australia, if there is work in Asia then work in Asia and so on. No one should think they need to be bound by a country if the resources they can personally offer are useful elsewhere.

I believe the shift is on and the sooner people starting moving their mental concepts relating to purchasing, selling, skills sets and all the rest which they believe is constrained to the country they live in, the better for them otherwise they will be left behind. The way of life is a moving concept, best move with it.

Also, money does make the world go round (unfortunate or not)

Regards
Andrew

[newhue]

Yes I think the job of the future will be computer based with no staff, phicial presence, and not really labour based. I choose a trade, and one which is not regarded that highly, which in hindsight was not a good move. Still, it allows me freedom which is very important.

[Eevo]

we have 10 maybe 12 or 13 million scattered all over the place.

we're not scattered, 90% of the population lives in syd, melb perth, bris, adelaide. very concentrated groups.

[PhilipA]

Yes but the only ones with disposable income live in perth or North West WA or Qld.
When I worked with Baja racks until May this year about 30-40% of our sales were to WA and Central and NQ.

This was a major problem as the freight to those places is enormous.

I recall that my boss sold a very heavy bullbar to a woman in rural WA . For delivery to Perth it was over $1200 plus her freight from Perth to the aboriginal community. He "thought" he could have it delivered to Perth when he ordered it from the USA but this turned out to be not possible. Try telling a customer that thay have to pay just a little bit of freight, like $1200.
Our dealers in Perth wanted a standard price including freight which is probably possible if you were only sending the correct 10% to WA but not possible when 40% as the cost to East Coast customers then would become ridiculous.

Regards Philip A

[newhue]

we're not scattered, 90% of the population lives in syd, melb perth, bris, adelaide. very concentrated groups.

Even still, the UK has 10 times the buying population in the size of Victoria. Hardly surprising price is better. They drive a few more Landies over there as well compared to the southern land.

[DiscoMick]

I try to support local suppliers whenever possible, but those low prices in UK LR mags. are a temptation...

[Chucaro]

Today I have 2 quotes for the front discs pads for the Peugeot 406 coupé. From the Peugeot dealer $263.00 from an Australian independent Peugeot parts supplier $110.00 :eek:

[rick130]

For Landy bits I support the local importers and they've always looked after me. Can't beat overnight in an airbag or parcel post when living in the bush.

[Roverlord off road spares]

The falling Aussie dollar will make things dearer from overseas, the holiday of parity is over. Claiming a warranty from overseas means sending the part back at buyer expense.

[Mikey]

Just drove out into the bush going to work for three weeks (yes, in Qld), D2 feels under performing on the way out and not quite right. I do some tests and find maf dead as well as some other things. Didn't hesitate to ring supplier in Redcliffe who knows me AND my D2, parts on the way immediately. Fantastic!

Sure, I have bought lots of goodies from overseas but generally not parts that I could easily get here. That would be an example of "balance" perhaps?

Cheers,
Mike

[newhue]

Just drove out into the bush going to work for three weeks (yes, in Qld), D2 feels under performing on the way out and not quite right. I do some tests and find maf dead as well as some other things. Didn't hesitate to ring supplier in Redcliffe who knows me AND my D2, parts on the way immediately. Fantastic!

Sure, I have bought lots of goodies from overseas but generally not parts that I could easily get here. That would be an example of "balance" perhaps?

Cheers,
Mike

Mike, that little dealer in Redcliffe is what they are because they care and are prepared to care. At $10 freight across town I just call and if early enough it's at home when I get home.

Last year I met a bloke in Birdsville. Had his car in the shop out there. Ol mate in the shop had tried for 2 days to source a new front prop shaft for a Defender Td5. Frustrated the vehicle owner on the 3rd day took things into his own hands and rang MR. They were chucking it in a box while he was on the phone, next day it arrived. That little shop in Redcliffe were pre programmed into my sat phone I can tell you.

[JDNSW]

Monday (late) I ordered rear drums and shoes (and a couple of other bits) from a firm I have used before in the Newcastle area. They told me that it would not go until Tuesday. Call to the village on Thursday morning confirmed it had arrived - complete with a sticker "Heavy 22kgs", so I picked it up (six kilometres and seven gates each way) that day.

Try beating that for turnaround ex UK. Prices were approximately double what I would have to pay from a UK supplier, but for heavy, relatively cheap, items such as this the freight probably would have meant there was little difference in price.

John

[Andrew D]

I had five shocks (relatively heavy) delivered to my door in Rockhampton within 5 days from the UK for less than half the price in Australia (not delivered from Brisbane, to be picked-up)

$330 delivered from the UK (for 5 shocks) compared to one shock for $127 not delivered in Oz.;)

Regards
Andrew

[bob10]

That little shop in Redcliffe were pre programmed into my sat phone I can tell you.

