Thread: Importing your own tyres.

Originally Posted by bee utey

One of my friends runs a VW shop. His customer broke down in Alice, and asked the garage man to contact my friend to get a starter motor sent up. The price was $120 plus $20 freight. The garage man charged the customer $300 "because the freight up here is so dear". Crook.

I remember sitting in a bar in Blackall, circa 1962-63 when a guy gave Alan Jones (no, not the public toilet Jones) of Barcoo Transport a rev about the cost of fuel in the town. The fuel agent apparently blamed "freight". Alan informed him that fuel was charged at eight pounds a ton from Brisbane, same as the beer and the groceries, and that he was not by law, allowed to undercut the railways.

Having lived and been involved in the delivery of freight in remote areas I speak with a little authority. I once purchased a consumerable item in a remote area, the item was readilly available in Brisbane for $14. I was asked to part with $25 and told that $5 had been discounted because I wasn't a tourist. The cost of freight was offered as the reason for the higher price. I had carted the item from Brisbane, and later calculated the cost of freight for the item, 19 cents! No wonder the grey nomads stock up in major centres. On another occasion, I saved $80 on a pair of motor cycle tyres purchaded in Brisbane and posted to Cairns, I would have paid a $20 premium to support a local business, but I'll not be gouged.

Yes, indeed. The fuel freight was less than sixpence per gallon. We got the same s+=t thrown at Wall and Co. in Winton. Not quite the same reply. My uncle and father would say to the winger that they should ask the trader how much we charged him and then come back and tell us and we would adjust his invoices to reflect the stated amount.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Tyres are supposed to be covered by inspection. Australia recognises US and EEC safety standards IIRC, some others too I think, but the memory fails. Japan maybe.

I crap myself for a year before my inspection for compliance

But when it came to it they checked the engine number , the chassis number, the seat belts and that the windows were auto glass. That was it 5 mins and $275 later all done. Took longer to do the plate than the inspection

I had an a bar that was from the Uk plus Tyres from the Uk ( BFG AT) an army roll bar ( really protection bar) plus rear nas step. Not one of these things did they test. I also found out later that the chap that did mine was the toughest tester in Qld.

Ali

Sent from my iPhone

Not really remote, but a couple of years ago I looked at getting the rear driveshaft on the County rebuilt by a Dubbo business. It was far cheaper to buy a new genuine part from Melbourne and get it shipped to me. But the interesting part was to compare the freight costs. Freight of a complete prop shaft from Melbourne to Dubbo was about a quarter of the quoted freight cost to ship two cross and bearing and a new sliding joint from Sydney to Dubbo - and the local business would almost certainly have stocked all the parts, so their freight cost would have been for a bulk shipment.

John

Originally Posted by big guy

Buy local, support local business, be safe, comply, know you are covered by statutory warranty in the event of failure, peace of mind taking the family on a road trip and all round happy you are doing your part.
I think its been said before, ordering over net, importing, delivery and getting them home, loading in back of vehicle, finding a tyre shop that will put some one else tyres(imports at that) on your car etc.

It just seems too much knowing all my money goes overseas and local workers miss out.
I said it before and will say it again.
Support your locals before they are all gone.

Ha! Tell the thousands of poor sods who've lost their jobs overseas and you know who's to blame? US

Geez, Blknight, look what you've gone and started.

I have a nagging thought this conversation has been had before...

How about we keep it on topic, which is a good one, about ensuring your imported tyres are safe and legal?

Originally Posted by cinders

Ha! Tell the thousands of poor sods who've lost their jobs overseas and you know who's to blame? US

We are to blame for the loss of jobs in the USA?
Sure mate and the reason for that would be?