Thread: WHEN WILL PARTS SUPPLIERS LEARN

And he will be the first to complain the the internet has killed his business! I always try to buy local but if it's a blatant rip off I'll go elsewhere. Gst and shipping isn't a 100%+ markup

I agree.

It's not just parts suppliers though its retailers in general. Unfortunately, and in my experience, it seems to be a parcularly Australian thing. In most other countries I have anything to do with retailers have cottoned on to the fact that people can easily find and source a product at market value. As a consequence any canny retailer will bend over backward to sell to you on the basis of customer care. For example, If there's a problem bring it straight back for exchange, or access to their particular product knowledge, which product may be better more appropriate. If their price is anywhere near competitive then I'll always buy face to face from a premesis. If not I do what you did, walk away.

With regard to what you just went through I do get sick of it, it's a scam, it angers me occasionally. I never return on point of principle.

If you go in clued up you can always call them on the price, it's sometimes quite awkward.

Sooner or later this outmoded attitude will die out and the retailers will realise it serves no long term gain, seems to be taking a long time though.

Ian.

In my work career as a spare parts person,one company that I worked for priced everything at cost into store,+200 percent,plus 12.5 sales tax, also while at Leyland Aust. There was an interior door handle for Mini and 1100's cost into store,18 cents,over the counter,$1.00 plus 12.5 percent tax,nice little earner,as these poor quality plastic handles would heat and during a summer day,and in the evening when cool would snap,an easy fix would have been to improve plastic quality,Nah! To good an earner.

Cheers

In my business as a cable locator I wanted a particular RF detector, only Australian agent a QLD electrical tool company sold them for $6400 , I could buy online from USA for $1400 plus $120 post, I enquired direct to manufacturer and they were happy to sell me wholesale as long as I would become a reseller and I could set my own price, I could get the tool delivered for $950 per item , thus eliminating import duty.

the QLD company makes a cool $5500 per item

I was advertisiing them australia wide for $1400 delivered , $5000 cheaper than the opposition and cheaper than mail order from USA , sold 5 units only due to lack of intrest ... you can bring horses to water but cant make them drink.

In my business I am selling a particular product with a mark up of 66%. That figure was reached by 'tradition'.... Retail price may go something like $60-$70 with that mark up. I have to pay staff, rents, interest on loans, power, rates, etc etc. Along comes someone with an internet account. Diddly squat in set up and ongoing expenses. Now the internet seller is selling maybe hundreds or thousands of units of the product I and every other small business like mine was trying to service our community with, whilst keeping our head above water. I'm not kidding in telling you the internet seller may make only a few dollars on each sale. It shocks me that they are selling product near purchase price from a wholesaler. They push postage prices a bit higher than it really is and make a few dollars more that way... But if you multiple that out over hundreds or thousands of sales it makes for a nice profit. My guess is that wholesalers in the chain are also chipping in with discounts to the internet seller over and above the bricks and mortar long standing client.

(I'll admit to hypocrisy in that I search the internet for best price for my passion items - cycle parts and now land rover parts....) Maybe we'd be better off with no NBN!! Or any internet at all. I still remember the joy of buying nails by the oz or pound at the local hardware store or buying only a few screws, or bolts etc by number rather than a prepacked crappy overseas made item that will mostly fail earler than a quality made product...)

56yo dinosaur. Last of the baby boomers who enjoyed his youth driving series landys around the back blocks...


{{Way of topic - I hope the NBN doesn't highjack the election... the new Orwellian 1984 adverts by the government make me want to throw up...}}

I have a piece of workshop equipment that needed a repair kit through it. I found the local distributor does not keep any parts stock whatsoever but orders from Melbourne when required. Customer is charged a courier fee. In my case I needed a handful of O-rings (odd sizes naturally) fibre and copper washers, springs and balls. Cost $7.50, courier fee $14.85. Next time I ordered from the Melbourne shop and told them to use Australia Post which cost $1.50.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

I have a piece of workshop equipment that needed a repair kit through it. I found the local distributor does not keep any parts stock whatsoever but orders from Melbourne when required. Customer is charged a courier fee. In my case I needed a handful of O-rings (odd sizes naturally) fibre and copper washers, springs and balls. Cost AUD7 ($7.50), courier fee AUD14 ($14.85). Next time I ordered from the Melbourne shop and told them to use Australia Post which cost AUD1 ($1.50).

I wonder who's making a profit now out of the postage...??

I am in the process of overhauling my V6 outboard motor. I need rings, conrod bolts and a gasket set. I rang around a few marine places and they were all similar in price, around $700.

I then stumbled on a place that could do it for $350. I placed the order and was told about ten days. They have ordered the stuff direct from the states.