They make me up a "trip" kit, each time we go on a long trip. The kit has a water pump, cv joint, filters, plus a few other odds & ends. If you don't use it, you don't pay for it. Just bring it back. Bob

[Slunnie]

But as a Australian business you have no control over where your customers go, and it seems most will shop around and buy overseas, this will not really stop until the exchange rates move then they will be chasing Australian companies for better pricing, and its not going to be, you cant have it both ways.
Was interesting, I think there was a realisation when the dollar moved so significantly 6 or 7 years ago as to why the cost of imports now was so much cheaper even when including shipping but to buy the products in Australia was still so expensive. Back then I never heard or people importing themselves, either the boat was slow or airfreight was super exy. But when there was this massive price differential from the moving dollar, the buffering of local charges with stock, the development of the online shop then people started looking internationally and with prices that were so competitive it became worth the risk.

Then people realised that buying online was actually a really positive and easy experience and shipping times from anywhere in the word was not too different to buying over the phone or ordering locally and customs were not too big an issue. That was was the start of the problems for Australian suppliers.

The dollar remained stable enough over that time at least in relation to buying preferences and Australian business slowly caught up with the concept of online shopping, but what has maintained the international buying trend is a consistent price difference in the product between local and international source even with increasing costs of shipping. If the dollar keeps trending down as it has done over the short term, I really think the status quo will remain between the cost of a product bought locally or internationally, but it will at least have the potential to bring some Australian made alternatives back into the picture as an option, although I suspect the Australian manufacturing mentality will be to increase profit margins on the product instead, ie when the dollar goes up then profits go up, when the dollar drops everyone's prices go up - the banks understand.

[bushrover]

The falling Aussie dollar will make things dearer from overseas, the holiday of parity is over. Claiming a warranty from overseas means sending the part back at buyer expense.

We need to be around 85-90 cents to the $US. Reasonable OS pricing, but realistic returns for aussie businesses as well. The lower AU value will cause me to put up with the bad service (not all, but too many), long lead times and rip off freight costs to the west coast and then worse to the Pilbara. I sometimes buy OS just to get my parts in 4 days, not 2-3 weeks, but where possible I buy from vendors who frequent this site first, inc OS vendors.

Rick

[rick130]

From a business POV, if you blokes that have trouble sourcing bits in a timely manner reckon it's frustrating for your privately owned stuff, imagine what it's like for those of us in business supplying customers.

PITA springs to mind :angel:

Lots of phone calls, emails, faxes and general frustration, often for items where the margin can sometimes be tiny.

Being piggy-in-the-middle isn't always fun.

A combination of understaffed/overworked suppliers, distance, various transport 'hubs' and God only knows what else conspire to blow out delivery times.

I'm 2.5 hours from Newcastle and 4.5 hours from Sydney on a major highway, yet most things from Newcastle take a minimum 2 days and Sydney 2 days (except my Landy bits, mostly :D)
Interstate deliveries can take........

Two weeks ago we needed a pump motor for a customer, I rang Sydney (Australian head office for an International company) and the parts bloke wasn't available, so left all the details asking for it to be sent that day, urgently.
I didn't hear back.
I rang the following day and the receptionist was apologetic, no it hadn't been sent and the parts bloke wasn't available (again) so she went downstairs to the warehouse and checked hereself.
She rang back ten minutes later saying they had none but was getting it out of Brisbane (great service from the receptionist, parts bloke needs to take lessons)
Excellent, we should get it o/night as Brissy into Tamworth then down to us is usually quick !

Next day, no pump motor, the following day, no pump motor, make more calls, return call an hour later apologising, part had gone to Sydney.....
We should get it the next day I'm told, no we won't I counter...
Three days later, still no pump motor....

I ordered some things from Melbourne two Thursdays ago, left the warehouse Friday, ETA Tuesday... I'll believe that when I see it, but I did need them for Thursday/Friday the following week.
Thursday comes, no delivery, Friday, half the delivery turns up......unfortunately an hour after I wanted to use the bits, I borrowed stuff from a friend to get out of strife.

I'm still waiting for some other bits from another supplier, some parts on the list go back two months, the most recent from three weeks ago, none have arrived yet after multiple emails and phone calls. :(

And on it goes.


As a counterpoint, I had a delivery from one of my major suppliers just after new years on the day I ordered.
The rep brought everything up from Newcastle for me.....when he was on holidays :eek: (it was a ute load, maybe $10-12,000 worth of stuff, but they wouldn't have made a huge amount on it either)

[newhue]

Rick, I feel your frustration. You can explain to the customer, but your still the bloke doing the work and should have these things sorted in their eyes.
I was being mucked around by my paint shops courier service. The couriers were using immigrant drivers with very bad english, navigation, and general manners. Often many many hours after the promised 2 hour delivery. Seems I was not the only one complaining, the drivers and service has pricked up some what.

I'm sure many on here have accepted sloppy service from international sellers, but put up with it because of the price paid. I can think of a US mob and a couple UK based sellers.

[Eevo]

aust company selling LED lights: $350
dealextreme with the same LED lights: $80


why should i pay that sort of markup?

[460cixy]

A Chrysler Hemi 265 is a great and easy transplant into a Volvo 164. More compact and lighter than the Volvo and almost 50% increase in capacity. They use the same auto and you need a Valiant bell housing and converter.


I did the same conversion useing a 250ci ford donk. Cortina sump falcon bellhouseing and converter couple of hours makeing engine mounts and power steer bracket Cracker to drive after that

[B.S.F.]

A long long time ago in PNG I went to a Land Rover dealer to buy a brake wheel cylinder for a Series 1 80". I couldn't afford the $49 they wanted for it. I was just about to drive off when I noticed a Girling Agent sign on the wall. I went back in and asked for a Girling . They had one for $17. Identical product ,different packaging.It seems things haven't changed much in 45 years.Valuable lesson learnt!. .W.

[BMKal]

I generally haven't got the time (or the interest) to look around too hard for a better price .................. it's more the service that gets my money.

I've found an independent supplier of Landrover parts (and after-market accessories) in Perth, and now whenever I need anything, I only make the one phone call.

Haven't needed any parts for the D4 yet, but have had a few accessories supplied & fitted by the same business.

Still need to get a few parts occasionally for the D2 though. The son rang me a couple of weeks ago and said that the alternator had died. I made one phone call to my usual supplier and asked if they had one / could get one. It was on a truck on its way up to Kalgoorlie later the same day.

Are they the cheapest option ????

I don't know and don't really care either. I do know enough to know that I'm not being "ripped off" - and when I ring up and ask for something - it just happens. That's all it takes to keep me happy.

Have to laugh sometimes at some of the "great" deals available on the interweb. Young bloke at work recently bought an LED lightbar for his Navara. He said that he wanted one the same as mine, and found one that "looked like it" on e-bay, imported by someone neither of us has ever heard of from China, at less than half the price that I had paid for mine. When he got it, I helped him fit and wire it up - it did look the goods. He was very disappointed though when we switched it on and compared the light output to mine - no comparison at all. Mine is an import as well - from the US and through a well known Australian supplier who provides a decent warranty and back-up service.

[Bigbjorn]

Some firms can't seem to understand how important service can be to many clients. In my days peddling construction equipment I noticed that one of my clients (small plant) were now buying x brand heavy equipment rather than y brand they had favoured for many years. I asked if they were having machine problems. Answer was " No, the machines are good but we can't get parts easily since the distributors were taken over by (well known corporate raider)." Appears that when a machine was down for a major repair, service, or overhaul, they would order parts and the small and cheap items would arrive in a couple of days and the rest would trickle in over months according to which country they were sourced from. The new owners had stripped the distributors of assets, stock, staff. Slow moving and/or expensive items were no longer stocked and were ordered ad hoc from overseas by sea freight. If you wanted parts by air then freight at your cost. No wonder one of their best and longest standing customers had wiped them from the favoured supplier list.

[JamesB71]

There are a few notable exceptions, but in general Im afraid you have a point....

These days I just expect to get screwed around and stuffed up and am pleasantly surprised when something goes straightforwardly.

If I find a decent supplier I stick to them like glue.

A few weeks ago I emailed one of the local suppliers recommended to me on this forum for a wind cheater roof rack, and they still havent written back. I guess Ill just go to a large retailer and expect that they will probably screw it up a few times before I get the right one...

[Eevo]

it's more the service that gets my money.
if im ordering online, there is no service.




and found one that "looked like it" on e-bay

looked like it isnt the same as came out of the same factory. you have to compare apples with apples.

[Eevo]

These days I just expect to get screwed around and stuffed up and am pleasantly surprised when something goes straightforwardly.


im in the same boat. i dont expect warranty, i dont expect after sales service, i dont expect people to get the order right in the first place.
i dont expect places to do any of these things, so im surprised when they do.

[JamesB71]

But when I find a good one.... they do very well out of me and I am willing pay a reasonable premium to a small australian business if they just do a half decent job and:-
* dont lie to me
*dont tell me what I want to hear and then make an excuse later
*actually have some stock. Anyone who tells me they can order it for me are doing the same thing I can do myself without paying them for the priviledge.
*have a basic understanding of their products and the uses thereof, at least as good as I do myself.

If a supplier actually contacts me with news about my purchase or to tell me there is delay with no BS they win my heart forever. Generally I find out about problems when I ring to find out whats going on when something doesnt turn up. This includes LR dealers....

[JamesB71]

As for after sales service.... I would be happy with some BEFORE sales service.

[460cixy]

Seeing as I have one post off topic I better square it up. I buy stuff off a few blokes here in Australia and its normally in my hands the next day so long as I don't order on a Friday only stuff that comes from os is low volume slow moveing parts then most places don't stock or are expensive due to the low volume